Meaning of Research

The Challenge
“Facts do not simply lie around waiting to be picked up.

Facts must be carved out of the continuous web of
ongoing reality, must be observed within a specified
frame of reference, must be measured with precision,
must be observed where they can be related to other
relevant facts. All of this involves methods.”
• Sourced-out from real world

• Analyzed based on reference point
• Measured with accuracy
• Evaluated with other information
• Inevitable in one’s daily life
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
• Features
SYSTEMATIC Series of steps & stages - problem
ACCURATE Link observations and occurrence
PRECISE Quantify the incidence of events - statistics
RECORDED Documented observations
OBJECTIVITY What is rather than what ought to be
CONTROLLED Elimination of factors – control
“Research involves a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation.”

SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
• CHARACTERISTICS
TENTATIVE Open to further questions
SHARED Communicated to public – publish or perish
NEUTRAL Not reflecting bias of investigator
EMPIRICALLY Validity of results can be tested

VERIFIABLE
SCIENTIFIC THINKING
• Based on facts
• Starts from a complex of problems
• Free from personal bias
• Uses objective measurements
WHAT IS RESEARCH?
Old French word – cerchier (to seek or search)
 To make discoveries
 For verifiable truth
 For more explanations

WHAT IS RESEARCH?
Method of inquiry for the purpose of obtaining
facts in response to questions
 SEARCH FOR A THEORY
 TEST A THEORY
 SOLVE A PROBLEM
Research
Process of planning, executing,
and investigating in order to find
answers to specific questions
GET RELIABLE Conduct investigation

ANSWERS TO in a systematic manner
QUESTIONS
There is no ‘best’ method for education research and the

choice of the method depends upon the research problem,
the research design and the research purpose.”
Research Definitions
• Continuous discovery and exploration of the unknown

• Systematic quest for undiscovered truth
• Systematic study or investigation of something for the purpose
of answering questions posed by the researcher
• Process of scientific thinking that leads to the discovery of new
knowledge or truth
• Revision of accepted conclusions, theories or laws, in the light of
newly discovered facts, or the practical applications of such new or
revised conclusions, theories or laws (Webster’s)
“SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF A PHENOMENA”
In psychology – one of the prime movers of

man is his need to satisfy his curiosity
Why conduct research?
Without research, one cannot
immediately answer questions
• What are the factors that influence

teachers’ performance?
• What are the factors that influence
the successful launch of a new
educational program?
“Through research, ideas and theories are tested. Once tested, the
future can be predicted. Can say with confidence that this type of
situation, this should be the solution. Thus, makes life easier.”
Why conduct research?
Not much different from practical problem solving
“Key is knowing where to gather relevant

information and how to combine separate
pieces of data into a coherent profile of
each competing operation.”
Problems of the time

given more priority
What research can do?
Research means progress and to attain
progress changes have to be made
Concepts Theories
Principles Products
Builds, Destroys
Stages Processes
Develops Partially, totally
Models Practices
Schemes Inputs
Outputs Materials
Equipment Gadgets
“While research builds or develops, it also destroys.

Research Relevance
Increasingly complex nature of operations
and decision making demands a systematic
and thoughtful approach
Most decision making of

successful organization is
based on research
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE

Value of Research
• Improves quality of life

• Improves instruction – education strategies
• Improves students’ achievement – teacher methods
• Satisfies man’s needs – infrastructure needs
• Reduces the burden of work – technology
• Improves exportation of food products
• Challenges man
Research and Knowledge
Bring something new
• New theory to describe and explain

how people behave
• New techniques to assist
administrators in their decision making
• New facts uncovered – before
launching a program, organization
needs knowledge to assess the
feasibility of success
Research & Ethics
Moral principles and values that
influence the conduct of research
ETHICAL ISSUES
• Preserving participant’s anonymity
• Exposing participant to mental stress
• Asking participants questions detrimental to their self-interest
• Use of special equipment and techniques – recorder, video
• Involving participants in research without their consent
• Use of deception
• Use of coercion to get information
• Depriving participants of their rights – self-determination
Factors Influencing Research
Researcher’s moral responsibility deals with
social guidelines and constraints upon
research techniques and measurements
Public Interests and

