REVIEW ON THE

INTRODUCTION OF RESEARCH
What is RESEARCH?
Research is an organized investigation and study
of materials and sources to create facts and reach
new inferences. Research has come up with
developing appropriate solutions to improve the
individual’s quality of life. Although it may take
place in a different setting and may use different
methods, scientific research is universally a
systematic and objective search for reliable
knowledge (Walker, 2010).
Research is a verified approach of thinking and employing
legalized instruments and steps to obtain a more adequate
solution to a problem that is otherwise impossible to
address under ordinary means (Crawford, as cited by
Alcantara & Espina, 1995).
In most cases, research helps society to answer the WHAT
and HOW questions. It must be a proper investigation and
should reach a valid conclusion that would facilitate the
finding of answers to the questions. Some of these
questions are: How can research affect society? What is
the impact of the research to daily life?
Research can be categorized into two:
Basic Research
This is the type of research that is a purely direct application
but increasing the nature of understanding about the
problem. It develops the scientific theories to be more
understandable to the readers.
Applied Research
It is a type of research that needs an answer to a specific
question. It provides solutions and validation in order to apply
to the real setting.
CHARACTERISTICS, PROCESSES, AND ETHICS
IN RESEARCH
Prieto, et.al. (2017) stated that the following are the major
characteristics of research:
1. EMPIRICAL - is based on observations and experiments of
theories.
2. SYSTEMATIC - follows orderly and sequential procedures,
based on valid procedures and principles.
3. CONTROLLED - In research, all variables, except those
that are tested/ experimented on, are kept constant.
4. EMPLOYS HYPOTHESIS - refers to a search for facts,
answers to questions and solutions to problems.
5. ANALYTICAL - shows analytical procedures in
gathering the data, whether historical, descriptive, and
or case study.
6. OBJECTIVE - it is unbiased and logical. All findings are
logically based on real-life situations.
7. ORIGINAL WORK - it requires its own examination
and produces the data needed to complete the study.
 It is said that research can be done in
different ways. It can be either a well-
planned and methodical process that is
based on keen observation and concrete and
valid evaluation. Integration is the best way
to evaluate the validity of a certain study.
Prieto, et.al. (2017) also added that the following
are involved in the Research Processes:
1. DEFINE RESEARCH PROBLEM: What is the
problem?
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE: What
evidence is already presented?
3. FORMULATING HYPOTHESIS: How are we going
to find/look for the answer to questions being
studied?
Prieto, et.al. (2017) also added that the following are
involved in the Research Processes:
4. RESEARCH DESIGN: Where will the study be shown
and with what population?
5. COLLECTING DATA: Are we ready to gather the data?
Where do we find the data?
6. ANALYZING DATA: How do the data answer the
research queries?
7. INTERPRET AND REPORT: What are the implications
of the results?
According to Resnik, 2007, ethical norms are
significant in conducting research studies as
explained in the following:

First, ethics promotes the pursuit of

knowledge, truth, and credibility. It also
fosters values that are essential to
collaborative work.
Second, ethical norms help individuals to be
accountable in every act that the researcher/s
undertake.
Third, ensure that researchers are held
accountable to the public.
Lastly, an ethical norm in research also needs
public awareness. This can be evaluated by the
researcher before conducting the study because
this may help a certain population in an area once
the study is completed.
Ethical Codes and Policies for Research, Resnik, 2007
1. Given the importance of ethics in the conduct of a
research, you will follow codes and policies for
research:
2. Honesty Maintain all communication. Data should
not be faked.
3. Objectivity Avoid biases in experimental designs,
data analysis, interpretation, expert testimony, and
other aspects of research.
4. Integrity Keep your promises and agreements.
5. Carefulness Avoid careless errors and negligence.
6. Openness Share data, results, ideas and tools. Be
open to criticism and new ideas.
7. Confidentiality Protect confidential communication.
8. Responsible Publication Avoid duplicating
publications.
9. Responsible Mentoring Help to educate, mentor, and
advise others.
10. Respect Colleagues Treat all peers fairly.
11. Social Responsibility Strive to promote social good.
Avoid social harm.
12. Non- Discrimination avoid discrimination
against colleagues or students on the basis of sex,
races, ethnicity, and or others.
13. Legality Be informed and obey relevant laws
and institutional governmental policies.
14. Respect of Intellectual Property Give proper
acknowledgment or credits to all researchers.
15. Human Subject Minimize risks that involve
human lives, dignity, and privacy.
QUANTITATIVE VERSUS
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
QUANTITATIVE VERSUS QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH - is defined as the
“naturalistic method of research which deals
with the concern of human difficulty by
discovering it straightly.” (Beck, 2004)
It is concerned with the experiences,
understanding and words of the individual.
There are two categories of research
methodology:
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH - is a positivist
scientific method which refers to a general set of
orderly discipline procedures to acquire
information (Beck, 2004).
Mostly, it is concerned with numbers and
measurement.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Characteristics and Uses of Qualitative
Research
∙ Qualitative research takes place in a natural setting like home, school,
institution, or community. Researchers gain actual experiences of the
research participants.
∙ It focuses on participants’ perceptions and experiences (Franenkel and
Wallen, 1988 in Creswell, 2013)
∙ Researchers are sensitive to participants’ needs and participants are
actively engaged in the process.
∙ Data are collected through observation, interviews, documents, e-
mails, blogs, videos, etc.
Characteristics and Uses of Qualitative
Research
∙ It may result in changes in research questions after new discoveries
occur.
∙ It develops from a specific to a general understanding of concepts.
∙ It is a process of describing a situation, analyzing data for themes or
categories, and making interpretations or drawing conclusions.
∙ It may be subjected to the researcher’s personal interpretation.
∙ The researchers, as a primary instrument in data collection, view
social phenomena and situations holistically.
Strengths of Qualitative Research
1. Issues can be analyzed through detailed and deep examination.
2. Interviews are not being delimited to specific questions and can be
guided/redirected by the researcher along the process.
3. The research framework and direction can be easily revised as new
information emerges.
4. The obtained data from human experience is powerful and
sometimes more interesting than quantitative data.
5. Data usually are collected from a few cases or individuals so
findings cannot be generalized to a larger population. Findings can
however be transferable to another setting.
Weaknesses of Qualitative Research
1. Research quality is heavily dependent on the researcher’s skills and
may be influenced by the researcher's outlooks.
2. The volume of data makes analysis and interpretation time-
consuming.
3. It is sometimes hard to prove.
4. The researcher's presence during data gathering, which is often
unavoidable in qualitative research, can affect the subjects'
attitudes towards the process.
5. Issues of anonymity and confidentiality can bring/result in problems
when presenting findings.
6. Findings can be more difficult and take time to visualize.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
 Quantitative Research
Quantitative research uses scientifically collected and statistically
analyzed data to investigate observable phenomena. A
phenomenon is any existing or observable fact or situation that
we want to unearth further or understand. It is scientific for the
fact that it uses a scientific method in designing and collecting
numerical data. Once data is collected, it will undergo statistical
analysis like Pearson’s r, t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
for analysis. Since data is analyzed statistically, it is imperative
that the data obtained must be numerical and quantifiable,
hence its name quantitative research.
Characteristics of Quantitative Research
1. Large Sample Size. To obtain more meaningful
statistical result, the data must come from a large
sample size.
2. Objectivity. Data gathering and analysis of results are
done accurately, objectively, and are unaffected by
the researcher’s intuition and personal guesses.
3. Concise Visual Presentation. Data is numerical which
makes presentation through graphs, charts, and
tables possible and with better conveyance and
interpretation.
4. Faster Data Analysis. The use of a statistical tools gives
way for a less time-consuming data analysis.
5. Generalized Data. Data taken from a sample can be
applied to the population if sampling is done accordingly,
i.e., sufficient size and random samples were taken.
6. Fast and Easy Data Collection. Depending on the type of
data needed, collection can be quick and easy. Quantitative
research uses standardized research instruments that allow
the researcher to collect data from a large sample size
efficiently. For instance, a single survey form can be
administered simultaneously to collect various measurable
characteristics like age, gender, socio-economic status, etc.
7. Reliable Data. Data is taken and analyzed objectively
from a sample as a representative of the population,
making it more credible and reliable for policymaking
and decision making.
8. High Replicability. The Quantitative method can be
repeated to verify findings enhancing its validity, free
from false or immature conclusions.
Advantages of Quantitative Research
1. Very objective
2. Numerical and quantifiable data can be used to predict
outcomes.
3. Findings are generalizable to the population.
4. There is conclusive establishment of cause and effect
5. Fast and easy data analysis using statistical software.
6. Fast and easy data gathering
7. Quantitative research can be replicated or repeated
8. Validity and reliability can be established
Disadvantages of Quantitative Research
1. It lacks the necessary data to explore a problem or concept in
depth.
2. It does not provide comprehensive explanation of human
experiences.
3. Some information cannot be described by numerical data such as
feelings, and beliefs.
4. The research design is rigid and not very flexible.
5. The participants are limited to choose only from the given
responses.
6. The respondents may tend to provide inaccurate responses.
7. A large sample size makes data collection more costly.