Practical Research 1 – Notes from sites.google/deped.gov.

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Lesson 1: Definition of Research
Etymologically, research came from “re” and “search”. "Re" is a prefix that means again and search is a word which
means to look for. Therefore, research is to look for something (Chapman 1979).
There are two (2) things that we need to take note
First, research is not only about the discovery of something unknown, it is coming up with a new explanation of
something that is known.
Second, research is a process. It is a process of searching for something to solve an existing problem or difficulty to
solve.
Research is also understood as a systematic investigation or inquiry entailing collection of data, documentation of critical
information, analysis, interpretation of information (Williams 2007). From the given definition, this highlights the manner how research
is conducted. It is systematic.
The question is, how does it becomes systematic and what makes it systematic?
The term systematic entails the structure. Therefore, whenever collecting data, documenting information, analyzing, and
interpreting information are conducted, a particular method is used.
On the other hand, research can be also viewed as the formation of new knowledge and the employment of previous or existing
knowledge into a new and creative way (O’Donnell 2012).
Imagine these two (2) scenarios: mother giving birth to a baby and a potter molding a pot.
The creation of new knowledge can be compared to a mother giving birth. The mother stands for the research itself and the baby
is new knowledge. Thus, through research, new knowledge is born.
On the other hand, a potter molding a pot can be paralleled to the use of existing knowledge in a new creative way. Here, the
potter stands for the researcher, the clay as the existing knowledge, and the pot itself is a new knowledge made creatively.

Lesson 2: Importance of Research to our Daily Lives

Research is very significant on our lives, it has gradually changed human life through history.
Here are the five (5) importance of research to our daily lives.
1. Research aims for truth (Rolfe 2002).
2. Research improves quality of human life (Bornmann 2013).
3. Research saves life(Cancer Research UK 2019).
4. Research gathers necessary information (Igwenagu 2016).
5. Research explores humanity (Lee, Tran, and Lee 2007).

The research aims for truth.

We crave truth for no one has the desire to live in lies (Rasmussen 2013). Research is about establishing truth based on evidence
or data. We conduct a study to seek for truth. Just imagine, for many centuries people believe that the world is flat and it is over the giant
turtle. Beyond the horizon of the sea is an abyss. But there came Ferdinand Magellan who proved this otherwise. His courage and
research have made us live with the fact that the world is round.
Have you ever heard about the belief that earth is the center of the universe? Actually, for many years men believed that
everything revolved around us. But thanks to Copernicus, because of his tedious research, now we know that it is not Earth as the center
of the universe but the sun. I beat you can cite more examples related to this concern. Nonetheless, the main idea here is that research
provides us an explanation or solution to particular problem based on truth (Kasi 2009).
Research improves the quality of human life.
I believe that you often hear from your parents about their experiences when they were young. Though it sounds so boring, they
live without television, without the internet, without a cellphone, without an air condition, without an electric fan, without computer, or online
games. Can you imagine that kind of life?
But look at our situation now. Everything that they don’t have before, we have it now. You can cook now without a fire stove. Now,
it is a matter of pushing a button with the use of a rice cooker or electric stove. You can call and see your friends abroad without hustles
through the use of social media platforms. You can travel anywhere by just a matter of hours or a few days using your motorcycles and
bikes. You can enjoy staying at home not going outside with the use of your smartphones.
This is the life we have now. Do you think it just went down from heaven like rain during the rainy season? All of the technological
advancements are brought by different researches (Gupta 2018). Without the people who dedicated their lives for the sake of humanity, we
will not have this kind of life. Through research, it improves our standard of living.
Research saves a life.
Through the course of human history, research has proven its worth and roles in our lives. In the past, when penicillin was not yet
discovered, people just die without proper medication. It was by the research of Fleming that the first generation of antibiotics were
discovered (Pandey et al. 2014). In the same manner, how can we forget the research of Dr. Abelardo Aguilar, a Filipino doctor, one of the
contributors to the discovery of Erythromycin during the late 1940s? Now, we have effective medicine in bacteria that causes infections in
the respiratory tract (Peretti et al. 2011).
Moreover, Dr. Fe Del Mundo improved the incubator and jaundice relieving device. Now pre-matured babies and those suffering
from jaundice can survive and enjoy life in the future. With our situation now with the threat of COVID 19, the only hope is research.
Research on understanding the disease, development of vaccines, and medication will save us. Nonetheless, researchers are doing their
best working day and night to have a medical remedy for this pandemic. Later, research will succeed and will continue to provide us a safer
life.
Research gathers the necessary information.
Conducting research implies gathering necessary data to explain your problem and to answer your particular questions for
example, you want to understand students’ perceptions about modular learning, then, you conduct survey to the projected respondents or
direct interviews with the projected participants. Thus, the content of the survey questionnaire and the guided interview must aligned to the
your problem and to the questions that you like to answer. On this manner, you are gathering important data needed for your research.
Another, when COVID 19 was just starting to spread, medical experts are puzzled about the emerging disease (Vetter, Eckerle,
and Kaiser 2020). Many of them wanted to know what was the cause. Some of them investigated how it is being transmitted. Some experts
dealt with medical mapping. Others determined the incubation period and how it can be prevented. Each of them intensively conducted a
particular study to answer their inquiries. They did many laboratory experiments, observations, and literature review. Data related only to
their questions were considered. Now, we have at least a good perspective on the manner the virus is transmitted, possible medication,
ways to prevent it, incubation period, and location affected by the pandemic. Thus, the necessary information to understand the situation
was gathered.

