Research in Science and Technology

Research in Science and Technology

• Research is essential for progress and development in science and technology.
• Research is conducted to gain knowledge and explore the unknown
• Research is conducted to solve problems.

Definitions of Research

• Research is a human activity based on intellectual application in the investigation of matter
• Research is a tool for searching for a theory, and for solving a problem.
• Research is a systematic, formal, rigorous, and precise process employed to gain solutions to problems, or to discover and interpret new facts and relationships
• Research is the process of looking for a specific answer for a specific question in an organized, objective, and reliable way.
• Research is a systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relations among natural phenomena.
• Research is the process of searching again, to take another more careful look, to find out more.
• Research is the systematic quest for undiscovered truth.
• Research is a systematic attempt to provide answers to questions.

Types of Research

• Historical research involves the study of past events.
• Historical research includes the critical investigation of events, developments, and experiences of the past.
• Historical research requires careful weighing of evidence of the validity of sources and the interpretation of weighted evidence.
• Qualitative research (ethnographic research) studies current rather than past events.
• Qualitative research involves collecting extensive narrative data (non-numerical data) on many variables over time in a naturalistic setting.
• Descriptive research involves collecting numerical data to test hypotheses or answer questions.
• Descriptive research includes collection of data done through questionnaire, interview, or observation.
• Correlational research determines the existence and degree of relationship between two or more quantifiable (numerical) variables.
• Correlational research is used to predict the value on one variable for a subject's value on the other variable when two variables are correlated.
• Causal-comparative research attempts to establish cause-effect relationships among study variables.
• Causal-comparative research aims to show independent variable values have a significant effect on the dependent variable.
• Experimental research attempts to establish cause-effect relationships among groups of subjects.
• Experimental research includes cause (the independent variable) is under the control of the experimenter.

Parts of a Research Paper

• Preliminaries are the first pages in a research paper

Preliminaries

• The title page includes the exact title of the paper.
• The title page includes the full name of the researcher
• The title page includes the degree for which the paper is presented
• The title page includes the department name
• The title page includes the college to which the paper is submitted
• The title page includes the defense month and year
• The approval sheet follows the title page.
  • The approval sheet generally contains a statement of acceptance of the research report.
• The acknowledgment sheet contains the writer's expression of appreciation for assistance and encouragement.
• The abstract is a brief summary of the research.
  • The abstract gives a short description or condensation of the problem
  • The abstract gives the methodology
• The abstract gives the findings and conclusions
  • An abstract allows readers to survey its contents quickly.
• The table of contents lists the preliminary parts, chapter titles, subdivisions of body reports, and supplementary materials.
• Lists of Tables and Figures contain the tables and figures (pictures, graphs, charts, and other illustrative materials).

Introduction

• The introduction follows the preliminaries.
• The introduction is marked as Chapter I
• The introduction includes the Background of the Study
• The introduction includes a Conceptual framework
• The introduction includes the Statement of the Problem
• The introduction includes a Hypothesis/es - The introduction includes the Significance of the Study - The introduction includes the Scope and Delimitation of the Study - The introduction includes a Definition of Terms

Significance of the Study

• The background of the study contains the origin of the problem.
• The background of the study describes the circumstances which suggested the research.
• The conceptual framework is a scheme for the research problem.
• The conceptual framework provides a central focus of the study.
• The conceptual framework specifies the key variable showing the relationships.
• The conceptual framework variables are usually represented by diagrams.
• The statement of the problem refers to the problem and sub-problems raised in the study.
• The statement of the problem should be stated precisely, accurately, and clearly.
• The statement of the problem should be defined in terms of obtainable data.
• Hypotheses are tentative statements that may answer research questions, but are subjected to statistical testing.
• Significance of the study justifies making the study.
• Significance of the study state why the problem investigated is important
• Significance of the study state what significance does it have once the result comes out.
• The scope and delimitation of the study consist of the study's scope and limit
• The scope consists of what additional population, concept, content, or time the researcher includes in the study.
• Definition of terms includes conceptual and operational definitions of important terms used in the study.

Review of Related Literature and Studies

• The review of related literature and studies is usually Chapter II.
• The review of related literature purpose shows the significant bearing of other literature and studies to the present undertaking, including foreign literature and studies
• The review of related literature includes local literature and studies.
• The review of related literature includes synthesis and relevance to the studies.
• Foreign literature includes books and articles authored by foreign writers.
• Foreign studies are research, theses, and dissertations by foreign authors from different countries.
• Local literature and studies include books, articles, research, theses, and dissertations written in the Philippines.
• Researchers must collate and synthesize the foreign and local literature and studies for relevance to the undertakings.

