P r a c ti c a l Re s e a rc h 2 :

The Nature of Inquiry and

Research

VON CHRISTOPHER G. CHUA

von_christopher_chua@dlsu.edu.
ph
The Nature of Inquiry and
Our Learning Goals:
Research

After this discussion, you are expected to have the ability to

1. describe characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of
quantitative research;
2. differentiate kinds of variables according to scales of measure;
and
3. contrast kinds of quantitative research.

This slideshow presentation will be made available through the trainers website:
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Download the document to use it as reference.
 1. How would you define practical
research?
2. Why is it important for a SHS
student to know the process of
conducting research?
3. Give some examples of research
Lets opportunities or topics relevant to
both your interests and your SHS
look
strand.
back
 Research is a systematic process of
collecting, analyzing, and interpreting
information in order to increase our
understanding of a phenomenon about
which we are interested or concerned
(Leedy & Ormrod, 2013).
Defining
Research
 works with a unbiased; all angles
system or method presented

Research is a systematic and objective

creation of knowledge.
(Creswell, 2013) a creative
process
Present the
answer Collect data to
answer to the

Defining question

Research Pose a question

 1 Add to existing knowledge.

2 Improve practice.

3 Inform policies

4 Solve problems, not emergencies.

Why DO
RESEARCH
?
 In comparison to qualitative research.

1 single reality vs. multiple realities

2 establishing relationships and explaining
cause of correlation vs. understanding
situations in a participants perspective
3 pre-established design vs. emerging
design

Quantitat 4 detached researcher vs. immersed

researcher
ive 5 to generalize vs. to assess applicability
Research Fraenkel & Wallen, 2009
Quantitive Research
Its STRENGTHS and nu m b e rs
)
n o f s ti c a l
WEAKNESSES Pr e c isio e (s tati
ifi c a n c r e s u lts
s e s o f o f s i g n t h at
e a k nes Le v el r m in ed o ne
g W hfor t o t a l d e t e nc e al
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 A variable varies and has values. The values of
variables under study are the research data.

Are these variables? color, chair, shape of table,

tweet, shirt style.

How are these different?

Quantitative and qualitative variables
Discrete and continuous variables

Variables
ACTIVITY TWO Daily Allowance

Which goes Availability of Internet

Connection

where?

Time
Temperature
AGE GRADE LEVEL GENDER Test Score
Position in Student Government
Cellphone Brand
Height
Cellphone number
Class rank in the honor roll

Classify the variables at the right based on their likelihood to the

three others in the color-coded columns.
 A variable varies and has values. The values of
variables under study are the research data.

Are these variables? chair, shape of table, tweet,

shirt style. Classifying Variables
according to Scales of
Measure

Variables ORDINAL
NOMINAL
RATIO
INTERVAL
EQUAL
IDENTITY MAGNITUDE ABSOLUTE ZERO
INTERVALS
 Quantitative Research
Designs

Manipulating
Studying Correla Experi conditions and
relationships tional mental studying effects
Non-
experimental
research
Descrip
Describing tive
characteristics
 Quantitative Research
Designs
Examples:
Descriptive What are the sleeping
A cross-sectional survey Research habits of SHS students in
collects information from DLSAU?
a sample coming from Sometimes called survey
various groups that has research, it aims to What factors affected the
been drawn from a describe systematically the SHS track choice of SHS
predetermined facts and characteristics of students?
population. a given population or area Your
of interest, factually and Turnyour chosen
Consider
accurately research interest or topic.
Come up with a research
question that falls under
descriptive research.
 Quantitative Research
Designs
Correlational
Explanatory Research Prediction
Examples:
research
research design design
Does wearing
seeks to school
identify
determines the variables
uniform
thathave
will any
predict
extent to which two aims to describe and an outcome
relationship
or criterion.
with
variables (or more) co- measure the degree of students ability to
vary. association between two participate?
Your or more variables or sets of
Turnyour chosen
Consider scores. Is there a relationship
research interest or topic. between phone brand
Come up with a research and Facebook usage
question that falls under
correlational research. among teens?
Quantitative Research
Designs
Experimental
Types
Research True experiments
Independent
EG: R O1 x O2
variable
CG: R O1 x O2
attempts to influence a
Quasi-experiments
particular variable EG: O1 x O2
Dependent CG: O1 x O2
variable tests hypotheses about
cause-and-effect
relationships
ACTIVITY ONE Internet availability at home and students
Determine the average sleeping time at night
Social media involvement and practices of
design Grade 12 HUMSS students
The effect of the use of <a local
packaging material> on the shelf life of a
product.
The marketability of <innovative product>
to SHS students.
Children of single parents and their level
of Math anxiety.
As a group, decide on a researchable topic leading to a quantitative
research suited to the level of SHS students.