INTRO TO RESEARCH

• Research is a process of systematic inquiry that entails collection of data, documentation of critical info, and analysis and interpretation of data/info
• Concept

  A term that abstractly describes and names an object, a phenomenon, or an idea
• Examples of concepts


  • Income - P5,000 - P8,000
  • Age - 18 y/o - 20 y/o
  • Education Level - High School Graduate, College Graduate, Post Graduate
  • Number of Siblings - 3 siblings in the family, 4 or more siblings in the family
• Theory


  An organized body of concepts and principles intended to explain a particular phenomenon
• Quantitative Method


  A method that focuses on numbers, objective hard data. It proves hypotheses by statistical analysis and scientific method. It is a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data is used to obtain information about the world. It is used to describe variables. It examines relationships among variables.
• Example of Quantitative Method


  • A drug abuser telling you how many pills they consume per week
• Qualitative Method


  It uses words instead of numbers to display data. It focuses on feelings not numerical data. Small amount of participants involved in a qualitative research study. This kind of research method utilizes interviews, archived written information, and observations to measure the significance of a relationship between variables.
• Example of Qualitative Method


  • A drug abuser telling you how they feel about abusing drugs
• Variables


  Any quality of a person, group subject, event, condition or situation that varies or takes on different values
• Hypothesis


  A logical supposition, a reasonable guess, and educated conjecture. It provides a tentative explanation of a phenomenon under investigation.
• Example of a hypothesis


  • Test anxiety decreases as a result of effective study habits
• Sampling


  The process of selecting participants who are representatives of a larger population - gain an understanding of a larger population
• Example of sampling


  • A random sample may include choosing the names of 25 employees out of a hat in a company of 250 employees
• Specific


  • A research paper should maintain its focus on the given subject of research - answering a specific research question - and not be inconsistent or aimless as to convey information or make claims on other, unrelated topics or subjects
• Measurable


  • A research paper must contain specific, proven research, and cites all research sources and related literature
• Attainable


  • A research paper must provide a thesis statement, one that answers the research question and contributes to the knowledge of the given subject. It can't propose to answer a question that doesn't relate to real life or isn't based on an existing body of knowledge
• Realistic


  • A research paper is objective and realistic. Should it be made to present interpretations, arguments, or evaluations, then it should do so based on valid evidence from reliable sources
• Time


  • A research paper cannot be written without the researcher knowing the limits, timeframes, and focus of the required work. Without the writer / researcher stating the scope and limitations of the research paper, it is likely that the thesis statement will be hampered by an inability to answer the given research question or focus on the given research subject
• Narrowing down a research topic


  1. By demographic characteristics

  2. By relevant issues

  3. By location

  4. By timeframe

  5. By causes
• Example of narrowing by demographic characteristics


  • Challenges faced by international college graduates entering the workforce
• Example of narrowing by relevant issues


  • Challenges faced by college graduates who are unable to find meaningful or relevant work
• Example of narrowing by location


  • Challenges faced by college graduates entering the workforce in rural Ontario
• Example of narrowing by timeframe


  • Challenges faced by college graduates entering the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Example of narrowing by causes


  • Why do employers hire fewer college graduates?
• By demographic characteristics


  by age group, occupation, ethnic group, gender, etc
• By relevant issues


  by identifying key issues related to your topic, especially ones that you have an opinion on.
• By location


  focus on specific country, province, city, or type of environment
• By timeframe


  events of historical time period. This will also help decide how current the information you use must be
• By causes


  By perspective of looking for causes of an issue you are researching