CHAPTER 1: NATURE OF

INQUIRY AND RESEARCH

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
AND KNOWLEDGE
LESSON 1
Nature of Inquiry
Inquiry is defined as “ a seeking for truth, information or
knowledge”.

The information is sought through questioning. Individuals carry on

the process of inquiry from birth till death.

The exploratory nature of inquiry allows individuals particularly

students to grapple with different ways of looking at ideas and
issues and to think creatively about problems that do not possess
simple (or perhaps even any) answer.
Experience and Knowledge
Experience is a familiar and well-used source of
knowledge.
Ex. As a student, you try several routes in going
to school. You try to find out which way takes the
least time or the most traffic free or most scenic.

By going through personal experiences, you can

find many answers to questions that you may have.
Experience and Knowledge
For things though that are difficult or impossible
to know by personal experiences, you may turn to
authority. Particularly in research, knowledge is
sought from other people who had experienced
what the problem is or some other sources of
expertise

Ex. We consult lawyer for legal problems

 Authority is a quick and easy source of
knowledge but it has also its shortcomings
that you must consider.
• First, authorities can go wrong.
• Second, you may find that authorities
disagree among themselves on issues,
indicating that their authoritative
statements are often more personal opinion
than fact.
What is Research?
Research is:
• the systematic investigation and study of
materials and sources to establish facts and
reach new conclusions.

• is an act of studying something carefully and

extensively in order to attain deep knowledge.
As individual students, you may be asked to
write a research paper for these reasons:
• Research teaches methods of discovery
• Research teaches investigative skills
• Research teaches critical thinking
• Research teaches logic
• Research teaches the basic ingredients of
argument
Why do Research?
• The writing process will make you confident in
your ability to find information and present it
effectively in varied ways.

• You will undertake research writing during your

senior high school and will increase in frequency
as you enter college.

• Undergraduate research allows you to grow and

uncover opportunities for later career.
 “Give me a fish and I eat
today. Teach me how to fish
and I will eat for a lifetime”
 IMPORTANCE OF
RESEARCH IN DAILY LIFE
LESSON 2
Role of Research
When confronted with doubts and problems, you turn to
finding out what could be possible answers and solutions
to them. This is where you embark o the process called
RESEARCH.
What is its importance?
• Research leads an expansion of knowledge
and discoveries.
• Research effects have led to breakthrough.
• Research is a systematic process of
collecting and analysing data or information
in order to increase understanding of a
phenomenon.
Research is important in providing a solid
foundation for the:
• 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
2. To improve standard of living
3. To have a safer life
4. To know the truth
5. To explore our history
6. To understand arts
Research and Society
Research is closely connected with development.
The results/findings of studies also affect society
and the lives of each one of us.
Research benefits 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, which could be relevant to
policy makers.
• Cultural research leads to increased understanding of cultural
values or social approaches.
• Health research contributes to a better understanding of the
causes of medical conditions.
 CHARACTERISTICS,
PROCESSES AND ETHICS OF
RESEARCH
LESSON 3
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. Most
researches are based on real-life situations.
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 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. Go to the library to check on
the originality of your work.
Other Characteristics of
Qualitative Research
1. Concern for context and meaning
Qualitative research is bounded by a particular
context which the research aims to study. Since it
is context bound, the human experience take its
meaning from social, historical, political and
cultural influences.
2. Naturally occurring settings
Qualitative research studies behaviour as it
happens naturally in a school, classroom,
community or an organization. It is based on the
premise that setting affects the findings.
3. Humans as Instruments
The researcher is the primary instrument for
gathering and for analysing data. He/She responds
to the need for capturing the complexity of human
experience, as well as in adapting and responding
to the environment. Only a human being can do the
field work methods such as the interview,
observation and documentary analysis.
4. Descriptive Data
Data used in qualitative studies are in the form
of words or pictures or other visuals rather than
numbers and statitistics. The participants,
experiences and perspectives culled from varied
types of documents enable the researcher to
present a holistic description of the subject/s of
the study.
5. Emergent Design
In qualitative research, the design cannot be
finalized at the onset because the researcher
continues to adjust his/her methods and ways of
proceeding as the study progresses. It is also
difficult to predict what may happen during the
actual interactions between the researcher and
the participants.
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.
• It is 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 public.
4. Ethical norms in research, is research that helps build
public support quality and integrity of research.
Some Ethical Principles
• Honesty • Responsible publication
• Objectivity • Respect for colleagues
• Integrity • Social responsibility
• Carefulness • Non-discrimination
• Openness • Competence
• Respect for Intellectual • Legality
Property
• Confidentiality
Ethical Considerations in Qualitative
Research
1. The researcher may uncover or get hold of
practices that may not be acceptable. What
then does he/she do? The person is obliged to
report practice such as child abuse, drug abuse,
abusive teachers and the like.
Ethical Considerations in Qualitative
Research
2. With regard to the researcher’s relationship to
the
participants, the researcher is expected to act
professionally, maintaining respect towards them.
The issues of anonymity and confidentiality are to be
observed. In field notes particularly, when
conducting a sensitive research, false names or code
numbers are used to keep track of what information
came from whom without revealing their identities.
Ethical Considerations in Qualitative
Research
3. The researcher is expected to give back to the
subjects/participants of the research and to show
appreciation for their commitment of time, effort
and cooperation. These acts may be to provide a
written report, present findings in an assembly,
give assistance or advice on other research
projects at their workplace and others.
Ethical Considerations in Qualitative
Research
4. The researcher writes a letter and seeks to be
allowed to conduct a study. If changes happen in
the course of the investigation, he/she needs to
get an approval for the continuance of the study.
 The Research Process
DEFINE REVIEW
FORMULATE DESIGN COLLECT
RESEARCH THE
HYPOTHESIS RESEARCH DATA
PROBLEM LITERATURE

INTERPRET
ANALYZE
AND
DATA
REPORT
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
QUANTITATIVE
AND
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
LESSON 4
Similarities of Quantitative and
Quantitative Research
1. Empirical research is aimed at creating new
knowledge.
2. Research creates knowledge by observing phenomena.
3. All the entities of interest like attitudes, motives and
learning can be inferred from observing what people
do or say in a given setting.
4. All researchers are concerned about the universality
of ideas or expressing an idea in a general statement;
that is they desire to find meaning for the research
results beyond a particular study,
Differences of Quantitative
and Qualitative
TYPES AND EXAMPLES OF
RESEARCH IN DIFFERENT
AREAS/FIELDS
LESSON 5
Types and Examples of
Research
Applied Research
Correlational Research
Descriptive Research
Ethnographic Research
Experimental Research
Exploratory Research
Historical Research
Phenomenological Research
Action Research
Involves the application of the steps of the scientific method in
the classroom problems. This type of research is done on a very
limited scope. The population to be studied is not so big. This type
of research is helpful to beginning researchers.