Research involves systematically investigating topics through reliable sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. It is a planned, logical, empirical, and replicable process that examines data to evaluate conclusions. The three major goals of research are to establish facts, analyze information, and reach new conclusions. Researchers select topics from their interests, other studies, or related fields and focus the topic based on feasibility. They formulate general and specific research questions and choose appropriate methodologies like descriptive or experimental designs. A review of related literature and studies helps broaden perspective and focus the research problem.

2. LANGUAGE RESEARCH
RESEARCH is the investigation of a particular topic
using a variety of reliable, scholarly resources.
RESEARCH is the systematic process of collecting
and analyzing information to increase our
understanding of the phenomenon under study.
RESEARCH is the systematic investigation into and
study of materials and sources in order to establish
facts and reach new conclusions.

3. Nature of RESEARCH
identify, design, collect data,
NATURE OF RESEARCH
SYSTEMATIC. Plan,
evaluate
Examine procedures to evaluate
Decisions are based on data
LOGICAL.
conclusions.
EMPIRICAL.
(observation)
REDUCTIVE. General relationships are established
from data
REPLICABLE. Actions are recorded

4. THREE MAJOR GOALS OF RESEARCH
* Establishing facts;
* Analyzing information; and
* Reaching new conclusions.
THREE MAIN ACTS OF DOING RESEARCH
* Searching for;
* Reviewing; and
* Evaluating information.
Nature of RESEARCH

5. TYPES OF RESEARCH SOURCES
1. Knowledge as Belief
Conclusions are not based on empirical
investigation, but on common sense; they should
be considered as bases for forming hypotheses
rather than established knowledge about second
language acquisition and learning.
Nature of RESEARCH

6. TYPES OF RESEARCH SOURCES
2. Knowledge as Authority
Certain conclusions become acceptable since they
come from
phenomenon
a source whose views on a
in his/her field of research are
regarded as educated judgement, thereby gaining
popularity. Some methods that were accepted and
became popular on the basis of authority were the
Silent Way, Suggestopedia, and Community
Language Learning.
Nature of RESEARCH

7. TYPES OF RESEARCH SOURCES
3. A Priori Knowledge
It resembles beliefs, but this type is usually based
on previous systematic investigation, as in the
theory of language acquisition that ‘to make input
comprehensible to learners and to lead ultimately
to successful classroom acquisition’ modified
interaction is important. (Doughty and Pica 1986)
In second language research, theories begin with
a priori knowledge
Nature of RESEARCH

8. TYPES OF RESEARCH SOURCES
4. Knowledge as Empirical Knowledge
Knowledge is a result of empirical study which
goes through the process of observation and
experiment. The researcher interacts with the real
world. Observes the phenomenon, before he
draws conclusions. Theories are tested carefully
and proven by other researchers who are actually
involved in language research by which they
gather and validate data collected.
Nature of RESEARCH

9. KINDS OF RESEARCH
1. Basic Research
Also known as “pure” research and is directed
towards the development of a scientific
2. Applied Research
Considered as an action research and is directed
towards practical application of the scientific
knowledge, It attempts to explain certain problems
brought about by certain phenomenon; it modify,
improve an existing theory, or develop a new
theory
Nature of RESEARCH

10. KINDS OF RESEARCH
3. Practical Research
Directed towards materials development gained
from practical knowledge or experience.
Nature of RESEARCH

11. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
1. Selecting and focusing a Research Problem
A. Sources of a Research Problem. A research
topic may be derived from 3 sources: the
and interest,
experience
researches;
other
researches on allied
researchers
language
disciplines.
PREPARATORY STAGES

12. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
PREPARATORY STAGES
1. Selecting and focusing a Research Problem
A. Sources of a Research Problem
1. Researchers experience and interest. A research
problem may come from the researcher’s personal
experience with the study of language which
he/she finds interesting.

13. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
PREPARATORY STAGES
1. Selecting and focusing a Research Problem
A. Sources of a Research Problem
2. Other Language Researches. Most studies
recommend a list of other research topics. From this
list, a researcher may get ideas on interesting topics
to work on.

14. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
PREPARATORY STAGES
1. Selecting and focusing a Research Problem
A. Sources of a Research Problem
3. Researches on allied disciplines. Language
study is closely linked with other disciplines as
mentioned earlier. Reading researches in Psychology,
Education, Sociology, Anthropology can provide the
researcher a rich source of topics from which a
research problem may be chosen.

15. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
1. Selecting and focusing a Research Problem
B. Focusing a research problem
PREPARATORY STAGES
After selecting a general topic, the next task to
consider is how to narrow down the topic into
something that can be done within the limits of the
researcher’s environment such as time, resources,
researcher’s expertise. And other conditions under
which the study would be conducted. At this point, the
researcher has to decide whether to work on a
general or specific topic.

16. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
PREPARATORY STAGES
1. Selecting and focusing a Research Problem
C. Formulating the general and specific questions
Having decided to work on a specific aspect of the
topic, the researcher now has to translate this choice
into general and specific questions which will
constitute the research statement of the problem. One
general problem that expresses the entire goal of the
study will be formulated followed by three to five
specific questions inquiring on the particulars of the
general problem.

17. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
2. Deciding the appropriate methodology and procedure
A. Choosing the appropriate methodology and
procedure. Decisions on the appropriate method of
research to use depend on the research approach and
objectives used in the study. There are many
methodologies used in language research, but the
common ones are descriptive, and experimental
PREPARATORY STAGES

18. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
2. Deciding the appropriate methodology and procedure
A. Choosing the appropriate methodology and
PREPARATORY STAGES
procedure.
Examples of a descriptive language study are the oral
proficiency of college students in a certain university,
correlation between grades in English and grades in
other academic subjects among high school students,
comparison of difficulties in learning English among
foreign students in the Philippines.

19. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
2. Deciding the appropriate methodology and procedure
A. Choosing the appropriate methodology and
PREPARATORY STAGES
procedure.
Examples of an experimental language study are
effectiveness of multi-intelligence method in teaching
freshman English in college, validation of an
instructional material for teaching English on-line,
comparison of the English proficiencies of regular and
on-line students.

20. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
PREPARATORY STAGES
3. Reviewing related literature and studies
A. Reason for review. A review of related literature
and studies is necessary for two primary reasons:
1. To broaden the researcher’s perspective of the
research problem and
2. To help him/her focus the problem into a workable
research question.

21. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
PREPARATORY STAGES
3. Reviewing related literature and studies
A. Sources of related literature and studies
1. Libraries. School and other institution libraries are
the primary provider of information for the review.
2. On-line. Today, much information is provided by the
internet which has boosted research. The researcher
must however, very judicious in selecting materials
because not all information posted online is reliable.

22. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
PREPARATORY STAGES
3. Reviewing related literature and studies
A. Sources of related literature and studies
3. Professional Organizations. Some valuable
materials on their specific disciplines are kept by
professional organizations. Attending their conferences
will provide access to these materials.

23. STEPS IN THE PREPARATORY STAGES
PREPARATORY STAGES
3. Reviewing related literature and studies
A. Sources of related literature and studies
4. Foreign embassies. Some researches, especially
in social sciences, will find valuable materials in
embassies. A letter requesting access to these
materials endorsed by the student’s adviser and dean
can help facilitate research in these libraries.

24. DISCUSSION POINTS
What are the preparatory
stages in conducting research?
Nature of RESEARCH

25. DISCUSSION POINTS
How does a researcher decide
on his research topic?
Nature of RESEARCH

26. DISCUSSION POINTS
What criteria should be
considered in focusing the
problem?
Nature of RESEARCH

27. DISCUSSION POINTS
Why is review of related
literature and studies important?
Nature of RESEARCH

28. THANK
YOU!