A systematic process of gathering information, interpreting information and analyzing information to resolve a specific problem
Research topic
A subject, issue or specific area of interest that a researcher wants to investigate or explore
Feasibility
Whether the research can be completed based on the available time and resources
Empirical
Verifiable by experience, not based on speculation or value judgment
Interesting
Having an impact on the practitioners (or even your peers) who would be reading your research paper
Novel
Introduction of a new idea or unique perspective that adds to the existing knowledge in a particular field
Specific
Narrowing down the focus of the study to clearly define the research problem
Research problem
What the researchers want to find out in their research topic
Research Design
Overall strategy to answer the research problem. It determines the data to be collected, how it will be collected and how it will be interpreted and analyzed.
Research Design
QUALITATIVE
QUANTITATIVE
Research Problem
What researchers want to find out in their research topic.
Qualitative Research
Aims to develop generalization
Quantitative Research
Aims to develop a causal relationship between and among the variables
Causation
The relationship between variables where one variable causes the other
Sampling
The process by which a statistical subset or portion of a statistical population is selected to be representative of the said population.
Statistic
A numerical characteristic of the sample
Qualitative data is non-numerical (containing words, data in audio forms, images) while Quantitative data is numerical.
Qualitative data is collected through questionnaires, interviews and observation while Quantitative data is collected through questionnaires (surveys and polls), interviews and experiments.
Data Collection Instrument
The instruments or tools used by researchers to gather information (data) that can help them answer the research problem.
Types of Questionnaires
Open-ended
Close-ended
Open-endedquestions are used to collect qualitative data whereas close-ended questions (particularly scaling questions) are used for quantitative studies.
Interviews
A data collection instrument where, through conversation, a series of questions is given to the respondents by the researchers (interviewees) in order to elicit information.
Interviews can also be used in quantitative research (although uncommon) since scaling questions can also be given during interviews. true (true or false)
Difference between qualitative and quantitative research
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Quantitative Research
To test hypothesis, establish causal relationship, make predictions and generalizations from findings
Larger sample size
Probability sampling
Statistical information and numbers (number based)
Test, experiment, pre test-post test and any other method that requires precise measurements
Statistical analysis
High generalizability
Difference between top-down and bottom-up approach
Top-down Approach
Bottom-up Approach
Top-down Approach
THEORY -> HYPOTHESIS -> OBSERVATION -> CONFIRMATION
The aim of this kind of research is to confirm whether the theory has enough explanatory power to account for the phenomenon.
Researches that use this top-down approach in dealing with a research problem are "confirmatory" researches.
Bottom-up Approach
Data Collection -> Notice of Pattern -> Formulation of Hypothesis -> THEORY
That is why it is common to find qualitative researches not to have hypothesis stated at the beginning of the study
Researches that use this bottom-up approach in dealing with a research problem are "exploratory" researches.
Kinds of qualitative research
Ethnographical Studies
Grounded Theory
Phenomenology
Historical Approach
Case Study
DescriptiveQualitative Research
Ethnographical Studies
Involves a covert or overt participation of the researchers in the lives and experiences of their target participants for a long time to understand the social group and how they live
Grounded Theory
Attempts to develop a theory, model or framework through an inductive analysis of the qualitative data
Phenomenology
Involves understanding and developing an accurate description of human experience
HistoricalApproach
Provides a description of the phenomenon by weaving together a series of events to form a cohesive story from the narratives collected from individuals
Case Study
Attempts to provide an in-depth description of an individual, a program or an organization using a wide array of data collection methods
Descriptive Qualitative Research
Describes reactions or perceptions of a specific phenomenon
Quantitative Variables
Are those variables which can be measured numerically
Quantitative Variables
Discrete Variables
Continuous Variables
Ratio Variables
Discrete Variables
Are those variables which can be counted and, are not described in ranges. Discrete variables can only be denoted by positive whole numbers
Continuous Variables
Are those variables which cannot be counted and are measured in ranges. Continuous variables can have positive or negative values.
Ratio Variables
Are a special type of continuous variables which cannot have a negative value.