Research Methods

Learning Objectives

 The students should be able:

 To define and formulate a research problem;
 To understand the suitability of various research approaches and techniques to the
investigation of specific research questions;
 To be able to interpret evidence;
 To have a critical awareness of ethical pre-requisites of research.
Learning Outcomes

 This topic is expected to equip you with basic capacities to apply

research methods to real world problems and evaluate other’s use
of research methods.
Research Process

 The research process consists of a series of systematic

procedures that a researcher must go through in order to
generate knowledge that will be considered valuable by the
project and focus on the relevant topic.
Steps in Research Process
Step 1: Identify the Problem

 Finding an issue or formulating a research question is the first step. A well-

defined research problem will guide the researcher through all stages of the
research process, from setting objectives to choosing a technique.

 A preliminary survey
 Case studies
 Interviews with a small group of people
 Observational survey
Step 2: Evaluate the Literature

 A thorough examination of the relevant studies is essential to the

research process. It enables the researcher to identify the precise aspects of
the problem. Once a problem has been found, the investigator or researcher
needs to find out more about it.
 The researcher can build consistency between his work and others through
a literature review. Such a review exposes the researcher to a more
significant body of knowledge and helps him follow the research process
efficiently.
Step 3: Create Hypotheses

 Formulating an original hypothesis is the next logical step after narrowing

down the research topic and defining it. A belief solves logical relationships
between variables. In order to establish a hypothesis, a researcher must have
a certain amount of expertise in the field.
Step 4: The Research Design

 Research design is the plan for achieving objectives and answering research
questions. It outlines how to get the relevant information. Its goal is to design
research to test hypotheses, address the research questions, and provide
decision-making insights.
 Exploration and Surveys
 Experiment
 Data Analysis
 Observation
Step 5: Describe Population

 Research projects usually look at a specific group of people,

facilities, or how technology is used in the business. In research,
the term population refers to this study group. The research topic
and purpose help determine the study group.
Step 6: Data Collection

 Data collection is important in obtaining the knowledge or information required

to answer the research issue. Every research collected data, either from the
literature or the people being studied.
Step 7: Data Analysis

 During research design, the researcher plans data analysis. After

collecting data, the researcher analyzes it. The data is examined
based on the approach in this step. The research findings are
reviewed and reported. The researcher can examine the acquired
data using a variety of statistical methods.
Step 8: The Report-writing

 After completing these steps, the researcher must prepare a report detailing
his findings. The report must be carefully composed with the following in
mind:
 The Layout: On the first page, the title, date, acknowledgments, and preface should be
on the report. A table of contents should be followed by a list of tables, graphs, and
charts if any.
 Introduction: It should state the research’s purpose and methods. This section should
include the study’s scope and limits.
Step 8: The Report-writing

 Summary of Findings: A non-technical summary of

findings and recommendations will follow the
introduction.
 Principal Report: The main body of the report should
make sense and be broken up into sections that are easy to
understand.
 Conclusion: The researcher should restate his findings at
the end of the main text. It’s the final result.
Problem Definition

A research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a

condition to be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a
troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or
in practice that points to the need for meaningful understanding
and deliberate investigation.
Why is it important to define the research
problem?
What is a research problem?

A research problem is a statement that addresses a gap in

knowledge, a challenge or a contradiction in a particular field.
Scientists use research problems to identify and define the aim of
their study and analysis. A research problem may also help
identify key concepts and terms, overarching questions and
variables associated with a study.
Characteristics of an effective research problem

 There are several factors that ensure a research problem is clear, well-defined
and easy to follow throughout the duration of a study. Some characteristics to
consider when aiming to define a research problem include:
 Reflecting on issues or required knowledge in a particular field prior to conducting a study
 Ensuring that the topic you aim to examine has a sufficient amount of relevant data
 Relying on reputable evidence and data and disregarding information that you can't verify
 Remaining practical, manageable and communicative with researchers involved in data
collection and analysis.
3 types of research problems

