The document discusses various research methods, emphasizing their importance in academia and problem-solving, while outlining differences between quantitative and qualitative approaches. It describes the principles of experimental versus non-experimental research, the significance of sampling, the role of historical research, and the concept of mixed methods research. Additionally, it highlights the impact of technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, on research methods, along with associated ethical concerns.

1. Name: Antonette M. Dacuya Year: First Year
Course: Master of Arts Major in Educational Management
METHODS OF RESEARCH
Final Examination
Answer the following questions briefly but adequately, choose five.
1. What is the importance of research methods in the field of academia and practical
problem solving? How do research methods differ in various disciplines and contexts?
Answer:
Research methods are vital in both academia and practical problem-solving because
they offer methodical approaches for analyzing events, acquiring data, and formulating
conclusions. They enable systematic investigation, guarantee evidence-based decision-
making, and encourage reproducibility and transparency in research, enabling findings to be
verified. By determining underlying causes and putting ideas to the test, research methods
can contribute significantly to problem-solving by expanding knowledge across disciplines
and encouraging objectivity and critical thinking. Disciplines use different methodologies;
the scientific sciences use quantitative and experimental procedures, the social sciences
frequently combine qualitative and quantitative methods, and the humanities place a strong
emphasis on qualitative analysis. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods are
employed in business, economics, and applied professions like engineering and medical,
whereas interdisciplinary subjects combine different approaches to solve complicated
problems. Research methodologies also vary according to applied vs academic contexts, and
they need to take into account subtle cultural and ethical issues, especially in disciplines like
anthropology. Particularly in disciplines like anthropology, research methodologies must
take cultural and ethical nuances into account and vary depending on whether they are
used in academic or applied contexts.
2. Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative research methods. How do
researchers decide which approach is most suitable for a given research question?
Answer:
Different approaches to gathering and evaluating data are used in quantitative and
qualitative research methodologies, and each is appropriate for a particular set of research
questions and objectives. Large samples are frequently used in quantitative research to test
hypotheses, evaluate relationships, and draw conclusions that may be applied to other
situations. It is particularly useful in discovering cause-and-effect linkages. Comparatively,
qualitative research collects non-numerical data, such words or observations, to thoroughly
examine meanings, experiences, and social processes with the goal of figuring out how and
why certain things happen. Based on the nature of their research issue, the kind of data
necessary, the size of the study, and the degree of flexibility needed, researchers select one
of these approaches. Qualitative research is more flexible and includes in-depth
descriptions, whereas quantitative research is more regimented and employs measurable

2. facts. Sometimes the advantages of both approaches are combined for a more thorough
examination through the use of mixed methodologies.
3. Discuss the principles of experimental research and non-experimental research. Provide
examples of each and explain when each method is most appropriate.
Answer:
The two primary categories of research designs—experimental and non-experimental—
differ depending on the degree of control researchers have over the variables. In order to
establish cause-and-effect correlations, experimental research entails changing one or more
independent variables while regulating others to observe their effect on a dependent
variable. Using clinical medication trials as examples, key concepts include replication,
randomization, control, and modification. It works best in controlled situations when
causality can be established. Non-experimental research, on the other hand, focuses on
description or correlation rather than causation by observing and measuring variables
without modification. Surveys and observational research that look at the connection
between social media use and anxiety are a couple of examples. This approach is frequently
employed in disciplines like sociology and education to examine natural behaviors or
interactions over time, particularly when manipulation is immoral or unfeasible.
4. Explain the importance of sampling in research. How do researchers ensure that their
samples are representative of the whole population?
Answer:
In order to investigate a subset of the population and make the process more effective
and viable in terms of time and resources, sampling is crucial in research. Precise and
broadly applicable inferences about the general population are made possible by a carefully
selected sample. Researchers utilize techniques like stratified sampling, which splits the
population into subgroups, random sampling, which gives each person an equal chance of
being selected, and systematic sampling, which chooses people at predetermined intervals,
to make sure the sample is representative. In order to ensure that the results accurately
reflect the total population, representativeness is further improved by using larger sample
sizes and strategies like cluster and quota sampling.
5. Explore the role of historical research in understanding past events and their impact on
the present. How do historians gather and analyze historical data?
Answer:
Understanding historical events and their continuing influence on the present requires
historical research. Through historical analysis, scholars can uncover the roots of various
social, political, and cultural phenomena, providing valuable perspectives on how historical
events have shaped contemporary reality. Historians frequently do oral history interviews or
archive research in addition to gathering information from secondary sources like books and
articles and primary sources like letters and documents. They evaluate the validity of the
sources, cross-reference material, and analyze the data using comparative, chronological,
and thematic approaches. Through directing decisions and promoting cross-cultural
understanding, this process aids society in drawing lessons from the past.

3. 6. Explain the concept of mixed methods research and how it combines quantitative and
qualitative data.
Answer:
Mixed methods research is an integrated strategy that offers a thorough knowledge of
complicated research issues by combining quantitative and qualitative data gathering and
analysis within a single study. Researchers can confirm findings and obtain complementary
insights that improve the validity and dependability of their conclusions by collecting
quantitative data and qualitative contextual insights. Researchers can apply this
methodology in sequential or concurrent designs, enabling them to examine data in a way
that best serves their goals. In domains such as education, healthcare, and social sciences,
where comprehensive results and practical ramifications necessitate the integration of
personal experiences and statistical trends, mixed methods research proves to be very
advantageous.
7. Analyze the impact of technological advancements on research methods. How do
emerging technologies as artificial intelligence influence the research landscape.
Answer:
Innovations in technology have brought about a dramatic transformation in research
methods by improving data collecting, processing, and distribution in a multitude of sectors.
Real-time data collection is made easier by tools like smartphone applications, internet
surveys, and sensor technologies, which enables researchers to work with bigger and more
representative samples. Data analysis is streamlined by sophisticated statistical software and
machine learning algorithms, which reveal patterns and insights that were previously hard
to find. Technology also encourages researchers to collaborate and communicate globally,
and data visualization tools simplify difficult discoveries. With the advent of automated data
analysis, natural language processing for qualitative data, and predictive modeling based on
historical data, artificial intelligence (AI) is further changing the research landscape. But
these developments also bring up moral issues that academics need to deal with, like
algorithmic prejudice and data privacy. All things considered, technology advances the
effectiveness and breadth of study, stimulating creativity and interdisciplinary
understanding.
Send your answer to any of the following email address:
manuel.tan@spus.edu.ph or
mstanjr@csu.edu.ph
pls don’t upload your answer in our GC