Developing a

Research Paper
BONIFACIO G. GABALES JR., Ph.D.
Bonifacio G. Gabales, Jr., Ph.D.
Seminar Objectives:
Gain knowledge and understanding on how
to develop research paper, analyze, and
interpret data.
Identify a researchable problem in the context
of Cooperatives
Develop a conceptual framework
Design appropriate research methodology.
Identify appropriate research instrument
Analyze and interpret statistical data
Activity Outline
Session 1
The Research Process
Problem Identification
Session 2
Developing a Conceptual Framework
Formulating Research Questions
Workshop 1
Session 3
Research Method
Intro to Program Evaluation
Choosing research participants
Workshop 2
Session 4
Research Instrument
Research Procedure
Data analysis and interpretation
Workshop 3
Presentation of the Research Proposal
Outline
WRITING THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
I. Introduction
Background and Rationale of
the Study
Objectives of the Study
Theoretical and Conceptual
Framework
Statement of the Problem
Research Hypothesis
Operational Definition of
terms
Significance of the Study
Scope and Limitation of the
Study
II. Review of related Literature
III. Methodology
Research Design
Target Population and sampling
Procedure
Data Collection
Data Analysis
References
Appendices
Instruments/Materials
Schedule of Activities
Relevant Communication
Budgetary requirements
Fig. 1 The research process
WHAT ACTION RESEARCH IS AND IS NOT
Action research is a form of enquiry that
enables practitioners everywhere to
investigate and evaluate their work. They
ask,
What am I doing?
What do I need to improve?
How do I improve it?
It is done by practitioners themselves
rather than a professional researcher
What makes it distinctive?
Action researchers, are insider researchers. They
see themselves as part of the situation they are
investigating, and ask, individually and collectively,
Is my/our work going as we wish?
How do we improve it where necessary?
Social scientists tend to stand outside a situation and
ask,
What are those people over there doing?
How do we understand and explain what they are doing?
Social Scientist is often called spectator researchers,
and is usually outsider research.
Social Science vs Action Research
What is the relationship
between teacher motivation
and teacher retention?
Does management style
influence worker
productivity?
Will a different seating
arrangement increase
audience participation?
How do I influence the
quality of teachers
experience in school, so that
they decide to stay?
How do I improve my
management style to
encourage productivity?
How do I encourage greater
audience participation
through trying out different
seating arrangements?
Research Types:
Descriptive Studies summarize the
characteristics of individuals or groups, or
physical environments.
Associational Research want to know how
(or if), for example, differences in achievement
are related to such things as teacher behavior,
student diet, student interests, or parental
attitude.
Intervention Studies when a
particular method or treatment is
expected to influence one or more
outcomes.
Part I
Identification and Definition of a
Research Problem
Statement of
research
Problem /
Objectives
Theoretical/
Conceptual
Framework
Formulation
Operational
Definition of
Variables
Identifying a research problem:
Anything which gives a person a
feeling of discomfort
Perceived discrepancy between
what is and what should be
There are two or more reasons
for the discrepancy
Can be initially stated in a form
of question
Situation: (What is)
What should be? (What should be). (Discrepancy).
Research Questions:
Possible Answer:
Defining the research problem:
Does the problem really exist?
What are the evidences of the problems
existence?
Is the problem serious? Who and how many are
affected by it?
What places are effected? How widespread is it?
How often does the problem occur?
Research Problem must be relevant
Will the answer to the research question help advance
knowledge?
Can answers to the research question help in improving
practices/behavior/performance?
Will answers to the research problem improve human
conditions?
The Effect of Computer-assisted instruction on the
students achievement in Mathematics
Research Problem must be feasible
Resources like time, money and personnel are available
Impact evaluation of DORP in Davao City
Research Problem must be Clear
Ex 1. Womens perception about sexual harassment
Ex 2. Attitude towards sexual harassment of female non-
teaching staff in X university
Research Problem must be ethical
Should not pose any danger, embarrassment, hurt or any
risk to anyone.
The effect of punishment on the self-esteem and
academic performance of adolescents
Students perception on the effect of physical punishment
on the self-esteem and school performance
Review existing literature and studies
Helps identify and define a research problem
Helps justify the need for studying a problem
Helps prevent unnecessary duplication of a study
Can be a source of theoretical basis
Helps in conceptualizing a problem
Provides basis for identifying research design
Provides lesson for data analysis
Workshop 1 Problem Identification and definition
Identify and define your own research problem by answering the following items.
