COLUMBAN COLLEGE, INC.

#1 Mt. Apo St. New Asinan, Olongapo City

OFFICE OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

FINAL EXAM
RESEARCH METHOD
MBA 102

1. What is Research?

Research is the organized and systematic method of finding answer to questions. It

is systematic because it is a process broken up into clear steps that lead to conclusion.
Research is organized because there is a planned structure or method used to reach the
conclusion. It is creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock
knowledge, including knowledge of human, culture and society, and the use of this stock
of knowledge to devise new applications. It is used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm
the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems, support theorems or
develop new theories.

2. Research is systematic, explain.

Research is systematic because it follows a procedure. It should be organized when

it comes to the process of conduction one. Also, it is systematic in terms of organizations
of information gathered. No matter how plenty the information is, it would make no
difference and sense at all if one would not be able to come up with an organized flow of
this information. All things in research should be done in a manner by which the
procedures will be followed.

3. Why do Research?

A claim aim will make it easier on why do research. Research allows us to pursue
interests, to learn something new, to hone your problem-solving skills and to challenge
yourself in new ways. We do research to find the “right” and “factual” answer to a
question “problem”. Discover what is easy, what is hard, and how to master both.
Research discover value added work and the contributions that affirm discernible self,
learn how markets work and which ones to enter and learn how to spend resources wisely
and how to prevent mishaps that arrogance and ignorance breed.

4. In the framework of study, how will you differentiate Conceptual Framework

from Theoretical Framework?

Conceptual Framework deals with the specific things which means that
conceptual framework rises from theoretical framework and tells become the basis of
your research study. It show you the direction where you want to go in your research
while Theoretical Framework deals with the themes and theory related to your research
study and it can be contain more than one theory which help you to analysis your
research problem and increase you theoretical existing knowledge

5. A variables is a measurable characteristic that varies. Discuss briefly the ff.

1. Independent Variable

It is the variable the experimenter changes or controls and is assumed to

have a different effect on the dependent variable.

2. Dependent Variable

It is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment, and is

dependent on the independent variable.

3. Intervening Variables

Is a hypothetical concept that attempts to explain relationship between

variables, especially the relationships between independent variables and dependent
variables. It is often distinguished from a hypothetical construct in that it has no
properties other than those observed in empirical research.

4. Extraneous variable

Are all variables, which are not the independent variable, but could affect
the results of the experiment
5. Moderator or Control Variables

Moderator variables are those variables which act like a catalyst in a

regression relationship. They interact with the independent variables either to shrink or
enhance the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. In other
words, the relationship between dependent and independent variables is a function of
moderator variable and Control variables are those independent variables which are not
part of the research study, but their influence cannot be overlooked.

6. Differentiate Assumption from Hypotheses

The difference between a hypothesis and an assumption is that Hypothesis is an

uncertain explanation regarding a phenomenon or event. It is widely used as a base for
conducting tests and the results of the tests determine the acceptance or rejection of the
hypothesis, while Assumption is also a kind of belief which is considered to be true. An
assumption may or may not be verified or investigated. In research, assumption denotes
the existence of the relationship between the variables.

7. There are 2 kinds of Hypothesis. What are they? Discuss each.

A hypothesis is an approximate explanation that relates to the set of facts that can
be tested by certain further investigations. There are basically two types, namely, Null
hypothesis and alternative hypothesis. The null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis
are required to be fragmented properly before the data collection and interpretation phase
in the research. The null hypothesis is generally denoted as H0. It states the exact
opposite of what an investigator or an experimenter predicts or expects. It basically
defines the statement which states that there is no exact or actual relationship between the
variables, while alternative hypothesis is generally denoted as H1. It makes a statement
that suggests or advises a potential result or an outcome that an investigator or the
researcher may expect.

