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Research- Carlos Hilado Memorial State University
Introduction to Research Study Guides, Definitions and Notes
Research is a methodical and unbiased analysis of controlled observations and can contribute to the emergence of generalizations (Ragma, 2016). It is a purposive, systematic, and scientific process of gathering, analyzing, classifying, and organizing data (Calderon & Gonzalez, 1998).
SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS
Built on research of others Doable Based on some logical theory that has the potential to suggest directions for future research Generates new questions Directly or indirectly applies to some actual problem in the world. Conditions the variables Valid and verifiable Researcher is sincerely interested and invested in this research.
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH TO SOCIETY
Improves quality of life Improved education Satisfied man’s needs and quest for knowledge Reduced burden of work
RESEARCH PROCESS
- Identifying the problem
- Reviewing literature
- Setting research questions, objectives, and hypotheses
- Choosing the study design
- Deciding on the sample design
- Collecting data
- Processing and analyzing data
- Writing the report
WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY?
To avoid the following:
1. Common sense psychology - the kind of everyday non-scientific data gathering that shapes our expectations and beliefs and directs our behavior towards others. **2. Anxiety beliefs
- Nonscientific sources of data
- Nonscientific inference**
OBJECTIVES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE:
- We describe (description) - initial step towards understanding any phenomena. Ex. Case study, field study, survey, interview
- We predict (prediction) - refers to the capacity for knowing in advance when certain behaviors are expected to occur. Ex. Correlational, Quasi-experimental study
- We explain (explanation) - knowledge of the conditions that reliably reproduce the occurrence of a behavior.
- We control our experiments.
RESEARCH ETHICS
Research ethics refers to a wide variety of values, norms and institutional arrangements that help constitute and regulate scientific activities. The guidelines are based on recognized norms of research ethics:
- Norms that constitute good scientific practice, related to the quest for accurate, adequate and relevant knowledge. Ex. Academic freedom, openness, originality, trustworthiness
- Norms that regulate the research community. Ex. Integrity, accountability, impartiality, criticism
- The relationship to people who participate in research. Ex. Respect, human dignity, confidentiality, free and informed consent
- The relationship to the rest of society Ex. Independence, conflicts of interest, social responsibility, dissemination of research
c. Unpublished thesis, dissertations d. Monographs, manuscripts
CATEGORIES OF DATA FROM RESPONDENTS
- Facts - personal information of respondents (e.g. age, sex, height, weight)
-what they do (e.g. hobbies, habits)
- Attitudes and Feelings - ideas and thoughts about specific research topics.
- Judgments - opinions about the given situation.
- Psychomotor Skills - manipulative skills and activities of a respondent that involve their five senses. 5. Results of Tests and Experiment
METHODS OF COLLECTING DATA
1. Questionnaire Types of Questions (according to form) a. Free-answer type- open form, open-ended b. The guided response type- closed form or restricted type Recall type- replies are recalled Recognition- responses are given and respondents select their answers. o Dichotomous- two options o Multiple choice- one answer must be chosen o Multiple responses- two or more options may be chosen
According to kind of data asked:
a. Descriptive (verbal) data b. Quantified (numerical) data c. Intensity of feeling, emotion or attitude d. Degree of judgment e. Understanding f. Reasoning
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A QUESTIONNAIRE
- Do a library search for related studies
- Discuss the construction of questionnaire to knowledgeable people
- Write a draft questionnaire
- Let the panel of evaluators validate it. (Lawshe’s CVR, Good and Skates)
- Edit questionnaire
- Test the reliability (pilot test) a. Test-retest reliability b. Alternate form c. Internal consistency
- Interview method (live interview, phone or video interview and taped interview) Venues: a. On-campus b. Off-campus c. Corporate/conference d. During a meal
- Empirical method - used where you want to avoid an error resulting from bias
- Testing - definitive procedure that produces a test result. 5. Library
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
Quantitative Data - is a study involving the use and analysis of numerical data using statistical techniques. It pose questions of who, what, when, how much, how many and how. It is beneficial in carrying a large scale needs assessment or baseline survey.
Advantages
- Can be used for large quantities of data
- Result is numerical or quantifiable
- Provide exact quantitative measure for grants and proposals
Disadvantages
- Results are calculated using Excel, SPSS
- Time-consuming
- Quantitative data ignores vital human element
When should it be used?
o When measuring trends o When data can be obtained in numerical forms o When simple objective responses (yes/no) can be received
Gatekeepers - provides access to a given population of interest.
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