module 1 - intro to methods of research
TRANSCRIPT
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METHODS OF RESEARCH
Prepared By:
Prof. Rene D. Estember
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INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
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DEFINITION OF RESEARCH
a) Research is a purposive, systematic, and
scientific process of gathering, classifying,
organizing, presenting, analyzing and interpreting
data for the solution of a problem, for prediction,
for invention, for the discovery of truth, or for the
expansion or verification of existing knowledge, all
for the reservation and improvement of the quality
of life. (Aguinaldo, 2000).
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DEFINITION OF RESEARCH
b) Research is searching for theory, testing for theory or
for solving a problem. It means a problem exists and has
been identified and that the solution of the problem is
necessary. (Sevilla et al, 1992)
c) Research is a careful, critical inquiry or examination in
seeking facts or principles, a diligent investigation to
ascertain something. It is an unbiased investigation of a
problem based, insofar as possible, on demonstrable facts,and involves refined distinctiveness, interpretations, and
usually some generalizations. (Andres, 1998)
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NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH
1) It is systematic.In research, there is a need to conduct the investigation
in a step by step procedure. The procedure to be
followed must be orderly, disciplined and organized.
2) It is controlled.
Observations must be controlled and not haphazardly
done by making sure the research instruments are
carefully prepared and its validity and reliabilityproperly established. The research variables must be
carefully measured while extraneous variables are kept
to a minimum.
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NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH
3) It is empirical.There is a need to gather factual data which can be scrutinized and
tested. It relies on empirical data which can be used.
4) Research is an inquiry.
It is a process that investigates or searches for problems, possiblesolutions, theories, relevant studies to come up with reliable
knowledge.
5) It is about problem solving.
The essence of research is to find answers to problems raised.
Humankind is beset with varied problems and situations that need
improvement. It is the task of every human being to use his
intelligence, harness his skills and existing knowledge to bring
about progress and development.
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NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
6) It is about adherence to a method.
Research is not just about gathering data for the sake of accumulatingdata. More than that, it is concerned with the how, the right manner
by which findings are arrived through proper methodology and
procedure. Without the right method, .any data or findings arrived at
will not be accurate nor reliable. Without a method, we are left with
chance and research cannot rely on chance.
7) It concentrates on a specific subject/topic.
Life abounds with complex and broad problems and issues that it will
be impossible to tackle all of them one at a time. A particular broad
subject/topic should be properly narrowed down to a specific researchsubject/topic which means it must have a scope and limits in its inquiry
or investigation. A good researcher sets limits to his own inquiry to
bring about feasible solutions to problems.
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KINDS OF RESEARCH ACCORDING TO PURPOSE
1) Basic or pure research
When research is conducted to develop theories and principles, forintellectual pursuit of knowledge and acquire learning, it is classified
as basic or pure research. The inquiry is done for knowledge sake.
An individuals passion and desire to discover the unknown is
essential in the discovery and acquisition of knowledge.
2) Applied research
When the results of basic research are used and/or utilized to
address situations and/or solve problems, research is classified as
applied. This happens when the theories and principles obtainedfrom pure research are put to a test. In applied research, the
theories and principles of basic research are subjected to a test to
find out if these have practical application to specific problems
and/or situations.
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THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF RESEARCH
Three central components of Scientific or Critical
Thinking:
1) The Use of Empirical Evidence (empiricism).
Empirical evidence is evidence that can be discernedby and or susceptible to the senses. It is something
that can be experienced by others, aside from the
researcher. It is repeatable that it can be verified by
others. Empirical evidence is the only type ofevidence that is utilized by scientists and researchers
to formulate conclusions and make decisions.
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THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF RESEARCH
Three central components of Scientific or Critical
Thinking:
2) The Practice of Logical Reasoning (rationalism).
Logic is the art of reasoning correctly. Logical reasoning is a skill
and or discipline that is best learned in a formal educationalenvironment where people are encouraged to reason out freely.
Logic, at times, can be painful and difficult because it can force one
to face and accept realities which others find complicated and
troublesome to accept. But every scientific research must
remember that emotions are not exactly evidence, feelings are not
facts and subjective beliefs are not substantive enough. Statements
and arguments must be based on evidence after it has been
thoroughly analyzed.
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THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF RESEARCH
Three central components of Scientific or Critical
Thinking:
3) The Possession of a Skeptical Attitude (skepticism)
Skepticism is the constant evaluation of ones beliefs and conclusions.
