Methods of Research

EECE100

Jennifer Chua-Dela Cruz, Ph.D, PECE,

ASEAN Eng, SMIEEE
School of EECE
Jcd 4/21/18
 OUTLINE
• What is research
• Characteristics of research
• The research cycle
• General tools of research
• The problem and its setting
• Review of related literatures
• Research methodology

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 What Research is Not
1. Research is not mere information
gathering.
2. Research is not mere transportation of
facts from one location to another.
3. Research is not merely rummaging for
information.
4. Research is not a catchword used to get
attention.

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 What Research Is

Research is a systematic process of

collecting, analyzing and interpreting
information in order to increase our
understanding of the phenomenon
about which are interested or
concerned.

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 8 Distinct Characteristics of
Research
1. Research originates with a question or
problem.
2. Research requires clear articulation of a goal.
3. Research requires a specific plan for
proceeding.
4. Research usually divides the principal
problem into more manageable
subproblems.

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 8 Distinct Characteristics of
Research (cont…)
5. Research is guided by the specific research
problem, question or hypothesis.
6. Research accepts critical assumptions.
7. Research requires the collection and
interpretation of data in an attempt to resolve
the problem that initiated the research.
8. Research is, by its nature, or more exactly,
helical.

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 The Research Cycle
The research process follow a cycle and begins
simply. It follows logical developmental steps…
1. A questioning mind observes a particular
situation and asks, Why? How come?
2. One question becomes formally stated as a
problem.
3. The problem is divided into several simpler,
more specific problems.
4. Preliminary data are gathered that appear
to bear on the problem.

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The Research Cycle (cont…)

5. Data seem to point to a tentative solution of

the problem. A guess is made; a hypothesis or
guiding question is formed.
6. Data are collected more systematically.
7. The body of the data is processed and
interpreted.
8. A discovery is made; a conclusion is reached.

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The Research Cycle (cont…)
9. The tentative hypothesis is either supported by
the data or not supported; the question is
partially or completely answered or not
totally answered at all.
10. The cycle is complete.

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Tools of Research

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General Tools of Research

Array of means by which data can be collected

and made meaningful
 Library and its resources
 Computers and software
 Techniques of measurement
 Statistics
 Human mind
 Language

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Library and its resources

• Library catalogs
• Indexes and Abstracts
• Reference Librarian

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Computers and software

A computer is not a miracle

worker. It cannot do thinking for
you. It can, however, be a fast and
faithful assistant. When told
exactly what to do, it is one of a
researcher’s best friends.

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Take advantage of the Internet

• World wide web (W3)

• Email
• Newsgroups

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Measurement as a Research Tool
Measurement is limiting the data of
any phenomenon – substantial or
insubstantial – so that those data may
be interpreted and, ultimately,
compared to an acceptable qualitative
or quantitative standard.

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 Four scales of measurement
Measurement Characteristics Statistical Possibilities
scale

Non- Nominal - Measures in terms - Enables one to

interval of names or determine the mode,
scales designations of percentage values or
discrete units or chi-square
categories

Ordinal - Measures in terms - Enables one to

of values as “more” determine the
or “less” w/o median, percentile
specifying the size of rank, and rank
intervals correlation

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 Four scales of measurement (cont…)
Interval Interval - Measures in - Enables one to
scales terms of equal determine the mean,
intervals or std. deviation, and
degrees of product moment
difference but correlation; allows
whose zero point one to conduct most
is arbitrary inferential statistics
Ratio - Measures in - Enables one to
terms of equal determine the
intervals and an geometric mean, and
absolute zero percentage variation;
point of origin allows virtually any
inferential statistics

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Statistics as a Research Tool
Statistics gives us information about the
data, but a conscientious researcher is
not satisfied until the meaning of this
information is revealed.

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 Primary Functions of Statistics
Descriptive statistics – summarizes the general nature
of the data obtained

Inferential statistics - helps the researcher make

decisions about the data

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 Human Mind Research Tools
After using statistics, human mind interprets the data to
arrive at a logical conclusion
• Deductive logic
• Inductive reasoning
• Scientific method
• Critical thinking
• Collaboration with others

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Language as a Research Tool
Learning the specialized terminology of your field is
indispensable to conducting a research study,
grounding it in prior theory and research and
communicating your results to others.

