MODULE 1

NATURE OF INQUIRY AND RESEARCH

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the module, the learners will be able to:

 shares research experiences and knowledge.
 explains the importance of research in daily life.
 describes characteristics, processes, and ethics of research.
 differentiates quantitative from qualitative research.
 provide examples of research in areas of interest.

MOTIVATION

What comes first to your mind when you encounter the word research? Experiment Investigation?
Inquiry? Product Development?

INSTRUCTION/ LESSON PROPER

THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH IN DAILY LIFE

Many students are overwhelmed when asked to do research. This is probably due to the misconception
that research is a job for scientists or a requirement for students who want to earn college or postgraduate
degree. As a senior high school student, you might have your own misconception of research: thus. this module
is designed to help you understand the nature and importance of research in daily life.

In simple language research means searching for knowledge. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary
expands this definition as a "careful study that is done to find and report new knowledge about something."
Authors of research textbooks meanwhile distinguish research from other ways of knowing or understanding
the world (e.g., common sense, insight, divine inspiration, acceptance of authoritative dictates) as a "systematic
inquiry that is designed to collect, analyze, and interpret data to understand, describe, or predict phenomenon
(Mertens, 2015). Still, some authors emphasize that research is "the formal and disciplined application of
scientific inquiry to the study of problems"(Navarro and Santos, 2011).

The above definitions imply that research is very important in everyday life. Among its practical
applications are discovering medical breakthroughs, advancing technological developments, and understanding
and solving problems in education, business, economy, and society. In more specific terms, the following are
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some of the importance of research:

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 1. Gather Relevant Information
The results of research(es) are used as a springboard in conducting more research or in planning
new projects. For example, a research on the basic needs of the target customers can help companies
develop and market a new line of products.

2. Improve Quality of Life

Research undertakings are basically geared toward improving the quality of life. The major
breakthroughs in the field of communication, transportation, medicine, entertainment, and food and
nutrition are all possible because of research conducted. Through continuous research, these
breakthroughs are further improved to make people's lives convenient and comfortable.

3. Understand History
Understanding our history can help us better understand our current society and the
behavior of the people. Research plays an important role not only in helping us trace our history, but
also in understanding and providing possible solutions to the pervading problems of our current society.

4. Personal and Professional Development

Research challenges us to become better individuals through the new ideas, perspectives, and
skills that we can get when doing research. Personally, you will gain more knowledge and thus widen
your perspective about life in general. Professionally, you will not only meet your academic or school
requirement, but you will also advance to a more challenging and exciting world of learning.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD RESEARCH

You have already learned how important research is in your daily life. Before you engage yourself in
this relevant and practical activity, you have to know first the characteristics of a good research.
1. Research is empirical. It uses facts and data that are obtained through a thorough investigation.
2. Research is analytical. The researcher carefully analyzes and interprets the gathered data before
arriving at a conclusion.
3. Research is systematic. It follows a certain method or procedure in order to obtain objective results.
4. Research is cyclical. It begins with a problem and ends with the resolution or tentative answers to the
problem to complete the cycle. This only means that every step in/the research process is vital to the
success of the research.
5. Research is original. It is expected that any research output is a product of novel ideas and shows
originality.

RESEARCH PROCESS
As mentioned above, research is systematic and cyclical. This means that you need to follow a step-by-
step process to successfully conduct a research study. As a beginning researcher, you may follow these steps in
the research process:

1. CONCEPTUALIZATION PHASE
This is where the topic is identified. Studies are recommended to focus on a not too broad but
not too specific concept to allow flexibility and further explanation.
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 2. DESIGN PHASE
Researchers decide on the detailed procedures in gathering and analyzing data. Researchers must
arrive on a consensus regarding the how, where and when the study will be conducted and analyzed.

3. EMPIRICAL PHASE
The researchers are equipped with necessary attitude, behavior, and tools in gathering data from
the prospective data sources. Interviews and Focus group discussions are employed with the use of
interview guides.

4. ANALYTICAL PHASE
Most challenging phase of the research process. Researchers in this phase are preparing and
assessing the data through the use of several tools and even researchers own understanding as supported
by his/her belief and previous research published in the same area of interest.

5. DISSEMINATION PHASE
Most valuable but often neglected by the researchers. Research results in the form of a well-
written full research manuscript are advised to be shared to the general public if not on the specific
population or professional groups that can benefit from its result.

ETHICS IN RESEARCH

You may have encountered the word ethics several times. For example, you might have heard or be
familiar with the terms: medical ethics, business ethics, teaching ethics, or classroom ethics. Ethics, in simple
words, are norms for conduct that distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. As an important
human activity, research has also its own set of ethics. Research ethics establishes the moral integrity of the
researchers which is crucial as it ensures that the research findings are valid and trustworthy.

Ethical Standards
1. Avoid risk of harming any people, the environment, property, or animals.
2. Preserve privacy and confidentiality.
3. Do not plagiarize the works of others.
4. Grant and limit authorship to substantial contribution.
5. Do not twist conclusions.
6. Respect cultural, individual and role differences.
7. Seek informed consent from all involved in the study.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Inside the classroom, the teacher made a remark, "you got 75 passing mark!" The teacher also
commented that “your classmate seems uninterested to study the lessons."

