Understanding Research: Definition and Importance

Research Defined

• Research is finding or seeking data to address unanswered or unproven questions.
• "RE-SEARCH" involves rediscovering and reevaluating facts.
• The term "research" comes from the Middle French word "recherche," meaning "to go about seeking."
• Evidence of the term being in use can be traced back to 1577
• Research should be systematic to reveal truth, address phenomena or reality, and serve as an investigation

Importance of Research

• Research fosters interdependence and relationships, essential for societal problem-solving.
• Aids in independent work and the pursuit of accurate information.
• Develops skepticism towards readily available information.
• Promotes scientific/systematic work with a discerning perspective
• Sharpens the mind and encourages a thoughtful outlook
• Leads to a comprehensive understanding and vision
• Qualitative research suggests reality is shaped by societal context
• People's intentions influence cause-effect relationships
• Qualitative research involves studying phenomena in their natural settings.
• Research enables knowledge acquisition and efficient learning
• Contributes to a broader understanding of life's issues
• It blurs the line between truth and lies
• Opens avenues for new opportunities
• Cultivates reading, analytical, and thoughtful habits
• Qualitative research promotes understanding of human behavior and personality
• Research is essential for positive societal advancements.
• Offers methods for gaining and analyzing information.

Characteristics of Research

• Accuracy relies on correct data, properly documented with footnotes and notes.
• Objectiveness deals with facts over assumptions, generalizations, etc.
• Timeliness is key, as it needs to work on topics that are fresh
• Relevance is instrumental in improving society by addressing community issues
• Clarity ensures central points use simple, direct language.
• Systematic entails organization in its approach

Qualitative vs Quantitative Research

• Qualitative research uses interview protocols, subjective questions, thematic analysis, participants, and words.
• Quantitative research uses surveys and objective questions.

Working Title for Research

• Research, is a systematic process of collecting and analyzing data to enhance comprehension of a topic.
• A research agenda outlines priority areas to help stakeholders conduct research.

Choosing a Research Topic

• Consider interest, data availability, timeliness, subject scope, and resources
• Characteristics include being specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART)

Topics to Avoid

• Controversial, too technical/broad/narrow, hard to investigate, or vague research topics should be avoided.

Constructing a Title

• The working/running title is not to be considered the final title
• Titles should be between 5 and 15 words including the research variables
  • Dependent
  • Independent
  • Extraneous

Variables

• Variables, in research, are measurable people, places, things, or phenomena.
• Variables exist as independent (manipulated), dependent (changing), and controlled (constant)

Strands

• Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) focuses on human behavior, societal changes, arts, culture, politics, and communication
  • Ex: "Evaluating the Influence of Chat GPT to the 21st Century Literacy Skills of Grade 12 Students."
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is for students desiring to pursue college degrees centered on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
  • Ex: "Effectiveness of Project-Based Learning (PBL) in Providing Standard Learning among Grade 12 STEM Students of Siena College Quezon City in the General Chemistry Subject, Academic Year 2022-2023"
• Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) focuses on financial management and corporate operations.
  • Ex: "The Effectiveness of Innovative Marketing Strategies in the New Normal Standard as Perceived by the Senior High School Students of Siena College Quezon City,

Chapter 1

• The chapter introduces the research problem with supporting evidence
• It outlines initial literature and study purpose
• Definitions clarify technical terms
• Explanations are provided on what the researcher discusses
• The background study introduces the topic
• Gaining background knowledge helps discover the topic's connection to expert knowledge
• Reading enhances understanding and supports theories
• Background leads to an understanding of previous work.
• The background introduces the main concern and problem
• Literature review provides background, including local/foreign studies and theories (at least 5 sources)
• First sentence should engage readers
• The statement reveals personal connection to topic

Statement of the Problem

• The problem presents a description of an issue that has to be addressed, or a knowledge gap
• It pinpoints the significance and the context/issue for the research to investigate
• The statement focuses the research with hypotheses, objectives, and questions
• Major questions are the most important
• Includes necessary minor, follow-up questions
• It needs to define the profile of the respondents

Study Significance

• Talks about the study’s beneficiaries as well as the people/groups who benefit including an explanation as to why (3 sentences each)
• Students
• Teachers
• Future Researchers
• Etc...

Scope and Limitation

• The scope defines the research content boundary for clarity
• Researchers shouldn't have confusion regarding content
• It should have a specified topical

Conceptual/Theoretical Framework

• The framework is the research's "backbone," providing structural support
• Research paradigm serves as a pattern and explanation

Assumptions of the Study

• Assumptions are trusted beliefs taken as truth without evidence
• Assumptions serve as the foundation and provide direction to the research
• Researchers make assumptions to progress effectively
• Assumptions enable a study and require an understanding of the topic

Definition of Terms

• It explains term meanings used in the research, defined by the variables
• Operational meaning (connotative) is the definition of the word, as used by researchers

Paper Guidelines

• Use the third-person point of view.
• Usage of
  • Declarative
  • Expository
  • Informative formatting

Writing techniques

• Summarizing presents key points to support a thesis and provides context
• Condenses longer material capturing main ideas
• Find important info to shorten longer text

Paraphrasing

• Paraphrasing shows understanding, avoids direct quotes
• It restates source in other words, clarifying meaning

Synthesis

• The synthesis of many subtopics helps understanding in the literature review

• Functions like a jigsaw puzzle assembling pieces (arguments) to show knowledge

• It combines elements into a whole

• Literature reviews need use of a variety of sources.

• Synthesizing involves explanation and reinterpretation

• Relating and combining literature presents new understanding

Graduate Attributes

• Research = PILLAR OF TRUTH - SIENAN researchers = "TRUTH SEEKER."
• Research = KINGDOM OF CREDIBILITY - SIENAN researchers are = "GOD-CENTERED."
• Research = HOME FOR "INTEGRITY" - SIENAN researchers = "SERVANT-LEADER."
• Research = "FOUNDATION" OF "COLLABORATION" - SIENAN researchers = "COMMUNITY BUILDER."

Explore the definition and importance of research. Research involves systematically seeking data to answer questions and uncover truths. It fosters interdependence, aids independent work, develops critical thinking, and promotes a comprehensive understanding of reality.