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Language as a Research Tool
1. Write exactly what you mean
2. Relate your discussion to your research problem
3. Give an overview of the topics to be discussed
4. Organize ideas with the use of headings and
subheadings
5. Provide transitional words
6. Give examples to illustrate an abstract idea
7. Use the correct punctuation
8. Present information in figure or table form as much as
possible
9. Revise your work several times over
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The Research Problem
and its setting

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 Research Projects
Basic research – projects which can advance human
beings’ theoretical conceptualization about a
particular topic
Applied research – informs human decision making
about practical problems.

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The Problem: The Heart of the
Research Process
The problem or question is the axis around which
the whole research effort evolves. The statement of
the problem must be stated with utmost precision ;
it should be divided into more manageable
subproblems. Such approach clarifies the goals and
directions of the entire research effort.

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 In identifying a research problem,
keep in mind that
• The problem should address an important question
such that the answer can make a difference in some
way
• It should advance the frontiers of knowledge
Note:
• Some problems are not suitable because they lack
interpretation of data
• They do not elicit mental struggle

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UNSUITABLE RESEARCH
PROBLEMS

1. Research projects that simply inform about what is

already known
2. Problems whose only objective is to compare two
sets of data
3. Research that calculates a coefficient of correlation
between two sets of data to show a relationship
between them
4. Problems answerable with yes or no
“These lack the “interpretation of data”

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Finding a Legitimate Problem
1. Look around you.
2. Read the literature.
3. Attend professional conferences
4. Seek the advices of experts.
5. Choose a topic that intrigues and motivates you.
6. Choose a topic that others will find interesting and
worthy of attention.

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 Stating the Research Problem
1. State the problem clearly and completely.
2. Think through the feasibility of the project that the
problem implies.
3. Say precisely what you mean.
4. Review and edit your work.

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DELINEATION OF THE RESEARCH

Stating the Hypotheses

– Hypotheses – tentative, intelligent guesses that would
guide the researcher toward suitable data
– Null hypothesis – tentative, educated guess stated in a
negative way
Delimitations
– statements that indicate what is relevant and what is
not relevant to the research problem
Significance of the Study
– The reasons for doing the study
– The use or good of the study
– The benefits or practical values the study has
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 Stating the hypothesis and/or
research question
A hypothesis or research question provides a
position from which the researcher may initiate an
exploration of the problem or subproblem and also
acts as a checkpoint against which to test the
findings that the data reveal.

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 Null Hypothesis and Research
Hypothesis
 We often set out to disprove an opposite
hypothesis.
 When we hypothesize that there will be no
difference between groups, no relationship
between variables, or no patterns in the data,
we are forming a null hypothesis.
 We support a research hypothesis by
showing statistically that its opposite is not
true.

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 Delimitation of Research
 What the researcher intends to do is stated in
the problem. What he/she is not going to do
is stated in the delimitations. The limits of the
problem should be carefully bounded for a
research effort.
 Only a researcher who thinks carefully about
the problem and its focal center can
distinguish between what is relevant and
what is not to the problem.

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 Defining Terms
 The definition must interpret term as it is used in
relation to the researcher’s project.
 The researcher must be careful to avoid circular
definitions.

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 Importance of the Study

In research reports, researchers frequently set forth

their reasons for undertaking the study.

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 Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 1
• The setting or context or frame of reference
-This part gives general statement/s about a field of
research to provide the reader with a preview of the
problem to be reported

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 Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2
• The Review of Previous Research
-This part continuous the contextual setting or frame of
reference given in paragraph 1 by including more
statements about the general aspects of the problem
already investigated by other researchers

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 Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 3
• The Gap or Missing Information
-This part refers to the statement/s that indicate that
need for the study or the need for more investigation

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 Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 4
• The statement of Purpose
-This part gives very specific statement/s pertaining to
the objective/s of the study.
Paragraph 5
• The statement of Value
-This part refers to the statement/s that gives the
significance of carrying out the study.

