Nature of Inquiry

and Research
Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, you should
be able to:
1. describe characteristics, strengths,
weaknesses, and kinds of research;
2. illustrate the importance of research
across fields; and
3. differentiate kinds of variables and their
uses.

Nature of Inquiry & Research

• Research is derived from the old French word
cerchier, meaning, “to seek or search”

• It is a systematic quest for undiscovered

truth (Leedy, 1974).

What is research?
• It is a systematic attempt to provide
answers to questions (Tuckman, 1972).

• Polit & Beck (2001) stated that research

is a systematic inquiry that uses
disciplined methods to answer questions or
solve problems.

What is research?
• Research has been defined as “the process of
gathering data or information to solve a
particular or specific problem in a
scientific manner”. (Manuel and Medel, p.5)

• Good defines research as a “careful,

critical, disciplined inquiry, varying in
technique and method according to the nature
and conditions of the problem
identified....” (p. 464)

What is research?
• Calderon and Gonzales (1998) said,
“research is a purposive, systematic, and
scientific process of gathering,
analyzing, classifying, organizing,
presenting, and interpreting data for the
solution of a problem, for prediction, for
invention, for the discovery of truth, or
for the expansion or verification of
existing knowledge, all for the
preservation and improvement of the
quality of human life.

What is research?
RESEARCH APPROACHES
A. Scientific- deals with testing hypotheses and
making generalizations. Commonly known as
quantitative research
B. Naturalistic- deals with the understanding of
naturally-occurring phenomena in light of
giving more insight for such. Commonly known
as qualitative research
C. Triangulation- deals with the utilization of
both naturalistic and scientific approaches.
Commonly known as mixed-method research
CLASSIFICATION OF
RESEARCH
I. According to Level III. According to Time
of Investigation Frame
1. Exploratory 1. Cross-Sectional
2. Descriptive 2. Longitudinal
3. Experimental
(analytical) IV. According to Data
Gathered
II. According to Use 1. Quantitative
1. Basic/Fundamental 2. Qualitative
2. Applied
V. According to Method
1. Inductive
2. Deductive
1. investigate existing situations or
problems
2. review or verify existing knowledge
3. provide solutions to problems
4. construct or create new procedures,
inventions, and discoveries
5. generate new knowledge
(Collis & Hussey, 2003)

Purposes of Research
 To improve the
Quality of Life

Purposes of Research
 RESEARCH IN
VARIOUS DISCIPLINES
• In Natural Sciences- when it pertains to an
empirical inquiry of natural phenomena
including biological life.

• In Social Sciences- when it involves a study

of human behavior and societies.

• In Business- when it serves as a way to

significant business decisions

• In Arts- when it deals with skills that

require dexterity and proficiency

Research in various fields

Know that you don’t know
and seek the unknown.

RESEARCH MOTTO
Quantitative Research
• It emphasizes measurements and statistical,
mathematical, or numerical analysis of data
collected through polls, questionnaires, and
surveys or by manipulating pre-existing
statistical data using computational techniques.
(USC, Libraries,2015).

It is a research method dealing with numbers

measured in a systematic way of investigation of
phenomena and their relationships (Leedy, 1993).

What is quantitative research?

Quantity is the unit of analysis
• Amounts (how many/much?)
• Frequencies (how often?)
• Degrees (to what extent?)
• Values (how important?)
• Intensity (how long?)
Uses statistics for greater precision and
objectivity
Based on the deductive model
(Suter, 2012; Russell, 2013)

What is quantitative research?

1. Quantitative research allows the researcher
to measure and analyze data more
accurately & objectively.
2. It utilizes either testing or validating of
already constructed theories about how
and why phenomena occur.
3. It is useful for studying large number of
people with less time consumption in data
analysis.
4. Findings are highly generalizable.
5. Results are often used as bases for
decision-making in various complex
problems.

Strengths
1. The main disadvantage of quantitative
research is the context of the study or
establishment of experiments.
2. The researcher’s theories that are used
might not reflect local constituencies’
understandings.
3. The researcher might miss out on phenomena
occurring because of the focus on theory or
hypothesis testing rather than on theory or
hypothesis generation (confirmation bias).

Weaknesses
 Quantitative Research Designs

A. Experimental B. Non-experimental
1. True experimental 1. Descriptive
2. Quasi-experimental 2. Correlational
3. Single-subject 3. Causal-comparative
Assignment:
Make an infographic explaining the
quantitative research design assigned to
you. Put it on a ½ illustration board.
Finally, be sure to present it to class
on the next session.

Criteria for Infographic Presentation

Content : 40%
Creativity : 20%
Organization : 10%
Vocal Clarity : 30%
100 %
RESEARCH CONCEPTS
1. Theory- an explanation that offers to
classify, organize, explain, predict,
and/or understand the occurrence of a
specific phenomenon
2. Concept- an abstract label that represents an
aspect of reality
3. Operationalization- the conversion of an
abstract idea or notion into a realistic
item
4. Variables- concepts that may be divided into
two or more categories or groups.
5. Hypothesis- a specific statement describing
the “expected” relationship of variables
6. Assumptions- a statement accepted as true
with little supporting evidence
7. Population- a complete set of elements
(persons or objects) possessing common
characteristics defined by the sampling
criteria established by the researcher
8. Data – the collected information
(tangible or intangible)
9. Sampling- the process by which the researcher
chooses a sample.
10. Sample – the participants in the study.
11. Reliability - is the degree to which an
assessment tool produces stable and
consistent results
12. Validity- refers to how well a test measures
what it is supposed to measure
• Assignment: Present 3 Quantitative Researches in
yellow paper by supplying the following
information.
1) Research Title/ Authors
2) Topic/ Problem
a. Problem Statement
b. Significance of the Study
c. Scope and Delimitation
3) Data Needed
4) Respondents
a. Research Locale
b. Sampling Method used
c. Instruments used
5) Data Analysis (Statistical Treatment)
6) Findings/Results