A Practical Guide to Research Projects

Unit 1: Introduction to Research

Definitions of Research

Research is a systematic and organized process of investigating a topic to gain knowledge or

solve problems. It involves collecting and analyzing data to find new insights or theories.
Research is done using scientific methods and aims to contribute to existing knowledge. It
can include different methods like experiments, surveys, or case studies. The process starts
with reviewing existing information, forming research questions, and selecting appropriate
methods. Research helps us learn new things and find answers based on evidence.

Research and Reports: Similarities and Differences

Research and reports have some similarities. Both aim to gather and present information on a
specific topic. They have a structured format and use data to support their findings. They also
present information in a clear way using visuals.

However, there are differences between research and reports. Research is a systematic
investigation to expand knowledge or validate theories. It involves using specific methods
and has a broader scope. Research is often for the academic community. Reports, on the other
hand, provide factual information on a specific topic. They may use existing data and have
a more focused scope. Reports are often for different audiences and may not involve original
research.

In simple terms, research is about discovering new knowledge, while reports provide
information on a topic.

Types of Research

There are different types of research based on the methods used, knowledge creation, fields
of study, and types of information gained.

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In terms of research methods:
 Experimental Research: Variables are manipulated and observed.
 Observational Research involves observing behaviors or events.
 Survey Research collects data through questionnaires or interviews.
 Qualitative Research focuses on understanding people's experiences and meanings.
Quantitative Research analyzes numerical data.

Based on knowledge creation:

 Basic Research aims to expand knowledge without immediate practical use.
 Applied Research focuses on solving specific problems or addressing practical
issues.

In terms of fields of study:

 Social Sciences Research investigates human behavior and society.
 Natural Sciences Research explores natural phenomena.
 Medical and Health Research focuses on health-related issues.

Regarding types of information gained:

 Descriptive Research describes characteristics or behaviors.
 Exploratory Research provides initial insights and generates hypotheses.
 Explanatory Research establishes causal relationships.
 Comparative Research compares different groups or situations.
 Historical Research examines past events.

These categories help us understand the different types of research, but it's important to note
that research can overlap and fall into multiple categories depending on the specific study.

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 Unit 2: Stages of Conducting Research

According to Kalaya Boonsirijarungradh (2014), research can be implemented in six stages:

Stage 1: Specifying Research Topic, Research Questions, Purpose, and Audience

The following questions guide you to identify your research topic:
1. What field of study are you in? What work do you do?
2. Are there any controversial issues or problems or conflicts in your academic or
professional society? In your opinion, what is the most outstanding, inspiring, or
interesting one? Why or why not?
3. What is your research question? How would you investigate your answers?
4. Who are your target readers? Why might your research topic be useful for them?

Stage 2: Exploring Theories and Related Studies

Generative AI, such as Chat GPT or Google Brad, might be useful to initially explore theories
or related studies, just following these simple steps:
1. Identify keywords.
2. Write a prompt related to controversial arguments on your research topic and headings
of related theories.

Stage 3: Designing Survey Research

To design a research method, the author should focus on population or samples, instruments,
and statistics:

Research Population or Samples

 To get sufficient data for generalizing reliable research results, either population or
samples should be surveyed; how many samples are in need:
o Hundreds: 30% (30 pax)
o Thousands: 15% (150 pax)
o Ten Thousand ++: 10% (1,000 pax)

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Research Instruments
 Would you like to use questionnaires (for quantitative research) or interview questions
or observation criteria (for qualitative research)?
 How would you distribute your research instruments: paper-based on online-based?

Sample of Questionnaire

Research Title: Why do metropolitan employees like working from home?

Part 1: Personal Information

1. Gender:  Male  Female
2. Position:  Operation  Management

Part 2: Opinion Statements

Please indicate how much you agree with the following statements:
Statements 5 4 3 2 1
1. Working from Home is more productive.
2. Working from home brings about a better work-life balance.
3. Team connections get better when working from home.

Part 3: Open-Ended Question

1. Can you suggest additional reasons why working from home is good for you?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your time and valuable answer.

Statistics:
 To assess the validity and reliability of questionnaires or interview questions,
the research instruments should be evaluated by experts; Item Objective Congruence

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 (IOC) should be computed. The research instrument is reliable and valid when the
IOC index is above 0.50 out of 1 point.
 Compute your research data by fundamental descriptive statistics: frequency, average,
and standard deviation, using Microsoft Excel.
Stage 4: Writing a Research Proposal
A research proposal includes three basic sections:
 Rationale or Statements of Problems
 Related Literature Review
 Research Design

Stage 5: Collecting and Analyzing Data

 Quantitative research data are collected through online or face-to-face questionnaires.
Frequency, average, and standard deviation can be used in data analysis.
 Qualitative research data are collected through online or face-to-face interviews or
observations. Frequency and verbal inferences can be used in data analysis.
 Consent forms are in need to ask permission from participants before conducting
qualitative research.