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 Chapter 1: Introduction
Paragraph 6
• The Scope and Delimitation
-This part indicates what the study covers or what it does
not or fails to cover

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 Research Paper's Format
5-single spaces from the top margin; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt; TNR, 12
TITLE
(centered, Times New Roman, size 20, bold font style)
8-single spaces; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt; TNR, 12
by
(centered, Times New Roman, size 14, regular font style)
1-single space; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt
First Name Middle Initial Surname
(centered, Times New Roman, size 16, bold font style)
Program/Year
(centered, Times New Roman, size 14, regular font style)
7-single spaces; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt; TNR, 12
A Research Proposal Submitted to the School of EE-ECE-CoE
in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree
1-single space; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt; TNR, 12
Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering
(centered, Times New Roman, size 14, regular font style, single space)
6-single spaces; space before: 0 pt; space after: 0 pt; TNR, 12
Mapúa Institute of Technology
(centered, Times New Roman, size 14, regular font style, single space)
Month Year
(centered, Times New Roman, size 14, regular font style)

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Review of Related Literature

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 Re-view

To look again what others have done in the past, that

are similar, though not necessarily identical to one’s
own area of investigation.

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Benefits of a literature review
1. It can offer new ideas, perspectives, and
approaches that may not have occurred to
you.
2. It can inform you about other researchers
who conduct work in this area.
3. It can show you how others have handled
methodological and design issues in studies
similar to your own.

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Benefits (cont…)
4. It can reveal sources of data that you may not have
known existed.
5. It can introduce you to measurement tools that
other researchers have developed and used
effectively.
6. It can reveal methods of dealing with problem
situations that may be similar to difficulties you are
facing.

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Benefits (cont…)
7. It can help you interpret and make sense of
your findings, and ultimately, help you tie
your results to the work of those who have
preceded you.
8. It will bolster your confidence that your
topic is worth studying, because you find
others have invested considerable time,
effort, and resources in studying it.

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 Strategies for Locating Related
Literature
Major starting points:
 Library catalog
 Indexes and abstracts in the library’s reference
section
 Online databases

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 Using the Library Catalog
 A good textbook can give you a good
general overview of a topic, including
important concepts, theoretical perspectives,
and critical references.
 Use only books with recent copyright dates.
 The most effective way to locate helpful
books is through the library catalog.

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Other strategies:
 Looking at government publications
 Surfing the net
 Using the citations and reference lists of those who
have gone before you

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 Synthesizing the Literature
 In a good literature review, the researcher
doesn’t merely report the related literature.
He/She evaluates, organizes, synthesizes what
others have done.
 As you read about others’ work and evaluate
their methods and conclusions, never take
other people’s conclusions at face value;
determine whether their conclusions are justified
based on the data presented.

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Synthesizing the Literature
 In addition to evaluating what you read, organized
the ideas you’ve encountered during your review.
 The most important thing is to synthesize what
you’ve learned from review. Pull together the
diverse perspectives and research results you’ve
read into cohesive whole.

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Techniques for Writing a Cohesive
Review
1. Be clear in your thinking.
2. Develop a plan.
3. Emphasize relatedness.
4. Give credit where credit is due.
5. Review the literature. Don’t reproduce it.

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Techniques (cont…)
6. Summarize what you said.
7. Remember that your first draft will almost certainly
NOT be your last draft.
8. Ask others for advice and feedback.

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 Works cited samples

Scholarly Project
• The Avalon Project: Articles of Confederation, 1781. Co-Directors
William C. Fray and Lisa A. Spar. 1996. Yale Law School. 2 Dec.
2003
<www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/artconf.htm>.
Professional Site
• Guide to Grammar and Writing. Capital Community College. 4
April 2004
<www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/>.
Personal Site
• Jascot, John. Home page. 1 Dec. 1997. 38 Jan. 2004
<www.ccc..commnet.edu/faculty/~jascot/jascot.htm>.
Course Website
• Darling, Charles. Introduction to Literature. Course Website. Jan.
2004–May 2004. Dept. of Humanities, Capital Community College.
20 May 2004
<www.webct.ctdlc.org>.

