The Research Process

INTRODUCTION
TO RESEARCH
• From the root word “search” and prefix
“re” research can be defined as a
repetitive search for something previously
unknown. It is a never ending attempt to
discover the truth.
Basic Process Skills
• Observing is using one or more of the five
senses to gather information. Many
observations involve the senses of sight,
hearing, touch, and smell.
• Inferring is interpreting an observation or
statement based on prior knowledge. An
inference is an act of reasoning, not a fact.
That means an inference may be logical
but not true.
• Predicting is an inference about a future
event based on evidence, experiences, or
knowledge. It plays a major role in science
because they offer scientist a way to test
ideas.
• Measuring is comparing an object or
process to a standard. Scientists use a
common set of standards called the system
of units (SI).
• Calculating is a process in which persons
uses mathematical operations to manipulate
numbers and symbols.
• Classifying is grouping of items according to
some organizing idea or system.
• Using tables and graphs. Scientist analyze
and interpret data tables and graphs to
determine the relationship of one variable to
another and to make predictions based on the
data.
• Using models. A model is a mental or
physical representation of an object,
process, or event. In Science, models are
usually made to help people understand
natural objects and the processes that
affects these objects.
Scientific Research
• What is it?
• It is defined as a systematic, controlled,
empiricial, and critical investigation of
hypothetical propositions about the
presumed relations among observed
phenomena.
Aims of Research
• Generating new knowledge and
information.
• Finding an application for the new
knowledge.
• Verifying existing knowledge.
• Developing the investigator.
Types of Research
• 1. Basic Research- research that is
conducted solely to come up with new
knowledge or to have a fuller
understanding of a particular subject for its
own sake.
• 2. Applied Research- research that is
done to find an application of the
knowledge whether new or old.
Types of Research
• Another basis for classifying research is
the condition under which the study is
done.
• 1. Descriptive- you observe and record
the changes as they happen in nature.
You cannot manipulate the changes.
• 2. Experimental- if you put in factors that
interfere with what nature provides, the
research becomes experimental.
Sources of Research Topics
• 1. People, places, and objects around you.
• 2. The communities where you live in.
• You can also search/surf the internet for
potential research problems.
The Research
Process
The research process is a cyclic
process. Most of the time, the conclusion that
is reached at the end of an investigation leads
to other problems which other researchers
may undertake in the future. Opportunities for
more inventions and discoveries arise from
the cyclic nature of research. In essence, it
perpetuates the dynamic nature of science
and ensures its continuous growth.
The research process, like any other
processes, is made up of several steps.
Each steps leads logically to the next one.
The time it takes for each of these steps
depends on the kind of problem being
investigated, the experience of the
researcher, and the availability of resources
needed for the study.
What is the first step
in the research
process?
1. Identification of a Research
Problem
A problem identified by the researcher
keeps him focused throughout the entire
research process. It is the basis of all
subsequent research activities he is going to
undertake. It guides him to the hypothesis, work
plan, interpretation of findings, and finally, to the
conclusion. Each of the steps in the process and
its corresponding output is deemed necessary
and useful as it relates to the problem.
Problem
• This is the beginning activity of the
research process, and it is often
difficult.
• It must be identified with adequate
specificity.
• The statement of the problem sets the
objectives or goals of the study. It also
states the sub-problems.
Problem
In the identification of a research
problem, several things must be considered.
•It must be clear.
•It must be organized and specific.
•It must define the scope and set the limits
of the problem to help determine the
feasibility of doing the actual investigation.
Problem
Example:
‘Effects of Varying Temperatures and

