The Scientific Method and Its

Applications
The scientific method refers to a
standardized set of techniques for
building scientific knowledge, such as
how to make valid observations, how to
interpret results to generalize results. It
allows researchers to independently and
impartially test preexisting theories and
prior findings. It has the same objectives
with research, which investigates and
studies different materials and sources
in the pursuit of advancing knowledge. A
researcher tests his or her hypothesis by
subjecting it to careful scrutiny and
debate and finally comes up with a
conclusion that either validates or
disproves the hypothesis.
In pursuing research, the use of
scientific method is required. The steps
in scientific method (Rajasekharan 2013)
are as follows:
1. Defining the problem
2. Reviewing the literature
3. Forming hypothesis
4. Collecting and analyzing data
5. Drawing conclusions
Types of Research Design
The research design sets the
direction of the whole study. According
to Seluz, “research design is the
arrangement of conditions for the
collection and analysis of data in a
manner that aims to combine relevance
to the research purpose with the
economy in procedure.
Examples of Research Design and
Characteristics
Type Characteristics
1. Descriptive It provides answers to
Research basic questions
associated with the
research problem. It
may not be able to
conclusively provide
the answer to the
question “why” but it
is able to describe
“what exists” with
respect to the
 variables of a given
solution.
Example: A
descriptive study on
the factors that lead
to domestic violence
2. Historical This design collects,
Research verifies, and
synthesizes evidence
from the past in order
to validate or reject a
hypothesis. It uses
secondary sources
and variety of primary
sources like
newspaper clippings,
diaries, government
 records, and archival
materials.
Example: Martial law
in the Philippines: the
golden or the cursed
years in the country’s
history?
3. Experimental This type of research
Research answers the question,
“What causes
something to occur?”
This design uses both
an experimental
group and a control
group, which allows a
measurement of the
dependent variable
when the
 independent variable
is administered to the
experimental group
and not to the control
group.
Example: A study on
the effect of sleep
deprivation on health
and productivity
4. Exploratory This design tackles
Research research problems
that have little or no
previous studies done
on it. It aims to
develop tentative
theories or hypothesis
in research problems
that are still in the
 preliminary stages of
investigation.
Example: A
comparative study on
the effectiveness of
same sex parenting
vis-à-vis conventional
parenting
5. Cross- This design measures
sectional similarities or
Research differences across
groups and subjects. A
specific variable is
examined across
different groups or
subjects. It is rather
limited because it
does not capture the
 process of change
following
intervention.
Example: A study on
the incidence of
breast cancer across
different age groups
of women.
6. Longitudinal It studies the same
Research sample across time or
across regular time
intervals. This type of
study allows
researchers to track
changes that occur
over a period of and
identify the variable
or variables that
 might be causing the
changes.
Example: A study on
the effect of TV
programming to
violent behavior
among children.
7. Sequential This is a type of
Research research design
carried out in a series
of over a time
interval. It has no
predetermined
sample size as the
researcher can accept
the null hypothesis,
accept an alternative
hypothesis, or choose
 a new set of samples
ad repeat the study
once again.
Example: A study on
the effects of diet,
exercise, and common
medication on heart
disease conducted
across different age
groups.
8. Case study This type of design is
applied to study a
very particular
research problem.
This is used to test
whether a specific
theory or model is
applicable to real
 world issues or
scenarios.
Example: Improving
school conditions by
changing public policy
in South Los Angeles:
the Community
Coalition Partnership
9. Meta- This is a type of design
analysis that evaluates and
summarizes the
results of other
individual studies. It
requires strict
adherence to a set
criteria in selecting
the studies that will
be used. An analysis
of the previous
studies increases the
explanatory power of
the new study.
Example: Fertility and
women’s
employment: A meta-
analysis