PRACTICAL RESEARCH

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

explains phenomena by gathering numerical data and analyzing it using mathematical methods

VARIABLES

is a factor that a researcher measures, controls, and manipulates

NUMERIC VARIABLES

These variables describe a measurable numerical quantity and answer "how many" or "how much".

CONTINOUS VARIABLES

 Can have any value between a set of real numbers

DISCRETE VARIABLES

Have any whole value within a given limit

CATEGORICAL VARIABLES

These describe the quality of a data unit and answer "what type" or "which category".

ORDINAL VARIABLES

Variables that can be ranked

NOMINAL VARIABLES

Variables that cannot be ranked

DISCHOTOMOUS VARIABLES

Variables that has 2 categories

POLYCHOTOMOUS

Variables that has multiple categories

EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES

Variables that can be manipulated by the researchers

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

Variables that are manipulated to affect the outcome

DEPENDENT VARIABLES

Those affected by the changes made in the independent variables

INTERVENING VARIABLES

Variables that are there already and may effect the dependent variables

NON-EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES

Observed in the natural setting without manipulation

PREDICTOR VARIABLES

Changes other variables

Criterion Variables

Affected by the changes in predictor

UNIVARIATE STUDY

Studies only 1 variable

BIVARIATE STUDY

Studies 2 variables

POLYVARIATE STUDY

Studies 2 or more variables

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Concerned with cause-and-effect relationships where the independent variable is manipulated

TRUE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Has full manipulation of the variables like setting and participants

QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Has no control over the subjects and they are randomly chosen

PRE-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Has little control

NON-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Involves survey studies and self reports

DESCRIPTIVE

Gather information to define a population a situation or phenomenon through observation

CORRELATIONAL

Explores and measures the relationship between 2 things

EX POST FACTO

investigates cause and effect relationships

research title

 The first thing a reader sees; it names the research and gives a glimpse of its content. It should summarize the main idea, include major variables, the researcher's main task, and mention participants and setting. It should be 10 to 15 words and avoid jargon

RESEARCH PROBLEMS

 Found in areas with discomfort, a gap between theory and practice, daily experiences, procedures needing better equipment, a trend, untested solutions, or unexplained phenomena.

EXTERNAL CRITERIA

outside factors affecting the research such as numbers of studies and researches available

INTERNAL CRITERIA

Inside factors affecting the research such as motivation and hard work, personally someone’s inner qualities

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Contains a clear problem statement and questions to be answered, with two parts: the general problem and the investigative problems

GENERAL PROBLEM

A long-term objective derived from the research problem and title.

INVESTIGATIVE PROBLEMS

Specific questions in interrogative form that, when answered, solve the research problem.

NON-RESEARCHABLE QUESTIONS

Questions that can be answered with yes or no.

RESEARCHABLE QUESTIONS

Questions that requires significant gathering of data and answers wh questions.

FACTOR-ISOLATING

Isolating and categorizing factors

FACTOR-RELATING

Determining relationship factors

SITUATION-RELATING

hypothesis testing.

SITUATION-PRODUCING

Establishes goals and develops plans.

Background of the study

Explains why the study is being done or why did they pick that topic

TOPIC

Starts broad and uses a "narrative hook" (like statistical data, a clear need for research, or the study's purpose) to grab the reader's interest.

RESEARCH PROBLEM

 Narrows the broad topic down to a specific issue the researcher wants to investigate

EVIDENCE

 Uses reasons from other literature or personal experience to validate the problem's existence

DEFICIENCIES

Highlights weaknesses in related literature to show why the research is needed to fill a gap.

AUDIENCE

Reiterates the study's purpose and how it will benefit different readers.

EDUCATION

Research can be used to assess the effectiveness of the methods, programs, and the satisfaction of all stakeholders in the educational sector

BUSINESS

Research can improve the  overall marketing strategy, help make informed decisions, and solicit consumers’ opinions for productivity

MEDICAL AND ALLIED HEALTH SERVICES

Healthcare procedures, routines, and other systems must be based on the result of scientific investigation

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Collected information leads to a more responsible and accountable operation of different components of technology

Pretest-posttest controlled group design

Subjects are randomly assigned to groups

A pretest is given to both groups

The experimental group receives the treatment while the control group does not

A posttest is given to both groups

Posttest-only controlled group design

Subjects are randomly assigned to groups

The experimental group receives the treatment while the control group does not

A posttest is given to both groups

QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

A design in which either there is no control group or the subjects are not randomly assigned to groups

NON-EQUIVALENT CONTROLLED GROUP DESIGN

Subjects are not randomly assigned

A pretest is given to both groups

The experimental group receives the treatment while the control group does not

A posttest is given to both groups

TIME SERIES DESIGN

Subjects are not assigned to any control group

The subjects are observe periodically (pretest and posttest)

PRE-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

A design that is very weak because the researcher has little control over the research

ONE-SHOT CASE STUDY

A single group is exposed to an experimental treatment and observed after the treatment

ONE-GROUP PRETEST-POSTTEST DESIGN

It provides a comparative description of a group of subjects before and after the experimental treatment

NOVELTY

the topic must not have been used by many researchers