Research explores humanity.

Do you know that Bataeños have developed distinct Tagalog intonation and words? Do you know that the song “Ati Ku Pung
Singsing” is about the culture of the Kapampangan? Do you know that in Zambales, the Aetas have customary maternal and infant care
beliefs based on their tradition and faith passed through generations? Do you know that the Dumagat of Aurora considered prayers as part
of their economic life? Do you know that the province of Tarlac came from the "Malatarlak"? I am quite sure that you are familiar with some
of these questions. These are just examples of how research explores the culture of people.
Research likewise deals with the investigation of culture to understand and to appreciate others' practices, and beliefs (Zion and
Kozleski 2005). The way we understand others is the result of a long study of different individuals to provide us explanations about group or
individual culture. Because of this, we can now related, understand, and respect others.
Probably you have your own, experience aware with your own experience how research works, you can still cite importance of
research. These five (5) importance are just the representation of many benefits we can get out of research. Research is important
because it aims for truth, improves quality of human life, saves life, gathers necessary information, and explores humanity. Who knows in
the future, you’re research might be beneficial to humanity. Hand on your pencil! Let us start researching!
Lesson 3: Characteristics of Research
Characteristics of Research (Cristobal & Cristobal, 2017)
1. Research should be systematic.
The researcher needs to carry out a series of interrelated steps in conducting the study. Such procedure must follow a well-
planned, sequential and organized structure from beginning to end.
The research paper is divided into macrosystem and microsystem. The former refers to different chapters labeled with main
headings, while the latter consists of various elements detailing the contents of each part.
2. Research should be objective.
The researcher needs to present information that are purely based on truths. It should always be anchored on the factual basis in
which the research work is founded, thus being free from any bias or personal opinion.
3. Research should be feasible.
The researcher needs to consider the possibility and practicality of conducting the proposed study. All significant factors like time,
budget and access to resources must be analyzed to determine if the research can actually be done.
4. Research should be empirical.
The researcher needs to employ appropriate methods, either quantitatively or qualitatively, to produce evidence-based
information. They can be drawn from concrete experimentation, direct or indirect observation, and verifiable experience.
5. Research should be clear.
The researcher needs to use comprehensible language to present information and convey explanation throughout the research
process. The factors to be manipulated, measured or described in the study, also known as variables, must be clarified using literature from
published and unpublished materials. They should be explained well from the introductory part of the research paper to ensure a deeper
understanding of the study to be conducted.

