Steps in Planning and Conducting Research Notes

Research Topic and Objectives

  • Criteria for Choosing a Good Research Topic:

    • Ensure the topic meets all specific assignment requirements. If there is uncertainty, feedback should be sought from a professor.

    • Select a topic that is personally interesting. Choosing an engaging subject makes the research process more enjoyable and keeps the researcher motivated.

    • Carefully consider the scope of the topic to ensure it is manageable within the given constraints.

  • The SMART Framework for Formulating Topics and Objectives:

    • Specific: Refers to identifying the "Who" and the "What" of the study.

    • Measurable: Refers to determining "By how much" progress or results will be quantified.

    • Achievable: Refers to the "How"—the practical means by which the objective will be met.

    • Relevant: Refers to the "Why"—the underlying importance or justification for the research.

    • Time-bound: Refers to "When" the objectives will be completed or the timeframe for the study.

  • Definitions of Research Objectives:

    • They summarize exactly what is to be achieved by the study.

    • They involve obtaining specific answers to research questions or testing research hypotheses.

    • They represent the accomplishments that the researcher hopes to achieve upon completion of the study.

  • Hierarchy of Objectives:

    • Program Objectives: These are goals established by an organization that allow a group to measure its overall progress.

    • General Objectives: This is a much broader statement regarding the overall goal the study aims to achieve.

    • Specific Objectives: These are detailed objectives describing what will be researched during the study. They identify specific results the study aims to achieve within a defined timeframe and using available resources.

  • Case Study Example: Rabies in Tarlac

    • Title: Factors Influencing Prevention and Control of Rabies in Tarlac.

    • Program Objective: To craft Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) material on the prevention and control of rabies in the communities.

    • General Objective: To determine the factors influencing the prevention and control of rabies in Tarlac.

    • Specific Objectives:

      1. To determine the number of cases of rabies and the number of vaccinated dogs in Tarlac.

      2. To determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) of the communities toward preventing and controlling rabies.

      3. To determine the relationship of the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the communities to rabies cases and vaccination rates among animals (specifically dogs and cats) in Tarlac.

Defining the Research Variables

  • Research Variables: These are defined as anything that can effect or change the results of a study.

  • Independent Variables (xx):

    • The variation of this variable does not depend on that of another.

    • It is often referred to as the manipulated variable.

    • It is the variable whose change is not affected by any other variable within the experiment.

  • Dependent Variables (yy):

    • It is often referred to as the responding variable.

    • This is the factor being studied and measured in the experiment.

    • It changes as a direct result of the changes made to the independent variable.

Research Design

  • Definition: Research design is a framework of methods and techniques chosen by a researcher to combine various components of research in a reasonably logical manner. This ensures that the research problem is handled efficiently.

  • Essential Elements of Research Design:

    1. Accurate purpose statement of the research design.

    2. Techniques to be implemented for collecting research details.

    3. Methods applied for analyzing collected details.

    4. The type of research methodology being used.

    5. Probable objections to the research.

    6. Settings for the research study.

    7. Timeline of the research.

    8. Measurement of analysis.

  • Characteristics of Research Design:

    • Neutrality: Results projected in the design must be neutral and free from any bias.

    • Reliability: If research is conducted on a regular basis, the internal design should allow the researcher to calculate similar results every time.

    • Validity: Valid measuring tools are those that help a researcher gauge results specifically according to the objective of the research and nothing else.

    • Generalization: The outcome of the research design should be applicable to an entire population rather than being restricted to a small sample.

  • Types of Research Design:

    • Quantitative Research Design: Established on the basis of mathematical calculations. Theories regarding naturally existing phenomena can be proven or disproven using math. It is implemented when statistical conclusions are necessary to collect actionable insights, as numbers provide a better perspective for business decisions.

    • Qualitative Research Design: Researchers rely on this to conclude "why" a particular theory exists and to capture what respondents have to say about it.

    • Descriptive Research Design: The researcher is solely interested in describing the case or situation under study. It is a theory-based design created by gathering, analyzing, and presenting data to provide insights into the "why" and "how" of the research.

    • Experimental Research Design: Used to establish a relationship between the cause and effect of a situation. It is a causal design where the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable is observed.

    • Correlational Research Design: A non-experimental technique that helps researchers establish a relationship between two closely connected variables. This requires two different groups. There is no assumption when evaluating the relationship, and statistical analysis is used to calculate the correlation.

      • The correlation between two variables is concluded using a correlation coefficient.

      • The value of the coefficient ranges between −1-1 and +1+1.

      • A coefficient moving toward +1+1 indicates a positive relationship.

      • A coefficient moving toward −1-1 indicates a negative relationship.

    • Diagnostic Research Design: The researcher is inclined toward evaluating the root cause of a specific topic. It evaluates elements contributing to a troublesome situation. The three parts are:

      1. Inception of the issue.

      2. Diagnosis of the issue.

      3. Solution for the issue.

    • Explanatory Research Design: Primary dependence is placed on the researcher's personal inclination and thoughts regarding a topic. It provides explanations for unexplored aspects of a subject and details the what, how, and why related to research questions.

Validation of Results: Internal and External Validity

  • Internal and external validity are concepts used to determine if study results are trustworthy and meaningful.

  • Internal Validity:

    • Relates to the structure and conduct of the study.

    • Refers to the extent to which a study establishes a trustworthy cause-and-effect relationship between a treatment and an outcome.

    • It is not a binary "yes or no" concept; it is a measure of confidence in findings based on whether the study avoided traps that make findings questionable.

    • Confounding: A situation in which other factors confuse the outcome of a study. Less confounding leads to higher internal validity.

    • Factors that Improve Internal Validity:

      • Randomization: Randomly assigning participants to treatment and control groups to ensure no systematic bias exists.

      • Random Selection: Choosing participants randomly so they are representative of the population being studied.

      • Blinding: Ensuring participants (and sometimes researchers) are unaware of which intervention they are receiving.

      • Experimental Manipulation: Actively manipulating an independent variable rather than just observing associations without intervention.

      • Study Protocol: Following strict specific procedures for the administration of treatment to avoid introducing unintended effects.

  • External Validity:

    • Relates to how applicable the findings are to the real world.

    • Refers to how well the outcome of a study can be expected to apply to other settings.

    • Factors that Improve External Validity:

      • Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Used to clearly define the population being studied.

      • Psychological Realism: Ensuring participants experience study events as real events, often achieved by using a "cover story" regarding the aim of the study.

      • Replication: Conducting the study again with different settings or samples to see if results remain consistent.

      • Field Experiments: Conducting the study in a natural setting outside of a laboratory.

      • Reprocessing or Calibration: Utilizing statistical methods to adjust for issues related to external validity.

Steps in Conducting Research

  • Step 1: Identify the Problem: The initial stage of defining what needs to be investigated.

  • Step 2: Review the Literature: Examining existing research to understand what is already known.

  • Step 3: Clarify the Problem: Refining the scope and focus of the research question.

  • Step 4: Clearly Define Terms and Concepts: Ensuring all variables and ideas are operationally defined.

  • Step 5: Define the Population: Identifying the specific group that the research will focus on.

  • Step 6: Develop the Instrumentation Plan: Deciding on the tools and methods for measurement.

  • Step 7: Collect Data: Gathering the necessary information according to the plan.

  • Step 8: Analyze the Data: Processing and interpreting the collected information to reach conclusions.