MODULE 1: NATURE OF INQUIRY AND RESEARCH

What is RESEARCH? CHARACTERISTICS, PROCESSES, AND

-​ Research is an organized investigation and ETHICS IN RESEARCH
study of materials and sources to create facts
and reach new inferences. Prieto, et.al. (2017) stated that the following are the
major characteristics of research:
-​ Research has come up with developing
appropriate solutions to improve the individual’s 1.​ EMPIRICAL
quality of life. -​ is based on observations and
experiments of theories.
-​ Although it may take place in a different setting
and may use different methods, scientific 2.​ SYSTEMATIC
research is universally a systematic and -​ follows orderly and sequential
objective search for reliable knowledge (Walker, procedures, based on valid procedures
2010). and principles.

-​ Research is a verified approach of thinking and 3.​ CONTROLLED

employing legalized instruments and steps to -​ In research, all variables, except those
obtain a more adequate solution to a problem that are tested/experimented on, are kept
that is otherwise impossible to address under constant.
ordinary means (Crawford, as cited by Alcantara
& Espina, 1995). 4.​ EMPLOYS HYPOTHESIS
-​ refers to a search for facts, answers to
In most cases, research helps society to answer the questions and solutions to problems.
WHAT and HOW questions. It must be a proper
investigation and should reach a valid conclusion that 5.​ ANALYTICAL
would facilitate the finding of answers to the questions. -​ shows analytical procedures in gathering
Some of these questions are: How can research affect the data, whether historical, descriptive,
society? What is the impact of the research to daily life? and or case study.

6.​ OBJECTIVE
Research can be categorized into two: -​ It is unbiased and logical. All findings are
logically based on real-life situations.
1.​ BASIC RESEARCH
-​ This is the type of research that is a 7.​ ORIGINAL WORK
purely direct application but increasing -​ it requires its own examination and
the nature of understanding about the produces the data needed to complete
problem. It develops the scientific the study.
theories to be more understandable to
the readers.
It is said that research can be done in different ways. It
2.​ APPLIED RESEARCH can be either a well-planned and methodical process
-​ It is a type of research that needs an that is based on keen observation and concrete and
answer to a specific question. It provides valid evaluation. Integration is the best way to evaluate
solutions and validation in order to apply the validity of a certain study.
to the real setting.
Prieto, et.al. (2017) also added that the following are Ethical Codes and Policies for Research,
involved in the Research Processes: Resnik, 2007
1.​ DEFINE RESEARCH PROBLEM: Given the importance of ethics in the conduct of a
-​ What is the problem? research, you will follow codes and
policies for research:
2.​ REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE:
-​ What evidence is already presented? ●​ HONESTY
-​ Maintain all communication. Data should
3.​ FORMULATING HYPOTHESIS: not be faked.
-​ How are we going to find/look for the
answer to questions being studied? ●​ OBJECTIVITY
-​ Avoid biases in experimental designs,
4.​ RESEARCH DESIGN: data analysis,interpretation, expert
-​ Where will the study be shown and with testimony, and other aspects of
what population? research.

5.​ COLLECTING DATA: ●​ INTEGRITY

-​ Are we ready to gather the data? Where -​ Keep your promises and agreements
do we find the data?
●​ CAREFULNESS
6.​ ANALYZING DATA: -​ Avoid careless errors and negligence.
-​ How do the data answer the research
queries? ●​ OPENNESS
-​ Share data, results, ideas and tools. Be
7.​ INTERPRET AND REPORT: open to criticism and new ideas.
-​ What are the implications of the results?
●​ CONFIDENTIALITY
According to Resnik, 2007, ethical norms are -​ Protect confidential communication.
significant in conducting research studies as
explained in the following: ●​ RESPONSIBLE PUBLICATION
-​ Avoid duplicating publications.
➢​ First, ethics promotes the pursuit of knowledge,
truth, and credibility. It also fosters values that ●​ RESPONSIBLE MENTORING
are essential to collaborative work. -​ Help to educate, mentor, and advise
others.
➢​ Second, ethical norms help individuals to be
accountable in every act that the researcher/s ●​ RESPECT COLLEAGUES
undertake. -​ Treat all peers fairly.

