METHODS of RESEARCH

©Ma. Ciejay J. Calara

CRIM7 1ST Sem SY 2023-2024 SVCC
What is Research?
It is a method of inquiry for the purpose of
obtaining facts in response to questions
raised.
It is not intuition or gut feeling. It is a
systematic process of gaining information
and knowledge.
It is empirically verifiable.
“Empirically verifiable”. It is one founded
on factual information which can be
validated through observation.
Research types for Doctrine
Development and Writing
Purposive

Applied research tests the theoretical findings in

actual problem situations. It is motivated by its
practicality and usefulness. Its purpose is to improve a
product or a process – testing theoretical concepts in
actual problem situations. Most research undertaken in
the social sciences are applied research (Kumar, 2005).
Action research is focused on the immediate
application, with emphasis on the here and now. Its
findings are to be evaluated relative to local
application.
Descriptive
1. Historical research- investigating, recording the
conditions, and interpreting events of the past for the
purpose of discovering generalizations that are
helpful in understanding the present, and to a limited
extent, in anticipating the future.
2. Descriptive research - It involves describing,
analyzing, and interpreting the conditions that now
exist.
3. Experimental research - describes what will be when
certain variables are carefully controlled or
manipulated. The focus is on the relationship of
variables. Deliberate manipulation is always a part of
the experimental method.
 Research Method Research Methodology
Methods employed Entire strategy towards
by the researcher to the achievement of the
conduct research. objective of the research.
What research methods are useful
for your study?
LITERATURE REVIEW
Essentially, literature review precedes the
application of the different protocols
employed in research. It is both an activity and
a product.

Without building an information base, you will

be at a lost on how to proceed with your
study.

A review of literature and studies done in the

field can be of great help in conceptualizing
and operationalizing your research concepts.
Two approaches in literature review

1. You have to read

anything and
everything related to
your topic.

2. You have to read only

those that are related
to your research
problem.
 Research Design
Plan- overall scheme to be followed

Structure – outline of how the

objectives will be addressed

Strategy – description of methods,

tools, instruments, for data
gathering and analysis
 Types of Research Methods

Quantitative Qualitative

•Survey •Key informant

interviews (KII)
•Pretest- Post test
•Focused Group
•Feasibility Study Discussion (FGD)
•Trends Analysis •Document Analysis
•Correlation study •Participant
Observation
•Case analysis
 When do you use historical design?
• Gaps in historical exposition or accounts
• New materials are discovered that can shed
light on unanswered questions in the past
• Certain historical data are doubtful
• Interest of study is on evolution of
phenomena
What methods of data gathering may we
use in historical research design?
 Survey
• Gathering information about a
population using samples of individuals
• Provides breadth of information about a
subject
 Types of Survey Research

• Fact • Similarities • Impact

finding and • Result
differences • Outcome
descriptive Comparative Evaluative
 Other Survey Designs

One group pre- Static group

One shot
test post -test comparison
• One subject • Before and • Another
• One group after group not
• Same group exposed as
control
 Trend Analysis
Seeks to predict on the basis of available data
the direction and future status of a
phenomenon
 Feasibility Study
Systematic analysis of all factors (economic,
technical, social) that affect possibility of success
of a proposed undertaking
Social acceptability
Technologically viable
Economically viable
Environmental Soundness
Political support
 Case Study
• Examines in-depth selected aspects
of a phenomenon
• Explains characteristics and behavior
• Adopts a holistic view dealing with
subtleties and intricacies
Methods:
Phenomenology,
Interviews
 Content Analysis
Examination of recorded communications to
find out type and quality of messages.
a. Manifest content – directly visible, objectively
identifiable characteristics
b. Latent content – meanings are contained
within communications

Method: Document Analysis

 Correlational Study
Allows estimation of relationship between variables
(Extent: strong vs. weak)

Determines relationship using statistical tests

(Direction : positive vs. negative)

Determines how much variation is caused by another variable

(every 1 hr increase in mass media exposure results to 5%
increase in learning)
 Triangulation, is it necessary?

• use of multiple methods or data sources in

qualitative research to develop a comprehensive
understanding of phenomena (Patton, 1999).
• Triangulation also has been viewed as a
qualitative research strategy to test validity
through the convergence of information from
different sources. Denzin (1978) and Patton
(1999) identified four types of triangulation: (a)
method triangulation, (b) investigator
triangulation, (c) theory triangulation, and (d)
data source triangulation.
Data Collection during
the Pandemic
Digital Qualitative methods
e-Interviews
• via Zoom
• via Email
• via Viber or Messenger
e-Focus Group Discussions
• via Zoom
• Google meet
e-Qualitative Surveys
• Google Forms
• Social Media Research
 Interviews via Zoom?
• convenience and ease of use
• accessibility (i.e., phone, tablet, and computer)
• time-saving with no travel
• requirements to participate
• Not recommended for large numbers of
participants
• diverse and geographically dispersed populations
 Interviews via Email
•We live in an email society
•less disruptive compared to an actual interview
•Conventional and convenient way of gathering
data.
•Flexibility in when to respond
•Accounts are usually carefully structured
•Informality
•Reduced cost for travel
•Ready-made interview transcripts
 FGDs via Zoom
• Sensitive topics
• Hard to reach, geographically dispersed
population
• Moderator and participants have access to
and understanding of the appropriate
technology
• In-person more costly because of travel to a
site, facility fees, and refreshments
 Conducting e-FGDs
• Use slides to display topics and key questions
• Display the consent text during verbal consent
process
• Monitor consent and participation
• Use round robin format and wrap-up to manage
discussions
• Turn on or turn off your video camera?
• Be mindful of duration to avoid “zoom fatigue”.
 Follow-up e-focus groups
• Send incentives promptly and after the
discussion
• Use electronic incentives for quick delivery
and avoid mailing
• costs (GCash? Lalamove? Food Panda? Grab?)
• Download recordings to a secured server
immediately after the conduct of FGS
Limitations
 Good social research should be
fully ethical
(Social Research Association, 2015)
• Online or off, an ethical researcher is one who
is prepared, reflexive, flexible, adaptive and
honest.
• Methods are not applied simply out of habit
but are derived through constant critical
reflections on the goals of research, and the
research questions, sensitively adapted to the
specificities of the context. (Markham, 2006)
 3 Core Ethical Principles
Respect for Concern for welfare Justice
Persons • Consideration of • Obligation to treat
• Free, prior and impact on physical, people fairly &
informed mental, and spiritual equitably
consent health, as well as • Equal access to
participants’ physical, benefits/equal share of
economic and social burdens
circumstances • Avoid under protection
• Consider risks & & overprotection
potential benefits of
research
• Doing Good
• Minimizing Risk,
Avoiding Harm
Therefore….
• Review your research
topic and your plan for
data collection using
appropriate methods.
• Learn and research.
Optimize the use ICT that
we currently have access
to.
• There are doors open. You
must walk through it.
• Prioritize appropriateness
over sophisticated-ness.
• Every methodological
decision has an ethical
dimension.
 References
Librero, F.R. (2012). Writing Your Thesis. University of the Philippines Open
University
Markham, A. N. (2006). Ethic as method, Method as Ethic: A case for
reflexivity in ICT Qualitative Research. Journal of Information Ethics,
15(2), 37–55.
Salmons, J. (2016). Doing Qualitative Research Online. Sage Publications Ltd.
Lecture noted from MO LLANGCO, Department of Social Sciences, UP Los
Banos
Thank you