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The research process

The research process. Identifying the Research Problem. Formulating Research Problem and Hypothesis. Planning the Research Design. Meaning. Research is an endeavor to discover answers to intellectual and practical problems through the application of scientific method.

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The research process

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  1. The research process

  2. Identifying the Research Problem • Formulating Research Problem and • Hypothesis • Planning the Research Design

  3. Meaning • Research is an endeavor to discover answers to intellectual and practical problems through the application of scientific method. • “Research is a systematized effort to gain new knowledge”. -Redman and Mory. • Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information (data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which we are concerned or interested.

  4. Research Process

  5. Steps in the research process Essentially the same as with the scientific method SCIENTIFIC METHOD is a sequence of problem-solving skills that scientists use in answering questions or problems

  6. Identification Of Research Problem

  7. RESEARCH PROBLEM • What is a research problem? • The term ‘problem’ means a question or issue to be examined. • Research Problem refers to some difficulty /need which a researcher experiences in the context of either theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution for the same.

  8. Characteristics of a good problem • A “ researchable” problem is one that can be investigated through the collection and analysis of data • it has theoretical or practical significance.

  9. It must be a problem that you can adequately investigate given ; Your current level of research skill Available resources Time and other restrictions

  10. SOURCES OF PROBLEMS • Reading • Academic Experience • Daily Experience • Exposure to Field Situations • Consultations • Brainstorming • Research • Intuition

  11. Checklist of the Guidelines in Selecting a Research Topic

  12. LETS ANALYZE THIS…. In looking for a topic for investigation, a student-researcher first conducted a survey on the existing problems in the community. He interviewed community officials and observed the community. From the interviews and observations, the following problems were identified: • absence of an irrigation system; • lack of farm-to-market roads; • abundance of farm pests like locusts and rats; • laziness of the farmers; and • high cost of farm inputs particularly fertilizer.

  13. ANALYSIS: • The first two problems are not within the capacity of the • student-researcher to study. • The third problem covers a very wide scope that involves • the simultaneous conduct of many other researches and • requires expertise beyond the ability of the student- • researcher. • The fourth one is a social problem, which is very difficult • for the student-researcher to handle. • Only the last one remains feasible to be worked on.

  14. FORMULATING RESEARCH PROBLEM

  15. Characteristics of a Good Research Problem • clear and unambiguous • empirical • verifiable • interesting • novel and original • availability of guidance

  16. For the research problem to be a significant one, it must • help answer a problem/need of the people/ • community/ country; • contribute to the generation of new • information; • develop or improve an existing process; and • contribute to the development of the • scientific skills of the student-researcher.

  17. Example: Response of Okra to Horse Manure and Urea: A Comparative Study Problem: Compare the effect of horse manure and urea on the growth of okra.

  18. Statement of the Problem

  19. Statement of the problem must be clear, organized and specific It must define the scope and limits of the problem It must identify or specify the variables to be measured and observed It must set the objectives and goals of the study It must also state the sub problems

  20. Response of Okra to Horse Manure and Urea: A Comparative Study Problem: Compare the effect of horse manure and urea on the growth of okra. • How will the use of horse manure and urea affect the following: • a. Height of the okra plants? • b. Time of flowering per okra plant? • c. Number of pods per okra plant? • d. Total weight of pods per okra plant?

  21. 2. How will the effect of horse manure and urea on the growth of okra plants differ in terms of: a. Average height per plant; b. Time of flowering per plant; c. Number of pods per plant; d. Number of leaves per plant; and e. Total weight of plants per plot.

  22. The formulated research problem defines the scope and sets the limits of the problem. • In the statement of the problem, the factors/ variables to be observed and measured must be identified or specified.

  23. VARIABLES • Anything that can vary can be considered as a variable. • A variable is anything that can take on differing or varying values. For example; Age, Production units, Absenteeism, Sex, Motivation, Income, Height, Weight etc. Note: The values can differ at various times for the same object or person (or) at the same time for different objects or persons.

  24. Types of Variables • Explanatory vs Extraneous Variable The variables selected for analysis are called explanatory variables and all other variables that are not related to the purpose of the study but may affect the dependant variable are extraneous. • Dependant vs Independent Variable The variable that changes in relationship to changes in another variable(s) is called dependant variable. The variable whose change results in the change in another variable is called an independent variable. OR An independent variable is the one that influences the dependant variable in either a positive or negative way.