Stage 6: Reporting Research Findings

To present research findings, authors publish research articles, composed of seven parts:
1. Title and Authors of Research Article
2. Abstract
3. Rationale
4. Literature Review
5. Research Design
6. Research Findings and Discussion
7. Reference

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 Unit 3: Literature Exploration

Reliable research articles need unbiased and credible sources of evidence to support their
arguments. To integrate related theories and research in the academic journal articles,
researchers must follow the four steps:
 Identifying Information Sources
 Evaluating Information
 Integrating Information
 Citing References

Step 1: Identifying Information Sources

Basically, related theories and previous studies can be searched from printed and digital
media. Specific keywords can help researcher identify the most relevant and reliable
evidences to support their arguments.

Step 2: Evaluating Information

Researchers have to carefully apply the CRAPP Model to evaluate the credibility of their
information sources in order that their academic research articles are reliable among
academic readers.

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https://guides.lib.virginia.edu/c.php?g=600315&p=4171060

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Step 3: Integrating Information
Integrating sources of information means using the ideas and evidence from multiple sources
to support your own argument or thesis. This is an important part of academic writing, as it
allows you to demonstrate your understanding of the existing literature on your topic and to
build a strong case for your own conclusions.

Integrating sources of information is an important part of academic writing. These days,

many paraphrasing and summarizing websites can help new researchers integrating sources
of information: “QuillBot” “Paraphraser” etc.

There are four different ways to integrate sources of information in your research articles.

https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/academic-integrity/using-sources

Here are some tips for integrating reliable sources of evidence in your research articles:
 Choose your sources carefully. 
 Use a variety of sources. 
 Be fair and objective. 
 Cite your sources properly. 

Integrating sources of information is an important part of academic writing. By following

these tips, you can ensure that you are using reliable sources of evidence in your research
articles and that you are presenting the information in a fair and objective way.

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Step 4: Citing References
To cite references, In-text citations and references are two important parts of APA style
documentation. In-text citations are used to identify the source of information within the body
of your paper, while references provide a list of all the sources you have cited at the end of
your paper.

The main difference between in-text citations and references is that in-text citations are brief,
while references are more complete. In-text citations typically include the author's last name
and the year of publication, while references also include the title of the source, the
publication information, and the page numbers (if applicable).

Here are some examples of in-text citations in APA style:

 Direct Quote: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" (Seuss, 2007, p. 7).
 Paraphrase: According to Seuss (2007), the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy
dog.
 Summary: Seuss (2007) described the quick brown fox jumping over the lazy dog.

Here is an example of a reference in APA style:

 Seuss, D. (2007). The Cat in the Hat. New York, NY: Random House.

To compile in-text citations and references in APA style, you can use a citation management
tool like Zotero or Mendeley. These tools can help you collect and organize your sources,
and they will automatically generate in-text citations and references in APA style.

To compile in-text citations and references manually. Here are some tips:
 Use the author-date citation method. This means that you will include the author's last
name and the year of publication in parentheses after each piece of information you
cite.
 Be consistent. Make sure that you use the same format for all of your in-text citations
and references.
 Check your work. Carefully proofread your paper to make sure that all of your in-text
citations and references are correct.

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A Quick Guide to APA Citation 7th Edition

In-text Citations

1 Author (Abrams, 2018)

2 Authors (Wegener & Petty, 1994)

3+ Authors (Harris et al., 2018)

Group Author First time with an abbreviation:

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2019)

Then all subsequent citations: (CDC, 2019)

References

Journal Article

Ashing-Giwa, K. T., Padilla, G., Tejero, J., Kraemer, J., Wright, K., Coscarelli, A., Clayton, S.,

Williams, I., & Hills, D. (2004). Understanding the breast cancer experience of women: A

qualitative study of African American, Asian American, Latina and Caucasian cancer

survivors. Psycho‐Oncology, 13(6), 408-428. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.750

Web Page

American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Disaster preparedness. https://www.nursingworld.org/

practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/disaster-preparedness/

News Article

Cresell, J., & Kaplan, S. (2019, November 24). How Juul hooked a generation on nicotine. The

New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/23/health/juul-vaping-crisis.html

Book

Schmidt, N. A., & Brown, J. M. (2017). Evidence‐based practice for nurses: Appraisal and application

of research (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.

CSUDH Library Last updated

1/27/2020

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