St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation, Inc.

| Year IV Thesis Policies and Guidelines 1

Introduction to Research
Research plays a vital role in the society. In this increasingly
interconnected world, we cannot deny and outdo the role of research in the
community most especially in the government, trade, industry, commerce and in
the field of education where students are the focus. From ordinary telephone to
your cellphone and to your Ipad and Iphones, these are just simple yet
fascinating results of thorough research and advance technology. It is imperative
therefore, that high school students like you should be taught how to conduct and
make your very own research. Hence, this research manual is presented to you.
This intends to guide the students make the study of the research
methods and techniques as well as thesis writing easier, practical,
understandable and comprehensive enough in the high school level. The
purpose of research is not only to solve problems but also to serve man and
make human life worthwhile and enjoyable. Hence, lets enjoy also studying
research as a course.
What is Research?
There are many definitions that we can use in trying to know what
research is. However, to provide a common frame of reference, Calderon and
Gonzales (1993) defined research;
as a purposive, systematic and scientific process of gathering, analyzing,
classifying, organizing, presenting, and interpreting data for the solution of a
problem, for prediction, for invention, for the discovery of truth, or for the
expansion or verification of existing knowledge, all for the preservation and
improvement of the quality of human life.
Why research is of value
How can students obtain the information they need? Many ways of
obtaining information, of course exists. One can consult experts, review books
and online articles, question and observe colleagues with relevant experience,
1
St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation, Inc. | Year IV Thesis Policies and Guidelines 2

examine ones past experience, or even rely in intuition. All these approaches
suggest possible ways to proceed, but the answers they provide are not always
trustworthy. Experts may be mistaken; source documents may contain no
insights of value; colleagues may have no experience in the matter; and ones
experience or intuition may be irrelevant or misunderstood.
This is why knowledge of scientific research methodology can be of value.
The scientific method provides us with another way of obtaining information
information that is accurate and reliable as we can get (Fraenkel & Wallen,
2007).
Purpose and Goal of Research
The purpose of research is to serve man, and the goal of research is the
good life (Good and Scates, p.9).
For more specific purposes and goals of research, the following may be
mentioned:
1. To discover new facts about known phenomena. (Alcohol is a known
phenomena and research may turn it into a kind of fuel equal in quality to
gasoline)
2. To find answers to problems which are only partially solved by existing
methods and information. (Cancer is a serious disease which is only
partially cured by present methods but due to intensive and continuous
research, the disease may be eradicated later on)
3. Improve existing techniques and develop new instruments or products.
(This goal envisages the invention of new gadgets and machines, food
products and others used by man)
4. To discover previously unrecognized substances or elements. (Previously
we had only 92 elements but due to research we now have more than
100)
5. Discover pathways of action of known substances and elements. (Due to
research we come to know the dangers from the abusive use of
unprescribed drugs and some poisonous substances)
St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation, Inc. | Year IV Thesis Policies and Guidelines 3

6. To order related, valid generalizations into systematized science.
Schlotfeldt. (Ibid.) (The result of this purpose of research is the science we
are now studying in school)
7. To provide basis for decision-making in business, industry, education,
government, and in other undertakings. One approach in decision-making
is the research approach. (Gore and Dyson, p.65)
8. To satisfy the researchers curiosity. (Sanchez, p. 3) (Edison was curious
about how a hen hatches her eggs and made a research on that and he
invented the incubator)
9. To find answers to queries by means of scientific methods. One important
question that may be asked which can be answered only by means of
research is: In what setting is life expectancy higher, in the city or in the
barrio?
10. To acquire a better and deeper understanding about one phenomenon
that can be known and understood better by research is why women are
generally smaller than men.
11. To expand or verify existing knowledge. This usually happens when
researches are replicated. Newly discovered facts may be found to
expand knowledge gained from a previous research or verified if the same
facts are found.
In relation to Purposes Nos. 2 and 3, the following may be added to list of
purposes:
12. To improve educational practices for raising the quality of school products.
Research surveys often result in the revision of curricula and instructional
innovations to maximize the effectiveness of the learning process.
13. To promote health and prolong life. This purpose is very obviously
demonstrated in pharmaceutical, nutritional, and medical research.
14. To provide man with more of his basic needs - more and better food,
clothing, shelter, etc. The work of the international Rice Research Institute
in Los Baos, Laguna is a good example of this purpose.
15. To make work, travel, and communication faster, easier, and more
comfortable. Due to research airplanes are made to fly faster, land
St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation, Inc. | Year IV Thesis Policies and Guidelines 4