➢​ Third, ensure that researchers are held ●​ SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

accountable to the public. -​ Strive to promote social good. Avoid
social harm.
➢​ Lastly, an ethical norm in research also needs
public awareness. This can be evaluated by the ●​ NON-DISCRIMINATION
researcher before conducting the study because -​ avoid discrimination against colleagues
this may help a certain population in an area or students on the basis of sex, races,
once the study is completed. ethnicity, and or others.
 ●​ LEGALITY Research Studies by Strand
-​ Be informed and obey relevant laws and
institutional governmental policies. 1.​ ICT: Social media makes users happy due to
social interaction, self-expression, easy access
●​ RESPECT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY to information, online shopping, entertainment,
-​ Give proper acknowledgment or credits and fear of missing out (FoMO).
to all researchers.
2.​ STEM: Black women in STEM at white
●​ HUMAN SUBJECT institutions face discrimination and isolation,
-​ Minimize risks that involve human lives, affecting their sense of belonging.
dignity, and privacy.
3.​ Arts & Design: A research method analyzes how
people engage with guided tours in art
museums.
KINDS OF RESEARCH: QUANTITATIVE VERSUS
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 4.​ HUMSS: Teenagers in alternative schools are
not simply “disengaged” but shaped by
There are two categories of research methodology: education policies.

A.​ QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH 5.​ Sports: Parents believe youth sports teach life
-​ is a positivist scientific method which skills better than school PE due to deeper
refers to a general set of orderly discipline procedures involvement.
to acquire information (Beck, 2004).
-​ Mostly, it is concerned with numbers and 6.​ Agriculture: Five Australian women in agriculture
measurement. overcame hardships and now empower other
women in the industry.

B.​ QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

-​ is defined as the “naturalistic method of
research which deals with the concern of human
difficulty by discovering it straightly.” (Beck, 2004)
-​ It is concerned with the experiences,
understanding and words of the individual.

KINDS OF RESEARCH ACROSS FIELD

1.​ Information and Commuication Technology (ICT)

2.​ Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM)
3.​ Arts and Design
4.​ Humanities and Social Sciences
5.​ Sports
6.​ Agriculture
 MODULE 2: Qualitative Research and Its Importance in Daily Life
THE VALUE OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH: ITS Characteristics and Uses of Qualitative
KINDS, CHARACTERISTICS, USES, STRENGTHS, Research
AND WEAKNESSES
●​ Qualitative research takes place in a natural
Kinds of Qualitative Research setting like home, school, institution, or
community. Researchers gain actual
1.​ Phenomenology experiences of the research participants.
-​ It is the study of how people give
meaning to their experiences, like the death of loved ●​ It focuses on participants’ perceptions and
ones, care for the people, and friendliness of the experiences (Franenkel and Wallen, 1988 in
people. Creswell, 2013)

2.​ Ethnography ●​ Researchers are sensitive to participants’ needs

-​ It is understanding of how a particular and participants are actively engaged in the
cultural group goes about their daily lives which process.
includes their organizational set-up, internal operations,
and lifestyle. ●​ Data are collected through observation,
interviews, documents, e-mails, blogs, videos,
3.​ Grounded theory etc.
-​ This occurs when a researcher discovers
a new theory based on the data collected. It is a ●​ It may result in changes in research questions
research methodology for discovering theory in a after new discoveries occur. ∙ It develops from a
substantive area. specific to a general understanding of concepts.

4.​ Case study ●​ It is a process of describing a situation, analyzing

-​ This study involves an investigation of a data for themes or categories, and making
person, group, organization, or situation for a long interpretations or drawing conclusions.
period of time to explain why such things occur to the
subject under study. Some examples of this type of ●​ It may be subjected to the researcher’s personal
study are the fields of social care, nursing, psychology, interpretation.
rehabilitation centers, education, etc.
●​ The researchers, as a primary instrument in data
5.​ Content and Discourse Analysis collection, view social phenomena and situations
-​ This method requires the examination or holistically.
analysis of the substance or content of the
communication that takes place through letters, books,
journals, photos, video recordings, short message
services, online messages, emails, audio-visual
materials, etc.

