Notes in Inquiries, Investigation, and Immersion

Midterm (Second Semester)

LESSON I: RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

What is Research?

 Research is the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new
conclusions.
 Generally, people find it difficult to do research. Many reasons are given for people to find excuse in doing it.
Some benefits of conducting research include increasing personal knowledge.
Why do Research?
 The writing process will make you confident in your ability to find information and present it effectively in varied
ways.
 You can get to investigate topics that may be interest to you
 It can make you study (course work) more meaningful and you’ll discover real world application of what you’re
studying
 You can have hands-on, practical experience in your field of study
*Research is a great way to network and meet new people. Undergraduate allows you to grow and uncover
opportunities for later career. Undergraduate research is conducted in all disciplines and encompasses a broad
range of activities-from learning about research to discovering new knowledge and creating new words.
Research is about solving problems and answering questions in all disciplines.

LESSON II: IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH IN DAILY LIFE

The Role of Research
 Discovery and creation of knowledge, theory-building
 Testing, confirmation, revision, and refutation of knowledge as theory
 Advance a discipline or field
 Advancements and improvements in various aspects of life
 Promotion and tenure of individuals
Significance of Research
1. To gather necessary information
 Research provides you with the necessary information related to your field of study or work. For
example, companies do research before manufacturing a product.
2. To improve standard of living
 Through research, new inventions and discoveries come into life. How would life be without Graham
Bell and his telephone? Or what would have happened if Martin Cooper did not give us the concept of
mobile phones?
3. To have a safer life
 Research has done great discoveries and development in the field of health, technology, nutrition, and
medicine. These things have improved life expectancy and helped in curing a lot of diseases.
4. To know the truth
 Research investigates and exposes what wrong beliefs people hold. Listening to different opinions and
studying facts and available data will lead you to unravel truth.
5. To explore our history
 Research about our history enables us to learn and understand the past and prepare for a better future.
6. To understand arts
 Research helps us in understanding the works of artists in different fields of arts. Arts contribute to the
refinement of our sensibilities and cultivate values needed for our daily existence.

Research and Other Fields/Areas

 Research leads to an expansion of knowledge and discoveries of new medical treatment and cures.
 Research efforts have also led to break through in agriculture such as the introduction of high-yield and
drought-resistant varieties.
 Psychologists are able to explain the individual’s behaviors including how people think and act in certain
ways.
  In business, market research enables companies to make forecasts and formulate the needed strategies
to ensure their growth and survival.
 In academic institutions, research may be done independently or as part of a group. It can be a useful
learning process, challenging students and teachers to work together. And grow intellectually as they
conduct their study.

Research benefits therefore, can be seen and felt in the following fields:

 Economic Research refers to matters concerning the environment and which may lead to improved
techniques to ensure sustainable food production
 Social Research leads to an increased knowledge of people and their interactions with one another
 Health Research contributes to a better understanding of the causes of medical conditions.
 Environmental Research focuses on the changes that are taking place in the natural and human
environments as a result of human activity, either to understand these changes or to seek solutions.
 Cultural Research leads to increase understanding of cultural values or social approaches

LESSON III: CHARACTERISTICS, PROCESSES, AND ETHICS OF RESEARCH

Major Characteristics of Research

1. Empirical – Research is based on observations and experimentation of theories. It takes into account the direct
experiences that fuse the researcher’s speculation with reality.
2. Systematic - Research follows orderly and sequential procedures, based on valid procedures and principles.
Researchers are advised to refer to the research guidelines provided or prescribed by the school.
3. Controlled – In research, all variables, except those that are tested/experimented on, are kept constant.
4. Employs hypothesis – The hypothesis guides the investigation process. Research refers to a search for facts,
answers to questions and solutions to problems.
5. Analytical – There is a critical analysis of all data used so that there is no error in the researcher’s
interpretations.
6. Objective – The term also refers to the research as unbiased and logical. All findings are logically based on
empirical data, which as earlier mentioned, are based on real life situations.
7. Original work - Requires effort to get at the researcher’s own investigation and produce the data needed to
complete the study.

Types of Research
1. Library Research – this type is done primarily in the library where answers to specific questions or problems are
available.
2. Field Research – the research is done in the natural setting such as barangay, school or factory.
3. Laboratory Research – this type is conducted in an artificial or controlled conditions by doing the study in a
thoroughly specified and equipped area.

Ethics and Research

 The most common way of defining “ethics” is to refer to it as norms for conduct that distinguish between
acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
 Ethics is to consider it as a method, procedure or perspective for deciding how to act and for analyzing complex
problems and issues.
Functions of Ethics
1. Norms promote the aims of research such as knowledge, truth and evidence of error.
2. Ethical standards promote the values that are essential to collaborative work such as trust, accountability,
mutual respect, and fairness.
3. Ethical norms ensure that researchers can be held accountable to the topic.
4. Ethical norms in research, is research that helps build public support quality and integrity of research.
Some Ethical Principles
Enumerated below are words and phrases that correspond to principles on which actions exhibited while doing
research are anchored.
 Honesty  Confidentiality
 Objectivity  Responsible publication
 Integrity  Respect for colleagues
 Carefulness  Non-discrimination
 Openness  Competence
 Respect for intellectual property  Legality

The Research Process

 Research is a process that requires patience and thought. Below is a diagrammatic presentation of the steps
taken when doing research.

Define
Review the Formulate
Research Literature Hypothesis
Problem

Analye Collect Design

Data Data Research

Interpret
Data

Prepared by:
Jallilah D. Barambangan

Refrence:
Prieto, N. et al. (2017). Practical Research 1. Lorimar Publishing, Inc. Quezon City, Philippines.