Research

OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Research
a. Systematic investigation into and study of materials, sources, etc, in order to
establish facts and reach new conclusions
b. An endeavour to discover new or collate old facts, etc by the scientific study of
a subject or by a course of critical investigation [Oxford Concise Dictionary]
Research Process

A problem solving activity

Involves the application of the scientific method in investigating a problem
Conclusion made from the research process are based on empirical evidence or
observed facts.

Characteristics of the Research Process

It is an activity which is SYSTEMIC, OBJECTIVE and REPRODUCIBLE

Steps in Conducting Research

1. Identify and define the research problem
a. Selec a research topic
b. Formulating research objectives
2. Review the literature related to the problem
3. Define the actural problem for investigation in clear and specific terms
4. Formulate testable hypothesis and define basic concepts and variables
5. Construct the Research Design
6. Design the tools for data collection
7. Design the plan for data anlaysis
8. Collect the data
9. Process the Collected Data
10.
Analyze the data
11.
Write the research report
12.
Disseminate the resuts
13.
Utilize the result
Criteria for Selecting a Research Topic
a. Personal Interests
My INTERESTS?
b. Relevance
How large or widespread is the problem?
Who is affected?
How severe is the problem?
c. Avoidance of Duplication
Has the topic been investigated before?
Are there major questions which deserve further investigation?
d. Feasibility
Can the study be done given the existing resources?
Can data from the required number of samples be collected within the time
frame the study, given the inclusion and exclusion criteria?
e. Political Acceptability
Does the topic have the interest and support of the authorities?
Can the policy makers be involved at an early stage?
f. Applicability of Possible Results and Recommendations
What is the chance of the recommendation from the study being applied
g. Urgency of the data needed
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 How urgent are data needed for making a decision?

h. Ethical Acceptability
How acceptable is the research to those who will be studied?

*Cultural sensitivity must be

considered.

Can informed consent be obtained from the subjects?

Will the condition of the subjects be taken into account?

Some useful steps in Searching for a Research Topic

1. Select a research topic that engages your attention and begs for additional
understanding or solution.
2. Accumulate information/facts that might be related to the topic
3. Seek the help of a competent, experienced researcher
4. Read. Read. Read. Build on ideas of others

RESEARCH PROBLEM ASSUMPTIONS HYPOTHESES

Characteristics of a Research Problem

SPECIFIC should be specifically stated

MEASURABLE easy to measure using research instruments in collecting data
ACHIEVABLE can be attained using a correct statistical techniques to arrive at
precise results
REALISTIC results are not manipulated
TIME-BOUND achieved w/in the specified time; the shorter completion of the act. the
better

Sources of Research Problem

Specialization of the Researcher

Existing and past researches
Theses/Dissertations

Factors for Consideration in Selection of a Research Problem

External
o Novelty and avoidance of unnecessary duplication
o Importance in the field/practical value
o Availability of data and method
o Institutional or Administrative cooperation
Personal

o Interest
o Training
o Cost

Books/Journals/ETC
Other people

o Time
o Hazards, Penalties and Hardships

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o Criteria of a Good Title

Not long and not be more than 20 words

Include variables (independent and dependent) and method of analysis
Give insight virtually on what the research is all about
Serve as a reference for the whole research report
Enable one to claim the paper as his own and helps other researchers to refer to
ones work
Not bear the following terms:
o
o
o

A Study of
An Analysis of
An Investigation of

NOT IMPORTANT to include date and location of the investigation

If it contains more than one line, must written in inverted pyramid (all word in
CAPITAL)
o Brief and Concise Title
o THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS OF PROVINCE A
o

o ANTIANGIOGENIC ACTIVITY AND CYTOTOXICITY OF THE LEAF OF

Dieffenbachia maculata
o (Lodd.)Bunting (SPOTTED DUMBCANE)
o

o Guideline in Formulating the Problem and the Subproblems

1. Each specific question is researchable apart from the other questions
2. Each specific question must be based upon known facts and phenomena.
3. Answers to each specific question can be interpreted apart from the answers to
other specific questions
4. The problem and subproblems/questions should be formulated first before
conducting the research
5. It is customary to state specific subproblems in the interrogative form
6. Each question must be clear and unequivocal. It must not have dual meanings
7. Answers to each question must contribute to the development of the whole
research problem/topic
8. Summing up the answers to all the specific questions will give a complete
development of the entire study
9. The number of specific questions should be enough to cover the development of
the whole research problem or study
10.
Generally, there should be a general statement of the problem and then this
should be broken up into as many subproblems as necessary
o
o ANTIANGIOGENIC ACTIVITY AND CYTOTOXICITY OF THE LEAF OF
Dieffenbachia maculata
o (Lodd.)Bunting (SPOTTED DUMBCANE)
o This study aims to determine the antiangiogenicactivity and cytotoxicityof
leaf essential oil and ethanolicextract of D. maculatausing bioassays.
o 1. Can the leaf essential oil and extract of D. maculatainfluence the
development of blood vessels in the ChorioallantoicMembrane (CAM) of
mallard embryos?
o 2. Are the essential oil and ethanolicextract cytotoxicin terms of the percent
cell viability of live cells in the CytotoxicityAssay?