6.​ Historical Analysis

-​ This is the study of primary documents to
explain the connection of past events to the present
time. An example of this is explaining the happenings
during the Marcos regime.
Strengths of Qualitative Research Schools, hospitals, social media, and media (radio and
television) are among the
1.​ Issues can be analyzed through detailed and beneficiaries of qualitative research. These institutions
deep examination. have contributed largely to sustain a
society.
2.​ Interviews are not being delimited to specific
questions and can be guided/redirected by the Qualitative research has been found to be an effective
researcher along the process. method in finding answers to
phenomena in the context of different disciplines like
3.​ The research framework and direction can be education, technical communication, and
easily revised as new information emerges. business, social and behavioral sciences advertising,
and social work. Further, the latest
4.​ The obtained data from human experience is developments of these disciplines are relatively
powerful and sometimes more interesting than contributed by qualitative study.
quantitative data.

5.​ Data usually are collected from a few cases or Importance of Qualitative Research across
individuals so findings cannot be generalized to Different Fields
a larger population. Findings can however be
transferable to another setting. ●​ Qualitative Research in Education
-​ To better understand research in
education, Green and Bloome (1997) gave a distinction
Weaknesses of Qualitative Research between Ethnography of education and Ethnography in
education.
1.​ Research quality is heavily dependent on the
researcher’s skills and may be influenced by the -​ Ethnography of education seeks to
researcher's outlooks. understand what counts as education for members of a
particular group while ethnography in education studies
2.​ The volume of data makes analysis and about social and cultural dynamics of a school or
interpretation time-consuming. classroom.

3.​ It is sometimes hard to prove. -​ An example is how teaching styles match

the learning styles of students.
4.​ The researcher's presence during data
gathering, which is often unavoidable in -​ They concluded that ethnographic
qualitative research, can affect the subjects' practice-like any set of social and cultural practices are
attitudes towards the process. ways that people in a certain place react to each other
to pursue an agenda: including research agenda,
5.​ Issues of anonymity and confidentiality can educational agenda, and social, cultural, and
bring/result in problems when presenting instructional change agenda.
findings.
-​ An example of this study is how students
6.​ Findings can be more difficult and take time to react to the evaluation of their academic performance.
visualize.
-​ Qualitative research is important as it
navigates towards the improvement of performance in
education.
 ●​ Qualitative Research in Technical ●​ Qualitative Research in Social Work
Communication -​ Conducting research under social work
means studying people’s experiences, especially what
-​ Qualitative research can also be used in they found traumatic and painful.
studying the effective use of technology in the
workplace to ensure a smooth flow of communication. -​ This can be done by analyzing interview
This can be conducted using focus groups. data and narratives which has four broad categories:
1. Knowledge
-​ Technical communications under study can be in -​ direct remembering and reliving, with
the forms of e-mail, fax messaging, video and voice complete details of the events
conferencing, intranet and extranet, jargon, and 2. Awareness of mental process
graphics. -​ awareness of emotions and of cognitive
processes
-​ The advancement in technical communication is 3. Awareness of identity
a product of exploration using qualitative research. -​ awareness of values and the construction
of personal characteristics of each
partner and of the couple as a unit
●​ Qualitative Research in Psychology 4. Alienation
-​ According to Braun and Clarke (2013), -​ refusal to observe, reflect or remember
The qualitative research paradigm in psychology has
been emerging since the second half of the nineteenth
century. ●​ Qualitative Research in Marketing
-​ Psychology has been strongly shaped by -​ Historically, qualitative research in
the behavioral and cognitive traditions within which marketing is influenced by social research and has
psychology should seek to understand and determine embedded projective devices within the approach of
an observable, objective psychological reality. in-depth interview.