Lesson 4: The Research Process

The Research Process
Research process is a systematic manner in which the researcher approaches his/her area of study to produce knowledge that
the community will consider to be worthwhile within the field (Rao, 2017). Understanding such process is an important step towards
executing any study.
The following are the five phases of the research process along with their definition (Whittemore & Melkus, 2008).
Five Research Phase
1. Conceptual Phase - Identifying the problem, reviewing the literature, formulating the hypothesis, developing the research
framework, and determining the research purpose and objective
2. Design and Planning Phase - Selecting a research design, developing study procedures, and determining the sampling and
data collection plan
3. Empirical Phase - Collecting data, and preparing data for analysis
4. Analytic Phase - Analyzing data, interpreting the results, and making conclusions
5. Dissemination Phase - Communicating results to appropriate audience, and utilizing the findings
Now, here’s the simplified flow of the significant steps you need to take in conducting a study as presented by Rao (2017):
1. Define the research problem.
To begin your research, you must look at a significant real-life problem. Factors like area of interest, availability of fund, socio-
economic significance of the study, and the safety measures to be undertaken should be considered in finding and defining the research
problem.
Example: The researcher identifies English language proficiency as a problem of aspiring maritime students in qualifying for
admission to prestigious maritime institutions.
 2. Review the literature.
Read various publications or surf the internet to become aware of the previous works already done about the chosen topic. You
may utilize different resources like science books, magazines, journals, newspapers, or even in the internet.
Example: The researcher reviews previous studies conducted about English language proficiency and the experienced difficulties
of aspiring maritime students.
3. Formulate hypothesis (in general application).
A hypothesis is a theoretical statement in solving a logical relationship between variables. It should be based on the problem
being solved.
Example: The researcher hypothesizes that the implementation of English-Only Policy (EOP) in the classroom can improve the
English language proficiency of Pre-Baccalaureate Maritime students.
4. Prepare the research design.
Identify what is the best means to collect and analyze data in the study to clarify and improve the research problem, purpose, and
questions.
Example: The researcher uses an experimental design on exploring the experiences of the students in implementing EOP.
5. Collect data.
Use an appropriate data collection method to elicit the needed information.
Example: The researcher collects data through interview and focus group discussion.
6. Analyze data.
Utilize strategies and methods that make sense of the data to answer the research problem.
Example: The researcher analyzes the data by drawing patterns and themes from the generated data.
7. Interpret and report the findings.
Put the information in perspective and present the solution to the proposed problem based on the findings of the investigation.
Example: The researcher interprets and reports the findings based on the collected and analyzed data to solve the research
problem.

Lesson 5: Ethics in Research

Importance of Ethics in Research
Resnik (2015), in his article, “What is Ethics in Research & Why is it important?”, as cited by Cristobal & Cristobal (2017),
enumerates the following reasons why it is important to follow ethical principles in writing and conducting a research:
1. It promotes the aims of research.
 Ethics guides the researchers in obtaining knowledge, truth, and avoidance of error by prohibiting fabrication, falsification and
misrepresentation of research data.
2. It upholds values that are essential to collaborative work.
Many researchers who are working in different disciplines and institutions cooperate and coordinate to accomplish particular
research. With ethics in mind, they also maintain trust, accountability, mutual respect, and fairness.
3. It ensures that researchers can be held accountable to the public.
Ethical norms guarantee the public that researchers are deemed responsible for committing any form of research misconduct.
4. It builds public support for research.
People express and lend their support by all means if they can trust the quality and integrity of research.
5. It promotes a variety of moral and social values.
Ethical principles help the researcher avoid practices that can adversely harm the research subjects and the community. Thus, it
encourages social responsibility, human rights, animal welfare, compliance with the law, and public health and safety.

