DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH

DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH

THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

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Definition:A problem is any significant,

perplexing and challenging situation, real or artificial, the solution of which requires reflective thinking.

A perplexing situation after it has been translated into a question or series of questions that help to determine the direction of subsequent inquiry.

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Elements of a Research

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Elements:1. Aim or purpose of the problem

for investigation. This answers the question “Why?”

2.The subject matter or topic to be investigated. This answers the question “What?”

3.The place or locale where the research is to be conducted. This answers the question “Where?”

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4. The period or time of the study during which the data are to be gathered. This answers the question “When?”

5. Population or universe from whom the data are to be collected. This answers the question “Who?” or “From whom?”

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Guidelines in the Selection

of a Research

Problem or Topic

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1.The research problem or topic must be chosen by the researcher himself.

2.It must be within the interest of the researcher.

3.It must be within the specialization of the researcher. This in some way make the work easier for him because he is working on familiar grounds.

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4.It must be within the competence of the researcher to tackle.

5.It must be within the ability of the researcher to finance, otherwise he must be able to find funding for his research.

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6. It is researchable and manageable, that is,a. Data are available and accessible. The

researcher must be sure that the participants in his investigation possess the needed data and they are within his reach.

b. The data must meet the standards of accuracy, objectivity, and verifiability. This is important. The data gathered must be accurate, objective and not biased, and can be verified if there arises a need, otherwise, the results of the study will not be valid and the generalizations formulated will be faulty.

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c. Answers to the specific questions (sub problems) can be found. The data to be collected must supply the necessary answers to the specific questions.

d.The hypothesis formulated are testable, that is, they can be accepted or rejected.

e.Equipment and instruments for research are available and can give valid and reliable results.

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7. It can be completed within a reasonable period of time unless it is longitudinal research which takes a long time for its completion.

8. It is significant, important, and relevant to the present time and situation, timely, and of current interest. This means that the research project must be able to make a substantial impact upon situations and people it is intended for or addressed to. It must be able to arouse the interest of the people concerned.

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9. The results are practical and implementable. 10.It requires original, critical, and reflective

thinking to solve it. To be able to apply these the research project must be novel, new or original. The study is considered novel and new if it has not yet been studied before and the data are gathered from new and original sources. However, the study may be a replication, that is, the study has already been conducted but in another place, not in the place where it is intended to be studied again. The purpose of study replications is to determine if conditions in one place are also true in other places so that generalizations of wider application can be formulated.

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11.It can be delimited to suit the resources of the researcher but big or large enough to be able to give significant, valid, and reliable results and generalizations. The area and population may be reduced but only to such an extent that the generalizations can be considered true and useful.

12.It must contribute to the national development goals for the improvement of the quality of human life. This is the ultimate aim of research, to improve the quality of human life. Research must improve or show how to improve unsatisfactory conditions.

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13.It must contribute to the fund of human knowledge. All the facts and knowledge that we have are mostly the products of research. Any study to be conducted must add a new bit of knowledge to what we already have.

14.It must show or pave the way for the solution of the problem or problems intended to be solved. Usually, after an inquiry has been conducted, recommendations are made for the solution of problems discovered which, if implemented, can solve the problems.

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15.It must not undermine the moral and spiritual values of the people. It must not advocate the promotion of antisocial values such as drug addiction, cruelty, hatred, divisiveness, multiple sex mating, etc. as much as possible it must advocate the promotion of divine values and those admirable human values such as love, peace, goodwill, etc.

16.It must not advocate any change in the present order of things by means of violence but by peaceful means. It must not advocate subversion, revolution, or the like to wrest control of the government or change the form of government. If there is a needed change, it must be made by any means but the means must be peaceful and legitimate.

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17.There must be a return of some kind to the researcher, either one or all of the following, if research report is completed:

a. Monetary, either increase in salary or publication of the results in which there is some kind of royalty.

b. Advancement of position, promotion. c. Improved specialization, competence,

and skill in professional work specially if the research subject is related to the profession.

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d.Enhanced prestige and reputation.

e.Satisfaction of intellectual curiosity and interest, and being able to discover truth.

18.There must be a consideration of the hazards involved, either physical, social, or legal.

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Thank You for Listening