Research has been defined as a “systematic investigation, including research developments, testing and

evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge”. It also aims to establish facts and reach new
conclusions (Ahmad, 2016). It is a process of executing various mental acts for discovering and examining facts and
information to prove the accuracy or truthfulness of your claims or conclusions about the topic of your research.

Characteristics of Research
Research is a process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting information to answer questions. But to qualify as
research, the process must have certain characteristics: it must, as far as possible, be controlled, rigorous, systematic,
valid and verifiable, empirical and critical (Goundar, 2012).

Controlled - in real life there are many factors that affect an outcome. The concept of control implies that, in
exploring causality in relation to two variables (factors), you set up your study in a way that minimizes the effects of
other factors affecting the relationship.

Rigorous - you must be scrupulous in ensuring that the procedures followed to find answers to questions are
relevant, appropriate and justified. Again, the degree of rigor varies markedly between the physical and social sciences
and within the social sciences.

Systematic - this implies that the procedure adopted to undertake an investigation follow a certain logical
sequence. The different steps cannot be taken in a haphazard way. Some procedures must follow others.

Valid and verifiable - this concept implies that whatever you conclude on the basis of your findings is correct
and can be verified by you and others.

Empirical - this means that any conclusions drawn are based upon hard evidence gathered from information
collected from real life experiences or observations.

Critical - critical scrutiny of the procedures used and the methods employed is crucial to a research enquiry. The
process of investigation must be foolproof and free from drawbacks. The process adopted and the procedures used must
be able to withstand critical scrutiny.

Ethics in Research
Ethics generally is considered to deal with beliefs about what is right or wrong, proper or improper, good or bad.
According to a dictionary definition (Webster‘s 1968), to be ethical is to conform to accepted professional practice.

Ethics are the moral principles that govern a person’s behavior (Parveen, 2017). Research ethics may be referred
to as doing what is morally and legally right in research. They are norms for conduct that distinguish between right and
wrong, and acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Ethics are central to the research process. Researchers need to take care of various ethical issues at different
levels of this process. The reality is there can be ethical concerns at every step of the research process (Bickman & Rog,
2009).
The following are ethical issues arising at various stages of the research process and the researcher has a
primary responsibility towards the participants and other researchers (Bickman & Rog, 2009).
1. Informed consent is the prime responsibility of the researcher. A standard procedure in professional
codes of ethics is ‘informed consent’ (Resnik 1998). Seek consent for the participation from people. In the
case of children and few other exceptional cases, the informed consent of participants, as well as their
guardians must be obtained.
2. The researcher must reveal all the risks associated with the research to the participants. She
should highlight all the negative and positive aspects of the research during the consent process. Aim,
objectives and nature of the research, duration of the study, sponsors and other important information must
be revealed to the participants.
3. The knowledge gap between the researcher and the participants must be considered.
4. The privacy, anonymity and confidentiality of the participants and data must be given due
consideration (Jensen, 2002). As professional guidelines and some form of a cultural consensus are still
being negotiated, research projects need to consider carefully issues of anonymity, confidentiality, and
‘informed consent.’
5. Participants must be given an option of rejecting data-gathering devices like camcorders, audio
recorders etc.
6. To make them convenient and easily understandable, the questionnaire and other forms of
rating scales must be designed in the native language of the participants.
7. Participants’ safety is the prime concern. They should not be exposed to risks greater than they
encounter in their normal lifestyle.
8. In case, it's the responsibility of the researcher to protect participants from the risks arising
from their research.
9. The researcher should protect and promote the rights and interests of the participants.
10. The researcher must take care of their own safety.
11. She must take care of cultural, religious, economic, psychological, spiritual, physiological,
biological, political, social and other issues of the participants.
12. Researchers are expected to consider ethical implications of their research.
13. To uphold the ethical standards in the research process, the researcher must accept and respect
the principles integrity, honesty, objectivity and openness.
Ethical considerations in conducting research
1. Objectivity and integrity
2. Respect of the research subjects’ right to privacy and dignity and protection of subjects from personal harm
3. Presentation of research findings
4. Misuse of research role
5. Acknowledgement of research collaboration and assistance
6. Distortions of findings by sponsor
Unethical practices in conducting research
1. Deceiving a respondent about the true purpose of a study
2. Asking a respondent questions that cause him or her extreme embarrassment; guilt emotional turmoil by
remaining him or her of an unpleasant experience
3. Invading the privacy of a respondent
4. Studying the respondents or research subjects without their knowledge
5. When analyzing the data—revealing only part of the facts, presenting facts out of context, falsifying findings or
offering misleading presentation such as lying with statistics

Research Process

Suggested Research Topics

The following are suggested qualitative research topics:
1. Gender and sexual harassment.
2. Cultural expectations and practices.
3. Importance of strengthening public resilience against terrorism.
4. The causes for the emergence of a new religion.
5. What are different learning disabilities?
6. Is physical attraction good?
7. What leads to depression in a person?
8. What are the good and bad effects of political scandals?
9. Role of media for educational purposes.
10. The best prevention for child abuse.
Sample Research in different areas of specialization
1. Effectiveness of Weight Loss Program among Obese School Heads
2. Applicability of the federal Form of Government in the Philippines
3. Multimedia utilization in teaching Science
4. I.Q in relation to National Achievement Test Result
5. Women's’ Aggression Behind bars
6. Manobo’s cultural practices in child rearing
7. Factors affecting Dropout rates
8. Inhibitory effects of bamboo roots to species of dysenteric bacilli
9. Confluence of Rizal’s work to Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables
10. Remedial Class Program among Slow learners.
Activity 1: Direction: Draw “ ” if the statement is true and “ ” if it is false.
1. Once you decide on a research question, you must stick with it, because you can never repeat steps of
the research process.
2. The research process involves only a statistical treatment of data.
3. The first three stages in the research process is the proposal stage.
4. In gathering data, we need to use a research instrument.
5. In the first stage of the research process, you can find the theoretical and conceptual framework.
6. We need to follow the research process in order to effectively and systematically conduct a research.
7. The last stage in the research process is the Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of data
8. The Rationale is where you are going to give a clear concise description of the issue(s) that need(s) to
be addressed.
9. Definition of Terms an important part of Research paper or report because it is where the important
terms of the study are clearly defined
10. Research procedure is a multi-step process that we follow in order to conduct a research.

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer from the pool of words below. Write your answer on your
answer sheets.
a. Research e. Replicability i. Ethics
b. Researcher f. Critical j. Logical
c. Cyclical g. Analytical
d. Empirical h. Methodical

1. Design and procedures are replicated or repeated to enable the researcher to arrive at a valid and
conclusive results.
2. Based on valid procedures and principles.
3. Conducted in a methodical manner without bias using systematic method and procedures.
4. Utilizes proven analytical procedures in gathering the data.
5. Based on direct experience or observation by the researcher.
6. Exhibits careful and precise judgment.
7. It starts with a problem and ends with a problem.
8. It is the scientific investigation of phenomena which includes collection, presentation, analysis
and interpretation of facts that links an individual’s speculation with reality.
9. It deals with what is moral and immoral.
10. The one who conduct an in-depth study about a certain phenomenon.