Methodology

• Methodology includes methods of research to be used.
• Methodology includes information on population frame with the sample size.
• Methodology includes instrumentation.
• Methodology includes data gathering procedures.
• Methodology includes statistical treatment of the data.
• The method of research to be used refers to the design to be used in the research like survey, descriptive and experimental.
• The population frame and sample size refer to the target respondents and size of the population.
• The population frame and sample size describes the sample profile, how to get the sample size, and the sampling procedure.
• Instrumentation refers to the description of the adoption, construction, and administration of instruments.
• Instruments include tests, questionnaires, interviews, apparatuses, devices, and laboratory equipment.
• Data-gathering procedure is the description of how the researcher will gather his data.
• Statistical treatment of data includes computing the data gathered like frequency, percentage ranking, chi-square, t-test, z-test, standard deviation, analysis of variance, correlation coefficient, and other statistics.

Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data

• Presentation, analysis, and interpretation of data summarizes the collected data and presents the results.
• Presentation, analysis, and interpretation of data is the central part of the study.
• The research and application must be presented in a straightforward manner.
• The presentation must be geared to the research questions and hypotheses.
• Relevant data should only be presented.
• Choose the medium that presents the interpretation effectively with the use of tables, charts, and figures.
• The textual presentation should supplement or expand the contents of tables, charts, and figures.
• Data should be objective, logical, and based on facts.
• Note all relevant results including those that run counter to the hypotheses.
• Include the test statistics value, degree of freedom, and significance level.

Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendation

• The last chapter include summary, conclusion, and recommendation.
• The summary contains the summary of the study, conclusions based on the findings, and recommendations based on the conclusions.
• The summary is the brief recapitulation of the paper's entire content.
• The summary shows the important points, from the problem to the description of how the researcher arrived at results.
• Conclusions are points learned from the study or are the answers to the statement of the problem.
• Recommendations are based on conclusions.
• Recommendations improve and solve problems raised based on specific actions.

Reference Materials

• Reference materials include bibliography, appendices, and curriculum vitae.
• Bibliography, sometimes called references and works cited, informs readers of the sources used in the study
• Bibliography entries are arranged in alphabetical order by the author's family name
• Appendices include statistics tables from outside sources, test questionnaires, schedules, data collection forms, documents, and other illustrative materials.
• Curriculum vitae refers to the biographical information of the researcher including personal and educational history.

Steps on Research Writing

• Preliminaries
  • Choose a subject
  • Begin a preliminary reading
  • Restrict the subject to a specific topic
  • Formulate the statement of the problem
  • Prepare the instrumentation
• Gathering Data
• Locate information Begin extensive work in the library by note-taking from books, periodicals, journals, and the Internet.
• Interview if needed
• Administer other research instruments
• Writing the paper
• Develop an outline.
• Write a rough draft.
• Check the documentation and format of the paper.
• Revise and rewrite.
• Proofread.

Library Research or Term Papers

• Undergraduates sometimes use a simple form of research omitting many of the parts discussed.
• This type of research is called library research or Term Papers.
• A term paper is a research paper written by students over an academic term, accounting for a large part of a grade or a paper required at the end of a school semester.
• Term papers track and evaluate students’ knowledge about the course, in the form of a scientific report or discussion of an assigned topic
• Term papers require a lot of research and technical writing expertise.

Term Paper Structure

• Cover page: Align name, course number, teacher's name, and deadline in the center of the page
• Abstract: A short summary of you work describing the term paper, the issue, and why the subject was pursued
• Introduction: A statement of the topic, the significance of the topic or problem at hand, and a description about how you plan to resolve the issue
• Body: Main points from research providing information about the topic, positions pertaining to the issue, and the analysis of the research Results: Explain your beliefs about the subject, if your changed, and a tie-in to your introduction.
• Discussion: A summary and conclusion about the topic in question.
• Further reading question by prompting the reader to continue research

Term Paper Citation Styles

• Format considers length and citation style
• Required for a specific citation style.
• Neglecting referencing invites plagiarism.
• Academic writing assignments use APA or MLA citation styles.
• APA (American Psychological Association) term paper format is for social sciences.
• APA reference lists author's name, book's title, year of publication, publisher, and location.
• MLA (Modern Language Association) format is most appropriate

Steps on Research Writing

• Title: A clear and comprehensible draft title of what you want to research. Objectives: Define outcomes following research.
• Relevance and Importance: Include recent news, social events, articles, and blogs that convey the importance of the topic so a reader is captured.