Capacity Enhancement on

Research Conduct

Eastern Visayas State University

Ormoc City Campus

JOEL REY U. ACOB

Faculty of Nursing, VSU
 Phase I:

Concept Development, its Objectives

and Significance
 Objectives
a. explain the need of conducting research and its
involvement;
b. discuss the importance of having a clear problem
statement;
c. explain the important guidelines in formulating research
problem;
d. discuss the importance of relating research problem to
its objectives;
e. explain the need to identify end users of the study.
 Characteristics of the Research
Process
 It is a problem-solving activity
 It involves the application of the scientific method in
investigating a problem
 Conclusions made from the research process are based
on empirical evidence or observed facts
 It is an activity which is:
- systematic
- objective
- reproducible
Definition
 It is the systematic and rigorous
investigation of a situation or problem
in order to generate new knowledge or
validate existing knowledge.

 It always proceeds from known to

unknown.
Research in this age and time
means…
•Searching for a theory
•Testing for theory
•Solving a problem
 Purposes of Research

 Satisfies researcher’s curiosity

 Provides bases for decision making
 Improves existing techniques and practices
 Acquires better and deeper understanding
of various theories and principles
STEPS IN CONDUCTING
RESEARCH
 Problem identification
 Develop frameworks
 Revisit research objectives
 Define variables
 Construct research design
 Design tools for data collection
 Data collection
 Data processing and analysis
 Disseminate results
 Utilize results
 Problem identification
 Selection of research topics
 Identify research problems
 Formulate research objectives
 Determine the significance of the research
problem and objectives identified
1. Sources of research ideas/concepts
 Reading literature reviews, editorials and
commentaries which identify research gaps
 Attending scientific meetings
 Research thrusts
 Developing specific scientific areas of
interest
 Results of previous research
 Being observant and/or imaginative
Criteria for a good research topic
 Feasible
 Interesting
 Novel
 Ethical
 Relevant

Source: Hulley, et’al (2001)

 Feasibility
 Can the study be done given the existing
resources?

 Can data from the required number of

samples be collected within the time frame
of the study, given inclusion and exclusion
criteria?
Interesting
 Both to the investigator and the
scientific community
 Novelty
 Research is expected to be able to
contribute new knowledge
 Proponent should be up-to-date with the
literature on the planned research topic
 Progress of science is incremental;
knowledge builds up from different
studies
Ethical acceptability
 How acceptable is the research to those
who will study?
 Can informed consent be obtained from
the subjects?
 Will the condition of the subjects be
taken into account?
Relevance
 How large or widespread is the
problem?
 Who is affected?
 How severe is the problem?
 Is the topic in line with the priority
areas of the funding agency to whom
my proposal be submitted?
 2. Identifying research problem
 An area of concern within the selected
topic where there is gap of knowledge
 It provides a motivating factor for the
research objectives to be answered in the
research
 3. Research objectives
 Directly related to the research problem
 Reflect the questions the investigator
wishes to answer at the end of the study
 They serve as the “steering wheel” of the
whole research process, by providing
direction regarding the rest of the
research process
 E.g
 Topic: Health-related disaster info system

 Research problem: poor quality of data routinely

collected by RHUs during disaster

 Research objectives:
-to determine the timeliness, completeness,
accuracy and reliability of disaster-related data
routinely collected by RHUs during disasters
 Topic: Multilingual education

 Research problem: The delivery of subject

matter using multilingual scheme

 Research objectives:
-to determine the challenges encountered
by educators in the delivery of learning using
multilingual education method
-to determine the effects of multilingual
education to learners
 Researchable topics for Technology
 What technological innovations promise to
change the way of life?
 How do regular people influence the
technological progress?
 Can we virtual reality substitute an actual reality?
 What is the future of the internet?
 Researchable topics on Business

 Sexual harassment in the working environment

 Is multitasking a productive method of work?
 How can creative marketing increase the sales?
 How benefits can make your employees happy?
Researchable topics on Social Issues

 How does social media influence

interpersonal communication?
 How can team sports affect social abilities?
 How to deal with social anxiety?
 How to stop bullying in schools?
 Gender stereotypes in the workplace
 Researchable topics on ICT
 What are the long-term effects of living in a
technological world?
 How do social media affects human socialization?
 What are the implications of ever-increasing
globalization through technology to economy?
 How we gauge intelligence?
 Where will machine learning have the most impact?
 How will machine learning change the education
landscape?
 How are robots changing health care?
Characteristics of research problem
or objectives
 Specific- the problem is in simple and specific
manner. The variables, locale and subjects of the
study are specifically stated.

 Measurable- it is easy to measure and quantify

by using research instruments in collecting data.
Instruments or tools include questionnaire,
index, survey form, observation sheet, interview
schedule on scale, etc.
 Achievable- the data are achievable using
correct statistical techniques to arrive at
precise results.

 Realistic- real results are not manipulated.

Findings are observable and comparable to
reality.

 Time-bound- time frame is required in

every activity; the shorter the completion of
the activity, the better.
What verbs to use to write
objectives?
USE DO NOT USE
 to determine…  to appreciate…
 to identify …  to understand…
 to describe …  to believe…
 to know…
 to prove…
 Steps in the formulation of Research Objectives

Questions asked Steps to be taken Important elements of

each step
What is the problem? Problem identification

Selection , analysis and Problem prioritization

Why should t be studied?
statement of the research
problem development
What contribution can I Justification and
make to existing significance of the
knowledge by studying research problem
this problem?
What information is Literature review Literature review
already available? Synthesis of the studies
being done
What do we hope to
achieve in this research? Formulation of objectives General and specific
objectives
What questions do we
want to be answered?
 Types of Research objectives
 Commonly classified into general and specific
objectives; logically connected to each other

 Specific objectives are commonly considered as

smaller portions of the general objectives

 It is important to ascertain that the general

objective is closely related to the statement of the
problem
The research problem/ objective is written in
question (problem) or declarative/
infinitive (objective).

Eg., a. What is the profile of the respondents in

term of:
1.1 age;
1.2 gender? (interrogative)

b. to determine the profile of the

respondents in terms of age and gender.
(infinitive)
 4. Research significance
 The significance of the study in research
manuscript lists the benefits either to a
body of scientific knowledge, to
practitioners in the area of the research or
to any other group which will benefit
from the results.
This step involves:
 Convincing others that the problem is
important
 Explaining what is not known about the
problem hence the need for proposed
research
 Identification of end-users and target
beneficiaries of the research results.
 On identification of end-users and
target beneficiaries
 Who can use, apply or benefit from the results of
my research?
 These can be specific persons, groups, agencies
or institutions
 Each end-user/target beneficiary may have a
different use or can benefit from the research
results in different way
 The proponent must describe in a concise way
specifically how each end-user/target
beneficiary can apply or benefit from the results
This can be stated in or two paragraphs

 In inductive perspective, the

investigator states the importance of the
study from the particular to general.

 In deductive perspective, the

investigator states the importance from
general to particular.
 # ResearchHugot
5 reasons kung bakit mas maganda and
research kaysa sa lovelife mo

1. Ang research dinedefend

2. Ang research may ethical consideration
3. Ang research ay may significant levels
4. Ang research ay may clear and specific
objectives
5. And lastly, ang research ay may proposal
 References
 Hulley et’al. (2007) Designing clinical
research. 3rd edition. Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.

 Acob, JRU lecture slides on formulation of

research objectives. Airlangga University,
Indonesia.

 Acob, JRU lecture slides on Concept

development. Naresuan University.
Phitsanulok. Thailand.