o 3. Is there a significant difference in the

o
3.1. mean number of blood vessels in the CAM of mallard embryos between
treatments; and
o
3.2. mean percent cell viability in the cytotoxicityassay between treaments?
o Assumptions
A self-evident truth which is based upon a known fact or phenomenon
Oftentimes left implicit or unwritten
Generally, every specific question is implicitly based upon an assumption.
If there is no assumption, there can be no specific question
o Examples
o Specific Question: How qualified are the teachers handling science?
o Implicit (unwritten) assumption: There are certain qualifications that one
should possess before he can teach science.
o Specific Question: How effective are the methods used in the teaching of
science?
o Implicit (unwritten) assumption: There are certain methods that are
effective in the teaching of science.
o Hypotheses

A tentative conclusion or answer to a specific question raised at the beginning of

the investigation
An educated guess about the answer to a specific question
o Forms of Hypotheses

Operational Form
o Affirmative
o States that there is a difference between two phenomena
Null Form
o Negative
o There is NO difference between the two phenomena
o Expresses equality between two phenomena
o More commonly used
o Guidelines in the Formulation of Hypotheses

Hypotheses have to be explicit (e.g. experimental, comparative and correlational

studies)
Descriptive and Historical Investigations, hypotheses are seldom expressed if not
entirely absent. The subproblems raised before the start of the investigation serve
as the hypotheses
Usually stated in NULL FORM
Formulated from the specific questions upon which they are based
o Example
o Question: Is there any significant difference between the perceptions of the
teachers and those of the students concerning the different aspects in the
teaching of science?
o Operational Hypothesis: There is a significant difference between the
perceptions of the teachers and those of the students concerning the
different aspects in the teaching of science.
o Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference

o Purpose of Hypotheses

Help researcher in designing the study

Serve as basis for determining assumptions
Serve as bases for determining the relevance of data
Serve as bases for the explanation or discussion about the data gathered
Help or guide the researcher in consolidating the findings and formulating the
conclusions
o PREPARATION OF CHAPTER 1

o Chapter 1
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Hypotheses
Significance of the Study
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
Definition of Terms
o Introduction contains general orientation about the study
o Guidelines in Preparation of INTRODUCTION

Discussion of any or all of the ff:

o Presentation of the Problem what is the problem all about
o Existence of an Unsatisfactory Condition a felt problem that needs a
solution
o Rationale of the study why is it necessary to conduct the study
o Historical Background of the Problem piece of history on the problem
o Desire to have DEEPER and CLEARER understanding of a situation,
circumstance or phenomenon better position to initiate remedial measures
o Desire to have better way of doing something or improving a product
o Desire to DISCOVER something
o Geographical conditions of the study locale
o Link between the INTRODUCTION and SOP
o SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
o -Importance of the study
o Contain of any of the ff:

Rationale, timeliness, and/or relevance of the study

Possible solutions to existing problems or improvement to unsatisfactory conditions
Who will be benefitted and how are they can be benefitted?
Possible contribution to the fund of knowledge
Possible implications
o Possible causes of the problems discovered
o Possible effects of the problems
o Remedial measures to solve the problem
o Good points of a system which ought to be continued or to be improved
o Example
o A. hispidais a native plant of the West Indies planted as an ornamental plant
in the yard or in the park. Milky sap from leaves and stems are poisonous.
Ingestion may cause diarrhea and vomiting. Skin contact may cause acute
dermatitis which may be severe (Titan, 2011). By analyzing, its leaf and
flower extracts are possible treatments for microbial diseases and cancer.
o The study is important for the researchersbecause it will enhance their skills
and will develop their critical thinking values of perseverance and honesty.

For the students and teachers, it will provide them information and better
understanding on the medical use of A. hispida,
For the future researcherswho intend to conduct studies related to these collected
data, it will serve as baseline information about the plant.
For the community, the study will increase awareness on the therapeutic ability of
the plant at low cost.
o SCOPE and DELIMITATION of the STUDY
o Should include the ff:

Brief statement of the general SOP

Subject matter and topics studied and discussed
Locale of the study, where data will be gathered or entity to which the data belong
Population from which the respondents are selected
Period of study: months or years during which data will be gathered
o
o Definition of Terms only terms, words or phrases that have special/unique
meanings
o Types

Operational definition how term is used in the study

Conceptual definition from encyclopedias, books, magazines, newspaper articles,
dictionaries and other publications (acknowledge souces)
o Definitions brief, clear and unequivocal as possible
o Acronyms spelled out fully (not commonly know or used 1st time)
o Example
o Antiangiogenesis. It is the process that refers to the inhibition of the
growth of new blood vessels. It is essential in cancer treatments. It is the
potential property of C.cujete which will be derived from the fruit ethanolic
extract.
o Toxicity. This refers to the degree to which a particular agent is destructive
to cells. This is the potential property of C.cujete fruit ethanolic extract to
become toxic to cells.
o