-​ An example of this is, psychologists seek -​ The more modern qualitative marketing
to understand why some students lack the motivation to studies use the grounded theory approach.
go to school and why some students resort to bullying
and the like. -​ For example, Flint, Woodruff, and
Guardial (2002, as cited in Belk, 20016) studied
-​ Understanding the psychological customers at different levels in US automobile
processes and how they affect society is the manufacturing.
contribution of qualitative research.
-​ Thus, by thorough investigation through
research, marketing strategies are improved for better
●​ Qualitative Research in Advertising return of investment.
-​ Morrison et al. say that great advertising
comes along from an understanding of consumer’s
wants and needs. ●​ Qualitative Research in International Business
-​ Business establishments use methods
-​ Further, they say that qualitative like participant observation, content analysis
research approaches, or methods useful in advertising focus groups, narrative interviews, and “hidden”
have been used by advertising researchers. methods such as archival research (Marschan,
-​ The stated connection of understanding Pekkari & Welch, 2004). In this manner, business
the connection between advertising and consumers’ establishments can collect reliable information and
preferences can be explained through qualitative come to a decision of improving their ways and
research. processes.
 MODULE 3: Identifying the Inquiry and Stating the Problem Related to Daily Life
DESIGNING A RESEARCH PROJECT RELATED TO Design of Qualitative Research
DAILY LIFE
●​ Qualitative research is an emergent design
-​ Designing a research is similar to making a which means that it emerges as you make
house, car, bag, dress, cake, etc. which needs ongoing decisions about what you have learned.
appropriate materials and necessary process or steps
to follow. Then, you have to consider whether what you ●​ As a design, qualitative research requires
intend to make or invent has significance to you as a researcher’s decision-making like how to gather
person. Otherwise, your efforts will not be put to use. data, from where and whom to collect, when to
gather, and for how long is the process will be.
-​ In designing your qualitative research, you have
to consider whether the topic you have chosen is ●​ To have a holistic picture of qualitative research
relevant to you as a learner, as a constituent in your project, you have to remember that in deciding
barangay, and as a citizen of this country. on a topic, you have to consider the kind and the
field it belongs, as well as its relevance to your
-​ Therefore, the first question you should answer daily life.
is, “What is the issue, phenomenon or problem in my
school, at home, and in the community that needs my WRITING A RESEARCH TITLE
special attention by conducting a research?”
Guidelines in Choosing a Topic
1.​ Interest in the subject matter
Examples: -​ You are interested about the topic
1. In School because you have experienced it.
-​ Based on observation, what are the issues and
problems I encounter inside the classroom? Is it 2.​ Availability of information
the lesson, teachers, learners’ attitude and -​ It is important that when you decide on a
hindrances to graduation? topic, sources of information are
available.
2. At Home
-​ Considering my life on a daily basis, what are 3.​ Timeliness and relevance of the topic
the things that bother me at home? -​ The topic you have chosen can be of
significance to the community.
3. In the Community
-​ What are the usual complaints of my neighbor 4.​ Limitations on the subject
regarding ordinances, practices and activities in -​ Sometimes, topic is limited to what the
the barangay? Or, what are the situations in my teacher suggests. An example of this is when the
community that need to be improved? teacher asks the entire class to focus on COVID-19
pandemic, then you have no freedom to explore other
Once you have decided on area where you can focus topics aside from what is given.
on, you need to remember the design of the qualitative
research you will venture into. 5.​ Personal resources
-​ Consider also if you can finish the
research in terms of your intellectual and financial
physical capabilities.
Topics to be Avoided
1.​ Controversial topics
-​ Avoid highly opinionated topics.

2.​ Highly technical subjects

-​ Too technical topics requires expertise. If
you don’t have enough knowledge about
it, then look for another one.

3.​ Hard-to-investigate subjects

-​ Unavailability of reading materials and
materials that are not updated make the
subject hard to investigate.
How to Narrow Down a Topic
4.​ Too broad subjects You lack focus if you deal
with broad topics. The remedy is to narrow it 1.​ You can narrow down the topic by exploring and
down. extending the explanation of a theory.