1. My research problem is _____
2. The conditions which give rise to my research question are (present evidences from
service statistics or related literature that will confirm the existence, seriousness,
and distribution of the problem. ____
3. The ideal situation would have been: (Standard, rule, expected, mandated,
recommended) ____
4. The possible reasons for the discrepancy between 2 and 3. _____
5. The following intervention have been done to solve the problem, and the outcomes
were: (if none, say no.) ___
6. The following facts/findings have been reported in related studies about the problem.
(prepare a summary of findings of at least 3 recent related studies.) _____
7. The following questions about the problem, however, still remain unanswered: ____
Session 2
Writing the Research Objective
Research objectives are statements of what the research
intends to do.
Who or what will be studied
Who will do it
When it will be done (optional)
Or where it will be done
to determine, to find out, to describe, to compare,
to test
A Study on the extent of participation of
cooperatives in government initiated programs in
region XI
General Objective: A survey will be conducted to
determine the extent of participation of cooperatives in
Government initiated programs in region XI for year
2012.
What will be done? A survey will be conducted
For what purpose? To determine the extent of
participation of cooperatives
Who will be studied? cooperatives
Where? Region XI
When? Year 2012
Specific Objectives:
Specific variables examined in the study are identified in
the specific objectives
The variables are expressed in measurable terms
Suggests the type of analysis to be done
describe, correlate, compare
Relationship Between TV Viewing and Academic
Performance of Grade Six Pupils in Private and Public
Elementary School in Davao City
General Objective: The study will be conducted to determine
the existence and degree of relationship between TV viewing
and Academic performance of Grade Six Pupils in Private and
Public elementary school in Davao City?
Specific Objectives: Specifically, the study aims to:
1. determine whether there is a significant relationship between
the pupils frequency of viewing TV and their general average in all
subject in grade six.
2. determine whether there is a significant relationship between
the amount of time spent by the pupils in viewing TV and their
general average in all subjects in grade six.
Workshop 2
Write your research objectives (General and Specific)
Theoretical and Conceptual Framework
Theoretical Framework: presents a theory that explains why a
study exists (Mercado, 1994)
Theories are constructed in order to explain, predict and
master phenomena (e.g. relationships, events, or the behavior).
In many instances we are constructing models of reality.
A theory makes generalizations about observations and
consists of an interrelated, coherent set of ideas and models.
Explains the connections between certain factors and the
problem
Provides the general framework to guide in the analysis
Identifies the variables to be measured
Not all studies need a theoretical framework
How should the theoretical framework be
formulated?
1) specify the theory used as basis for the study
2) mention the proponents of the theory
3) cite the main points emphasized in the theory
4) Support the exposition of the theory by ideas from
other experts;
5) illustrate the theoretical framework by means of a
diagram; and,
6) reiterate the theoretical proposition in the study.
Conceptual Framework
Elaboration of the theoretical framework in concrete terms.
Anchored on the theoretical framework
Needs to be consistent with the theory
Specifies the variables and the expected flow of the
relationship
Explains in more detail the variables to be observed in the
study and the assumed connection between the independent
and dependent variables.
Summarized as the paradigm or schematic diagram
How should the conceptual framework be
formulated?
1. cite your conceptual framework or paradigm;
2. Identify your variables;
3. Point out the dependent and intervening variables;
4. Show the direction of the study.
INDEPENDENT
Input, explanatory,
predictor
DEPENDENT
Outcome, effect,
criterion
MODERATOR
Modifies the
relationship of the IV
and DV
MEDIATING
Specifies how
relationship occurs
between IV and DV
VARIABLES
Lets apply it to the conceptual Model!
Independent
Dependent
Awareness
Participation
Try it:
Independent
Dependent
Lets apply it to the conceptual Model!
Independent Dependent Mediator
Awareness Participation Efficacy
Try it:
Independent Dependent Mediator
Lets apply it to the conceptual Model!
Independent
Dependent
Coop Type
Awareness Participation
Sex
Try it!
Independent
Moderator
Dependent
Discussion for the Conceptual Model
Describe how the variables are
related
Operationally define the variables
Statement of the Problem
Define the main problem (Not the title)
Specify the sub problems of the main problem.
Include all possible components under the sub-
problems of the study.
It must be brief, clear, specific, and relevant.
Should coincide with the main problem and the
variables shown in the conceptual paradigm.
Workshop 3 Developing Conceptual
Framework and Problem Statements
RESEARCH METHOD
What if you want to evaluate an
Educational Program?
Do we really need to evaluate
educational programs?
Is program evaluation a kind of
research?
