LESSON 1.

2:
the research
process
OBJECTIVES:
01 share research experiences and
knowledge;
02 describe characteristics, processes, and
ethics of research.
WE PREVIOUSLY LEARNED:

research refers to any systematic investigation of

any social or natural phenomena where
results and conclusions are aimed at
contributing to generalizable knowledge.

Science refers to a systematic and organized body of

research knowledge in any area of inquiry that is acquired using the
scientific method.
is also Scientific Method refers to a standardized set of
science techniques for building a scientific knowledge, such as how
to make valid observations, how to interpret results, and
how to generalize those results.
WE ALSO LEARNED: Inductive or Theory-building
Research is also called
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
research, seeks to understand or make sense of
when the world based on how individuals
experience and perceive it.
conducted
from a Deductive or Theory-testing
scientific Research is also called
perspective: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
seeks generalizability through
controlled, value-free or value-neutral
processes.
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
01 Types of Research
02 Research Methodology
03 Ontology
04 Epistemology
05 Empirical vs. Non-empirical
Sources of Data
HOWEVER, RESEARCH IS ALSO CLASSIFIED INTO FOUR TYPES:
Basic Evaluative Action
Applied
Research Research Research
To solve
To help
To improve specific
people
To human problems
understand
purpose understand intervention within a
the nature of
and explain within specific program/orga
human
conditions nization/com
problems
munity
TO DESCRIBE EACH:
Evaluative Action
Basic Research Applied
Research Research
This research
takes the form Pursues
of a theory that Pursues Studies the potential
explains the potential processes and solutions to
phenomenon solutions to outcomes solve specific
description
under human & aimed at problems within
investigation to societal attempted a program/
give its problems solution organization/
contribution to community
knowledge
THEIR CHARACTERSITICS:
Evaluative Action
Basic Research Applied
Research Research
Data collection
tend to be
“Observatory” in formal and the
Descriptive in
Prescriptive in nature: Judging people in the
nature:
characteris nature. Focusing the effectiveness situation are
answering what,
tics on the how of a program, directly involved
why, and how
questions policy or in gathering
questions
product information and
studying
themselves
RESEARCH CAN ALSO BE CLASSIFIED BASED ON THEIR
PURPOSE:
Exploratory Descriptive Explanatory
Research Research Research

Seeks to investigate Seeks to richly

Seeks to explain an
Definition an under-researched describe an aspect of
aspect of social life
aspect of social life social life
RESEARCH CAN ALSO BE CLASSIFIED BASED ON THEIR
PURPOSE:
Exploratory Research

to scope out the magnitude/ extent of a particular

phenomenon, problem, or behavior
to generate some initial ideas about the
Goals
phenomenon
to test the feasibility of undertaking a more
extensive study regarding that phenomenon
PROBLEM: ECONOMIC RECESSION
Exploratory Research

A research measuring the extent of citizens’

dissatisfaction, understanding how such
dissatisfaction is manifested (e.g., public protests) and
Example
the causes of their movements (e.g., ineffective public
policies) in relation to inflation, interest rates,
unemployment or higher taxes.
RESEARCH CAN ALSO BE CLASSIFIED BASED ON THEIR
PURPOSE:
Descriptive Research

to make careful observations and detailed

documentation of a phenomenon of interest
Goals must be based on scientific method (i.e., must
be replicable, precise, etc.) and more reliable
than causal observations by untrained people
 Descriptive Research
Tabulation of demographic statistics by Census or
empoloyment statistics by DOLE
Chronicling Ethnographic Reports of Gang Activities
Example among Adolescent Youth in Urban Populations
Role of Technologies such as Twitter and Instant
Messaging (IM) in the Spread of Democracy
Movements in Middle Eastern Countries
RESEARCH CAN ALSO BE CLASSIFIED BASED ON THEIR
PURPOSE:
Explanatory Research

to explain observed phenomena, problems, or

behaviors
to answer “why” and “how” type of questions of
Goals
certain phenomena
to connect the dots in research by identifying causal
factors and outcomes of the target phenomenon
 Explanatory Research

Understanding the reasons behind adolescent crime

Example or gang violence, with the goal of prescribing
strategies to overcome such societal ailments.
YESTERDAY, WE ALSO LEARNED ABOUT:
The Research begins with the
process research question.
of Research design is the entire
research strategic plan of how to go about
finding the answers to your
research question.
YESTERDAY, WE ALSO LEARNED ABOUT:
The Research begins with the
process research question.
of Research design is the entire
research strategic plan of how to go about
finding the answers to your
research question.
THIS IS OFTEN MISTAKENLY CALLED
AS “RESEARCH METHODOLOGY”
HOWEVER, RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH DESIGN ARE
DIFFERENT.
usually includes the rationale
the for the research design
the rationale is provides the
research justification for your research
methodo design.
logy bridges your ontological
and epistemological
assumptions or positions to
your choice of data collection
and analysis methods and
procedures
the research methodology
are tools and techniques that researchers use to gather data.

