Unit 1 Notes
Unit 1 Notes
-finding a piece of information or making notes and then writing a documented paper.
-refers to the act of informing oneself about what one does not know, perhaps by rummaging through
available sources (such as the internet or library) to retrieve a bit of information.
1. Research is not mere information gathering- Going to the library (as an example) is just information
gathering.
2. Research is not mere transportation of facts from one location to another. The true essence of
research is not just to gather data or information, but to analyze, interpret data gathered and to draw
conclusions from them. This is just what we called fact transcription, fact organization, or fact
summarization.
3. Research is not merely rummaging for information. Rummaging, whether through one’s personal
records or at the public or college library, is not research. It is more accurately called an exercise in
self-enlightenment.
4. Research is not a catchword used to get attention. The phrase “years of research” on product labels
catching your attention is not the “research” we mean- its misleading.
What Research Is
Research - is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information (data) in order to
increase our understanding of a phenomenon about which we are interested or concerned.
- formal research, which intentionally sets out to enhance our understanding of a phenomenon and
expect to communicate what we discover to the larger scientific community.
- a process of executing various mental acts for discovering and examining facts and information to
prove the accuracy or truthfulness of your claims or conclusions about the topic of your research
- requires you to inquire or investigate about your chosen research topic by asking questions that
will make you engage yourself in top-level thinking strategies of interpreting, analyzing
synthesizing, criticizing, appreciating, or creating to enable you to discover truth about the many
things you tend to wonder about the topic of your research (Litchman 2013)
Importance of Research
1. Research gathers knowledge or information on subjects or phenomena we lack or have little knowledge
about.
2. Research corrects perceptions as well as expands them.
3. Research develops and evaluates concepts, practices and theories.
4. Research also develops and evaluates methods that test concepts, practices and theories.
5. Research obtains practical knowledge for purposes like solving problems on population explosion, drug
addiction, juvenile delinquency and the like.
In business, research is used to test products, ensure the adequate distribution of a company’s product,
measuring advertising effectiveness and helps the company to stay competitive in the market.
6. Research provides hard facts which serves as bases for planning, decision-making, project-implementation
and evaluation.
Characteristics of Research
1. Accuracy. It must give correct or accurate data, which the footnotes, notes, and bibliographical entries
should honestly and appropriately documented or acknowledged.
2. Objectiveness. It must deal with facts, not with mere opinions arising from assumptions, generalizations,
predictions, or conclusions.
3. Timeliness. It must work on a topic that is fresh, new, and interesting to the present society.
4. Relevance. Its topic must be instrumental in improving society or in solving problems affecting the lives
of people in a community.
5. Clarity. It must succeed in expressing its central point or discoveries by using simple, direct, concise, and
correct language.
Purposes of Research
Types of Research
a. Pure Research - it deals with concepts, principles, or abstract things. This type of research aims
to increase your knowledge about something.
b. Applied Research - applying your chosen research to societal problems or issues, finding ways to
make positive changes in society.
a. Descriptive Research -This type of research aims at defining or giving a verbal portrayal or
picture of a person, thing, event, group, situation etc. This is liable to repeated research because
its topic relates itself on], to a certain period or a limited number of years. Based on the result of
your descriptive studies about a subject, you develop the inclination conducting further studies on
such topic.
c. Explanatory Research - This type of research elaborates or explain, not just the reasons behind
the relationship of two factors, but also the way. By which such relationship exists.
a. Qualitative research - requires non-numerical data, which means that the research uses words
rather than numbers to express the results, the inquiry or investigation about people’s thoughts,
beliefs, feelings, views, at lifestyles regarding the object of the study. These opinionated answers
inform people are not measurable. So, verbal language is the right way to eplain your findings in a
qualitative research.
b. Quantitative research- involves measurement of data Thus, it presents research findings
referring to the number or frequency of something in numerical forms (i.e., using percentages,
numbers). The data you deal with in research are either primary or secondary data.
Primary data - are obtained through direct observation or contact with people, objects,
artifacts, paintings, etc. Primary data are new and original information resulting from your
sensory experience.
Secondary data – if such data have already been written about or reported on and are
available for reading purposes.
Approaches to Research
1. Scientific or positive
- in which you discover and measure information as well as observe and control variables in an impersonal
manner.
-It allows control of variables. Therefore, the data gathering techniques appropriate for this approach are
structured interviews, questionnaires, and observational checklists.
-Data given by these techniques are expressed through numbers, which means that this method is suitable
for quantitative research.
2. Naturalistic approach
- the naturalistic approach uses words. This research approach directs you to deal with qualitative data that
speak of how people behave toward their surroundings.
-These are non-numerical data that express truths about the way people perceive or understand the world.
-Since people look at their world in a subjective or personal basis in an uncontrolled or unstructured
manner, a naturalistic approach happens in a natural setting.
3. Triangulation approach
The research process follows a cycle and begins simply. It follows logical, developmental steps:
Ethics of Research
There are several reasons why it is important to adhere to ethical norms in research (Resnik, 2015).
1. Norms promote the aims of research, such as knowledge, truth, and avoidance of error.
Example, prohibitions against fabricating, falsifying, or misrepresenting research data promote the
truth and minimize error.
2. Ethical standards promote the values that are essential to collaborative work, such as trust,
accountability, mutual respect, and fairness.
Example, many ethical norms in research, such as guidelines for authorship, copyright and patenting
policies, data sharing policies, and confidentiality rules in peer review, are designed to protect
intellectual property interests while encouraging collaboration. Most researchers want to receive credit
for their contributions and do not want to have their ideas stolen or disclosed prematurely.
3. Ethical norms help to ensure that researchers can be held accountable to the public.
Example, government policies on research misconduct, conflicts of interest, the human subjects
protections, and animal care and use are necessary in order to make sure that researchers who are
funded by public money can be held accountable to the public.
4. Ethical norms in research also help to build public support for research.
People are more likely to fund a research project if they can trust the quality and integrity of research.
5. Norms of research promote a variety of other important moral and social values (such as social
responsibility, human rights, animal welfare, compliance with the law, and public health and safety)
Given the importance of ethics for the conduct of research, it should come as no surprise that many different
professional associations, government agencies, and universities have adopted specific codes, rules, and policies
relating to research ethics.
Many government agencies, both national and abroad, have adopted certain ethical policies for funded
research. These are the following:
1. Honesty
Strive for honesty in all scientific communications. Honestly report data, results, methods and
procedures, and publication status. Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data. Do not deceive
colleagues, research sponsors, or the public.
2. Objectivity
Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer review, personnel
decisions, grant writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of research where objectivity is expected
or required. Avoid or minimize bias or self-deception. Disclose personal or financial interests that may
affect research.
3. Integrity
Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for consistency of thought and action.
4. Carefulness
Avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your own work and the work of
your peers. Keep good records of research activities, such as data collection, research design, and
correspondence with agencies or journals.
5. Openness
Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.
7. Confidentiality
Protect confidential communications, such as papers or grants submitted for publication, personnel
records, trade or military secrets, and patient records.
8. Responsible Publication
Publish in order to advance research and scholarship, not to advance just your own career. Avoid
wasteful and duplicative publication.
9. Responsible Mentoring
Help to educate, mentor, and advise students. Promote their welfare and allow them to make their
own decisions.
12. Non-Discrimination
Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or other
factors not related to scientific competence and integrity.
13. Competence
Maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through lifelong education and
learning; take steps to promote competence in science as a whole.
14. Legality
Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and governmental policies.