There are two different observations the teacher described in her remark. These are "75 passing mark"
and “your classmate seems uninterested to study." These two are examples of quantitative and qualitative
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observations, respectively. Quantitative observations are usually characterized by a numerical measure such as
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the passing mark of 75. Qualitative observation, meanwhile, describes a certain phenomenon or event and can
be observed through the senses. Usually, qualitative data are in words such as the statement made by the teacher
that the student seems uninterested to study the lessons.

Research can be conducted in different ways for different purposes. Thus, you can classify a research
according to how it was conducted (i.e., technique or data collection strategy) or why it was conducted (i.e., use
or purpose of the research). This module will focus on the types of research according to technique.

Every researcher needs data for his or her research. Since research is a systematic, a researcher employs
one or more techniques to gather data for the study. These techniques can be classified into two broad
categories-quantitative research and qualitative methods.

Quantitative techniques (from the root word quantity) the same purpose of finding collect data in the
form of numbers (i.e., quantitative meanings and contributing to a observation). Some examples of quantitative
data are the height, weight, and age of a person; the daily, monthly, or annual income of an employee; and your
grades in your academic subjects. Qualitative techniques (from the root word quality), on the other hand, collect
data in the form of words or statements (i.e., qualitative observations). Research that uses the quantitative
techniques are broadly classified as quantitative research while research that use the qualitative techniques are
classified as qualitative research.

Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is more subjective than a quantitative research. This usually involves gathering,
analyzing, and interpreting data based on observations made about the participants of the study. These data can
be in the form of ideas, actions, symbols, metaphors derived usually from in-depth observations and interviews.
Qualitative research aims to interpret meanings, descriptions, and symbols. The researchers ask the participants
to respond to some questions and further probe the answers by giving follow-up questions to get a thorough
response to a certain question. There is no definite number of participants that qualitative research requires.

Below are some examples of qualitative research topics:

1. Students' images of chemistry
2. Gender and cultural gaps in the classroom
3. Science practices of the Mangyan tribe

Looking at these examples of qualitative research topics, you may infer that the data that can be gathered
will not be numerical data but symbols and verbal descriptions. These set of data can be best collected through
interviews and observations. Take for the example the topic "Science practices of the Mangyan tribe." These
practices can only be known if the researcher observes the tribe on location. Observing their daily activities on
the actual place and interviewing the people of the Mangyan tribe are the best techniques to help you collect
data about the science practices of the Mangyan tribe.

Quantitative Research
In quantitative research, research questions are usually geared toward measuring hypothesis using
statistical tools. Quantitative research is more objective than a qualitative research. The methods are also
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predetermined and structured. Good statistical treatments are important in deciding possible outcomes or
conclusions for the success of the research. Quantitative research follows a certain sample size in the use of the
subjects or respondents of the study.

The following are some of the examples of quantitative research topics:

1. Predictors of science performance
2. Growth performance of organic fertilizer
3. Population rate in Metro Manila in the next 20 years

Looking at these examples, you may say that the kind of data that can be generated is numerical. The
primary data is obtained from an experiment or from an existing document. Like for instance, population rate,
you may get the data from the available statistics and predict the rate in the next 20 years using a statistical
formula. Likewise, a numerical data can be obtained if you are aiming to find the growth performance of
organic fertilizer by taking the length of the leaves or the stem of "experimented" plants.

To clearly see the difference between qualitative and quantitative research.

STANDARDS QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE
MENTAL SURVEY OF Exists in the physical world Results from social interaction
REALITY
CAUSE-EFFECT Revealed by automatic Explained by people’s objectives
RELATIONSHIP descriptions of circumstance or and desires
conditions
RESEARCHER’S Objective; least involvement of the Subjective; sometimes personally
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE researcher engaged
OBJECT OR SUBJECT OF THE
STUDY
EXPRESSION OF DATA, DATA Numerals, statistics Verbal language (words, visuals,
ANALYSIS, AND FINDINGS objects)
RESEARCH PLAN Plans all the research aspects Takes place as the research
before collecting data proceeds gradually
BEHAVIOR TOWARD Control or manipulation of Desires to preserve the natural
RESEARCH ASPECTS/ research conditions by the setting of research features
CONDITIONS researcher
OBTAINING KNOWLEDGE Scientific method Multiple methods
PURPOSE Evaluates objectives and examines Makes social intentions
cause and effect relationship understandable
DATA-ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE Mathematically based method Thematic codal ways, competence
based
STYLE OF EXPRESSION Impersonal, scientific, or Personal
systematic
SAMPLING TECHNIQUE Random sampling as the most More inclined to purposive
preferred sampling or use of chosen samples
based on some criteria
SAMPLE SIZE Sample size is determined if total Typically small
population exceeds 30
SUITABILITY FOR STUDYING Suitable for studying large Not suitable for collecting data
population over a large area
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APPROACH Objective Subjective

AIM Test hypothesis, test theories Explore complex human issues
PHILOSOPHICAL Deductive Inductive
FOUNDATION
ASSESSMENT OF OUTCOMES Validity and reliability Adequacy
PRINCIPLE OF SAMPLE SIZE Representation Saturation
TOOLS or INSTRUMENTS Survey questionnaire Interviews, Focus group
discussion
MEASURES OF UTILITY ON Generalizability Transferability
RESULTS

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