Good scientists and researchers constantly examine the evidence,arguments and reasons for their beliefs. The only way to avoid deception
by others and by ones own self-deception(state by which people deceive
themselves without really being fully conscious of it) is to rigorously
examine ones basis for holding those beliefs. True knowledge is
knowledge that will overcome any scrutiny or questioning. Outright
adherence to a belief without being open to other possibilities is closed or
single-mindedness. A skeptical scientist hold beliefs tentatively and is
open to evidence and rational arguments about those beliefs. Rigorous
examination of evidence are necessary to evaluate, polish and advance
truth and knowledge.
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THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF RESEARCH
Five distinct steps involved in the scientific method of research:
1. The research problem should be clearly identified. This may be an
unexplained discrepancy in ones field of knowledge or a gap to be closed.
2. Step should be taken to define the problem more precisely to establish its
scope and limits.
3. Efforts should be exerted to search out every possible solution. Ideas are
considered and ones imagination and freedom of thought are allowed and
should be encouraged.
4. Researcher should be able to project the consequences of each of thepossible solutions that have been conceived.
5. Researcher should test the solutions to find out what consequences
actually bring results.
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CHARACTERISTICS NEEDED TO BE A GOOD RESEARCHER
1. Knowledge-oriented.
A good researcher must believe in the value and power ofknowledge.
2. Open-minded.
A good researcher must be open to various ideas, views,criticisms, and feedbacks from other people or fellow
researchers.
3. Hardworking.
Research is a difficult challenge. There is no easy path in
achieving meaningful things. It takes a lot of time, resources
and efforts. In research, there is no substitute for hardwork.
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CHARACTERISTICS NEEDEDTO BE A GOOD RESEARCHER
4. Resourceful.
Pursuing research requires a great deal of time, money,materials and other resources. How the researcher will
budget all his resources requires resourcefulness. He must
also be as resourceful when faced by obstacles in his search
for valuable knowledge.
5. Scientific in attitude.
Research is a scientific undertaking. It requires a scientific
attitude of acquiring data, analyzing and interpreting suchdata to make it a part of the body of knowledge. Being
scientific in attitude requires adherence to systematic,
disciplined and objective way of conducting the entire
research task.
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COMMON PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN RESEARCH
1. Difficult in finding or conceptualizing a good research problem.
2. Scarcity or unavailability of updated and relevant references.
3. Financial (limited budget or funds).
4. Time constraints.
5. How to put into writing ones own ideas.
6. Lack of teamwork among the groups members or inadequate assistance.
7. Uncooperative respondents or officials of an institution.
8. Personal problem get in the way of a good research work.
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PLANNING THE THESIS
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PLANNING THE THESISA. Selecting a Topic
Does it make a contribution to knowledge in this field?
(Was there a problem to be investigated and did the thesisattempt to solve this problem?)
B. A Source of Problem for Investigation1) Direct Contact with personnel at a research institution.The research fellow, lecturer or professor who is active inresearch is usually a fund of research problems.
2) Journal Literature Review
The literature review is an important source of ideassignalling gaps., likely future directions, or inconsistencies inpatterns of research findings in a particular area.
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PLANNING THE THESIS
B. A Source of Problem for Investigation3) Familiarity with recent masteral and doctoral studies
in your field of interest.
Publications such as Thesis/Dissertation Abstracts
present concise summaries of thesis/doctoraldissertations submitted at most leading universities.
Often these summaries conclude with suggestions for
future research.
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PLANNING THE THESIS
C. Criteria for Selecting a Topic
1. Is there Adequate Supervision?
There should be a member of faculty in the institution
who has the expertise or interest in a particular topic.
as thesis topics.
2. Does the Topic Really Interest You?
Most research projects take at least a year and successful
completion often depends on whether the topic
continues to hold interest. Lose this and the task
becomes the worst kind of chore.
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PLANNING THE THESISC. Criteria for Selecting a Topic
3. Can the topic be Completed in the Required Time?
Some topics by their very nature require time to elapse
before data can be collected. Longitudinal growth studies
and long-term attitude studies fall into this category.
However desirable these types of studies may be, they arerarely practical.
4. Is the Necessary Equipment Available?
Specialized and expensive equipment is required for manystudies. Unless there is reasonable assurance that
necessary equipment will be available when required, a
different choice of topic may be advisable.
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PLANNING THE THESISC. Criteria for Selecting a Topic
5. Are Subjects Available?
Much research, especially in the social sciences, requiresthe ready cooperation of participants to submit toquestionnaires or experimental treatments and testing.
Many a thesis has been delayed or had its focus changedbecause the question of availability of subjects are notcarefully considered at the outset.