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Research Methodology

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 Research Methodology

The specific methods used to collect

and analyze data related to the
research problem

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 General Criteria
1. Universality – a feature of having a research project
that can be done by a competent person
2. Replication – a feature of having a possibility to repeat
the research project
3. Control – a feature of assigning a factor that is central
to the research problem
4. Measurement – a feature of limiting research data to
reveal their meaning

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 Research Design

• A general strategy in solving a research

problem
• Before the construction of a building, architects
develop a meticulous plan to ensure success.
Architectural and research planning requires a
conceptualization of the overall organization of
the project and the detailed specs of the steps
to be carried out

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Basic Format of a Research Process
1. In the researcher’s mind, a question is posed
that has no known resolution.
2. The researcher converts the question to a
clearly stated research problem.
3. The researcher states a temporary hypothesis
or series of hypothesis.
4. The researcher seeks the literature for ideas
that shed light on the problem and for
strategies that may help to address it.

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Basic Format (cont…)
5. The researcher collects data that potentially relate to
the problem.
6. The researcher arranges the data into a logical
organizational structure.
7. The researcher analyzes and interprets the data to
determine the meaning.
8. Either the data seems to resolve the research
problem or they do not.

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Writing the Research Proposal

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Characteristics of a Proposal
1. A proposal is a straightforward document
2. A proposal is not a literary production
3. A proposal is clearly organized.
In professional writing, headings and subheadings are
the single most commonly used strategy to express the
overall organizational scheme.

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Organizing a Research Proposal

I. Introduction
The problem and its setting
A. Introduction
B. Previous Studies
C. Gap
D. Statement of the problem
E. The importance of the study
F. The delimitations

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Organizing a Research Proposal
(Cont.)

II. The review of the related literature

III. Methodology
The data and the treatment of the data

A. The data needed and the means for obtaining the data
B. The research methodology
C. The specific treatment of the data for each subproblems
1. Subproblem 1
a. The data needed to address the problem
b. The treatment of the data
2. Subproblem 2 ( Same format fo Sub 1)

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Organizing a Research Proposal
(Cont.)

IV. The qualifications of the researcher and any

assistants
V. An outline of the proposed study ( Steps to be
taken, timeline, etc)
VI. References
VII. Appendices

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 Writing Format

Margins:
– 1” from the top 1” from the bottom – 11⁄4” from the left 1” from the
right
– Title – font Times New Roman (TNR) size 20, boldfaced, centered
– A Research Proposal ... Submitted to ... – TNR 14, centered
– In Partial Fulfillment ... - TNR, centered
– by – TNR 14, centered
– Firstname M. Lastname – TNR 16, bold, centered
– Month Year – TNR 14, centered

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 Writing Format
Chapter 1
– Titles of each chapter – TNR 12, bold,
centered, ALL CAPS
– Text (Body): TNR 12, double-spaced,
paragraphs must be indented
• Graphs
– No fill effects, no outer border, inside tick,
smooth lines
– No triangles or diamonds, title at the bottom of
the graph
• Tables
– Title on top, body notes following title
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 Writing Format
Writing style
– Introduction and review – past participle tense, except
for generally accepted truths, which may be written in the
present tense
– Methodology – future tense (for proposal) and passive
voice
• Pagination: 1⁄2” from the bottom, centered
• Title page – no pagination

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 Writing Format
Approval Sheet & Table of Contents – pagination
starting from ii, iii, iv ...
• Chapter 1 to end – pagination starting from 1, 2, 3
...
• References – TNR 12, bold, centered, ALL CAPS
– Alphabetical listing of citations to review of
literature
• Appendices – TNR 12, bold, centered, ALL CAPS
– Each appendix is named with a letter of the
alphabet and with title

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 “ All research converge in one
destination, the enhancement of
human knowledge.” LEEDY

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Thank you!!!
Jcd 8/16/18

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