IT’S ALL ABOUT RESEARCH

Biology 199 Lecture 1Marilen M. Parungao

(Assistant Professor and Microbiologist)

The usual definition...

“going to the library”

“google-ing some key words”

What’s your definition???

RESEARCH

the process of constant exploration and discovery

the process of discovering new information and gain new knowledge

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

systematic, controlled, empirical, critical investigation of hypothetical prepositions about the presumed relations among natural phenomena (Kerlinger, 1973)

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHa process through which we attempt to achieve SYSTEMATICALLY and with the support of data:

the answer to a question

the resolution of a problem

the greater understanding of a phenomenon

8 DISTINCT CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

1. Originates with a question or problem

What are he environmental factors that increase shrimp productivity?

What active compound in atis leaves extract is cytotoxic to cancer cells?

2. Requires a clear articulation of a goal

What precisely do you intend to do?

Example: to determine the difference in body weight loss after administration of various plant extracts

3. Follows a specific plan of procedure

carefully planned

methods in a purposeful way: to yield data relevant to their particular research problem

4. Usually divides the principal problem into more manageable subproblems

principal problem: How do we get from UP Manila to Trinoma?

subproblems:

What is the most direct route?

How far do I travel by train?

How much will I spend to reach my destination?

5. Guided by specific research problem, question or hypothesis

hypothesizing: attempting to account for the cause (*guesses)

6. Accepts certain critical assumptions

it is necessary to assume

7. Research requires the collection and interpretation of data in attempting to resolve the problem that initiated the research

8. It follows logical, developmental stages

From questions to answer

“research begets research”

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SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCHTo contemporary concerns of nationhood and development

introduce a new technology?

address current social, economic, political, or cultural problems

produce innovations in natural and human resource management

Within the scientific or artistic domain to which it belongs

contribute new information or additional knowledge to the discipline where it belongs

fill out data gaps?

Provide new point-of-view to previously studied phenomena

ULTIMATE AIM OF RESEARCH

To fill in the gaps along the stream of knowledge

To provide solution to contradictory results from previous studies

To satisfy one’s curiosity and quest for knowledge

To find truths for the satisfaction of answering questions and using this new information to help others

DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESEARCH

They differ in terms of:

purpose

special features

time frame

degree of control over factors

http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/siegle/research/TypesofResearch/types.gif

1. HISTORICALPurpose: investigate the nature of events that have occurred (trend analysis)

Special Feature: use of historical documents and interviews with primary and secondary sources

Q: Can you name a challenge for this type of research?

2. DESCRIPTIVEPurpose: gather information, describe the nature of a situation; to collect data to test Ho

It determines and reports the way things are

it can only measure what already exists

methods: questionnaire, survey instruments etc

3. CORRELATIONAL/ PREDICTIONAL

Purpose: to determine extent to which different variables are related to each other in the population of interest but does not imply the one that cause the other

does not identify “Cause and effect”

current or past: future prediction

Example: The relationship between creativity and mental ability among students

4. CAUSAL-COMPARATIVEPurpose: to study the association between two variables; to examine the cause and effect

also known as ex post facto research from “after the fact” wherein the researcher investigates a problem by studying the variables in retrospect (looking back)

dependent variable is immediately observable and now the main concern is to find out the antecedents that gave rise to this consequence

Example: 1.!The effect of smoking on hearing

5. EXPERIMENTALPurpose: the only method of research which can truly test !! ! ! hypothesis concerning cause-effect relationship.

the effect of a single variable applied to one situation can be assessed and the difference determined

Independent Variable : also referred to as the experimental variable, the cause, or the treatment, is that activity or characteristic believed to make a difference.

Dependent Variable : also known as the criterion variable, effect, or posttest is the outcome of the study, the change or difference in groups which occurs as a result of the manipulation of the independent variable.

Example: 1.!Effect of varying concentrations of Pb on the brain of golden apple snail

TWO GENERAL CATEGORIES OF RESEARCH

“BASIC (PURE) AND APPLIED”

PURE RESEARCHAims to discover basic truths or principles

Intends to add to the body of scientific knowledge by exploring the unknown and discovering new facts without any particular thought as to immediate practical utility (Shubin, 1971)

Examples:

Physiological Researches

Predator-prey and Competition Experiments in Ecology

Taxonomic and biodiversity studies

Quantum and plasma physics research

APPLIED RESEARCHInvolves seeking new applications of scientific knowledge to the solution of a problem (development of a new system or procedure, new device, or new method)

Examples:

Biotechnology Researches

classical breeding

genetic engineering!

cloning studies

Information technology