research

• Basic research, also known as theoretical research, aims to test existing or generate new theories to advance knowledge or understanding, while Applied research aims to use the acquired knowledge to contribute directly to the understanding or resolution of practical issues
• Scientific knowledge is a generalized body of laws and theories that explains a phenomenon acquired using the scientific method, which can be imperfect or far from the truth based on the theories accepted at the time
• Research paradigm


  A cluster of beliefs and dictates which influence what should be studied, how research should be done, and how results should be interpreted
• Research paradigms


  • Qualitative
  • Quantitative
• Qualitative research


  • Researchers are primarily concerned with processes rather than outcomes
  • Researchers are interested in meaning, or how people make sense of their experiences
  • The researcher is the primary instrument for data collection and analysis
  • Research involves fieldwork
  • The research is highly descriptive in that the researcher is interested in deriving meaning from words or pictures
  • The process is inductive
• Approaches to qualitative research

  • Phenomenology
  • Ethnography
  • Case study
  • Discourse/Conversation analysis
  • Inductive thematic theory
  • Grounded theory
  • Narrative analysis
• Phenomenology


  Both an approach to and a method of understanding the behavioral, emotive, and social meanings of lived experiences of individuals
• Ethnography


  Focuses on studying shared practices and belief systems (i.e., culture) of a group of people in their natural context over a prolonged period
• Case study


  Allows in-depth investigation of complex issues within a specific context based on a small geographical area or a very limited number of individuals as the subjects of the study
• Discourse/Conversation analysis


  Studies naturally occurring discourse and extract shared meanings from such discourse; text is the object of analysis
• Main Idea


  Understanding and explaining an issue is as important as devising a solution
• Inductive thematic theory


  Primarily concerned with presenting the stories and experiences voiced by study participants as accurately and comprehensively as possible
• Grounded theory


  A set of inductive data collection and analytic methods to construct theories grounded in the data themselves
• Narrative analysis


  Focuses on narratives (storytelling) as the source of data
• Qualitative research


  Research that occurs in the field or in a natural setting where the phenomenon is happening. The researcher engages with the people directly involved and often acclimate themselves to the views, beliefs, and culture of the community in focus.
• Characteristics of a Good Qualitative Research Problem

  • Feasibility
  • Novelty
  • Ethics
  • Relevance
• Qualitative research


  • Researchers act as the key instrument in collecting data
  • The participant and their subjective views on a particular phenomenon are put into emphasis
  • Uses multiple sources of data and analysis
• Semi-structured interviews


  Qualitative research method that prevents imposing biases, uses open-ended questions, and ensures mutual understanding between participant and interviewer
• Observations

  Qualitative research method that provides a first-hand account and prevents imposition of preconceived ideas
• Three Basic Components of a Good Qualitative Research Problem

  • The ideal situation
  • The main problem
  • The scope of the problem
• Focused group discussion


  Qualitative research method that is less expensive than individual interviews, provides a relaxed atmosphere, and elicits spontaneous responses
• Criteria for Evaluating Qualitative Research Problems

  • The problem should not be too general or too specific
  • The problem should be amenable to change as data are collected and analyzed
  • The problem should not be biased with restrictive assumptions or desired findings
  • The problem should be written in how and what forms to focus on describing the phenomena
  • The problem should include a central question as well as the participants and the site
• Steps in Developing a Research Problem

  1. Selection of the research topic

  2. Contemplating the ideas

  3. Narrowing the topic

  4. Reviewing the related literature

  5. Writing the statement of the research problem
• Strengths of qualitative research methods

  • Prevents imposing biases
  • Important means to dig down information using open-ended questions
  • Ensures mutual understanding between participant and interviewer
  • First-hand account of observing, prevents imposition of preconceived ideas and explore unforeseen effects
  • Less expensive than individual interviews
  • Provides a relaxed atmosphere so that people feel free to express their views and strengths
  • Responses can be more spontaneous than in a one-to-one interview
• Weaknesses of qualitative research methods