8. There are two ways to write the Definition of Terms, what are they? Discuss each.

Definition of terms is an important part of research or report in which the key or

the important term in the study is clearly defined. The two ways to write the definition of
terms are the conceptual definition and operational definition. The Conceptual Definition
is where the universal meaning that is attributed to a word of group of words and which is
understood by many people. It is abstract and most generally in nature. The usual source
of conceptual definition is the Dictionary which is the reference book of everyday
language, while the Operational Definition is the meaning of the concept or term used in
a particular study. Unlike the conceptual definition, it is concrete term in that it allows
measurement.

9. The Review of Related Literature is divided into three parts namely.

A. Related Literature (Foreign and Local)

Related Literature is composed of discussion of facts and principles to which

the present study is related. For instances, literature to be reviewed or surveyed should be
composed of materials. These materials are usually found in books, encyclopedias,
journals, magazine and other publications. These materials are classified as Local and
Foreign. In Local it is printed in the Philippines while The Foreign is printed in the other
land.

B. Related Studies

Studies, inquiries, or investigations already conducted to which the present

proposed study is related or has some bearing or similarity. They are usually unpublished
materials such as manuscript, theses and dissertations. These are classified as Local and
Foreign. In Local if the inquiry is conducted in the Philippines while The Foreign if the
inquiry is conducted in the foreign land.

C. Relationship of the previous studies to the present study

The Relationship of the previous studies to the present study is Most of the time
previous studies mean exactly that: studies published were disseminated in the past that
report results of research findings. This could mean the authors tested a specific
hypothesis, test the tenets of the theory, or tried to answer a specific research question.
For the most part studies are published in peer-reviewed journal articles; however
research findings are also sometimes disseminated as standalone monographs,
independent reports, or as books or chapters in books. On the other hand, the Present
study generally preferred to distinguish the present work from other studies being
referred to, especially in the near vicinity of the reference to 'the present study' - is it
simply a formulaic way of distinguishing between your own study and that of others. If
there is no such ambiguity possible (and keeping in mind tired/busy readers), especially
where one has just mentioned 'the present study', 'this study may be acceptable and, in
some instances, preferable.

10. Briefly explain the following Types of Research Method

1. Action Research
Is a disciplined process of inquiry conducted by and for those taking the
action. The primary reason for engaging in action research is to assist the “actor” in
improving and/or refining his or her actions.
2. Case and Field Study
A case study research is an in-depth analysis of a person, situation or event.
This method may look difficult to operate, however, it is one of the simplest ways
of conducting research as it involves a deep dive and thorough understanding the
data collection methods and inferring the data and Field research is defined as
a qualitative method of data collection that aims to observe, interact and
understand people while they are in a natural environment. Field research
encompasses a diverse range of social research methods including direct
observation, limited participation, analysis of documents and other information,
informal interviews, surveys etc.
3. Causal-Comparative
Causal-comparative research is an attempt to identify a causative
relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable. The
relationship between the independent variable and dependent variable is usually a
suggested relationship because you do not have complete control over the
independent variable. The Causal Comparative method seeks to establish causal
relationships between events and circumstances. In other words, it finds out the
causes of certain occurrences or non-occurrences. This is achieved by comparing
the circumstances associated with observed effects and by noting the factors
present in the instances where a given effect occurs and where it does not occur.

4. Correlational

Correlational research is a type of nonexperimental research in which the

researcher measures two variables and assesses the statistical relationship between
them with little or no effort to control extraneous variables. There are essentially
two reasons that researchers interested in statistical relationships between variables
would choose to conduct a correlational study rather than an experiment. The first
is that they do not believe that the statistical relationship is a causal one.

5. Descriptive

It is defined as a research method that describes the characteristics of the

population or phenomenon that is being studied. This methodology focuses more
on the “what” of the research subject rather than the “why” of the research subject.
Descriptive research primarily focuses on describing the nature of a demographic
segment, without focusing on “why” a certain phenomenon occurs. In other words,
it “describes” the subject of the research, without covering “why” it happens.

6. Developmental

It is a study focused on the progressive changes that occur as an organism

develops. There isn't any way to reverse the changes that happen when you grow
up. You can't take an older person and hit the reset button to revert them back to
childhood to see how raising them in a different time will change who they are. It'd
be nice, but unfortunately we are stuck experiencing time in one direction.