5.​ Too narrow subject 2.​ Talk over ideas with people who know research.
-​ Some subjects are too narrow that
extensive and thorough reading are 3.​ Focus on specific group. Ex: Students, Mothers,
required. Teachers

6.​ Vague subjects 4.​ Define the aim or desired outcome of the study.
-​ Titles that start with indefinite adjectives a. Is the study exploratory, explanatory, or
such as several, many, some, etc., make descriptive?
the topic vague. b. Is the study applied or basic? Before
deciding on your topic,
ask: 1. What areas are not yet explored
Sources of Research Topics that I want to investigate?
2. Is my research useful to me, to my
1.​ Mass media communication-television, school, to my family and to my
newspaper, ads, radio, films, etc. community?

2.​ Books, internet, journals, government

publications

3.​ Professional periodicals- specialized periodicals

in different fields

4.​ General periodicals- Reader’s Digest, Time

Magazine, Women’s Magazine, etc.

5.​ Previous readings

6.​ Work experience

Now, we will tackle how you will formulate your FORMULATING RESEARCH QUESTIONS, SCOPE
research title. AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY, SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY, STATING THE PROBLEM
Research title is the most important element of your
research as it clearly expresses the problem to be ➢​ Qualitative research is an inquiry process of
explored. understanding a social or human problem based on
building a complex holistic picture formed with words,
A research title capsulizes the main thought or idea reporting detailed views of informants and conducted in
of the whole research paper. It also reflects the a natural setting (Creswell, 1994).
variables under study.
➢​ Participant Observation, Observation, In-depth
It is expressed in few words possible and just enough interviewing , Focus Group Interviewing , Content
to describe the contents and the purpose of your Analysis , Narratology and Films are the kinds of data
research. utilized for Qualitative Research

It needs to be informative. ➢​ A research title capsulizes the main thought or

idea of the whole research paper. It also reflects the
It contains the: variables under study
●​ What: the subject matter or topic to be
investigated
●​ Where: place or locale where the research is to
be conducted
●​ Who: the participants of respondents of the
study
●​ When: the time period of the conduct of the
study

Writing a Research Question

●​ Writing a good research question means you
have something you want to study. Let's say you're
interested in the effects of television. We will examine
the steps and then look at how you could write a
research question.
✔ Specify your specific concern or issue Writing the Thesis Statement
●​ Every paper you write should have a main point,
✔Decide what you want to know about the specific a main idea, or central message. The argument(s) you
concern or issue make in your paper should reflect this main idea. The
sentence that captures your position on this main idea is
✔Turn what you want to know and the specific concern what we call a thesis statement.
into a question
●​ A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one
✔ Ensure that the question is answerable or two sentences. It should present the topic of your
paper and also make a comment about your position in
✔Check to make sure the question is not too broad or relation to the topic. Your thesis statement should tell
too narrow your reader what the paper is about and also help guide
your writing and keep your argument focused.
✔ This is the basic process in writing a research
question. Writing a good question will result in a better
research project.

A research question should be (from the Writing

Center of George Mason University):

-​ ✔ Clear.
It provides enough specifics that one’s audience
can easily understand its
purpose without needing additional explanation.

-​ ✔ Focused.
It is narrow enough that it can be answered
thoroughly in the space the writing task allows.

-​ ✔ Concise.
It is expressed in the fewest possible words.

-​ ✔ Complex.
It is not answerable with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’,
but rather requires synthesis and analysis of
ideas and sources prior to composition of an
answer.

-​ ✔ Arguable.
Its potential answers are open to debate rather
than accepted facts.
Parts of a Research Paper and Its Explanation

1. Title Page – Contains the research title, authors,

institutional affiliation, and date of submission.

2. Abstract – A brief summary of the research, including

objectives, methodology, key findings, and conclusions.

3. Introduction – Provides background information,

research problem, objectives, significance, and scope of
the study.

4. Review of Related Literature (RRL) – Summarizes

existing studies related to the research, supporting the
theoretical framework.

5. Methodology – Explains research design, sampling,

data collection methods, and analysis procedures.

6. Results and Discussion – Presents data findings and

interprets them in relation to the research questions.

7. Conclusion and Recommendations – Summarizes

findings and suggests practical applications or further
research.

8. References – Lists sources cited in the research

using a specific citation format (APA, MLA, etc.).

9. Appendices (if applicable) – Includes supplementary

materials such as surveys, interview transcripts, or raw
data.