What is Research?

• Research is scientifically defined as a systematic study to prove a hypothesis or answer specific questions, aiming to find a definite answer.
• Research involves investigation or experimentation to discover and interpret facts, revise theories, or apply new ideas.
• Aguinaldo (2002) defines research as a purposive, systematic, scientific process of gathering, classifying, organizing, presenting, analyzing, and interpreting data to solve a problem, predict, invent, discover truth, expand knowledge, and improve life quality.
• Research is essential for progress, development, and producing necessary changes in life.
• Researching is required to answer problems, identify improvements, and revise policies in modern living.
• Inventions, discoveries, achievements, and societal progress are made possible through quests for knowledge.
• Recent accomplishments in science and technology, business, politics, medicine, and the arts have come about from outstanding research.
• Research produces cellphones, modern tools, and appliances.
• Research is needed for Ph.D., Master's, and Bachelor's degrees.
• Nature and characteristics of research are explained by key concepts cited by Salmorin (2006) from Henson and Soriano (1999).

Nature and Characteristics of Research

• Systematic: Research requires a step-by-step procedure that is orderly, disciplined, and organized.
• Controlled: Observations must be controlled, well-prepared, and valid and reliable. Research variables must be carefully measured, while extraneous variables are kept to a minimum.
• Empirical: There is a need to gather verifiable, factual data that can be scrutinized and tested.
• Inquiry: Research is a process that investigates or searches for problems, solutions, theories, and relevant studies to develop reliable knowledge.
• Finding answers to issues: Research finds answers to issues, addresses situations needing improvement, and harnesses intelligence and skills to bring about progress and development.

Types of Research Based on Goal or Purpose

• Basic: Undertaken to develop theories and principles for intellectual knowledge and learning. Inquiry is made for knowledge's sake with intrinsic passion and desire to discover the unknown.
• Applied: Utilizes basic research results to address situations or solve difficulties, testing the theories and principles for practical application.

Based on the Nature of the Study

• Descriptive research: Describes a population, situation, or phenomenon, answering how, what, when, and where questions related to a research problem.
• According to Atmowardoyo (2018), descriptive research accurately describes existing phenomena by observing, describing, and documenting different aspects of a situation as it naturally occurs.

Studies of the problem

• Correlational research: Discovers or establishes relationships, associations, and interdependence between two or more characteristics of a situation, examining relationships between aspects of a problem or phenomenon (Kumar, 2011).
• Exploratory Research: Attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two aspects of a situation or phenomenon. For example, reasons behind stressful living resulting in heart attacks, fertility decline after mortality decline, or how a home environment influences children achieving in school (Kumar, 2011).

General Classification of Research

• Quantitative: Involves collecting data to describe events, which is then organized, tabulated, depicted, and described; observational and survey methods are used to collect this data. Types include survey, descriptive and correlational studies.
• Qualitative: Involves collecting data using conversational methods. Open-ended questions provide collected answers that are non-numerical. Qualitative method helps a researcher understand what participants think and why they feel in a particular way. Types include interviews, focus groups, ethnographic studies, text analysis and case studies.

Steps in Conducting Research

• Select and Define a Problem
• Describe Methodology of Research
• Collect data
• Analyze and Interpret Results
• Draw Conclusions

Sources of Research Problem

• Selecting an appropriate problem is a serious obligation academically, in which you commit time and energy
• Kumar (2006) identified sources of research problems

Sources

• Personal experiences of the investigator are the primary source. These may come from classrooms, schools, or the community.
• Suggested supervision through intensive study of available literature such as research abstracts, journals, handbooks, etc.
• Supervisors, experts from the field, and experienced personnel, who may suggest the most significant problem.

Thesis

• A thesis is a product of the writer's inquisitive mind, based on inquiry and critical thinking, reflecting originality, critical thinking, organization, clarity, and thorough data gathering.
• A thesis aids the field of knowledge, based upon the researcher's research or treatment, and presents known subject matter from a new perspective.
• The principle of a thesis is an empirical data analysis to convey objective conclusions. It also provides useful, feasible recommendations to improve a specific situation, program, or institutional policy.
• It is a formal, logical, scientific essay with intellectual and disciplined investigation, avoiding informal language.
• A thesis paper has 3 sections: preliminary matters, the text of the main body, and back matters.

Preliminary Matters

• Title Page
• Approval Sheet
• Abstract
• Acknowledgment
• Table of Contents
• List of Tables
• List of Figures
• List of Appendices

Text of Main Body (Chapter Breakdown)

• Chapter I: The Problem and Its Background -Includes: Introduction, Theoretical Framework, Conceptual Framework, Statement of the Problem, Hypothesis, Significance, Scope and Delimitation, and Definition of Terms
• Chapter II: Review of Related Literature and Studies-Includes: Foreign and Local Literature, and Foreign and Local Studies
• Chapter III: Research Methodology-Includes: Methods and Techniques, Respondents, Research Instruments, Data Gathering Procedure, Data Processing and Statistical Treatment, and Ethical Considerations
• Chapter IV: Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data
• Chapter V: Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations Includes: Summary of Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations

Back Matters

• References
• Appendices
• Curriculum Vitae