Nature of Inquiry & Research – Detailed Study Notes

Lecture presented by Marisol P. Bagonoc.
Central theme: Distinguishing inquiry from research and mapping them onto quantitative/qualitative paradigms.

Describe the characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, and kinds of quantitative research.
Illustrate the importance of quantitative research across multiple fields.
Differentiate kinds of variables and outline their uses (variables explicitly promised but not detailed further in the slides—students should anticipate discussion on independent, dependent, moderating, mediating, and control variables).

Inquiry
- Asks probing questions to examine phenomena.
- Seeks to elicit views, opinions, and beliefs.
- Often exploratory and informal.
Research
- Employs scientific procedures to discover truth and meaning.
- Systematic, replicable, and evidence-based.

Scenario	Label in Slide	Rationale
1️⃣ Wants to know the occupant of a condominium	Inquiry	Simple information search; no formal methodology required.
2️⃣ Student investigates medicinal effects of guava leaves	Research	Requires controlled experimentation or literature review.
3️⃣ Mr. Cruz fixes an electric fan instantly	Inquiry	Practical troubleshooting; limited scope.
4️⃣ Prof. Gomez on social networking’s impact on learning	Research	Needs systematic data collection, variables, statistical tests.
5️⃣ Aling Rosa probes daily sales decrease	Inquiry	Preliminary question-asking before formal market study.
6️⃣ Businessman compares free-tasting vs attractive packaging	Research	Comparative, likely quasi-experimental design.

Identify a problem in any of the following arenas:
- Business industries (any nature)
- Products or services
- Economy
- Marketing activities
Provide a rationale for why the problem merits study.
- Pre-writing step toward crafting a research title and questions (see Assignment slide).

Focuses on specific phenomena through statistics and numerical data.
Rooted in the hard sciences: \text{physics},\;\text{chemistry},\;\text{biology},\;\text{medicine}.
Goals:
- Measure, test hypotheses, establish cause-effect relationships.
- Generalise findings to a larger population.

Scientific / Positive Approach (Quantitative)
- Controls variables; uses structured instruments (interviews, questionnaires, observation checklists).
Naturalistic Approach (Qualitative)
- Prioritises words, narratives, context; examines how people behave.
Triangulation Approach
- Combines multiple methods (quant + qual) to strengthen validity and reliability.

General principle: Manipulate an independent variable (IV) and observe its effect on a dependent variable (DV) while controlling extraneous factors.
Two key groups:
- Experimental group – receives the treatment/intervention.
- Control group – receives no treatment or standard/placebo condition.
Sub-types:
- True Experimental
- Random selection and assignment \rightarrow highest internal validity.
- Example: Testing the impact of a fertilizer on plant growth.
- Quasi-Experimental
- Lacks randomisation; often uses intact groups or natural experiments.
- Example: Comparing GDP growth & unemployment before vs after a policy change.

Sub-Type	Core Purpose	Typical Tools
Survey	Gauge what a large number of people think/feel about sociological issues.	Questionnaires, online polls
Historical	Examine past causes, effects, or trends that shed light on current practices.	Archival documents, chronologies
Observational	Observe participants/phenomena in their natural settings.	Field notes, case studies
Descriptive	Provide detailed depiction of persons, events, groups, or situations.	Cross-sectional or longitudinal designs
Correlational	Determine relationships (positive, negative, none) between two variables.	Pearson r, Spearman \rho
Comparative	Identify similarities or differences between groups or objects.	t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square

Nature of Reality Studied
- Quantitative: Exists in the physical world; often independent of observer.
- Qualitative: Constructed through social interactions; subjective.
Cause-Effect Emphasis
- Quantitative: Searches for objective, measurable cause-effect links.
- Qualitative: Explains phenomena via participants’ subjective desires and context.
Researcher’s Involvement
- Quantitative: Objective, minimal involvement.
- Qualitative: Subjective, sometimes personally engaged.
Data Expression & Analysis
- Quantitative: Numerals, statistics; mathematically-based analysis.
- Qualitative: Words, visuals, objects; thematic coding.
Research Plan & Control of Conditions
- Quantitative: Pre-planned; manipulation/control of variables.
- Qualitative: Evolves as study proceeds; seeks natural settings.
Sampling Techniques
- Quantitative: Prefers random sampling for representativeness.
- Qualitative: Often purposive, criterion-based, or snowball sampling.
Purpose & Reporting Style
- Quantitative: Tests hypotheses, evaluates objective facts; reports in impersonal, systematic style.
- Qualitative: Seeks to understand social intentions; reporting is personal, narrative, and less formal.

Attaches accurate meanings to objects or subjects via measurement.
Enables people to study surroundings objectively, minimising bias.
Helps obtain precise information about personality traits or other latent variables of group members.
Broader applications:
- Policy formulation (economics, public health).
- Product efficacy (pharmaceuticals, consumer goods).
- Educational assessment (standardised testing, learning analytics).
- Marketing optimisation (A/B testing, demand forecasting).

Task: From the problem identified in Activity 1, formulate
1. A research title.
2. Quantitative research questions.
Format: Prepare in MS Word (.doc/.docx), submit a printed copy.
Tip: Align research questions with chosen design (e.g., correlational \rightarrow relationship questions; experimental \rightarrow cause-effect questions).

Concludes the discussion on the Nature of Inquiry & Research with an emphasis on quantitative paradigms and their practical relevance.
Encourages application of concepts through the assigned task.