Why Bother? Because We Want
Programs to Improve
Continuous Quality
Improvement (CQI) cycle.
PlanningWhat actions will
best reach our goals and
objectives.
Performance
measurementHow are we
doing?
EvaluationWhy are we
doing well or poorly?
47
What do we
do?
Why are we
doing well
or poorly?
How are we
doing?
How do we do
it?
What can Program Evaluation do?
48
Increase Program Knowledge
Direct Program Improvement
Maximize Resources
Provide Accountability
Evaluation Forms and Approaches
49
Program
Proactive
Evaluation
Clarificative
Evaluation
Interactive
Evaluation
Monitoring
Evaluation
Impact
Evaluation
Owen, 2006
50
Program
Proactive
Evaluation
Clarificative
Evaluation
Interactive
Evaluation
Monitoring
Evaluation
Impact
Evaluation
Owen, 2006
Before the Program is
Designed
51
Program
Proactive
Evaluation
Clarificative
Evaluation
Interactive
Evaluation
Monitoring
Evaluation
Impact
Evaluation
Owen, 2006
Early After
Implementation
52
Program
Proactive
Evaluation
Clarificative
Evaluation
Interactive
Evaluation
Monitoring
Evaluation
Impact
Evaluation
Owen, 2006
After The Program
Design has been
Clarified/ Finalized
53
Program
Proactive
Evaluation
Clarificative
Evaluation
Interactive
Evaluation
Monitoring
Evaluation
Impact
Evaluation
Owen, 2006
Conducted to determine
the performance of each
unit of the program
Dennis A. Alonzo 54
Program
Proactive
Evaluation
Clarificative
Evaluation
Interactive
Evaluation
Monitoring
Evaluation
Impact
Evaluation
Owen, 2006
May be conducted during the
early implementation but
mostly done after program
phase out
The CIPP Framework
Context
assesses needs,
assets, and
problems within a
defined
environment
Input
assesses competing
strategies;
and the work plans
and budgets of the
selected approach
Process
monitor, document,
and assess program
activities.
Product
Impact evaluation assesses
a program's reach to the
target audience.
Effectiveness evaluation
assesses the quality and
significance of outcomes.
Sustainability evaluation
assesses the extent to
which a program's
contributions are
successfully
institutionalized and
continued over time
Transportability evaluation
assesses the extent to
which a program has (or
could be) successfully
adapted and applied
elsewhere.
Kirkpatrick Model
Level I: Evaluate Reaction
Level II: Evaluate Learning
Level III: Evaluate Behavior
Level IV: Evaluate Results
Fifth level was recently added for return on
investment (ROI) but this was not in Kirkpatricks
original model
Relationship Between Levels
Each subsequent level is
predicated upon doing
evaluation at lower level
A Level 3 will be of marginal
use, if a Level 2 evaluation is
not conducted
Level 1 - Reaction
Was the environment suitable for learning?
Level 2 - Knowledge
Did they learn anything
Level 3 - Behavior
KSA being used on the job?
Level 4 - Results
Was it worth it?
Improve
Learning Environment
Improve
Knowledge/Skill transfer
Check
Performance Environment
Check Requirements,
Systems and Processes
Only by assessing each level can we yield
actionable results
Level 1 - Reaction
Was the environment suitable for learning?
Level 2 - Knowledge
Did they learn anything
Level 3 - Behavior
KSA being used on the job?
Level 4 - Results
Was it worth it?
Types of Assessments Used at Each
Level
Type Form
Summative
Correlation of business results
with other assessment results
Summative
Observation of Performance
360 Survey
Diagnostic
Summative
Self-assessment
Test
Reaction
Formative
Survey
Real-time Polling
Quizzing
Level 1 - Reaction
Was the environment suitable for learning?
Level 2 - Knowledge
Did they learn anything
Level 3 - Behavior
KSA being used on the job?
Level 4 - Results
Was it worth it?
Goal Free Evaluation
Created by Michael Scriven (1972)
The evaluation occurs without the external evaluator knowing the
goals of the program
This is done so that:
The study topic is not automatically narrowed
Removes negativity to unanticipated discoveries
Eliminate bias created by knowing the goals
Evaluator remains independent
Considered a radical departure when first introduced
Looks at actual effects
Can be done in parallel with goals-based evaluation
Patton (2002), Scriven (1972)
What is a logic model?
A systematic and visual way to present and share your understanding of the
relationships among:
a. the resources you have to operate your program
b. the activities you plan
c. the changes or results you hope to achieve.
Logic Model
Logic Model Example