7. Historical

It is a qualitative technique. Historical research studies the meaning of past

events in an attempt to interpret the facts and explain the cause of events, and their
effect in the present events. In doing so, researchers rely heavily on primary
historical data (direct accounts of events, archival data - official documents,
personal records, and records of eyewitnesses) and less frequently on secondary
historical data.

8. Quasi- Experimental

It is a research that resembles experimental research but is not true

experimental research. Although the independent variable is manipulated,
participants are not randomly assigned to conditions or orders of conditions
because the independent variable is manipulated before the dependent variable is
measured; quasi-experimental research eliminates the directionality problem. But
because participants are not randomly assigned making it likely that there are other
differences between conditions quasi-experimental research does not eliminate the
problem of confounding variables. In terms of internal validity, therefore, quasi-
 experiments are generally somewhere between correlational studies and true
experiments.

9. True Experimental

A true experiment is a type of experimental design and is thought to be the

most accurate type of experimental research. This is because a true experiment
supports or refutes a hypothesis using statistical analysis. A true experiment is also
thought to be the only experimental design that can establish cause and effect
relationships.

11. Differentiate Probability samples and Non- Probability samples

Probability samples, each population element has a known (non-zero) chance of

being chosen for the sample while Non-probability samples we do not know the
probability that each population element will be chosen, and/or we cannot be sure
that each population element has a non-zero chance of being chosen.

12. Explain briefly the following probability samples

1. Simple random sampling

Simple random sampling refers to any sampling method that has the
following properties. The population consists of N objects. The sample consists of
n objects and If all possible samples of n objects are equally likely to occur, the
sampling method is called simple random sampling. There are many ways to
obtain a simple random sample. One way would be the lottery method. Each of the
N population members is assigned a unique number. The numbers are placed in a
bowl and thoroughly mixed. Then, a blind-folded researcher selects n numbers.
Population members having the selected numbers are included in the sample.

2. Systematic random sampling.

With systematic random sampling, we create a list of every member of the

population. From the list, we randomly select the first sample element from the
first k elements on the population list. Thereafter, we select every kth element on
the list. This method is different from simple random sampling since every
possible sample of n elements is not equally likely.
 3. Random route samples

These are widely used in face-to-face surveys. Most previous studies of

random route sample quality compare the data collected by random route samples
with data from reliable sources

4. Stratified sampling.

With stratified sampling, the population is divided into groups, based on

some characteristic. Then, within each group, a probability sample is selected. In
stratified sampling, the groups are called strata.

5. Multi- Stage Cluster sampling.

With Multi- Stage cluster sampling, every member of the population is

assigned to one, and only one, group. Each group is called a cluster. A sample of
clusters is chosen, using a probability Only individuals within sampled clusters are
surveyed.

13. Explain the following Non Probability Samples

1. Purposive sampling

It is also known as judgmental, selective or subjective sampling, reflects a

group of sampling techniques that rely on the judgement of the researcher when it
comes to selecting the units that are to be studied. These purposive sampling
techniques include maximum variation sampling, homogeneous sampling, typical
case sampling, extreme case sampling, total population sampling and expert
sampling. Each of these purposive sampling techniques has a specific goal,
focusing on certain types of units, all for different reasons. The different purposive
sampling techniques can either be used on their own or in combination with other
purposive sampling techniques.

2. Quota sampling

With proportional quota sampling, the aim is to end up with a sample where
the strata (groups) being studied are proportional to the population being studied.
3. Convenience sampling

A convenience sample is simply one where the units that are selected for
inclusion in the sample are the easiest to access.

4. Snowball sampling

It is particularly appropriate when the population you are interested in

is hidden and/or hard-to-reach. These include populations such as drug addicts,
homeless people, individuals with AIDS/HIV, prostitutes, and so forth.

5. Self-selection sampling

It is appropriate when we want to allow units or cases, whether individuals

or organizations, to choose to take part in research on their own accord. The key
component is that research subjects volunteer to take part in the research rather
than being approached by the researcher directly.