Introduction to research

2.  A way of thinking: examining critically the
various aspects of your day to day professional
work;
 Understanding and formulating guiding principles
that govern a particular procedure;
 Developing and testing new theories for the
enhancement of your practice
 Habit of questioning what you do, and a
systematic examination of the observed
information to find answers, with a view to
instituting appropriate changes for a more
effective professional service.

3.  Research is one of the ways to find answers
to your questions. Process
 Is being undertaken within a framework of a
set of philosophies
 Uses procedures, methods and techniques
that have been tested for their validity and
reliability.
 Is designed to be unbiased and objective.

4.  Validity – can be applied to any aspect of the
research process. Ensures that in a research
study correct procedures have been applied
to find answers to a question.
 Reliability- refers to the quality of a
measurement procedure that provides
repeatability and accuracy.

5.  ACCURACY
 Must give correct and accurate data, which
the footnotes, notes, bibliographical entries
should honestly and appropriately
documented or acknowledged.
 OBJECTIVENESS
 Must deal with facts, not with mere opinions
arising from assumptions, generalizations and
predictions.

6.  TIMELINESS
it must work on a topic that is fresh,
new and interesting to the present
society.
 RELEVANCE
its topic must be instrumental in
improving society or in solving problems
affecting the lives of people in the
community

7.  CLARITY
it must succeed in expressing its central
point or discoveries by using simple,
direct, concise and correct language.
 SYSTEMATIC
It must take place in an organized or
orderly manner. Procedures adopted to
undertake an investigation follow a
certain logical sequence.

8.  CONTROLLED
 In exploring causality in relation to two
variables, you set up your study in a way that
minimizes the effects of other factors
affecting relationship.
 RIGOROUS
 The procedures followed to find answers to
questions are relevant, appropriate and
justified.

9.  EMPIRICAL – this means that any conclusions
drawn are based upon hard evidence gathered
from information collected from real-life
experiences and observations.
 CRITICAL- critical scrutiny of the procedures
used and the methods employed is crucial to
research inquiry. The process of investigation
must be foolproof and free from any drawbacks.
The process adopted and the procedures used
must be able to withstand critical scrutiny.

10.  To learn how to work independently
 Learn how to work scientifically and
systematically
 To have in depth knowledge of something
 To elevate your mental abilities by letting
you think in higher order thinking strategies
of inferring, evaluating, synthesizing,
appreciating, applying and creating.

11.  To improve your reading and writing skills.
 To be familiar with the basic tools of
research and various techniques of gathering
data and of presenting research findings.

13.  PURE RESEARCH
Involves developing and testing theories and
hypotheses that are intellectually
challenging the the researcher but may or
may not have practical application at the
present time or in the future. Involves the
testing of hypotheses containing very
abstract and specialized concepts.
 APPLIED RESEARCH
apply your chosen research to societal
problems or issues, finding ways to make
positive changes in society.

14.  DESCRIPTIVE
Aims at defining or giving a verbal
portrayal or picture of a person, thing,
event, group, situation
 CORRELATIONAL
Shows relationships or connectedness of
two factors, circumstances or variables
that affect the research.

15.  EXPLANATORY RESEARCH
Elaborates or explains not just the
reasons behind the relationship of two
factors but also the ways by which such
relationship exists.
 EXPLORATORY RESEARCH
Find out how reasonable or possible it is
to conduct a research study on a certain
topic.

16.  ACTION RESEARCH
Studies an ongoing practice of school,
organization, community or institution
for the purpose of obtaining results that
will bring improvements to the system.

17.  QUALITATIVE
requires non-numerical data. Uses words
to express the results, the inquiry or
investigation about people’s thoughts,
beliefs, feelings, views and lifestyles
regarding the object of the study.

18.  QUANTITATIVE
Involves measurement of data. It
presents research findings referring to
the number or frequencies of something
in numerical form.

20. Identify the type of research applied in the
following:
1. Theory of relativity
2. University street foods
3. Reasons behind tuition fee increase
4. Senior high assessment practices
5. Critical thinking skills affecting students
performances

21. 6. Teaching through powerpoint presentations
7. Archimedes’ principle of Buoyancy
8. Design of new flotation device
9. Existing Climate patterns
10. Law of gravitation