Research and

Public
Management
Victoria Bautista
Research
oMethod of inquiry for the purpose
of obtaining facts in response to
question
oSystematic process of gaining
information or knowledge
oAnswers based on the investigation
of an empirically verifiable realm
Characteristics of
Scientific Method
1. Systematic 4. Recorded
2. Accurate 5. Objective
3. Precise 6. Controlled conditions
Characteristics of
Scientific Knowledge
1. Tentative
2. Shared and made public
3. Empirically available
4. Ethically neutral
Qualities of a Good Researcher
1. Honesty 5. Resourcefulness
2. Skepticism 6. Logical mind
3. Openness to criticism 7. Patience
4. Creative imagination
Role of Fact and Theory
in Research
A fact-finding process that
develop concepts based on facts
and is a means of facilitating
communication among scholars
and practitioners
Role of Fact and Theory
in Research
Involves theory building to
show interrelatedness of a variety of
concepts; to predict and control the
occurrence of an event one must
determine why an event occurred
How Facts Contribute to
Theory Building
1. Facts lead to the
formulation of a theory.
2. Facts lead to
reformulation or rejection
of theory.
3. Facts clarify theory.
How Theories Contribute
to Facts
1. Theories provide an organizing
scheme.
2. Theories provide a scheme for
analyzing data.
3. Theories point to gaps in
knowledge.
General Approaches to Research
QUALITATIVE APPROACH
o An inquiry process of understanding a social
or human problem based on building a
complex, holistic picture, formed with words,
reporting detailed views of informants
General Approaches to Research
QUALITATIVE APPROACH
o Method of conducting the study is
inductive since the facts are gathered first
before a theory can be formed
General Approaches to Research
QUALITATIVE APPROACH
o Objective is to derive patterns in order to
formulate concepts and to posit
interrelationships among concepts
General Approaches to Research
QUANTITATIVE APPROACH
o Proceeds with an inquiry into a social or
human problem based on testing a
theory composed of variables, measured
with numbers, and analyzed with
statistical procedures
General Approaches to Research
QUANTITATIVE APPROACH
o Process is deductive since a theoretical
framework is expected to be formulated
even prior to data gathering
General Approaches to Research
QUANTITATIVE APPROACH
o Entails an exact count of the observation
in order that generalizations that are
applicable to a given population can be
formulated
 Features Quantitative Qualitative
Deductive (from theory to Inductive (from fact to
Logic of inference
fact) theory)

To establish cause-effect
relationships; To explore the factors that
Establishing relationships
To relate the occurrence of could explain why a given
of factors/variables studied
a variable with other event occurs
variables

To establish generalizations
Objective of the study
for prediction and control
To establish patterns;
To develop a theory for
understanding how and
why an event occurs
Research and
Public
Management
Victoria Bautista