Qualitative researchers use ethnography or field research,

interview, focus group discussion, case study, discourse
analysis, content or textual analysis, grounded theory, etc.

Quantitative researchers use social survey, experiment,

official statistics, structured observation, and content
analysis.
BOTH ARE PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS:

ontology epistemology
pertains to the nature links to the process or
or object of social act of knowing or
reality acquiring knowledge

about the nature of who can be a knower

social reality
MORE SPECIFICALLY,
epistemology
ontology refers to our
refers to our assumptions about the
assumptions about how best way to study the
we see the world. world

For example: “Does the For example: “Should

world consist mostly of we use an objective or
social order or constant subjective approach to
chance?” study social reality?”
YOUR ONTOLOGICAL & EPISTEMOLOGICAL POSITIONS ARE
DETERMINED BY YOUR ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS:
1. Do you believe that there is a single,
objective reality to all, one that can
be reassured objectively? Or
2. Do you believe that reality is
subjective and multiple, socially
constructed, and therefore,
interpreted differently?
 YOUR ONTOLOGICAL & EPISTEMOLOGICAL POSITIONS ARE
DETERMINED BY YOUR ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS:
IF YOUR ANSWER 1. Do you believe that there is a single,
TO THIS QUESTION objective reality to all, one that can
IS YES, THEN YOU be reassured objectively? Or
ARE MORE 2. Do you believe that reality is
ORIENTED TOWARD subjective and multiple, socially
QUALITATIVE constructed, and therefore,
RESEARCH interpreted differently?
 YOUR ONTOLOGICAL & EPISTEMOLOGICAL POSITIONS ARE
DETERMINED BY YOUR ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS:
1. Do you believe that there is a single,
IF YOUR ANSWER
TO THIS QUESTIONobjective reality to all, one that can
IS YES, THEN YOUbe reassured objectively? Or
ARE MORE 2. Do you believe that reality is
subjective and multiple, socially
ORIENTED TOWARD
constructed, and therefore,
QUANTITATIVE interpreted differently?
RESEARCH
EMPIRICAL VS.
NONEMPIRICAL SOURCES OF
KNOWLEDGE
Empirical indicates that the Includes: informal past
information, knowledge, and personal experiences
and the systematic
understanding are gathered process of gathering/
through experience and direct organizing data and
data collection. hypothesis testing

Nonempirical sources of Includes: common

information include forms of knowledge, deference
introspection, vicarious to authority, logic, and
experiences and other people’s inspiration
analysis of events
RECALL OF CONCEPTS BEFORE *THE* QUIZ:
01 Types of Research
02 Research Methodology
03 Ontology
04 Epistemology
05 Empirical vs. Non-empirical
Sources of Data
QUIZ 2
1. The purpose of this type of research is to understand and explain a Choices:
phenomenon A. basic research
2. The purpose of this research is to improve human intervention within specific B. applied research
conditions
3. The goal of this research is to scope out the magnitude or extent of a particular C. evaluative research
phenomenon, problem, or behavior D. action research
4. The goal of this research is to make careful observations and detailed E. exploratory
documentation of a phenomenon of interest
F. descriptive
5. This philosophical belief refers to our assumptions about how we see the world
6. This source of data indicates that the information, knowledge, and G. explanatory
understanding are gathered through experience and direct data collection H. ontology
7. This source of data include forms of introspection, vicarious experiences and I. epistemology
other people’s analysis of events
8. Are tools and techniques that researchers use to gather data J. empirical
9. Research that uses ethnography or field research, interview, focus group K. nonempirical
discussion, case study, discourse analysis, content or textual analysis, grounded L. research methodology
theory, etc.
10. Research that use social survey, experiment, official statistics, structured
M. qualitative
observation, and content analysis. N. quantitative