Concentrations on the Index of Refraction of
Sugar Solution’
Problem
What is the main objective of the
study?
•The main objective of the study is to
find the effects of temperature and
concentration on the index refraction of
sugar solution
Problem
What can you say about the problem?
•The statement of the problem is clear,
organized, concise, and specific. Its
scope and limits are defined. It also
provides the basis for the formulation of
a hypothesis.
After identifying the
problem…what is the
next step?
2. Formulation of a Hypothesis
After identifying a problem, an
investigator proceeds to formulating a
hypothesis relevant to the problem. The
hypothesis serves as a tentative solution to
the problem prior to any experimentation.
More importantly, it also serves as guide to
the research work plan or design. A
hypothesis is tested by conducting the
actual experimentation.
A hypothesis is an educated guess.
It is a tentative answer to a research
question or problem. It may be based in
factual knowledge, experiences, and
observations. A hypothesis can be
defined as a possible answer to a
problem based on gathered information.
Usually, scientists suggest an answer
to a problem they have defined by
formulating a hypothesis. The hypothesis
that they have formed is usually based on
the information they gathered. They may
form more than one hypothesis from a
single information since there are many
possible solutions to a problem. Each
possible solution must be tested.
Therfore, a hypothesis must be testable.
To test whether a hypothesis is correct or
not, scientists make observations and do
experiments to see whether results of
these observations or experiment support
it.
A hypothesis is based on the
objectives of the study. It is therefore used
as a guide in doing the experimental
design. It may be stated in any of the
following forms:
a.null statement
b.the alternative statement; and
c.the cause and effect statement
To demonstrate how the three forms
are stated, let us consider again the
research problem that we identified
earlier: ‘The Effects of Varying
Temperatures and Concentrations on the
Index Refraction of Sugar Solution’
In this problem, the question being
investigated is ‘What factors affect the
index of refraction of sugar solution?’
There are two suggested factors:
temperature and concentration. Hence,
two hypotheses are to be formulated. We
can state them in any of the three forms.
Null Hypothesis Alternative Hypothesis Cause and Effect
Hypothesis
1. Varying temperatures 1. Varying temperatures 1. If temperature is

have no significant have a significant effect varied, then the index of
effect on the index of on the index of refraction of a sugar
refraction of a sugar refraction of a sugar solution is affected.
solution. solution.
2. Varying 2. Varying 2. If concentration is

concentrations have no concentrations have a varied, then the index of
significant effect on the significant effect on the refraction of a sugar
index of refraction of a index of refraction of a solution is affected.
sugar solution sugar solution
3 step
rd
3. Review of Related Literature
In some cases, a research problem is
not immediately recognized or identified. It
requires preliminary survey of related
literature. By reading through various
publications and surfing the internet, we
become ware of the previous works
already done. In fact, it could even spur an
idea or two that can be the subject of a
research investigation.
3. Review of Related Literature
Experienced researchers also go through
this step just to ensure that they are not
duplicating other people’s studies unless
there is a need to validate the findings
with more advanced detection and
measuring techniques.
4 step
th
4. Preparation of a Research
Design
A research design is necessary
because it functions as the work plan for
the research investigation. It specifies not
only the resources needed for the study
but also indicates how the resources will
be utilized to answer the problem.
Design
A more comprehensive form of research
work plan can be prepared. It is called a
research proposal. Professional teachers
usually send research proposals to funding
agencies to obtain financial support for their
study. The research proposal contains not only
the research deisgn but also the timetable for
actual investigation and breakdown of
expenses for each phase of the actual
experimentation.
Design
The research design is being prepared to
systematize the work during actual
experimentation. It maximizes the research output
since there is a plan to follow and revise if
necessary. The researcher knows what
experiments to do as soon as he steps into the
laboartory. Furthermore, only relevant data will be
collected since the research design specifies in
detail how and what data should be obtained. A
valid research design is the basis for the validity of
the entire research.
5 step
th
5. Actual Experimentation
Actual experimentation is an
implementation of the research work plan or
design. An experiment is an activity that
generates observations or data which, upon
processing and analysis, result to the solution
of the research problem or generate further
studies.
6 step
th
6. Data Analysis and Interpretation
Unorganized and unprocessed data are
tedious to look at and ideal with. It is also
difficult to summarize them into meaningful
statements. Data gathered are organized into
tables and graphs before they are analyzed
using statistical methods. The statistical
conclusions can be explained further in terms
of the research objectives. This explanation is a
simpler presentation of the meaning of the
statistical conclusions.
7 step
th
7. Formulation of a Conclusion
A conclusion summarizes the significant
results of the experiment. Just like any activity
with a beginning, research must come to an end,
and thus, a conclusion must be stated for each
research. In many cases, the conclusion does
not only end the research but also suggests
future questions left unanswered in the course of
the investigation. These unresolved questions
lead to new researches. Knowing the objectives
and the conclusion, the reader can evaluate the
merit of the completed research.

The Research Process

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INTRODUCTION

‘Effects of Varying Temperatures and

1. Varying temperatures 1. Varying temperatures 1. If temperature is

2. Varying 2. Varying 2. If concentration is

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