Practical Research I

Characteristics,
Processes, and
Ethics of Research
Quarter 3 – Module 2
Lesson 1

Characteristics of
Research
CHARACTERISTICS
These are features or qualities that
distinguish a person, place, or thing.
 Characteristics of Research
(Cristobal & Cristobal, 2017)
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.
Research should be objective.
• The researcher needs to present information
that is purely based on truths. It should
always be anchored on the factual basis on
which the research work is founded, thus
being free from any bias or personal
opinion.
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.
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.
Research should be clear.
• The researcher needs to use comprehensible language
to present information and convey explanations
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from published and unpublished materials.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 2

The Research Process

 PROCESS
It refers to a series of steps or actions
taken to achieve a particular end or
goal.
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 worthwhile within the field (Rao, 2017).

• Understanding such process is an important step

toward executing any study. The following table
shows the five phases of the research process
along with their definition (Whittemore &
Melkus, 2008).
Significant steps you need to
take in conducting a study as
presented by Rao (2017):
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.
 The researcher identifies English
language proficiency as a problem of
aspiring maritime students in
qualifying for admission to
prestigious maritime institutions.
Review the literature.
• Read various publications or surf the
internet to become aware of the previous
works are already done on the chosen topic
.
• You may utilize different resources like
science books, magazines, journals,
newspapers, or even in the internet.
 The researcher reviews previous
studies conducted about English
language proficiency and the
experienced difficulties of aspiring
maritime students.
Formulate hypothesis.
•A hypothesis is a theoretical statement in
solving a logical relationship between
variables. It should be based on the
problem being solved.
The researcher hypothesizes that the
implementation of the English-Only
Policy (EOP) in the classroom can
improve the English language
proficiency of Pre-Baccalaureate
Maritime students.
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.
 The researcher uses an
experimental design on exploring
the experiences of the students in
implementing EOP.
Collect data.

•Use an appropriate data collection

method to elicit the needed information.
The researcher collects data
through interview and focus
group discussion.
Analyze data.

•Utilize strategies and methods that make

sense of the data to answer the research
problem.
The researcher analyzes the data
by drawing patterns and themes
from the generated data.
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.
 The researcher interprets and
reports the findings based on the
collected and analyzed data to
solve the research problem .
Lesson 3

Ethics in Research
 ETHICS
is a branch of knowledge that deals
with moral principles on governing a
person’s behavior in the conduct of
any activity.
Importance of Ethics in Research
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.
It upholds values that are essential to
collaborative work.

•Many researchers who are working in

different disciplines and institutions
cooperate and coordinate to accomplish a
particular research. With ethics in mind,
they also maintain trust, accountability,
mutual respect, and fairness.
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.
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.
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.
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
 Honesty

•The researcher should strive to truthfully

report data in whatever form of
communication all throughout the study.
 Objectivity

•The researcher should avoid being

biased. The study should not be
influenced by his/her personal motives,
beliefs and opinions.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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
•It 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.
 Confidentiality

•The researcher should take steps to

protect all confidential communications
or documents from being discovered by
others.
 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.
 Responsible mentoring

•The researcher should teach responsible

conduct of research and share
professional knowledge and skills,
especially to new or less experienced
researchers.
 Respect for colleagues

•The researcher should show courtesy to

his/her colleagues by treating them
equally and fairly.
 Social responsibility

•The researcher should promote social

good by working for the best interests
and benefits of the environment and
society as a whole.
 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.
 Competence

•The researcher should possess the

necessary knowledge and skills in
conducting a study. He/she should be
equipped with a sense of professionalism
and expertise to ensure competent results.
 Legality

•The researcher should know and abide

by relevant laws, institutional and
government policies concerning the legal
conduct of research.
 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
 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.
 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
they fully understood and agreed with the study.
 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 to and engaged in invasive and risky
procedures.
 Confidentiality

•The research participants must be

assured of their privacy, particularly
regarding personal information. The
researcher must secure that all
information disclosed by them will not
be used without authorized access.
 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.
Practical Research I