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PLANNING THE THESIS
C. Criteria for Selecting a Topic
6. Are Travel Funds Available to Locate Data Sources?
Often travel is needed fort field trips to collect data, to use particularequipment or to interview participants. Such investigation mayrequire extensive travel; therefore, costing and availability of fundingneed to be considered
7. Are Library Facilities Sufficient?
Library facilities are essential for literary or analytical researchstudies. A particular topic may prove unsuitable simply there is notready access to the requisite source materials. For example, it iscommon for some source material not to be made available during
the lifetime of an individual or for some years after an event. Othermaterials may not be held at a particular library or may not beavailable or inter-library loan because of its value.
.
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PLANNING THE THESISC. Criteria for Selecting a Topic
8. Is the Study Achievable?
Another question to consider is whether the research techniques fortesting a particular problem have been developed or are sufficientlyrefined. This question implies that you need to determine the techniquesto be used before embarking upon a study.
9. Is the Problem a Significant One?
Whether a problem is significant is never an easy question, for its answerrequires considering the practical as well as the theoretical justificationfor the problem(s) under investigation. An important part of any thesis isa section on the significance of the study. Therefore, you should considerthis question early in the life of the study.
At various key stages in planning a thesis, the feasibility of conducting astudy must be faced. You need to ask hard questions about the resourcesneeded for tackling a particular problem, and the justification in terms oftime, effort and expense.
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PLANNING THE THESIS
8. Is the Study Achievable?
Another question to consider is whether the research techniques fortesting a particular problem have been developed or are sufficientlyrefined. This question implies that you need to determine the techniquesto be used before embarking upon a study.
9. Is the Problem a Significant One?
Whether a problem is significant is never an easy question, for its answerrequires considering the practical as well as the theoretical justificationfor the problem(s) under investigation. An important part of any thesis isa section on the significance of the study. Therefore, you should considerthis question early in the life of the study.
At various key stages in planning a thesis, the feasibility of conducting astudy must be faced. You need to ask hard questions about the resourcesneeded for tackling a particular problem, and the justification in terms oftime, effort and expense.
.
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PLANNING THE THESISE. Reviewing the Literature
1) A review of related literature is a task that you will continuethroughout the duration of a thesis.
2) It begins with a search of a suitable topic.
3) Since a thesis aims to be a contribution to knowledge, youneed to check carefully that the proposed study has notpreviously been undertaken.
4) Although completely new and original problems are rare, aprevious study should not be exactly replicated unless thetechniques used were faulty, or the findings and conclusionsdoubtful, or unless some new sources of information havebeen discovered to provide information about the problem. Agood test is whether the problem still requires solution.
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PLANNING THE THESISE. Reviewing the Literature
5) Once you have decided a topic, it is essential to review allrelevant material that has a bearing on the topic. This reviewof the literature is included in the final written thesis as a keysection or chapter.
It is necessary to show how the problem under investigationrelates to previous research studies. In some subject areas it isimportant to locate the problem within a theoreticalframework and, in such cases, the underlying theory needs tobe reviewed as well.
In surveying a field initially, it is useful to work from the generalto the specific, or from tertiary and secondary sources ofinformation to primary sources.
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PLANNING THE THESISE. Reviewing the Literature
5.1 Primary Sources
Primary sources of information include first-handaccounts of experimentation and investigation(articles in professional journals, monographs,doctoral theses, interviews and questionnaires),original works (letters, diaries, eyewitness accounts,poems, novels, autobiographies) and reports(proceedings of Parliament, court testimony, reportof government departments and agencies, annualreports, minutes).
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PLANNING THE THESISE. Reviewing the Literature
5.2 Secondary Sources
Secondary sources of information aresummaries of information gathered fromprimary sources. These include translations,summaries and reviews of research (forexample, encyclopedia articles), abstracts,guide books and other publications,containing information, commentaries, and soon.
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PLANNING THE THESISE. Reviewing the Literature
5.3 Tertiary Sources
Textbooks are usually examples of tertiary sources of information, since these
are generally compiled from secondary sources.
Tertiary sources of information can be useful in providing an overview or broad
summary of a field. They may even be acceptable as references because some
textbooks become acknowledged as authorities.
For certain types of research, the original source material may be lost or
inaccessible and heavy reliance therefore must be made on secondary sources.However, there is no substitute for consulting primary sources if these are
available, and postgraduate work in most subject areas demands it.
The reliability of sources of information generally decreases as the number of
hands through which the information has passed increases.