CHARACTERISTICS, PROCESSES AND ETHICS OF RESEARCH

This lesson introduces the characteristics of research, particularly qualitative research.

Their breadth indicates ways of doing it and going through the entire research process. Becoming familiar with the
types of research will help you determine your choice for the locale or setting of your study.

The characteristics of both qualitative and quantitative researches are presented; however, a section to highlight
qualitative research is discussed; ethical consideration forms a part of this lesson as a significant element of the
research process.

Further, the discussions also present the ethics of research probing into its functions and principles that must be
observed by the researchers. Important considerations should be noted as the study is being conducted especially
on matters concerning the participants of the study.

Characteristics of Research

Following the major definition of research as the scientific investigation of phenomena which includes collection,
presentation, analysis and interpretation of facts, strict adherence to ethical standards in planning and conducting in
both qualitative and quantitative research is most important.

The following are the major characteristics of research:

1. Empirical — Research is based on observations and experimentation of theories. It takes into account the
direct experiences that fuse the researcher's speculation with reality. Most researches are based on real-life
situations.

2. Systematic - Research follows orderly and sequential procedures, based on valid procedures and principles.
Researchers are advised to refer to the research guidelines provided or prescribed by the school.

3. Controlled - In research, all variables, except those that are tested/experimented on, are kept constant.

4. Employs hypothesis - The hypothesis guides the investigation process. Research refers to a search for facts,
answers to questions and solutions to problems.

5. Analytical - There is a critical analysis of all data used so that there is no error in the researcher's
interpretations.

6. Objective - The term also refers to the research as unbiased and logical. All findings are logically based on
empirical data, which as earlier mentioned, are based on real life situations.

7. Original work - Requires effort to get at the researcher's own investigation and produce the data needed to
complete the study. Go to the library to check on the originality of your work.

Other Characteristics of Qualitative Research

Studies under qualitative research have certain characteristics in common that make them different from
quantitative research. Some of these are:

1. Concern for context and meaning

Qualitative research is bounded by a particular context which the research aims to study. Since it is context bound,
the human experience takes its meaning from social, historical, political and cultural influences.

2. Naturally occurring settings

3. Humans as Instruments

The researcher is the primary instrument for gathering and for analyzing data. He/She responds to the need for
capturing the complexity of human experience, as well as in adapting and responding to the environment. Only a
human being can do the field work methods such as the interview, observation and documentary analysis.

4. Descriptive Data

Data used in qualitative studies are in the form of words or pictures or other visuals rather than numbers and
statistics. The participants, experiences and perspectives culled from varied types of documents enable the
researcher to present a holistic description of the subject/s of the study.

5. Emergent Design

In qualitative research, the design cannot be finalized at the onset because the researcher continues to adjust
his/her methods and ways of proceeding as the study progresses. It is also difficult to predict what may happen
during the actual interactions between the researcher and the participants.

Types of Research

1. Library Research - this type is done primarily in the library where answers to specific questions or problems
are available.

2. Field Research - the research is done in the natural setting such as barangay, school or factory.

3. Laboratory Research - this type is conducted in an artificial or controlled conditions by doing the study in a
thoroughly specified and equipped area.

The human element of qualitative inquiry is both strength and weakness-its strength is fully using human insight and
experience; its weakness is being so heavily dependent on the researcher's skill, training, intellect, discipline and
creativity. The researcher is the instrument of qualitative inquiry, so the quality of the research depends heavily on
the qualities of the human being. (Farooq, M.,et al.2011)

Ethics and Research

The most common way of denning "ethics" is to refer to it as norms for conduct that distinguish between acceptable
and unacceptable behavior. These are direct networks among people because they recognize some common ethical
norms but interpret, apply and balance them in different ways in the light of their own values and experiences
(Resmik, 2015).

Another way of defining "ethics" is to consider it as a method, procedure or perspective for deciding how to act and
for analyzing complex problems and issues. For instance, in considering a complex issue like global warming, one
may take an economic, ecological, political or ethical perspective on the matter. While an economist might examine
the cost and benefits of various policies related to global warming, an environmental ethicist could examine the
ethical values and principles at stake.

