pr

• Variable


  Any characteristic, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted
• Examples of variables

  • Height
  • Age
  • Income
  • Eye color
• Variable (in research)


  A person, place, thing, or phenomenon that you are trying to measure or study
• Independent variable


  The CAUSE, the variable that you can vary or manipulate to study its effect on the dependent variable
• Dependent variable


  The EFFECT, the variable that changes as a result of varying or manipulating the independent variable
• Descriptive research


  • Focuses on describing the characteristics of the problem, phenomenon, situation, or group under study
  • Seeks to describe the current status of the variable under study
• Descriptive research only seeks to observe and measure the variables but cannot describe what caused the situation so there are no presumed cause or effects, and there are therefore no independent and dependent variables
• Correlational research


  • Attempts to determine the extent of a relationship between two or more variables and how one variable impacts the other
  • Recognizes trends and patterns in data, but does not prove causes for these observed patterns
  • Variables are not manipulated; they are only identified and are studied as they occur in a natural setting
• Experimental research


  • Establishes the cause-effect relationship among a group of variables that make up a study
  • An independent variable is manipulated to determine the effects on the dependent variables
• Quasi-experimental research


  • Attempts to establish cause and effect relationships among the variables, however the independent variable is identified but not manipulated
• Where and how to find a research topic

  • Current issues
  • Wide reading
  • Social networking
  • Replication
  • Lecture, talks and seminars
  • Gray area
• Selecting a research topic


  • Select a topic that you are interested in
  • Narrow your topic to something manageable
  • Review the guidelines on topic selection
  • Refer to your lecture notes in practical research
  • Talk about research ideas with a friend/colleagues
  • Consider the 5W's and how
• current issues


  looking into current events, pressing societal and environmental issues
• wide reading


  going over books, magazines, article, or even films and movies might give you an idea or an inspiration for a research topic
• social networking


  any topic that is posted online might arise your interest for research.
• replication


  a researcher might get some ideas from an existing research work then modify some part of the research like construct and/or variables of the research, the coverage or area and the scope of the research.
• lecture, talks, and seminars


  during these gatherings or session, research experts might be able to suggest good research topic for students who are beginning to write research projects
• gray area


  you might say there are no available research topic for you since everyone seems to be doing a research project but little did you know that there are still a lot of topics that were not given much attention by people. you just have to discover it yourself.