Module 1: The Nature of Research and the Research Process PDF

MODULE 1 The Nature of Research Reference: Zulueta and Costales (2003) Methods of Research, Thesis Writing and Applied statistics. Definitions of Research ► Research is a systema...

MODULE 1 The Nature of Research Reference: Zulueta and Costales (2003) Methods of Research, Thesis Writing and Applied statistics. Definitions of Research ► Research is a systematic and refined technique of thinking, employing specialized tools, instruments and procedures to obtain a more adequate solution to a problem. - starts with a problem - collection of data - analysis of data which are critical and reaching decisions based on actual observations - involves original work to prove not only what but how much Definitions of Research (cont.) ► Research is also defined as a systematic, controlled and empirical inquiry (step-by-step procedure as in a scientific method) on a subject/topic aimed at problem-solving - systematic points the need to examine topics following accepted principles and practices. - controlled refers to the degree to which the observation is controlled and alternative explanations of the outcome are ruled out. - empirical points out to the need to gather factual data and to test subjective reality and have the findings open to further scrutiny and testing. -inquiry or the why of research; focused on the need to investigate and search for truth and knowledge Definitions of Research (cont.) -subject/topic- the what of research; includes the scope covering the phenomenon of its problem with some limits of the investigation. -problem-solving- the essence of research; finding out the answer to the problem raised method or the how of research; explains data gathering and analysis procedures; the means to an end or arriving at data specifying the designs, identifying samples/respondents of the study, preparing research tools/instruments for data collection, procedures and statistical treatment of data gathered. Purposes/ Goals of Research ► Principal goal: to preserve and improve the quality of human life. ► Specific goals: 1. discover new facts of known phenomena 2. find solutions to problems 3. verify existing knowledge 4. validate generalizations into systematic order 5. provide basis for decision-making in any undertaking 6. satisfy one’s curiosity 7. improve existing practices 8. acquire better understanding about one phenomenon to another The teacher as a researcher ► Teachers need to assume responsibility examining their own practices. They are held responsible for what and how they teach. They need to collaborate with researchers to evaluate and upgrade the curriculum and other instructional concerns. ► Research helps the teachers to: 1. reduce the gap between research findings and classroom practices. 2. create a problem-solving mind-set that helps them when they consider other classroom dilemmas. 3. improve teacher’s instructional decision-making process. 4. increase their professional status. 5. help empower them in their profession at all levels. 6. gain the overriding and ultimate advantage of providing the potential for improving the educative process. Characteristics of Research ► Empirical- research data collection is based on direct/practical experience or observation. It involves factual information without benefit of the scientific knowledge or theory. ► Logical- research is based on valid procedures and principles that enables the researcher to draw valid conclusions. ► Cyclical- research starts with a problem and ends with a problem. ► Analytical- research data gathering depends on the methods used, like in historical methods, gathering focuses on the past, descriptive , on the present situation, experimental, future or either past, present or future. ► Replicability- research design and procedures are replicated or repeated to enable researcher to arrive at a valid and conclusive results. ► Critical- research exhibits careful and precise judgment based on higher levels of confidence. Classification of Research According to Goal and Scope 1. Basic Research Basic research is mainly concerned with generalizations and the formulation of theory. It is driven by curiosity or interest in a subject. The main motivation is to expand man’s knowledge, not to create or invent something. Many scientists believe that basic research lays the foundation for the applied research that follows. 2. Applied Research Another type of research is applied research or field research. It involves practical problems of the society. It can be argued that the goal of applied research is to improve the human condition. 3. Action Research Action research is an important type of research by purpose. It is a unique form of applied research and a reflective process of progressive problem solving. It is also called “practitioner research” because of the involvement of the actual practitioner in real life. Action implies that the practitioner is involved in the collection of data, analysis, and the interpretation of results. He or she is also involved in implementing results of the research and is thus well placed to judge the effectiveness of the interventions.  The Research Process https://www.iedunote.com/research-process. 