  • Tendency to ask leading questions
  • Interviews and analysis can be both time-consuming, subjective, and not generalizable
  • Participants' accounts always mean something, but they cannot always be taken at face value
  • Observations and analysis can be time-consuming and are not generalizable
  • Observer's presence may influence participants
  • Observer may misinterpret actions, may be subjective
  • Findings are not generalizable unless sampling techniques are used to constitute the groups
  • Depends on people's ability to talk in groups; group dynamics may inhibit people
• Six Elements in Qualitative Research Statement

  • Literature on the research topic that can provoke the research
  • Scope of the problem
  • Importance and relevance of the problem
  • Discipline that can be influenced by the study
  • General characteristics or profile of the participants of the study
  • Overall goal or aim of the study or the question to be answered
• Research ethics


  Ensures that every part of the study can balance the values and morals of both researcher and subject/respondent
• Ethical goals of a researcher


  • Ensure that people participate voluntarily in the study
  • Keep people's comments and behavior confidential
  • Protect people from harm
  • Ensure mutual trust between researcher and participants
• Criteria for a Good Qualitative Purpose Statement


  • The statement must be in a single sentence only
  • The statement must include the purpose of the study
  • The statement must include the central phenomenon
  • Use qualitative words like "explore", "understand", or "discover"
  • Note the participants (if any)
  • State the research site
• Research Question


  • Evocative - should catch the interest of the readers and be drawn into the proposed study
  • Relevant - clearly demonstrated relevance of research question to society, a social group, or scholarly literature
  • Clear - short, conceptually straightforward, and jargon-free
  • Researchable - clearly "doable"
  • Iterative - an approach where insight and learning are gathered, allowing ideas or concepts to be developed through repeated interfaces with the participants
• Six ethical principles


  • Beneficence
  • Veracity or Justice
  • Voluntary Participation/Respect for Persons
  • Anonymity and Confidentiality
  • Disclosure
  • Consent
• Research Title


  • Concise statement of what the reader will find in the paper, identifying the major variables of the study
  • Exudes attraction that prods the readers to an interesting topic
  • Includes principal words and ideas (concept variables) in giving a glimpse of the study
  • Unique form, written in caps and lower case (CLC) bold typeface set in an inverted pyramid structure
  • Descriptive and comprehensive but concise
• Beneficence


  Researchers are ethically obligated to maximize benefit and minimize harm. The study puts emphasis on the research design being sound and the researchers having the appropriate competencies.
• Significance of the Study

  • Rationale, timeliness, and relevance of the study to existing conditions
  • Possible solutions to existing problems or improvements
  • Implications such as possible causes of the problems discovered, possible effects of the problems, and remedial measures to solve the problems
  • Individuals, groups or communities who may be placed in a more advantageous position on account of the study
• Veracity or Justice


  The truth must always be stated, and all agreements or promises must be met. Researchers are morally obligated to treat each person what is morally proper and due to him/her. Additionally, both benefits and burdens must be equally distributed to all participants.
• Scopes and Limitations


  • Scope - coverage, the part of the research that was exactly done, and where the information that was used specifically came from
  • Expressed in terms of focus (subject matter coverage), locus (the place or location of the study), and modus (mode or manner of data-gathering)
• Voluntary Participation/Respect for Persons

  Participants must be aware that their participation in the study is voluntary and that they are free to withdraw at any time without unfavorable repercussions. Respect for persons is based on the respect for autonomy and protection of said persons.
• Anonymity and Confidentiality


  Researchers seek to protect subjects' identity, interests, and future well-being. Researchers must be able to identify their responses, but not their identities. Individuals should have the right to limit access to information about themselves and control the use of this information.
• Poor title


  • School Coercers Strike
• Disclosure


  This sets a boundary on what to disclose to the participant regarding the study. It is important to note that although it is required for researchers to disclose information about the study, this must be carefully considered so that the respondents' opinions and responses will not be affected or influenced.