 Theoretical research problems

 Applied research problems
 Action research problems
1. Theoretical Research problems

 Theoretical research problems allow you to contribute to the overall information

and knowledge in an area of study. These kinds of research problems are
exploratory and provide basic definitions of a problem's overarching nature or
areas of informational gaps.
 Example:
 The GCST is facing a continued decrease in profitability due to the number of
enrollees. The main reason for the decrease in profitability is the facilities, which have
resulted in a high number of students dropping out, transferring schools, or even
stopping studying at GCST. Dr. Villanueva is planning to concentrate on student
satisfaction to stay in GCST.
 Theoretical Research problems

 Objective
 To provide better facilities and increase number of students to stay in GCST.
 Problem
 Continued decreasing profitability.
 Research Question
 How can GCST can increase the profit.
 Sub-questions
 What are the best thing that GCST can offer to the students to stay.
 Finding the theoretical framework
 The study can focus to increase profit and number of enrollees in GCST.
Benefits of a theoretical framework

 Provides a structured approach allowing researchers to organize their thoughts in a

coherent way.
 Helps to identify gaps in knowledge highlighting areas where further research is
needed.
 Increases research efficiency by providing a clear direction for research and focusing
efforts on relevant data.
 Improves the quality of research by providing systematic approach to research, which
can increase the likelihood of producing valid and reliable results.
 Provides a basis for comparison by providing a common language and conceptual
framework for researchers to compare their findings with other research in the field
2. Applied research problems

 Applied Research problems, or nonsystematic problems, involve the practical

use of theoretical knowledge, meaning that scholars may use a particular
theoretical framework to gain information. It also includes an exploratory
hypothesis and tests to verify the accuracy of the hypothesis.
 Applied research is an important way to research because it helps organizations
find real-world solutions to specific problems while also increasing their output
and productivity.
Applications of Applied Research

• Product development: Applied research can help companies

develop new products or improve existing ones. For example, a
company might conduct research to develop a new type of battery
that lasts longer or a new type of software that is more efficient.
 Medical research: Applied research can be used to develop new
treatments or drugs for diseases. For example, a pharmaceutical
company might conduct research to develop a new cancer
treatment.
 Environmental research: Applied research can be used to study and address
environmental problems such as pollution and climate change. For example,
research might be conducted to develop new technologies for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
 Agriculture: Applied research can be used to improve crop yields, develop
new varieties of plants, and study the impact of pests and diseases on crops.
 Education: Applied research can be used to study the effectiveness
of teaching methods or to develop new teaching strategies.
 Transportation: Applied research can be used to develop new
technologies for transportation, such as electric cars or high-speed
trains.
 Communication: Applied research can be used to improve
communication technologies, such as developing new methods for
wireless communication or improving the quality of video calls.
Examples of Applied Research

 Cybersecurity: Applied research is being conducted to improve

cybersecurity measures and protect against cyber threats. This includes
research on encryption, network security, and data protection.
 Computer Science: Creating an algorithm to enhance image recognition in
smartphones.
 Evaluating the effectiveness of online teaching methods on student
performance.
Purpose of Applied Research

 The primary purpose of applied research is to generate new knowledge that

can be used to solve real-world problems or improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of existing products, technologies, or processes.
3. Action research problems

 Similar to applied research problems, action research problems

also aim to provide solutions for problems but are typically more
time-sensitive in nature. Action research problems can also be
one component of a larger reflective process that combines
ongoing research, analysis and action.
Parts of Chapter 1
⦿ Introduction ⦿ Scope and
⦿ Background of the Limitations of the
Study Study
⦿ Statement of the ⦿ Definition of Terms
Problem
⦿ Theoretical
Framework
⦿ The
Conceptual
Model of
the Study
Introduction
⦿ Discusses four (4) relevant ideas:
⚫ TOPIC or subject matter: define and
elaborate using methods of paragraph
development like classification and giving
examples
⚫ IMPORTANCE of the Topic: cite the role that the
topic plays in your life and the benefits you
derive from it.
⚫ REASONS for Choosing the topic: emphasized
what motivated you to choose the topic.
⚫ PURPOSE of the Study: discusses the objective
 Background of The Study

