NOTES IN RESEARCH

from the lecture of

Dr. Gloria G. Delan
CTU VP - Research and Development
What is research?
A creative work undertaken on a systematic basis of investigation in order to increase
scientific knowledge.
(discovery of truth, new ideas, new methods, improved methods, new products, etc,)

Types of research
 Pure/basic or fundamental research
Aim to discover new truth, new facts, etc. which may not have an immediate practical
utility.
 Applied research
Seeking new application to the solution of a problem (new device, new method, new
procedure) in order to solve the problem.
 Action Research
Decision–oriented research designed to diagnose problems or weaknesses and
develop practical solutions to address the problem quickly and efficiently to improve
the existing practices.

Classification of research
 Field research
 Library research
 Laboratory

Methods of Research
 Experimental
 Descriptive
 Historical
 Case and clinical studies

Research Proposal
 A communication prepared at the beginning to convince funding agency, an adviser or
a committee.
 A plan which is subject for review and approval.
 A plan that shows the outline of work to be done throughout the project.

Conventional Parts of a Research Proposal

 Title
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods (Methodology)
 Discussion of possible outcomes/expected output
 Time frame (Gantt Chart)
 Budget
 Literature cited
 CV of investigator

Research Title
 a distinctive name given to a proposal in specific, clear and concise terms (15 words or
less)
  should give the reader as much information in a few words as possible
 can be written in a declarative statement or question

form
SMART (SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, REALISTIC AND TIME-
BASED)

Unimportant Words in the Title (Bad Title)

Effects Assessment Evaluation Test
Study Factor Experiment Analysis
Observations Trials Investigations

Introduction (composition)
 Rationale
 Objectives
 Review of related literatures
 Hypothesis
 Significance of the study
 Conceptual framework
 Scope and limitations of the study

Introduction
 Rationale (2 – 4 pages)
(first paragraph)- is the most important part of the introduction.
-renders an exposition of the situation that has made the study necessary.
(What has happened?)
- provides a narrative hook to the reader which causes the reader to pay attention
and to continue reading.

(Next paragraphs)- readings to support the first paragraph.

Present the problematic situation (overview) which prompted the researcher to conduct
the study; scope of the problem (macro to micro or global, national, regional or local);
Citing results from relevant studies(previous studies)to support your study, or present
pertinent statistical data from previous studies to support your study (What has been
done?)
(last paragraph of the rationale)
The purpose statement of the researcher to address the gap or problem stated in the
situation and give reasons why you will be conducting the study. (What needs to be
done?)
NOTE: Rationale presentation should be emphatic and explosive that can create an
impact on the reader of the research.

 Objectives of the Study

 refers to the problems both general and specific which the proponent hopes to
achieve.

General objective
 can be stated in a similar manner as the Title but not necessarily in the same words.

Specific objectives
  related to the different stages of the project; should be expressed in verifiable
terms
i.e. using words like “determine, analyze, characterize, evaluate, compare, and identify”
rather than “study, survey, examine, quantify, and investigate”

 Hypothesis Formulation
Hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction that provides an explanation for an
observed event (a measurable result or condition).
If it can’t be measured, you can’t form a hypothesis because you can’t confirm or reject
it.
It takes an IF – THEN statement.
What are you interested in?
What are you curious about?
Ex. Effect of noise during studying.
What is the effect of noise during studying?
Formulate the Hypothesis: (IF-THEN)
“ If the noise will increase during studying, then the students performance on their
test scores will decrease”

 Importance / significance of the study

 this refers to the contribution of the study to :
 national goals / plans
 national policies
 emerging realities
 regional goals/ plans
 local goals / plans
 existing stock to knowledge
 straight forward statement of the value of the investigation and of possible
application of the results
 value or importance to the community, individuals, institutions and other groups of
people

1. Who are to benefit the research results and how each will be benefitted?
2. In what specific way could the findings be used?
3. Will it have utility to the individual researcher?
4. Will it have an impact to the community, school, or any group of people or
institutions?
5. What is happening around that makes the researcher feel the problem should be
explored?