8 Steps in the Research Process. Understanding Research as a Process ► Important terms used in research: 1. VARIABLE is the characteristic or attribute of an individual, group, educational system, or the environment that is of interest in a research study. Variables can be straightforward and easy to measure, such as gender, age, or course of study. Other variables are more complex, such as socioeconomic status, academic achievement, or attitude toward school. Variables may also include an aspect of the educational system, such as a specific teaching method or counseling program. Characteristics of the environment may also be variables, such as the amount of school funding or availability of computers. Therefore, once the general research topic has been identified, the researcher should identify the key variables of interest. Important terms used in research (cont.) 2. RESEARCH DESIGN. After the key variables have been identified, the researcher needs to identify how those variables will be studied. It is a plan used to study the problem based on the way data are collected, analyzed and synthesized, whether quantitative analysis (statistical treatment of data) or qualitative analysis (non-statical analysis) There are four primary research designs: Descriptive: Describes the current state of variables. For example, a descriptive study might examine teachers' knowledge of literacy development. This is a descriptive study because it simply describes the current state of teachers' knowledge of literacy development. Causal Comparative: Examines the effect of one variable that cannot be manipulated on other variables. An example would be the effect of gender on examination malpractice. A researcher cannot manipulate a person's gender, so instead males and females are compared on their examination malpractice behavior.. primary research designs: Correlational: Describes the relationship between variables. Correlational studies must examine two variables that have continuous values. For example, academic achievement is a continuous variable because students' scores have a wide range of values - oftentimes from 0 to 100. However, gender is not a continuous variable because there are only two categories that gender can have: male and female. A correlational study might examine the relationship between motivation and academic achievement - both continuous variables. Note that in a correlational design, both variables must be studied within the same group of individuals. In other words, it is acceptable to study the relationship between academic achievement and motivation in students because the two variables (academic achievement and motivation) are in the same group of individuals (students). However, it is extremely difficult to study two variables in two groups of people, such as the relationship between teacher motivation and student Experimental and Quasi-Experimental: Examines the effect of a variable that the researcher manipulates on other variables. An experimental or quasi-experimental study might examine the effect of telling stories on children's literacy skills. In this case, the researcher will "manipulate" the variable of telling stories by placing half of the children in a treatment group that listens to stories and the other half of children in a control group that gets the ordinary literacy instruction Important terms used in research (cont.) 3. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS is a conjectural statement, a logical supposition, a reasonable guess, and an educated prediction about the nature of the relationship between two or more variables that we expect to happen in our study. This is a statement about an expected relationship between variables, or explanation of an occurrence, that is clear, specific, testable and falsifiable. 4. ASSUMPTION is a belief that forms one of the bases for the research. This belief is not to be tested or supported with empirical data. 5. SUBJECTS/RESPONDENTS are the particular individuals used in the study. A research subject is an individual that participates in research. Information (or 'data') is collected from or about the individual to help answer the question under study. Stages of the Research Process Step – 1: Problem Discovery and Definition A research problem is a perceived difficulty, a feeling of discomfort, or a discrepancy between the common belief and reality. a. There should be a perceived discrepancy between “what it is” and “what it should have been.” This implies that there should be a difference between “what exists” and the “ideal or planned situation”; b. A question about “why” the discrepancy exists. This implies that the reason(s) for this discrepancy is unclear to the researcher (so that it makes sense to develop a research question); and c. There should be at least two possible answers or solutions to the questions or problems. Step – 2: Review of Related Literature and Studies A review of relevant literature is an integral part of the research process. a. It enables the researcher to formulate his problem in terms of the specific aspects of the general area of his interest that has not been so far researched. b. Such a review, not only provides him exposure to a larger body of knowledge but also equips him with enhanced knowledge to efficiently follow the research process. c. Through a proper review of the literature, the researcher may develop the coherence between the results of his study and those of the others. Importance of reviewing literature It avoids duplication of the work that has been done in the recent past. It helps the researcher to find out what others have learned and reported on the problem. It helps the researcher to become familiar with the types of methodology followed by others. It helps the researcher to understand what concepts and theories are relevant to his area of investigation. It helps the researcher to understand if there are any significant controversies, contradictions, and inconsistencies in findings. It allows the researcher to understand if there are any unanswered research questions. It might help the researcher to develop an analytical framework. It will help the researcher to consider the inclusion of variables in his research that he might not otherwise have thought about. Stages of the Research Process Step – 3: Setting research questions, objectives, and hypotheses a. After discovering and defining the research problem, researchers should make a formal statement of the problem leading to research objectives. ► An objective will precisely say what should be researched, to delineate the type of information that should be collected, and provide a framework for the scope of the study. The best expression of a research objective is a well-formulated, testable research hypothesis. ► A hypothesis is an unproven statement or proposition that can be refuted or supported by empirical data. Hypothetical statements assert a possible answer to a research question. Stages of the Research Process ► Step -4: Choosing the study