  25. Example: Response of Okra to Horse Manure and Urea: A Comparative Study Independent Variable: • kind of fertilizer used • horse manure • urea

  26. Dependent variable: • Response of okra (growth) • plant height • time of flowering • number of pods • Final weight of the plants

  27. Extraneous variable: • quality of okra seed planted in the • three plots. • sources of the horse manure and • urea

  28. Sample problem: Effects of Varying Temperatures and Concentrations on the Index Refraction of Sugar Solution OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the study is to find the effects of temperature and concentration on the index refraction of sugar solutions Specifically, this study seeks to find the effects of (a) varying temperatures on the index of refraction of sugar solution, and (b) varying concentrations on the index of refraction of sugar solution Reference: Caintic, H.E. Scientific Manual, pp.34-38

  29. Formulating Hypothesis

  30. Formulation of a Hypothesis Hypothesis serves as a tentative solution to the problem prior to any experiments It also serves as a guide to the research work plan or design It is tested by conducting the actual experimentation Hypothesis is an educated guess It can be based on factual knowledge, experiences and observations It can be defined as a possible answer to a problem

  31. A Hypothesis is based on the objectives of the study. It may be stated in any of the following forms: • Null form • states that there is no significant difference • between the results of two conditions being • tested. “There is no significant difference between the effects of horse manure and urea on the following variables: average height per plant; time of flowering per plant, etc.”

  32. Alternative form States that there is a significant difference between the results of the two conditions being tested. “There is a significant difference between the effects of horse manure and urea on the following variables: average height per plant; time of flowering per plant, etc.”

  33. cause and effect statement States that if a certain condition (cause) is true, then a supporting observation (effect) occurs. “If there is a difference between the effects of horse manure and urea, then the growth of the plants will differ significantly in terms of: average height per plant, time of flowering per plant, etc.”

  34. TRY THIS ONE! Based on the given problem, try to construct your own hypotheses (null, alternative, cause and effect) EFFECTS OF VARYING TEMPERATURES AND CONCENTRATIONS ON THE INDEX REFRACTION OF SUGAR SOLUTION

  35. Planning the Research Design

  36. What is a research design? • a complete sequence of steps • to be fallowed for data • gathering • Provide structure to the • research • Enhance the validity of the • research

  37. The research design is being prepared to systematize the work during actual experimentation

  38. Considerations in Making the Design • objectives of the study • Independent variables • Dependent variables • Treatment and control • Subject of the study • Sample groups • Replicate trials • Statistical analysis

  39. Campbell and Stanley Experimental Design for Research 1. One shot pretest/posttest Experimental design T= one test x= a treatment T1 X T2

  40. one group is tested, exposed to a • treatment and then tested again. • applicable in physical sciences • It has no control • How does blanching affect the activity of • enzymes in vegetables? • How does stress affect the strength of • PVC? • What is the effect of a mordant on the • action of a fabric dye?

  41. Randomized control group design Experimental design: T1 X T2 Experimental T1 T2 Control

  42. this is a standard design for biology • projects. • students compare the pretest (initial • condition) and the posttest (final • condition) with a control group. • the design provides data for the • student’s t-test ( to determine the • difference between sample means) or • for chi-square analysis (for data in • frequency form)

  43. How does electronic radiation • affect the flight of honeybees? • How does calcium affect the • geotropism in plants? • How does zinc affect the • growth of rice?

  44. Variables in series Experimental design: T1 Xa T2 T1 Xb T2 T1 T2 Varying Varying Varying Strengths treatment strengths

  45. Variables is applied in a series of strength, • duration or form. • ANOVA • What is the relationship between the • concentration of fertilizer and the growth • of plants? • What is the effect of solution pH on the • color imparted by a dye?

  46. Types of Research Design • SINGLE GROUP DESIGN • Composed of only 1 group • CONTROL GROUP • Uses 2 – 3 groups, experimental and the control groups • PARALLEL GROUP DESIGN • 3 or more group; 1 experimental and 2 kinds of control group • COMPLETELY RANDOMIZED DESIGN • Concerns itself with the different effects of treatments as they are applied randomly on the materials • COMPLETE BLOCK DESIGN • Intended to be used when 2 sets of variables are being studied

  47. How to construct a single group design • Conduct a pre-test. A pre-test measures the quantity you're going to test for the experiment. For instance, imagine an experiment to see if a new drug would cause weight loss in people who didn't actively exercise. The pre-test would be to weigh each member and then record that weight as the value before the experiment happens. • Administer the treatment. If you're giving out a drug that's supposed to affect weight loss, then administer the drug in the proper dosage to all participants in the group. Record who is given how much of the drug and how often. • Record the results. In this example you would weigh all of the participants again to see if the their weights changed.

  48. Experimental Procedure • A good procedure is so detailed and complete that it lets someone else duplicate your experiment exactly! • Repeating a science experiment is an important step to verify that your results are consistent and not just an accident. • For a typical experiment, you should plan to repeat it at least three times (more is better). • If you are doing something like growing plants, then you should do the experiment on at least three plants in separate pots (that's the same as doing the experiment three times).

  49. Key Elements of the Experimental Procedure • Description and size of all experimental and control groups, as applicable • A step-by-step list of everything you must do to perform your experiment. Think about all the steps that you will need to go through to complete your experiment, and record exactly what will need to be done in each step. • The experimental procedure must tell how you will change your one and only independent variable and how you will measure that change

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