Study Guide 1 - Introduction To Research

A REVIEW OF THE FUNDAMENTALS
Aware or not, research is already a

part of our day to day activities. In as
simple as asking questions like
“what to do today” we are at some
extent applying a step in research. We
The word “research” originated from the
all encounter research in our daily
old French word “recerchier” meaning to search
lives. The research result on many topics are
and search again. In its literal sense, it simply
presented to us in the form of newspaper articles,
means repeating a search for something and
books, reports, and television programmes. For
assume that the search done the first time was not
example, crime rate figures are presented to us
exhaustive and not complete in the sense that
through television news reports and some topics,
there are still scope for improvement. Research
such as nutrition and health, are very popular
then in the most common understanding is the
with magazines as well as television programmes.
search for knowledge.
Thus, through various media we have become
The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of
accustomed to seeing, reading and hearing about
Current English Defines the importance of
research and although we may not be aware of it,
research as “a careful investigation or inquiry
we are used to making our own judgments about
especially through search for new facts in any
research findings
branch of knowledge”. Redman and Mory define
In a more academic view, Research
research as “a systematized effort to gain new
means to carefully analyze the problems or to do
knowledge”. Some people see research as a
the detailed study of the specific problems, by
movement. A movement from the known to the
making use of special scientific methods. This
unknown. It’s actually a journey of discovery.
chapter focuses on the fundamentals of research.
Research is a scientific approach of
This aims to give basic understanding of what a
answering a research question, solving a problem
research is, its importance, use, objectives, and
or generating fresh knowledge through a
general characteristics.
systematic and orderly collection, organization,
and analysis of information with an ultimate goal
of making the research useful in decision-making.
After going through this learning guide, you

should be able to:
General objective: Grasp a deeper
understanding of the fundamentals of research.
Specific objectives:
1. Define research
2. Explain the meaning of research
3. Come up with your own research perspective
Jerome L. Abellera, LPT | EDF 201 1

Scientific Research
Research is a process through which we attempt

to achieve systematically and with the support of
data to answer to a question, the resolution of
problem, or a greater understanding of
phenomenon. This process has eight distinct
characteristics.
Research…
1. Originates with a question or problem.
2. Requires a clear articulation of the goal.
3. Follows a specific plan of procedure.
Research is Scientific in the sense that it is 4. Usually divides the principal problem
empirical which means that it is based on into more manageable sub –problems.
observation or experience rather than theory, it is
factual based, and it follows a process.
Generally, systematic research in any 5. Is guided by specific research problem,
field of inquiry involves three basic operations- question, or hypothesis.
1. Data collection – refers to observing, 6. Accepts certain critical assumption.

measuring, and recording information.
2. Data analysis – refers to arranging and 7. Requires the collection and interpretation
organizing the collected data so that we
of data in attempting to resolve the
may be able to find out what their
significance is and generalize about them problem that initiated the research.
3. Report writing – it is an inseparable part
of and a final outcome of a research study. 8. Is by its nature, cyclical; or more exactly,
Its purpose is to convey information helical.
contained in it to the readers or audience

In the simplest way of expressing, the characteristics of research boils down to simply 7 basic
characteristics:
Empirical logical
The 7 Basic
Characteristics of cyclical analytical
Research
methodical replicable
1. A research is empirical if it is based on observation using the five senses. In this way, we are able
to say that our data are evidence-based and can be proven.
2. A research is logical if it can be validated. The only way for us to say that the research is valid is
that if it measures what it intends to measure.
3. A research is cyclical if it begins with a question and ends with a question or begins with a
problem and ends with a problem.
4. A research is analytical if it’s breaking down a topic into its parts. Analysis depends heavily on
the type of research.
5. Critical a research is critical if it exhibits careful and precise judgment.
6. A research is methodical if it follows a systematic process.
7. A research is replicable if it can be repeated and still arrives at a valid result, may it be closely
related of a different result.

The principal objective or purpose of research in any field of inquiry is to add to what is known
about the phenomenon under the investigation through the application of scientific methods. The
purpose of research is the following –
1. Exploration
2. Description
3. Causal explanation
4. Prediction
Exploration – Exploration is finding out about some previously unexamined phenomenon. It is

particularly useful when researchers lack a clear idea of the problems they will meet during the course of
the study. Through exploration, researchers..
 Develop concepts more clearly
 Establish priorities
 Develop operational definitions
 Formulate research hypotheses and
 Improve the final research design.
Description - Description refers to the data based information-gathering activities. The situations and
events which are described through studies are referred to as descriptive studies. Descriptive studies try to
discover answers to the questions who, what, when, where, and sometimes how.
Causal Exploration – An exploratory study goes beyond description and attempts to establish cause-and-
effect relationship between variable. It explains the reason for the phenomenon that describes study
observed.
Prediction – prediction seeks to answer when and in what situations the event will occur, if it can be
provided plausible explanation for the event in question. In addition to being able to explain an event after
it occurred, it will be able to predict when the event will occur.
Hence, research objectives of a given research study may fall under either the following broad categories.
 To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or achieve new insight into it.
 Portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual situation or a group
 Determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated.
 Test causal relationship between two or more that two facts or situations
 Know and understand a phenomenon with a view to formulating the problem precisely.
Some other objectives of research may spell out as follows:
 Provide solutions to complex problems

