Module 1 Nature of Inquiry and Research
Module 1 Nature of Inquiry and Research
1. What is Inquiry?
INQUIRY is an act of asking questions. It is a process that has the aim of augmenting
knowledge, resolving doubt or solving problem. In Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it is
synonymous with the word “investigation”.
3. What is Research?
Purposes of Research
- Research gives us a light or direction to inquire about the right information. - Research
develops our attitudes to not believe automatically without further investigation of the real
situation. - Research sharpens our mind to give a judicious vision to look.
- Research leads us to the ultimate philosophy of Life and it builds a graphic vision to
improve the community where we live.
- Research empowers us with knowledge and efficient learning of new things.
- Research helps us in understanding various issues of life and in giving solutions to our
problems.
- Research allows us to mark out the thin line between truths (fact) and lie (fallacy).
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 (QUALITATIVE RESEARCH)
- Research opens vistas news (new-age digital media platforms) of opportunity before we
pick and choose.
- Research makes good habits of reading, analyzing, thinking and learning.
- Research is a tool for building knowledge and for facilitating learning.
- Research is a means to understand various issues and to increase public awareness. -
Research is an aid to business awareness. - Research is a way to prove lies and support truths.
- Research is a means to find, gauge, and seize opportunities.
- Research is a seed of sharing valuable information.
- Research is the heart and soul of good writing.
Note:
All of the essay questions throughout the semester should be answered in paragraph forms. This
will let you to prepare for your Research Paper. Writing a Research Paper is done in
comprehensive paragraph forms with proper citation and referencing.
4. Characteristics of Research
The Seven Steps of the Research Process
Step 1. Define and develop your topic (Research Problem).
Step 2. Find background information about your chosen topic (Review of Related Literature).
Step 3. Plan your research design including your sample (Methodology).
Step 4. Gather necessary data using open-ended questions (for qualitative research) and closed-
ended questionnaire or paper pencil test questionnaire (for quantitative research) (Data Gathering
Activities).
Step 5. Process and analyze data using thematic analysis (for qualitative research) and statistical
tools (for quantitative research).
Step 6. Formulate new insights gained (for qualitative research), conclusions (for quantitative
research) and recommendations.
Step 7. Define new problem.
5. Research Ethics
Research ethics provides guidelines for the responsible conduct of research. In addition, it
educates and monitors researchers to ensure a high ethical standard. It promotes the aim of
research, such as expanding knowledge. It supports the values required for collaborative work,
such as mutual respect and fairness.
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 (QUALITATIVE RESEARCH)
INFORMED CONSENT: In order to safeguard the rights of the participants in your study,
secure informed consent. Inform your participants about the criteria set for choosing them as
informants and the schedule of one-on-one interview at the convenient time they are available.
Participation to the study will be completely voluntary.
HONESTY. Honestly report data, results, methods and procedures, and publication status. Do
not fabricate, falsify and misrepresent the data. OBJECTIVITY. Strive to avoid bias in
experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer review, personnel decisions, grant
writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of research.
INTEGRITY. Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for consistency of
thought and action.
CAREFULNESS. Avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your
work and the work of peers. Keep good records of research activities.
OPENNESS. Share data, results, ideas, tools and resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.
RESPECT FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Honor patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade
secrets and other forms of intellectual property. Do not use published or unpublished data,
methods, or results without permission. Give credit where credit is due.
Types Patents
There are three common types of PATENTS: utility patents, design patents and plant patents.
Utility patents protect the utility or function of a product. Design patents protect the aesthetic
appearance of the product. Plant patents protect the discovery or invention of plants that are
asexually reproduced.
COPYRIGHT is an exclusive legal right given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish,
perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the
same.
Copyrightable works include the following categories:
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 (QUALITATIVE RESEARCH)
(1) Literary works, (2) musical works, (3) dramatic works, (4) choreographic works, (5) pictorial,
graphic and sculptural (PGS) works, (6) audio-visual works, (7) sound recordings and (8)
architectural works.
TRADEMARK is a recognizable name, insignia, phrase, word, or symbol that denotes a specific
product and legally differentiates it from all other products of its kind.
Types of Trademarks
Types of trademarks for products include five main categories:
(1) Generic trademark, (2) descriptive trademark, (3) suggestive trademark, (4) fanciful
trademark, and (5) arbitrary trademark.
Generic trademarks include phrases/taglines like “We find ways” of BDO, “Making things
possible” of Globe, “Bida and Saya” of Jollibee, and “Astig Tayo Dito” of TM. They are the
weakest forms of trademarks.
Descriptive Trademarks immediately identify the characteristics of the products or services to
which the marks pertain. Marks that are merely descriptive are not protected or accorded
trademark rights.
Examples of Descriptive Trademarks/Marks Descriptive trademarks include
“McDonald’s”, “Wendy’s”, and “Ayala Malls”.
Descriptive marks include “Tubeless” for computer monitor, “Holiday Inn” for hotels and “Cold
and Creamy” for ice cream.
Suggestive Trademarks are usually suggestions of the quality or nature of the products or
services, but don’t straightforwardly describe themselves because they require the consumers to
use their imagination or perception to understand what the product is.
Examples of Suggestive Trademarks:
Fanciful Trademarks
Fanciful trademarks are terms, names or logos that are different from anything else that exists.
They are the strongest type of trademarks. They include Kodak, Adidas, Merrell, Caltex, Pepsi,
Petron, etc. These words are not found in the dictionary and had no meaning before they were
adopted and used as trademarks.
Arbitrary Trademarks
Arbitrary trademarks might include a term or phrase with a well-known meaning, but the
meaning in its case is different. The best example an arbitrary trademark is Apple. Other
examples are Shell Gas Station and Camel cigarettes.
TRADE SECRET is type of intellectual property in the form of a formula, practice, process,
design, instrument, pattern, commercial method, or compilation of information that is not
generally known or reasonably ascertainable by others, and by which a person or company can
obtain an economic advantage over competitors.
Copyright Infringement is the use or production of copyright-protected material without
permission of the copyright holder. Copyright infringement means that the rights accorded to the
copyright holder, such as the exclusive use of a work for a set period of time, are breached by a
third party.
Examples of Copyright Infringement
1. Downloading movies and music without proper payment for use
2. Recording movies in a theater
3. Using others’ photographs for a blog without permission
4. Copying software code without giving proper credit
5. Creating videos with unlicensed music clips
3. Sports Research is designed to help athletes reach and sustain their ideal body and wellness
goals through proven high quality products. It is conducted to explain the underlying
mechanisms how athletes maintain their good physical appearance and healthy lifestyle. It gives
the coaches and athletes a way to gain solid information and apply it to sports performance. It
helps the coaches form beliefs to develop programs and coaching techniques.
The examples of sports research are:
a. “Participation of Students in Athletics and their Academic Performance”
b. “The Role and Experiences of the Sports Team Captains”
c. “The Impact of Sports Activities on the Self-Efficacy of Students”
d. “The Untold Stories of Sports Enthusiasts”.
4. Science Research is designed to discover laws, postulates theories that can explain natural or
social phenomena. In other words, Science research builds scientific knowledge. Science
Research is performed by applying systematic and constructed scientific method to obtain,
analyze and interpret data. A strong and testable hypothesis is the fundamental part of the
scientific research.