Ethical Codes and Policies for Research

Cristobal & Cristobal (2017), in their book, “Practical Research 1 for Senior High School”, lists the following ethical codes and
policies that the researcher needs to consider in conducting a study:
1. Honesty
The researcher should strive to truthfully report data in whatever form of communication all throughout the study.
2. Objectivity
The researcher should avoid being biased. The study should not be influenced by his/her personal motives, beliefs and opinions.
3. Integrity
The researcher should establish credibility through the consistency of his/her thought and action. He/she should act with sincerity
especially on keeping agreements.
4. Care
The researcher should never neglect even the smallest detail of the study. All information should be critically examined. Records
of research activities should be properly and securely kept.
5. Openness
The researcher should be willing to accept criticisms and new ideas for the betterment of the study. Research results and findings
should be shared to the public.
6. Respect for intellectual property
The researcher should not plagiarize. Credit should be given to who or where it is due. All authors cited and sources used in the
study should be properly acknowledged.
Plagiarism refers to the act of illegally using another person’s ideas, works, processes, and results. Thus, it constitutes claiming
an intellectual property as one’s own that can be penalized through Republic Act 8293 known as the Intellectual Property Code of the
Philippines.
7. Confidentiality
The researcher should take steps to protect all confidential communications or documents from being discovered by others.
8. Responsible publication
The researcher should ensure that his/her work is clear, honest, complete, accurate, and balanced, thus avoiding wasteful and
duplicate publication. It should likewise refrain from selective, misleading, or ambiguous reporting.
9. Responsible mentoring
 The researcher should teach responsible conduct of research and share professional knowledge and skills especially to new or
less experienced researchers.
10. Respect for colleagues
The researcher should show courtesy to his/her colleagues by treating them equally and fairly.
11. Social responsibility
The researcher should promote social good by working for the best interests and benefits of the environment and society as a
whole.
12. Non-discrimination
The researcher should not discriminate based on sex, race, ethnicity, or any factor relating to scientific competence and integrity.
Thus, research should be open to all people or entities who will participate in research.
13. Competence
The researcher should possess necessary knowledge and skills in conducting a study. He/she should be equipped with a sense of
professionalism and expertise to ensure competent results.
14. Legality
The researcher should know and abide by relevant laws, institutional and government policies concerning the legal conduct of
research.
15. Human Subject Protection
The researcher should protect human lives by preventing and minimizing harms and risks. He/she should always uphold the
human dignity, privacy, and autonomy of human subjects to be used in the study.

Rights of Research Participants

In every aspect of life, rights and responsibilities are inseparably linked to one another. This means that both the researcher and
the participant have necessary obligations to perform as a prerequisite of their privileges in conducting research.
According to Trochim (2006), Smith (2003) and Polit (2006), the following are some of the rights of research participants, as cited
by Cristobal & Cristobal (2017):
1. Voluntary participation
The research participants must be given the privilege to exercise their free will whether to participate or not. They have the right to
refuse involvement in the study. Thus, any person should not be forced to take part in any research undertaking.
2. Informed consent
The research participants must be provided with sufficient information about the procedures and risks involved in the research. It
serves as an initial guide on why and how the study will be conducted. Hence, the researcher must ensure that they fully understood and
agreed upon the study.
3. Risk of harm
The research participants must be protected from any type of harm whether it may be physical, psychological, social, or
economic. The researcher must avoid, prevent, or minimize threats especially when they are exposed and engaged in invasive and risky
procedures.
4. Confidentiality
The research participants must be assured of their privacy particularly on personal information. The researcher must secure that
all information disclosed by them will not be used without authorized access.
5. Anonymity
The research participants must remain anonymous or unidentified throughout the study even to the researchers themselves. They
have the right to keep their identities secret as they participate especially in case sensitive studies.
Lesson 6: Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Quantitative and Qualitative Research (Cristobal & Cristobal, 2017)
There are two broad categories of research methodology: quantitative research and qualitative research.
The method to be used in conducting research will determine the approach the researcher takes in identifying relevant data, and collecting
and analyzing the information gathered in the research. Choosing either a quantitative or qualitative approach will affect the components of
the research.
For instance, a researcher may decide to undertake a scientific research. If he/she takes a quantitative approach, he/she will use statistical
data to provide an explanation of the phenomenon.

