1. Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

2. 1. The importance of research
2. Definition and aims of
research
3. Basic steps in research
4. Kinds of research
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

3.  The Importance of Research
The purpose of research is to inform
action. Thus, your study should seek to
contextualize its findings within the larger body
of research. Research must always be high
quality in order to produce knowledge that is
applicable outside of the research setting with
implications that go beyond the group that has
participated in the research. Furthermore, the
results of your study should have implications
for policy and project implementation.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

4.  Definition and Aims of
Research
Research is an established necessity in the
business world today, especially in
management. The changes are a resulty of
scientific procedures in planning, control,
systems analysis and adoptations. It also
defined as a “critical and exhaustive”.
Its aim is to discover a new facts and their
correct interpretation, the revision of accepted
conclusions, theories, or laws.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

5. Research invlove a number of steps
which may vary depending on the
nature of the problem, as personnel and
financial resources, time availability, etc.
In general, research invloves the
following basic steps.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

6. Steps:
1. Fomulating the problem
Research begins with a problem and the
need to solve for it. Once the problem has
recognized, the first step is to define it in
concrete and explicit terms. The researcher
must identify the type of consumer you will
investigate since consumers may be
classified on the basis of a number of
factors like sex, age-grouping, socio-
economic level, and the type of goods
involved. In many instances a hypothesis is
formulated.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

7. Hypothesis – is “a preposition, condition,
are principle which is a assumed,
perhaps without belief, in order to draw
out its logical consequences and by this
method to test its accord with facts
which are known be determined.”
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

8. 2. Conducting Exploratory Studies
A type of research conducted for a
problem that has not been clearly defined.
Exploratory research helps determine the
best research design, data collection
method and selection of subjects. It should
draw definitive conclusions only with
extreme caution. Given its fundamental
nature, exploratory research often
concludes that a perceived problem does
not actually exist.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

9. 3. Designing the Research Project
The research design generally involves
the following steps:
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

10.  Determining the type of data needed
Data are classified into primary and
secondary. Primary are those facts
obtained and recorded for the first time.
Secondary data are those which have
been compile by an agency or person
other than the researcher.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

11.  Identifying the source of data
When the researcher has obtained what
type of data he needs, he should know
where or from whom he will obtain them.
For instance, if primary data collection is
involve, he identified his subjects or the
population to be situated. On the other
hand, if secondary data are involve, he
would to prepare a list of possible source
where he may find the necessary
information.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

12.  Selecting the kind of research and methods
and instrument of data gathering
This step in designing a research project
is concerned with selecting one among the
four kinds of research and choosing the
most appropriate methods for data
gathering. The major kinds of research may
be used in the behavioral sciences are the
analytical, experimental, case, and survey
methods.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

13. 4. Collecting the data
Direct Observation – this is the simplest
and most basic of the methods of data
gathering. It involves making direct
critical observations of actual behavior
patterns and systematically describing in
detail how they occur and in what
environmental condition they take
place.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

14. A researcher can made direct
observations of behavior either as a
participant or as a non-participant. As a
participant, he becomes a part of the
event he is observing or the community
that he is studying.
As a non-participant, the investigator
carefully records and describes the
behavioral patterns of his subjects.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

15. While direct observation are useful,
they have certain disadvantages. For
one thing, whether the investigation acts
as a participant or a non-participant, his
presence tends to lessen the subjects
spontaneity and affect the behavior
being observed so that what is observed
may no longer be typical of what the
subject does.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

16. Verbal Reports – Some phenomena,
by their very nature, cannot be directly
observed. These include covert behavior
such as attitudes, feeling, beliefs,
opinions, and others. In cases like these,
the investigator depends on verbal
repots of the respondent. Verbal report
may be obtained through oral interview
or written questionnaires.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

17. A. Oral Interview
A number of techniques are used for
obtaining and recording interviews.
These may be classified to the following:
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

18.  Free association – techniques that
allows the respondent to talk freely
about anything the wishes and to
express his thoughts spontaneously
about any topic.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

19.  Depth interview or unstructured
interview - the respondent can talk
freely but he is confined to the topic
that is of major concern to the
investigator.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

20.  Semi-structured interview – this
techniques gives the investigator
control not only on the major topic to
be stressed but also on the questions
to be asked and the order in which
they are to be asked.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

21.  Structured interview – the questions
asked and the sequence with
which they are to be asked and the
order in which the are to be asked.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

22. B. Questionnaires
it may be open minded or structures
or a combination of both types. The first
makes use of open-ended questions
which require the structured
questionnaire is similar to the structure
interview except that the questions and
the respondent answers are in writing.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