To be ethical, a research project needs to be designed to create valid outcomes if it is believed to be pursuing truth.
Flick (2002) argues that qualitative researchers need to be as vigilant or positivist about ensuing the validity and
reliability of their studies, even if they choose to use other terms such as credibility and authenticity in the
trustworthiness of their studies. Research that is untrustworthy is unethical, because it is of no benefit in developing
the society's knowledge base and wastes the resources of researchers and other participants. In positivist research,
ethical principles emerge frequently around the relationship of the researchers to the resource-providers for
permission to carry out research to the data-providers (subjects), and to the public who want to know the outcomes
(Jones, 2000)

Researchers have a duty to ensure that they do not deliberately mislead participants as to the nature of the
research. Researchers have a duty to avoid causing both physical and psychological difficulties to participants and to
the socio-political environments in which and with which they work. In both virtual and physical worlds, researchers
are ethically bound to maintain the privacy of participants including confidentiality for any information they give and
anonymity for their identity (Baez, 2002).

Research ethics involves the application of fundamental ethical principles to a variety of topics involving research.
The academic research enterprise is built on a foundation of trust. Researchers trust that the results reported by
others are heard. Society trusts that the results of research reflect an honest attempt to describe the world
accurately and without bias. Research ethics is different throughout the various types of educational communities.
Research informants participating in individual or group interviews are often required to sign an informed consent
form which outlines the nature of the project. They are assured anonymity and will be referred to using pseudonyms
although there is a need to negotiate and dialogue. It is the researcher's ethical responsibility not to harm the
human they are studying; they also have a responsibility to science and the public, as well as to future students.

Functions of Ethics

Ethics as important component in research writing shows the following functions:

1. Norms promote the aims of research such as knowledge, truth and evidence of error.

2. Ethical standards promote the values that are essential to collaborative work such as trust, accountability, mutual
respect and fairness.

3. Ethical norms ensure that researchers can be held accountable to the public.

4. Ethical norms in research, is research that helps build public support quality and integrity of research.

Some Ethical Principles

Enumerated below are words and phrases that correspond to principles on which actions exhibited while doing
research are anchored on. During your classroom discussion, how they can become standards for ethical behavior
will be clearer to you.

Honesty
Objectivity
Integrity
Carefulness
Openness
Respect for Intellectual Property
Responsible publication
Respect for colleagues
Social Responsibility
Non- discrimination Competence Legality
Confidentiality
A common cause of ethical challenge is conflict of interest between the researcher and what is being researched on
(Baxter, et al. 2001). A case in point is when the researcher may be so excited about his or her research idea and
would like to collect high quality data from those most closely affected by what is being studied. However, there is a
risk that the researcher may be tempted to consider unethical research practice in order to try to obtain and/or
retain some of the data.

Ethical risks in research are spread across many fields and they may not be apparent at the onset of the research.
What a researcher can do is to be aware of its potential and plan what to do about it rather than to ignore it.
Therefore, the research ethics skills that need also to be developed are

• To be able to identify the ethical issues in the study

• To know and be prepared how to add them

Ethical Considerations in Qualitative Research

When doing a qualitative inquiry, certain issues may arise.

Let us consider ethical issues that may be inherent in qualitative research.

1. The kind of information obtained because of the length and personal interaction that ensues when doing a
qualitative inquiry may give rise to an issue or issues. The researcher may uncover or get hold of practices that may
not be acceptable. What then does he/she do? One rule that must always be followed is that the person is obliged to
report practice such as child abuse, drug use, abusive teachers and the like.

2. With regard to the researcher's relationship to the participants, the researcher is expected to act
professionally, maintaining respect towards them. The issues of anonymity and confidentiality are to be observed. In
field notes particularly, when conducting a sensitive research, false names or code numbers are used to keep track of
what information came from whom without revealing their identities.

3. The researcher is expected to give back to the subjects/participants of the research and to show
appreciation for their commitment of time, effort and cooperation. These acts may be to provide a written report,
present findings in an assembly, give assistance or advice on other research projects at their workplace and others.

4. The researcher writes a« letter and seeks to be allowed to conduct a study. If changes happen in the course
of the investigation, he/she needs to get an approval for the continuance of the study.