On the other hand, if the researcher chooses qualitative approach, the goal of the study will be to discuss and analyze the underlying
concepts and theories related to the research topic.

For you to easily understand the similarities and differences between the two research methods, here is a short definition of terms that you
have to be familiar with.

contact time – the period when the researcher interacts with the research subjects or participants to obtain relevant information
hypothesis – a statement usually predicting the relationship between variables that can be tested by scientific research
research instrument – a measurement tool designed to obtain, measure and analyze data from research subjects around the research
topic
sample size – the number of subjects to be taken from the target population of the study
trend – an assumed development in the future that will have a long-term and lasting effect; prevailing style or preference
validity – the functional quality of research instrument on obtaining data and producing results based on the purpose of the study
variable – any characteristic that can have different values or traits that may vary across research participants

As cited by Cristobal & Cristobal (2017) from the Social Science Research Extension Institute (SSREI), University of the Philippines (UP)-
Baguio (2009).

Quantitative Research
1. Aims to characterize trends and patterns
2. Usually starts with either a theory or hypothesis about the relationship between two or more variables
3. Uses structured research instruments like questionnaires or schedules
4. Uses large sample sizes that are representatives of the population
5. Has high output replicability
6. Used to gain greater understanding of group similarities
7. Uses structured processes
8. Methods include census, survey, experiment, and secondary analysis

Qualitative Research
1. Involves processes, feelings, and motives (the why’s and the how’s) and produces in-depth and holistic data
2. Usually concerned with generating hypothesis from data rather than testing a hypothesis
 3. Uses either unstructured or semi structured instruments
4. Uses small sample sizes chosen purposely
5. Has high validity
6. Used to gain greater understanding of individual differences in terms of feelings, motives, and experiences
7. Uses more flexible processes
8. Methods include field research, case study, and secondary analysis

Generally, quantitative and qualitative research differs on the type of data they produce. The former dwells on the collection of numerical
data analyzed by statistical analysis, while the latter deals with descriptive, in-depth and holistic data analyzed by summarizing,
categorizing and interpreting.

On this note, you need to use quantitative research if you want to confirm or test a theory or hypothesis and use qualitative research if you
want to understand concepts, thoughts and experiences.

Example: Here is a simple example on how you can apply two methods differently on the same research question, “How satisfied are
students with their studies?”

In quantitative research, you may survey 250 students at your school and ask them a question, “On a scale from 1-5, how satisfied are
you with your studies?” Then, you can perform statistical analysis on the data and draw conclusions such as: “On average, students rated
their studies 4.1”.

In qualitative research, you may conduct in-depth interviews with 15 students and ask them open-ended questions such as: “How
satisfied are you with your studies?”, “What is the most positive aspect of your study program?”, and “What can be done to improve the
study program?” Based on their answers, you can ask follow-up questions to clarify things. Furthermore, you can transcribe all interviews
and try to find patterns and commonalities.

Quantitative Research
Question Domains: Who, What, When, Where
Common Sample Size: 150 to 200+
Contact Time: 10 to 20 minutes
Validity: Must be true of most of the data or nomothetic (law oriented)
Variables: Define relationships and establish general case
Research Instrument: Surveys, numerical counts, statistical analyses, mathematical modeling

Qualitative Research
Question Domains: How, What, Why
Common Sample Size: 10 to 15
Contact Time: 45 to 240 minutes each
Validity: Must be true of each case or ideographic (case-oriented)
Variables: Describe relationship and establish meaning structures and contexts
Research Instrument: Interviews, literature content reviews, real world observations, case studies, ethnographies
Lesson 7: Research in Different Areas of Knowledge
Subject Area Research Approaches
Research studies happen in any field of knowledge. Anthropology, Business, Communication, Education, Engineering, Law, and
Nursing, among others, turn in a big number of research studies that reflect varied interests of people. Don’t you wonder how people in
these areas conduct their research studies?