Biases
Company Interests
and Biases
Conduct and
findings of research
Government Rules
(tools, procedures
and Regulations
and analysis)
Researcher’s Own
Interests/Biases
Researchers’ moral responsibility to
Peer Pressure find and explain answers to their
questions honestly and accurately.”
Research Characteristics
EMPIRICAL Data anchored on direct observation
LOGICAL Based on valid procedures and principles
CYCLICAL Starts and ends with a problem
ANALYTICAL Use procedures in data gathering
REPLICABILITY Replication of research designs, procedures
CRITICAL Precise judgment – 0.05 confidence level

GOOD SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
• CHARACTERISTICS
•Clearly defined purpose or problem involved

•Procedures described in detail, defensible,
replicable
•Appropriate methods of analysis
•Conclusions confined by results or findings
•Objectivity of researcher
Thesis/Dissertation – report of a scholar upon

some piece of research which he has completed
Research Orientations
Laws and Theories
DEDUCTION
INDUCTION
Facts acquired Explanations and

through observation predictions
Levels of Research
CONCEPTUAL
1
(theoretical)
LEVEL 2
MEASUREMENT
(empirical)
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROCESS?
• BOTH FACT-FINDING AND THEORY-BUILDING
FACTS •Theory formulation

•Theory reformulation/rejection
•Theory clarification
THEORY •Scheme for data gathering

•Scheme for data analysis
•Gaps in knowledge
THE RESEARCH PROCESS
TOPIC & PROBLEM Variable, hypothesis,

theoretical framework,
definitions, significance,
literature review
METHODOLOGY Research design, sources

of information, data
collection techniques,
statistical tools
DATA COLLECTION
DATA PROCESSING
REPORT GENERATION
Research Process
Set of activities unfolding over time
Choice of research topic

Research problem
Problem presentation
Research design
LITERATURE
Measurement
REVIEW
Data
Sample/respondents
Analyses
Writing report
Actions
Research Process
Report sequence
Research
Problem Sequence departure
Hypotheses
Questions
Instrumentation Definitions
Procedures/
Design
Sample Literature
Review
Data Analysis
Why research never stops?
Improvement in theory Observation, literature
or problem solving review
Interpretations Problem
and conclusions clarification
Data Assumptions and

analysis hypotheses
Data collection Concepts, constructs

and models
RESEARCH WHEEL
Research design
Research Difficulties
• RECOGNIZING PROBLEMS
• DUPLICATION
• INDIFFERENCE OF PEOPLE TO RESEARCH
• LACK OF FACILITIES
• LIMITED TIME DURATION
• FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
• LACK OF ADEQUATE & EXPERT CONSULTANTS

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The Challenge

“Facts do not simply lie around waiting to be picked up.

• Sourced-out from real world

SYSTEMATIC Series of steps & stages - problem

ACCURATE Link observations and occurrence

PRECISE Quantify the incidence of events - statistics

RECORDED Documented observations

OBJECTIVITY What is rather than what ought to be

CONTROLLED Elimination of factors – control

“Research involves a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation.”

TENTATIVE Open to further questions

SHARED Communicated to public – publish or perish

NEUTRAL Not reflecting bias of investigator

EMPIRICALLY Validity of results can be tested

 For verifiable truth

 For more explanations

 SEARCH FOR A THEORY

GET RELIABLE Conduct investigation

There is no ‘best’ method for education research and the

• Continuous discovery and exploration of the unknown

In psychology – one of the prime movers of

• What are the factors that influence

“Key is knowing where to gather relevant

Problems of the time

“While research builds or develops, it also destroys.

Most decision making of

IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE

• Improves quality of life

• New theory to describe and explain

Public Interests and

EMPIRICAL Data anchored on direct observation

LOGICAL Based on valid procedures and principles

CYCLICAL Starts and ends with a problem

ANALYTICAL Use procedures in data gathering

REPLICABILITY Replication of research designs, procedures

CRITICAL Precise judgment – 0.05 confidence level

•Clearly defined purpose or problem involved

Thesis/Dissertation – report of a scholar upon

Laws and Theories

Facts acquired Explanations and

• BOTH FACT-FINDING AND THEORY-BUILDING

FACTS •Theory formulation

THEORY •Scheme for data gathering

TOPIC & PROBLEM Variable, hypothesis,

METHODOLOGY Research design, sources

Choice of research topic

Data Assumptions and

Data collection Concepts, constructs

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