This chapter discusses research, its objectives, and characteristics. It defines research as a systematic inquiry that uses disciplined methods to answer questions or solve problems. The key characteristics of research discussed are that it is systematic, objective, feasible, empirical, and clear. Research involves following a system for writing chapters and composing them in a logical, organized manner. It also requires researchers to objectively analyze phenomena, ensure problems studied are relevant to their field, present evidence to support variables, and clearly explain their variable selection. The roles of researchers discussed are as principal investigators, members of research teams, identifiers of problems, evaluators of findings, users and advocates of findings, and subjects of studies.

1. Chapter 1
Daphnie S. Monteverde, LPT

2. Objectives
To characterize research
To discuss purposes of research
To differentiate the types of
research

3. RESEARCH
 Is a “systematic inquiry that uses
disciplined methods to answer questions
or solve problems. (Polit & Beck,
2004,p.4)
 Is the “continuing discovery and
exploration of the unknown” (Sanchez,
2002, p.2)

4. Characteristics of
Research
 Systematic - there is a system for
writing each chapter.
-Macro and micro systems
 Objective – Objectively, a
researcher looks at the bases on
which the work is founded.

5. Characteristics of
Research
 Feasible - any problem or extraordinary
nature (phenomenon) that directly or
indirectly a profession is a feasible problem
to study.
 Empirical – There should be adequate
pieces of evidence discussing the different
variables used in the study.
 Clear – The choice of variables used in the
study should be explained by the
researcher.

6. Systematic
Objective
FeasibleEmpirical
Clear
Characteristics of

7.  There is a system to follow in conducting
research as there is a system for writing each
chapter.
 “the system” is the composition of chapters and
the elements of each
 MACRO
 Chapters in an organized, logical, and scientific
manner
 MICRO
 Formulation of the detailed content of each chapter

8.  Research is an objective process of
analyzing phenomena of importance to
any of different professional and
academic fields or disciplines.
(Nieswiadomy, 2004)
 Objectively, a researcher looks at the
bases on which the work is founded.

9.  In any profession, any problem of
extraordinary nature (phenomenon)
that directly or indirectly affects the
profession is a feasible problem to
study.

10.  There should be adequate pieces of
evidence discussing the different
variables used in the study.
 Researchers must present evidences
for every presented detail in the paper
 All sources should be properly cited

11.  The choice of the variables used in
the study should be explained by the
researcher. This can be done by
enriching the review of literature or by
discussing the different theories on
which the selection of the variables
are based.

12. Roles of the Researcher
I
• Principal investigator
• Member of a research team
II
• Identifier of research problems
• Evaluator of research finding
III
• User of research findings
• Patient/client advocate during the study
IV
• subject/ respondent / participant