 Conceptual/Theoretical Framework of the Study

 Includes different theories and models.
 Serves as the legitimate basis for defining
the parameters of the study.
 Scope and limitations
 Limitations are imposed by:
 manpower (intellectual honesty)
 time
 financial, material, physical resources
 any limitations in resources and procedure, etc., must be pointed out frankly but not
apologetically.
  includes design (descriptive or experimental, etc.)
 description of the materials used
 sampling procedure/technique should be fully
 described in detail and in technical terms including the activities to be carried out
 the research feasibility with the sum and time proposed
 the methods of analysis should be described clearly
 gathering of data should be based on objectives
 appropriate statistical tool for the treatment of data

Organizing Materials and Methods

 Introductory Paragraph
 Specifying and justifying the type of research process and duration of the study.
 Research Locale
 Venue of the research, a map can be provided if necessary.
 Research Subjects
 Describe the type and characteristics of the subject
 Explain the sampling procedures used
 Specify the number of subjects used
 Research Instruments
 Mention the research instruments or tools to be used in the study.
 Describe the use and preparation of each instrument.
 Research Procedures
 Gathering of data should be described in detail.
 The statistical procedure used in analyzing the data.

Research Work Plan

 Includes a brief description in chronological order of each activity to be undertaken in
the conduct of the study.
 The starting date and planned completion date are indicated in year and month.
 Presented using a Gantt Chart for clarity.

Expected Output
 this refers to the products of the investigation which would contribute and increase the
stock of knowledge
 if the research is successful, how will the results be used
 who will use the results and how will the users be given access to them

Definition of terms
Relevant experience of the proponent
Working bibliography

Budgetary Requirement
 Be realistic in your needs
 Include salaries, equipment and supplies, travels, indirect cost, publication cost,
communication, personnel services, representation, etc. (external funding)
 GAA (no capital outlay for equipment)

HOW ARE PROPOSALS EVALUATED

 scientific merit / quality
 relevance to development (local, regional, international)
 innovative
  potential to enhance the capacity of the proponent’s
institute to conduct innovative research

Problem definition
 clearly stated
 conform to the goals stated in the project announcement
 other published work taken into account
 valuable in its particular field of study

Research methodology
 research plan optimal for the proposed objectives
 will the data permit reasonable conclusion to be drawn?
 are cost and time frame reasonable?
 are the choice of equipment appropriate?

Institutional Capability
 possess the necessary resource to complete the project
 proponents technical capability

MOST FREQUENT CAUSES FOR REJECTION OF PROPOSALS

 Does not fit within the approved project areas as described in the announcements
 Unrealistically broad and lacking in focus
 Does not have clearly stated hypothesis or question to be investigated
 must be implicit in the proposal an answer to the question, “What is the problem and
how this proposal address it?
 Does not contain detailed research plan that includes methods and materials to be
used for each proposed activities to be carried out
 Does not indicate previous experience or sufficient familiarity of the principal
investigator with the proposed research topic
 Does not show familiarity with the published information on the subject proposed for
investigation

III. PRESENTATION, DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

A. Introduction. General description of method and design.

B. Design. Experiment, quasi-experiment, survey, and so forth. Detailed description.
C. Sample. Universe, population, element, sample design, tolerance, probability.
D. Measurement. Operational definitions. Include, as applicable, detailed discussion of
indexes/ scales. Specify methods used to assess validity and reliability.
E. Analysis. Techniques to be used; justification. Nature of relationships expected (e.g.,
asymmetrical, symmetrical, reciprocal; linear, monotonic, other curvilinear; necessary,
sufficient, necessary and sufficient). Include dummy tables and worked examples of
statistics.
F. Validity. Design: Internal and external, with relevant subtypes.
G. Methodological assumptions. Discuss limitations they impose.

IV. SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

FINDINGS.
A. Brief overview.
B. Results of application of method; any unusual situations encountered. Nature of sample.
C. Descriptive analysis. One-way frequency distributions on central variables.
D. Validity/reliability analysis.
E. Tests of hypotheses. ANOVAs, cross tabulations, correlations, and such, depending on
techniques used; give in same order as hypotheses.

DISCUSSION. When discussing implications, deal with both the theoretical and the practical.
Present only interpretations of the findings, not opinion.
A. Brief overview.
B. Discussion of results of application of method. Implications.
C. Discussion of descriptive analysis. Implications.
D. Discussion of tests of hypothesis. Implications.
E. Post-hoc analysis. Implications.

CONCLUSION. May include writer's opinion.

A. Summary of entire thesis in a few pages.
B. Conclusions. Refer to lit review.
C. Implications. Speculate about broadest possible consequences, both theoretical and
practical. Label speculation clearly.
D. Limitations. Theory, method.
E. Suggestions for future research.

V. OUTPUT OF THE STUDY

APPENDICES. Bibliographic essay. Questionnaire and coding manual, if any. Raw data.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Include all relevant sources examined, whether cited or not

References:

Childers, Linda. Guidelines for Writing a Thesis or Dissertation, 2007 – 2008.