23.  Test in Inventories
The term “test”, usually refers to the
subject performance in a task as scored
and evaluated by a investigator. Unlike
interviews, tests and inventions are
concerned with measuring and
evaluating certain characteristics and
behavior patterns of the individuals
tested.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

24.  Secondary data or records
Sometimes the materials of interest to
the investigator are no longer available
because the event took place years
ago. The investigator made use of a
mass of secondary data or written
records which he himself had no part in
collecting but which, nevertheless, may
be used in his study.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

25. 5. Processing the data
After the required data have been
collected, the next step is to group or
classify them into meaningful
category on the basis of similarity.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

26. The categorization of data is known as coding. It is the
technical process by which raw data are transformed into
symbols (usually numbers) that may be tabulated and
counted.
The preceding steps of editing, classifying, and coding
are only preparatory to tabulation. Tabulation is a
systematic method of counting, similar replies and adding
them in an accurate and orderly manner.
However, machine such as electronics calculators
have made figure counting easier, faster and simpler –
especially when the machine provides for memory banks.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

27. 6. Analysis and Interpretation
There are two basic methods of
analyzing data: the Statistical and the
Inferential.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

28. 1. Statistical analysis – statistics or quantitative
procedures are utilized to achieve anyone
or more of the following purposes:
a. To determined what behavior is typical in a
group.
b. To find out the extent of diverse behavior in a
group.
c. To indicate other aspects of how the individuals
are distributed with respects to the variable being
measured.
d. To show the relationship of the different
variable with one another.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

29. 2. Inferential analysis – is the process of
determining the meaning of evidence b
reflective thinking. It is this method of
inferential analysis where we make logical
interpretations or draw conclusions through
inference.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

30. 7. Presentation of the Research
A research report generally includes
the following:
1. Statement of the problem.
2. The research design.
3. The findings.
4. Analysis and interpretation.
5. Conclusions and recommendations.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

31.  Analytical method. Emphasis is given on the
use of analysis to evaluate secondary data.
 The experimental method. A scientific
investigation involving two aspects: (1) the
manipulation or control to some variable by
the experiment and (2) the systematic
observation and measurement of the
results.
 Variables. It may be presence or absence
of condition or factor.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

32. KINDS OF VARIABLES USED IN
EXPERIMENT
Independent variable. A condition set and
selected by the experimenter. It may be a
stimulus presented, a factor, or condition
whose effects are being examined.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

33. Dependent variable. The factor which the
experimenter predicts will change when
changes are made to the independent
variables.
Relevant variables. Factors which are likely to
influence the results; hence, they are held
constant for all subjects throughout the
experiment so that any change in the
dependent variable can be attributed to
the independent variable.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

34. Advantages and Limitations of an
Experiment
Advantages:
It possesses inherent objectivity and
precision, as well, as “logical rigor”.
The variables and conditions are under the
control of investigator.
Other investigator can verify the findings by
repeating the procedures used.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

35. Limitations:
There are certain phenomenon's in nature
which cannot be studied by using the
experimental method.
Subjects are not always available.
It sometimes interferes with the very thing it
is trying to study.
The experiment is artificially arranged by the
experimenter.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

36. The Case Study
Case study examines intensively many
characteristics of “one unit” (such as a
person, a company, a community, or a
culture) usually over a long period of time.
The case method is useful in studies
involving ethology and development. It will
discover the critical incidents that led to an
industrial strike, or what various effects the
industrialization of a traditional society
would have on the family unit.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

37. In spite of its usefulness, the case
method has certain limitations. The chief
drawback is that no generalizations can
be made from one sample. Another
limitation is that, there is insufficient
control to safeguard against biased
results. Nevertheless, case studies, in
general, definitely furnish rich clues and
insights for further investigation.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

38. The Survey
This is a research method in which data are
obtained from a sample of respondent
representatives of a larger group. Data are
obtained through interviews or questionnaires.
Population is the totality of all possible
phenomena that have certain characteristics
in common. A population may consists of
Filipino housewives residing in Greater Manila,
or it may be limited to those residing in the
Makati area. A sample is part of a population.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences

39. Sampling. This refers to the selection of a
sample from a population for the purpose
of establishing the characteristics of a
population. This technique eliminated the
tedious and unnecessary procedures of
interviewing every member of a population.
Generally, a random selection of the unit in
the sample is preferred. In random
sampling, every unit in the population has a
mathematically equal chance of being
included in the sample. Thus, the sample
can be said to be representative of the
population.
Research Methods in the Behavioral Sciences