 Investigate laws of nature
 Make new discoveries
 Develop new products
 Save cost
 Improve our life, and
 Human desires
The title is the most read part of the research. Not to mention, it is always read first. Therefore, it is
safe to assume that it is one if not the most important elements that defines the research study.
The initial aim of the title is to captivate the attention of the readers and to highlight the research
problem under investigation. Research title then, needs more thinking and effort to construct.
Some things to remember when writing a research title, generally, the title should:
1. Summarize the main idea of the paper;
2. Be a concise statement of the main topic;
3. Include the major variables
4. Show the relationship of the main variables of the study
5. Include the main task of the researcher about the major variables under study; and
6. Mention the participants (in general manner) and the setting.
The researchers must be reminded of the following:

1. In formulating the title, the researcher should avoid using words that serve no useful purpose and
can mislead indexers. The words methods, results, investigations, and study appears redundant
when used in a thesis title.
2. In many cases, the general problem or even the specific question that the researcher intends to
answer, when rewritten in a statement form, can serve as the title.
3. The title mush have 10-15 words.
Examples of thesis title:
- Frequency of Tardiness and Level of Support of Parents Among High School Students in Selected
Public Schools
- Testing the Efficient Market Hypothesis on the Philippine Peso-Dollar Rate (Villanueva, 2006)
- Effects of Peer Pressure on the Habit-forming Behavior of Honor Students

Here are some steps you can follow to write an effective title:
1. Answer these questions: What is my research all about? What techniques were used? Who/what is
studied? What were the results?
2. Use your answer to list key words.
3. Build a sentence with these key words
4. Delete all unnecessary words (eg. Study of, investigate) and repetitive words; link the remaining.
5. Delete no-essential information and reword.

Resources:
Kabir, S.M.S (2016). Basic Guidelines for Research: An Introductory Approach for all Disciplines. Book
Zone Pubication, ISB: 978-984-33-9565-8, Chittagong-4203, Bangladesh.
Islam, Md. (2020) Characteristics, Importance and objectives of research: An overview of the
Indispensable of Ethical Research. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publication, Volume
10 ISSN 2250-3153.
Cristobal Jr, Ed.D (2017). Practical Research for Senior High School. C&E Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-
971-98-0769-8.
Internet Resources:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication
http://dx.doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.10.05.2020.p10138
https://www.library.cornell.edu/research/introduction
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325846733_INTRODUCTION_TO_RESEARCH
https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/title
Video resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv268yi35aI&list=PLiPlxD_eF9U_-y6tBxdi6KqRTUz3zjkl-
&index=8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xYRxkVMwxE&list=PLiPlxD_eF9U_-y6tBxdi6KqRTUz3zjkl-
&index=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wSnVjWROw0&list=PLiPlxD_eF9U_-y6tBxdi6KqRTUz3zjkl-
&index=2

Study Guide 1 - Introduction To Research

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Study Guide 1 - Introduction To Research

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Study Guide 1 - Introduction To Research

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What are the characteristics of research?

What are the characteristics of research?

What are the objectives of research?

What are the objectives of research?

A REVIEW OF THE FUNDAMENTALS

Aware or not, research is already a

After going through this learning guide, you

Jerome L. Abellera, LPT | EDF 201 1

Research is a process through which we attempt

1. Originates with a question or problem.

2. Requires a clear articulation of the goal.

3. Follows a specific plan of procedure.

1. Data collection – refers to observing, 6. Accepts certain critical assumption.

Jerome L. Abellera, LPT | EDF 201 2

6. A research is methodical if it follows a systematic process.

Jerome L. Abellera, LPT | EDF 201 3

Exploration – Exploration is finding out about some previously unexamined phenomenon. It is

Jerome L. Abellera, LPT | EDF 201 4

The researchers must be reminded of the following:

Examples of thesis title:

Jerome L. Abellera, LPT | EDF 201 5

Jerome L. Abellera, LPT | EDF 201 6

Jerome L. Abellera, LPT | EDF 201 7

You might also like