Belonging to a certain area of discipline, you have the option to choose one from these three basic research approaches:
1. Positive or scientific Approach (Quantitative Data)
2. Naturalistic Approach (Qualitative Data)
3. Triangulation or Mixed method Approach

The scientific approach gives stress to measurable and observable facts instead of personal views, feelings, or attitudes. It can be
used in research under the hard sciences or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine) and natural sciences (Biology, Physics,
Chemistry). The positive or scientific approach allows control of variables or factors affecting the study. (Laursen 2010)

To become positivist or scientific in conducting your research study, you must collect data in controlled ways through questionnaires or
structured interviews. For instance, in the field of medicine, to produce a new medicine, a medical researcher subjects the data to a
controlled laboratory experiment. These factual data collected are recorded in numerical or statistical forms using numbers, percentages,
fractions, and the like. Expressed in measurable ways, these types of data are called quantitative data.

The naturalistic approach, on the other hand, is people oriented. Data collected, in this case, represent personal views, attitudes,
thoughts, emotions, and other subjective traits of people in a natural setting. Collecting data is done in family homes, playground,
workplaces, or schools. In these places, people’s personal traits or qualities naturally surface in the way they manage themselves or
interact with one another. The naturalistic approach focuses on discovering the real concept or meaning behind people’s lifestyles and
social relations.

Unlike the scientific approach that makes you express and record your findings quantitatively, which means in numerical forms, the
naturalistic approach lets you present things qualitatively through verbal language. Using words rather than numbers as the unit of
analysis, this second research approach concerns itself with qualitative data—one type of data that exists in abundance in social sciences,
which to others exists as soft sciences. Considered as soft sciences are Anthropology, Business, Education, Economics, Law, Politics, and
all subjects aligned with business and all those focused on helping professions such as, Nursing, Counseling, Physical Therapy, and the
like. (Babbie 2013)

In the field of Humanities, man’s social life is also subjected to research studies. However, researchers in this area give emphasis not to
man’s social life, but to the study of the meanings, significance, and visualizations of human experiences in the fields of Fine Arts,
Literature, Music, Drama, Dance, and other artistically inclined subjects.

Researches in these subjects happen in any of the following humanistic categories:

1. Literature and Art Criticism where the researchers, using well-chosen language and appropriate organizational pattern, depend
greatly on their interpretative and reflective thinking in evaluating the object of their study critically.
2. Philosophical Research where the focus of inquiry is on knowledge and principles of being and on the manner human beings
conduct themselves on earth.

3. Historical Research where the investigation centers on events and ideas that took place in man’s life at a particular period.

Hard Sciences vs. Soft Sciences

Just like in other subjects under soft sciences such as marketing, man’s thoughts and feelings still take center stage in any research
studies. The purposes of any researches in any of these two areas in business are to increase man’s understanding of the truths in line
with markets and marketing activities, making him more intelligent in arriving at decisions about these aspects of his life. Research types
that are useful for these areas are the basic and applied research. (Feinberg 2013)

A quantitative or qualitative kind of research is not exclusive to hard sciences or soft sciences. These two research methods can go
together in a research approach called triangulation or mixed method approach. This is the third approach to research that allows a
combination or a mixture of research designs, data collection and data analysis techniques.

Thus, there is no such thing as a clear dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research methods because some authorities on
research claim that a symbiotic relationship, in which they reinforce or strengthen each other, exists between these two research methods.
Moreover, any form of knowledge, factual or opinionated, and any statistical or verbal expression of this knowledge are deduced from
human experience that by nature is subjective. (Hollway 2013; Letherby 2013)