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RESEARCH
COVERAGE
Terms of Reference
Research
Research Problem Framework Implementation Reporting
Identification and Design
Data Collection
& Analysis
Developing &
Evaluating
Alternatives
Developing
Recommendations
PROBLEM ANALYSIS IN APPLIED RESEARCH
Problem Identification
• Source of problem is very specific: business org., gov’t
agency, NGO, sectoral association, industry sector, etc.
• Problem is usually spelled out in the TOR
• Problem: deviation/gap between what exists & what is
desired
• 2 impt. elements must be gathered: (1) existing situation &
(2) desired situation
PROBLEM ANALYSIS IN APPLIED RESEARCH
Problem Description
- Should state the location, i.e., where the deviation occurred
- Should also depict the extent and magnitude, i.e., how large
the deviation is
- Both the time of occurrence (when deviation occurred) &
persons involved (who caused deviation) should be shown
PROBLEM ANALYSIS IN APPLIED RESEARCH
Problem Appraisal
- Should be based on 4 criteria:
1. Seriousness
2. Feasibility
3. Trend or pattern
4. Urgency
PROBLEM ANALYSIS IN APPLIED RESEARCH
• Framework:
• Underlying set of ideas, principles, agreement or rules
that provide the basis or outline for something more fully
developed at a later stage
• Coherent system that facilitates consistent development,
interpretation, & application of concepts, methodologies
& techniques useful to a discipline/profession
• Provides a structural blueprint of how a body of
knowledge & guidance fits together
RESEARCH FRAMEWORK
• Conceptual Framework:
• stems from theoretical framework & concentrates usu. on
1 section/component of said theoretical framework
• Describes aspects researcher selected from theoretical
framework to become basis of the study
• Grows out of the theoretical framework & relates to
specific research problem
RESEARCH FRAMEWORK
• Operational Framework:
• Shows what will be performed in the research
• A product of the researcher’s own thinking
• Usually shown together with a diagram
• Elements commonly presented in the framework may either be:
1. Variables of the study (e.g., independent & dependent variables)
2. Areas covered in the study
3. Phases or major stages to be undertaken
- See sample operational frameworks
- WE WILL USE THE OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK IN THIS COURSE
RESEARCH DESIGN
Purpose of Research
• Answers the question “why” research is to be
conducted
• As discussed in “Research: Basic Concepts”,
research can have any or combination of ff.
purposes:
• Description
• Explanation
• Exploration
RESEARCH DESIGN
Unit of Analysis
- Answers the question “who”
- Specifies source of data or units of observation
- Can be one or combination of ff.:
1. Individuals
2. Groups
3. Organizations
4. Social artifacts
Social artifacts: products of social beings or their behavior; e.g.,
social objects such as factory bldgs., records of accts.,
paintings, etc., or social interactions such as conferences,
product launchings, weddings, etc.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Point of Focus
- Answers the question “what”
- Can be:
• Characteristics (sex, gender, habits, etc.)
• Orientations (attitudes, beliefs, traits, philosophies, etc.)
• Actions (e.g., voting, buying, holding strikes, etc.)
RESEARCH DESIGN
Time Dimension
- Answers the question “when” to do the research
- Examples:
- Cross-sectional study: conducted at a given time
- Longitudinal study: conducted over an extended period of
time
RESEARCH DESIGN
• Experimental design
• Researcher looks for a relationship
• Researcher changes 1 variable & measures resulting behavior thru
measurement of another variable
• Survey
• Researcher interested in accurate assessment of characteristics of
whole population
• Study done on samples from population
• Best design in collecting original data for describing population too
large to directly observe
• May be used for descriptive, explanatory & exploratory purposes
RESEARCH DESIGN
• Case Study
• An in-depth inquiry of a particular situation
• Used to narrow down a very broad field of research into 1 easily
researchable topic
• Best to synergize a case study w/ a survey
• Characterized by its flexiblity: might introduce new & unexpected
results, lead to new research directions
• Advantage: can focus on specific, interesting stories
RESEARCH DESIGN
• Relational Design
• Entails measurement of range of variables to find out their
relationships
• a.k.a. correlational design
• Comparative Design
• Assesses characteristics of 2 subjects of study
• Determines their similarity & dissimilarity
• Longitudinal Design
• Involves repeated observations of same variables over long periods of
time
RESEARCH DESIGN
• Analytical Research
• Uses mathematical tools to predict, explain, or give substance to a
theory
• Archival Research
• Uses objective data collected from repositories such as census,
surveys, statistical records, archives & other written records
• Study of existing data
RESEARCH DESIGN
Sources Researcher’s own study conducted Worldwide web, books, journals, official
through various techniques statistics, reports, articles, databases, etc.
Developing Recommendations
• Best course of action is recommended: detailed explanation of why it
was selected is provided
• Final recommendation must flow logically from rest of research data
& must specify assumptions used
• Good research recommendation:
• Practical, implementable
• Written persuasively, clearly, logically & coherently
• Uses sound data & clearly-stated options
• Feasible
COMMUNICATING THE RESULTS