⦿ consists of statements on what led the investigator to

launch the study.
⦿ may have been generated by some empirical
observations, the need to explore the problem and
some other relevant conditions.
⦿ describe as clearly as possible the problem intended to
be addressed and refer to the relevant literature in the
field.
Background of the Study

⦿ it is an overview of factors which have

led to the problem, comprise the
problem and historical significance
relative to the problem.
 Statement of the Problem

⦿ There should be a general

statement of the whole
problem followed by the
specific questions or sub
problems into which the
general problem is broken up.
 Theoretical Framework

⦿This is the foundation of the research study. These are highly

related theories and principles that were established and
proven by authorities
⦿ refers to the set of interrelated construct, definitions, and
prepositions that presents a systematic view of phenomena
Theoretical Framework

⦿ an organized body that explains what has been

done and what has been said on the topic or
problem being investigated.
 What must be obtained from a theory?

⦿ The name/s of author/s of the theory must be

taken including the place and the time / year
when he or she postulated such a principle or
generalization.
⦿ the part or parts of the theory that are relevant
to your study
⦿ synthesis by relating to your findings
Conceptual Framework

⦿ a tentative explanation or theoretical explanation

of the phenomenon or problem and serves as the
basis for the formulation research hypotheses.
⦿ consists of the investigator’s own position on a
problem after his exposure to various theories that
have bearing on the problem
Conceptual Framework

⦿ The conceptual framework becomes the central

theme, the focus, the main thrust of the study. It
serves as a guide in conducting investigation.
⦿ Paradigm. A paradigm is a diagrammatic
representation of a conceptual framework. It
depicts in a more vivid way what the conceptual
framework wants to convey.
Conceptual Framework:
Paradigm
Scope and Delimitations

⦿ The scope and delimitations should

include the following:
⚫ A brief statement of the general purpose of the
study.
⚫ The subject matter and topics studied and
discussed.
⚫ The locale of the study, where the data were
gathered or the entity to which the data belong.
Scope and Delimitations
⚫ The population or universe from which the
respondents were selected. This must be large
enough to make generalizations significant.
⚫ The period of the study. This is the time, either
months or years, during which the data were
gathered.
Limitations of the Study
⦿ include the weaknesses of the study beyond
the control of the researcher.
⦿ The weaknesses spring out of the
inaccuracies of the perceptions of the
respondents.
Significance of the Study

⦿ The rationale, timeliness and/or relevance of

the study. The rationale, timeliness and/or
relevance of the study to existing conditions
must be explained or discussed.
⦿ Possible solutions to existing problems or
improvement to unsatisfactory conditions.
Significance of the Study
⦿ Who are to be benefited and how they are going
to be benefited. It must be shown who are the
individuals, groups, or communities who may be
placed in a more advantageous position on
account of the study.
⦿ Possible contribution to the fund of
knowledge.
Significance of the Study
⦿ Possible implications. It should be
discussed here that the implications include
the possible causes of the problems
discovered, the possible effects of the
problems, and the remedial measures to
solve the problems.
 Definition of Terms

⦿ Only terms, words, or phrases which have special

or unique meanings in the study are defined.
⦿ Terms should be defined operationally, that is how
they are used in the study.
⦿ The researcher may develop his own definition from
the characteristics of the term defined.
Definition of Terms
⦿ Definitions may be taken from encyclopedias,
books, magazines and newspaper articles,
dictionaries, and other publications but the
researcher must acknowledge his sources.
⦿ Definitions should a\be brief, clear, and
unequivocal as possible.
⦿ Acronyms should always be spelled out fully