NATURE OF

RESEARCH
DR. NELDA JIMENEA GARCIA
Pangasinan State University
Bayambang, Pangasinan
 Research
• Research pertains to any systematic
investigation of any social or natural
phenomena where results and conclusions
are aimed at contributing to generalizable
knowledge.
• As a systematic investigation or inquiry,
research requires that data are collected,
analyzed, and interpreted in order to
understand, describe, predict, or control a
phenomenon or set of phenomena or to
empower individuals in particular contexts.
 Research and Science
Research becomes scientific if it satisfies two
requirements:
1. Research contributes to a body of science.
2. Research follows the scientific method.
Science refers to a systematic and organized
body of knowledge in any area of inquiry
that is acquired using the scientific method.
 Research and Inquiry
Inquiry is a learning process that motivates you to
obtain knowledge or information about people,
things, places, or events.
Research is analogous to Inquiry in that both involve
investigation of something through questioning.
However, the meaning of research is more
complicated than inquiry because it does not
center mainly on raising questions about the topic,
but also on carrying out a particular order of
research stages.
Similar to inquiry, research involves cooperative
learning.
 Scientific Method
Scientific method refers to a standardized set
of techniques for building scientific
knowledge, such as how to make valid
observations, how to interpret results, and
how to generalize those results.

Scientific method allows researchers to

independently and impartially test
preexisting theories and prior findings, and
subject them to open debate, modifications,
or enhancements.
 Characteristics of Research
1. Accuracy. It must give correct or accurate
data, which the footnotes, notes, and
bibliographical entries should honestly and
appropriately documented or acknowledged.
2. Objectiveness. It must deal with facts, not
with mere opinions arising from
assumptions, generalizations, predictions, or
conclusions.
3. Timeliness. It must work on the topic that is
fresh, new, and interesting to the present
society.
 Characteristics of Research
4. Relevance. Its topic must be instrumental in
improving society or in solving problems
affecting the lives of people in a community.
5. Clarity. It must succeed in expressing its
central point or discoveries by using simple,
direct, concise, and correct language.
6. Systematic. It must take place in an
organized or orderly manner.
 Purposes of Research
1. To learn how to work independently.
2. To learn how to work scientifically or
systematically.
3. To have an in-depth knowledge of
something.
4. To elevate your mental abilities by letting you
think in higher-order thinking strategies
(HOTS) of inferring, evaluating,
synthesizing, appreciating, applying, and
creating.
 Purposes of Research
5. To improve your reading and writing skills.
6. To be familiar with the basic tools of
research and the various techniques of
gathering data and of presenting research
findings.
7. To free yourself, to a certain extent, from the
domination or strong influence of a single
textbook or of the professor’s lone viewpoint
or spoon feeding.
 Types of Research
A. Based on Application of Research Method:
1. Pure Research- deals with concepts, principles, or
abstract things. It aims to increase your knowledge
about something.
• Pure or Basic or Theoretical Research aims at
testing existing theories or generating new theories to
advance knowledge or understanding.
2. Applied Research- aims to apply your chosen
research to societal problems or issues, finding ways to
make positive changes in society.
• Applied Research uses knowledge acquired through
research in order to contribute directly to the
understanding or resolution of practical issues.
 Types of Research
B. Based on purpose of the research:
1. Descriptive Research- aims to define or give a
verbal portrayal or picture of a person, thing, event,
group, situation, etc. This is liable to repeated
research because its topic relates itself only to a
certain period or a limited number of years; you
develop the inclination of conducting further studies
on such topic.
2. Correlational Research- shows relationships or
connectedness of two factors, circumstances, or
agents called variables that affect the research. It is
only concerned in indicating the existence of a
relationship, not the causes and ways of the
development of such relationship.
 Types of Research
B. Based on purpose of the research:
3. Explanatory Research- elaborates or explains not
just the reasons behind the relationship of two
factors, but also the ways by which such
relationships exists.
4. Exploratory Research- finds out how reasonable or
possible it is to conduct a research study on a certain
topic. You will discover ideas on topics that could
trigger your interest in conducting research studies.
5. Action Research- studies an ongoing practice of a
school, organization, community, or institution for the
purpose of obtaining results that will bring
improvements in the system.
 Types of Research
C. Based on types of data needed:
1. Qualitative Research- requires non-numerical data,
which means that the research uses words rather
than numbers to express the results, the inquiry, or
investigation about people’s thoughts, beliefs,
feelings, views, and lifestyles regarding the object of
the study. These opinionated answers from the
people are not measureable; so, verbal language is
the right way to express your findings in a qualitative
research.
2. Quantitative Research- involves measurement of
data. It presents research findings referring to the
number or frequency of something in numerical
forms (i.e., using percentages, fractions, numbers)
Two Ways of Conducting Scientific Research
1. Inductive Research or Theory-building
research is used if the researcher’s goal is
to infer theoretical concepts and patterns
from observed data.
2. Deductive Research or Theory- testing
research is used if the researcher’s goal is
to test concepts and patterns known from
theory using new empirical data. It aims not
to just test a theory, but to refine, improve,
and extend a theory.
Note: These two forms are two halves of the
research cycle.
 Inductive Research vs. Deductive Research
1. Inductive Research or Theory-building
research follows a bottom-up approach to
research beginning from specific observations
explored through in-depth data collection that
lead to identification of themes that become the
basis of more general conclusions.
2. Deductive Research or Theory- testing
research proceeds in a top-down approach to
research that tests general principles by testing
hypothesis that lead to more specific
conclusions.
Qualitative Research vs. Quantitative Research
1. Inductive Research or Theory-building
research is also called Qualitative Research.
2. Deductive Research or Theory- testing
research is Quantitative Research.
Qualitative Research seeks to understand or
make sense of the world based on how
individuals experience and perceive it.
Quantitative Research seeks generalizability
through controlled, value-free (or value-neutral
processes).
Qualitative Research vs. Quantitative Research
 Approaches to Research
1. Scientific or Positive Approach – you
discover and measure information as well
as observe and control variables in an
impersonal manner.
- It allows control of variables.
- Data gathering techniques used:
structured interviews, questionnaires, and
observational checklists.
- The data gathered are expressed
through numbers.
- It is suitable for quantitative research
 Approaches to Research
2. Naturalistic Approach - uses words or
non-numerical data that express truths
about the way people perceive or
understand the world.
- deals with qualitative data that speak of
how people behave toward their surroundings.
- it happens in a natural setting; people
look at their world in a subjective or personal
basis in an uncontrolled or unstructured
manner.
 Approaches to Research
3. Triangulation Approach – combines these
two approaches.
- You are free to gather and analyze data
using multiple methods, allowing you to
combine or mix up research approaches,
research types, data gathering, and data
analysis techniques.
- It gives you the opportunity to view every
angle of the research from different
perspectives.
Thank you for listening