Quarter 2 Module 6

English for
Academic and Professional

Purposes
Quarter 2- Module 6:
Conducting Surveys,
Experiments or Observations
WHAT IS IT
Let's deepen your understanding on the
concepts and ideas about conducting
survey, experiments or observation.
1. Survey
In doing a survey, the researcher must
understand the right mode of inquiry
for establishing an inference whether
in a large group of people or from a
The very aim of conducting a survey
is to present and explain the actual
experiences of a certain
population.Conducting survey are
done in three (3) steps: 1) by email; 2)
telephone; 3) personal interview.
The challenges and limitations of
survey are seen according to the
following criteria:
1) appropriateness of the method; 2)
accuracy of what to observe; 3)
generalizability of the findings; 4)
administrative constrains; 5) ethical
and political difficulties.
Survey research means collecting
information about a group of people by
asking them questions and analyzing the
results. To conduct an effective survey,
follow these six steps:
1. Determine who will participate

in the survey
2. Decide the type of survey
(mail, online, or in-person)
3. Design the survey questions
and layout
4. Distribute the survey
5. Analyze the responses
6. Write up the results
Surveys are a flexible method data
collection that can be used in many
different types of research.
An example of a survey is the
open-ended questions. This is
placed in a box form and will
permit your respondents to provide
a unique answer.
This kind of approach is able to
provide the respondents the freedom
to say what they feel about a topic,
which provides you with an
exploratory data that may unleash
important issues, opportunities, issues,
or quotes.
2. Experimental Research
Experimental research is a study that
strictly adheres to a scientific research
design. It includes a hypothesis, a
variable that can be manipulated by
the researcher, and variables that can
be measured, calculated and
compared.
Most importantly, experimental
research is completed in a controlled
environment. The researcher
collects data and results will either
support or reject the hypothesis.
This method of research is referred

to a hypothesis testing or a
deductive research method.
Experimental research seeks
to determine a relationship
between two (2) variables
the dependent variable and
the independent variable.
After completing an
experimental research study, a
correlation between a specific
aspect of an entity and the
variable being studied is
either supported or rejected.
Data in experimental
research must be able to be
quantified, or measured.
Data collected could be acidity /
alkalinity, area, circumference,
density,electrical/current/potential/r
esistance, force, growth (time,
weight, volume, length/width), heat,
humidity, light intensity, mass,
pressure, sound intensity,
temperature, time, velocity, volume
or weight.
However, the entity should be
carefully observed qualitatively,
or described using words and
photographs. How does the
entity look, smell, sound, feel,
and taste (when appropriate)?
These types of
observations help
supplement the
measurements taken
throughout the
experiment.
Forensic Studies Studying splatter
(a physics/math study),
decomposition (an entomology
study), damage to objects (a
physics/engineering study), can be
done in a controlled environment
and be measured.
"The Effect of_ on_ Studies -All experimental studies
look to determine how one thing affects another.
Product Effectiveness if a specific aspect (active

ingredients, size of crucial components etc.) of
several products can be determined to be in
different quality or quantity, this makes for a
great experimental project. (For example the
different levels of Ethyl Alcohol within
antibacterial hand sanitizers.)
Microbiology bacteria (and
some protists)
grow quickly, change in
population is easily measured
and therefore make for a good
experimental study.
Experiments are performed all
around us everyday. Whether
they're done to find out if a cancer
curing medication works or to find
out how fast water evaporates at
certain temperatures, experiments
are constantly performed.
However, what separates
a simple experiment from
a professionally done
experiment is the use of
the Scientific Method.
The Scientific Method helps you
plan, predict, research, conclude
and maybe even publish your
findings. The Scientific Method
will make your experiment more
organized, easy to interpret and
learn from.
The steps to the Scientific
Method are:
1) Pose a Testable Question.

2) Conduct Background
Research.
3) State your Hypothesis
4) Design Experiment
5) Perform you Experiment
6) Collect Data
7) Draw Conclusions
8) Publish Findings (optional).