design ► The research design is the blueprint or framework for fulfilling objectives and answering research questions. ► It is a master plan specifying the methods and procedures for collecting, processing, and analyzing the collected data. There are four basic research designs that a researcher can use to conduct his or her study; 1. survey, 2. experiment, 3. secondary data study, and 4. observational study. ► The type of research design to be chosen from among the above four designs depends primarily on four factors: The type of problem The objectives of the study, The existing state of knowledge about the problem that is being studied, and The resources are available for the study. Stages of the Research Process ► Step – 5: Deciding on the sample design ► Sampling is an important and separate step in the research process. The basic idea of sampling is that it involves any procedure that uses a relatively small number of items or portions (called a sample) of a universe (called population) to conclude the whole population. ► It contrasts with the process of complete enumerate on, in which every member of the population is included. ► Such a complete enumeration is referred to as total population or universal sampling. ► A population is the total collection of elements about which we wish to make some inference or generalization. ► A sample is a part of the population, carefully selected to represent that population. If certain statistical procedures are followed in selecting the sample, it should have the same characteristics as the population as a whole. These procedures are embedded in the sample design. ► Sample design refers to the methods to be followed in selecting a sample from the population and the estimating technique, vis-a-vis formula for computing the sample statistics. ► The basic question is, then, how to select a sample? Stages of the Research Process ► Step – 6: Collecting data ► The gathering of data may range from simple observation to a large-scale survey in any defined population. There are many ways to collect data. ► The approach selected depends on the objectives of the study, the research design, and the availability of time, money, and personnel. ► With the variation in the type of data (qualitative or quantitative) to be collected, the method of data collection also varies. ► The most common means for collecting quantitative data is the structured interview. ► Studies that obtain data by interviewing respondents are called surveys. Data can also be collected by using self-administered questionnaires. Online interviewing is another way in which data may be collected. ► Other means of data collection include the use of secondary sources, such as the census, vital registration records, official documents, previous surveys, etc. ► Qualitative data are collected mainly through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and observational studies. Stages of the Research Process ► Step-7: Processing and Analyzing Data ► Data processing generally begins with the editing and coding of data. Data are edited to ensure consistency across respondents and to locate omissions, if any. ► In survey data, editing reduces errors in the recording, improves legibility, and clarifies unclear and inappropriate responses. In addition to editing, the data also need coding. ► Because it is impractical to place raw data into a report, alphanumeric codes are used to reduce the responses to a more manageable form for storage and future processing. ► This coding process facilitates processing the data. The personal computer offers an excellent opportunity in data editing and coding processes. ► Data analysis usually involves reducing accumulated data to a manageable size, developing summaries, searching for patterns, and applying statistical techniques for understanding and interpreting the findings in the light of the research questions. ► Further, the researcher, based on his analysis, determines if his findings are consistent with the formulated hypotheses and theories. ► The techniques to be used in analyzing data may range from simple graphical technique to very complex multivariate analysis depending on the objectives of the study, research design employed, and the nature of data collected. ► As in the case of methods of data collection, an analytical technique appropriate in one situation may not be appropriate for another. Stages of the Research Process ► Step-8: Writing the report – Developing Research Proposal, Writing Report, Disseminating and Utilizing Results ► The entire task of a research study is accumulated in a document called a proposal. ► A research proposal is a work plan, prospectus, outline, an offer, a statement of intent or commitment from an individual researcher or an organization to produce a product or render a service to a potential client or sponsor. ► The proposal will be prepared to keep in view the sequence presented in the research process. The proposal tells us what, how, where, and to whom it will be done. ► It must also show the benefit of doing it. It always includes an explanation of the purpose of the study (the research objectives) or a definition of the problem. ► It systematically outlines the particular research methodology and details the procedures that will be utilized at each stage of the research process. Assessment: Reflective Journal No. 2 My Understanding of the Purpose of Research and Its Processes Instruction: Four guide questions are given for this reflective journal. For its mechanics: use Times New Roman size 12, double space, and justified. For its format: Have an introductory paragraph, body of your journal with sub-headings if necessary, and a clincher paragraph. 1. What is the significance of conducting research activities in my tasks as an educator? 2. How will I describe valid and reliable research findings that will be used as bases of improving my professional practices? 3. Do the stages of the research process follow the scientific method of problem-solving? Qualify you answer. 4. What limitation/s will I meet as an educational researcher? How will I overcome such limitation/s?