3. Observation
May take place in natural
settings and involve the
researcher taking lengthy
and descriptive notes of
what is happening.
It is argued that there are limits
to the situations that can be
observed in their 'natural'
settings and that the presence of
the researcher may lead to
problems with validity.
Limitations with observation
include:
a. Change in people's behavior when they know
they are being observed
b. A 'snap shot' view of a whole situation
c. Think Big Brother...
d. The researcher may miss something while they
are watching and taking notes
e. The researcher may make judgments, make value
statements misunderstand what has been observed
Strengths of observation
a. Can offer a flavor for what is happening
b. Can give an insight into the bigger
picture
c. Can demonstrate sub-groups
d. Can be used to assist in the design of the
rest of the research
e. Sometimes, the researcher becomes
or needs to become a participant
observer, where he/she is taking part
in the situation in order to be accepted
and further understand the workings of
the social phenomenon
Observation can sometimes obtain
more reliable information about
certain things for example, how people
actually behave. It can also serve as a
technique for verifying or nullifying
information provided in face to face
encounters.
People or environment can be
observed. When environment is
researched, it can provide
valuable background
information that may inform
other aspects of the research.
Techniques for collecting
data through observation:
Written descriptions - The

researcher makes written
descriptions of the people,
situations or environment
Limitations include
 Researcher might miss out on an
observation as they are taking notes
 The researcher may be focused on a
particular event or situation o

 There is room for subjective
interpretation of what is happening

Video recording
- Allows the researcher to also record
notes
- Limitations may include
• People acting unnaturally towards the
camera or others avoiding the camera
• The camera may not always see
everything
Photographs and artifacts
- Useful when there is a need to collect
observable information or phenomena such
as buildings, neighborhoods, dress and
appearance
- Artifacts include objects of significan
enemorabilia, instruments, tools and
others.
Documentation
Any and all kinds of
documentation may be used to
provide information local paper,
information on a notice board,
administrative policies and
procedures.
How to Conduct
Observations for Research
Identify Objective
Determine what you want to
observe and why. Are looking to
see how students respond to a new
environment? How customers
interact with employees?How
bosses interact with subordinates?
When conducting observations, you are
trying to learn habits, patterns, behaviors,
reactions, and general information about
people in a particular environment to better
understand what they do and, hopefully
eventually, why they do it (though
observations alone often won't tell you the
"why")
Establish Recording Method
To make observations most
effective, it's ontipnt that you
minimize or eliminate any
disruptive or unfamiliar devices
into the environment you wish to
observe.
For example, it is often least
effective to video record
observations in situations where
the people being observed know
they are beingd filmt it's usually
unethical to film without telling
them.
Note-taking is the most
common method, though in
some public spaces you can
take photographs, audio
recordings, and other
methods.
Develop Questions and
Techniques
Determine whether you are conducting
an informal or a formal observation
(see explanations to the far right.)
Knowing your objective, determine if
there are specific questions you have
or if you are going in completely
open-minded.
What you hope to learn will help
you know what specifically to look
for. Be prepared when entering an
observation space by having a
sound understanding of the type of
Information you are trying learn.
Observe and Take Notes
Visit the place you are hoping to get
information from. Be as unobtrusive
as possible, taking notes, photographs,
audio, and film, only where it is
allowed, you have permission, and it
makes sense for the research without
disrupting the environment.
If you are doing formal
observations, will you need
to code certain behaviors,
actions, words, visuals, and
other observed data.
5. Analyze Behaviors and
Inferences
 Separatethe difference between what you
observed (which are factual behaviors)
and why what you observed happened.
Typically, to make some sense of your
observed data, you will need to interview
people in the environment you are
observing,
either during the observation
itself, or afterwards. Make
connections between
interactions, responses,
behaviors, and other
phenomena.

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English for

Academic and Professional

1. Determine who will participate

This method of research is referred

Product Effectiveness if a specific aspect (active

1) Pose a Testable Question.

8) Publish Findings (optional).

Written descriptions - The

particular event or situation o

interpretation of what is happening

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