vehicles to run faster, labor-saving machines have been invented and
improved, radio and television bring news immediately to the remote
areas, and more wonders of electricity are making life easier and better.
Kinds and Classification of Research
There are many kinds of research which are classified according to their
distinctive features. Some of the classifications are as follows:
1. According to purpose.
As cited by Treece & Treece (1977),Trow identifies three broadly
different kinds of research, namely: predictive, directive, and illuminative.
a. Predictive or prognostic research has the purpose of determining the
future operation of the variables under investigation with the aim of
controlling or redirecting such for the better. Predictive research
proposed to give the result from one specific educational practice or
pattern and seeks to establish a close statistical connection between
characteristics of students and a prediction of educational outcome.
b. Directive research determines what should be done based on the
findings. This is to remedy an unsatisfactory condition if there is any.
c. Illuminative research is concerned with the interaction of the
components of the variable being investigated, as for example,
interaction of the components of educational systems and aims to
show the connections among, for example, student characteristics,
organizational patterns and policies, and educational consequence.
2. According to goal.
According to goal, research may be classified as basic or pure
research and applied research.
a. Basic or pure research is done for the development of theories or
principles. It is conducted for the intellectual pleasure of learning.
Much of this kind or research has been done in psychology and
sociology (Manuel & Medel, 1976).
b. Applied research is the application of the results of pure research.
This is testing the efficacy of theories and principles. For instance, a
St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation, Inc. | Year IV Thesis Policies and Guidelines 5

principle says that incentive reinforces learning. To determine if this is
true, one conducts an experiment in which there are two classes. In
one class, he uses an incentive but in the other class there is no
incentive at all. All other things are kept equal. At the end of the
experimental period, he gives the same test to the two classes. If the
scores of the pupils in the class with incentive are significantly higher
than those in the class without incentive, then the principle is true.
3. According to the levels of investigations
French categorizes research according to the levels of investigation
into exploratory, descriptive and experimental research (Treece & Treece,
1977).
a. In exploratory research, the researcher studies the variables
pertinent to a specific situation.
b. In descriptive research, the researcher studies the relationships of
the variables.
c. In experimental research, the experimenter studies the effects of
the variables on each other.
4. According to the type of analysis.
According to the type of analysis, Weiss classifies research into
analytic research and holistic research (Treece & Treece, 1977).
a. In the analytic approach, the researcher attempts to identify and
isolate the components of the research situation.
b. The holistic approach begins with the total situation, focusing
attention on the system first and then on its internal relationships.
5. According to scope.
According to Good (1963), this type of research is done on a very
limited scope to solve a particular problem which is not so big. It is almose
problem-solving.
6. According to choice of answers to problems.
Ackoff divides research that is concerned with finding answers to
problems into evaluation and developmental research.
St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation, Inc. | Year IV Thesis Policies and Guidelines 6

a. In evaluation research, all possible courses of action are specified
and identified and the researcher tries to find the most
advantageous.
b. In developmental research, the focus is on finding or developing a
more suitable instrument or process than has been available
(Treece & Treece, J r. 1977).
7. According to statistial content.
a. Quantitative or statistical research is one in which inferential
statistics are utilized to determine the results of the study.
Inferential statistics such as correlation, chi-square, analysis of
variance, etc. are used to test the hypothesis. This type of
research usually includes comparison studies, cause-and-effect
relationships, etc.
b. Non-quantiative research. This is research in which the use of
quantity or statistics is practically nil. This is especially true in
anthropological studies where description is usually used.
Descriptive data are gathered rather than quantitative data.
8. According to time element.
Best classifies research as historical, descriptive, and experimental.
a. Historical research describes what was.
b. Descriptive research describes what is.
c. Experimental research describes what will be (Treece & Treece,
1977).
Historical, descriptive, and experimental are the three major research
methods. All other methods, kinds, and types of research whatever they are
called fall under these three major methods.
What is Year IV Thesis?
A Year-IV Thesis is one of the group requirements that students need to
finish in the senior year of high school. It provides opportunity for students to
pursue original work in a field of their interest. It encourages and challenges
students to develop more their interest with the application of the different skills
St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation, Inc. | Year IV Thesis Policies and Guidelines 7

and knowledge they acquired from the different subjects in order to come up with
a valid, reliable, comprehensive and useful study.
It is a piece of written work that presents a particular argument,
hypothesis, or creative idea using the tools of ones major discipline. It is a more
substantial piece of work in terms of effort and length than a typical in-course
research paper. What distinguishes a senior thesis from a research paper is the
necessity for the student to go beyond what others have written and to think
critically, incorporate his or her own ideas, and to reflect on the topic in his or her
own way.
It should be original in its conception and analysis. Thesis should be the
result of serious research, original thinking, and a clear understanding of the
issues surrounding a topic. Since in-depth, comprehensive studies are usually
preferable to broad surveys, topics should be feasible in terms of the students
competencies and the time available.
Students are assigned to their respective adviser. As a group, they
choose a question or topic to explore before carrying out a research plan. The
Year-IV Thesis will be the culminating work of their studies which will represent
the students ability to conduct research and write effectively.
Purpose of Year IV Thesis
As one of the requirements of fourth year high school students in their
English subject, it basically aims to let them produce research outputs that can
be useful in the educational aspect of St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation,
Inc. Significantly, it will try to solve certain problems in school and for some
community constraints. The studies to be conducted will help as basis for further
studies of the next batch of students. These will also serve as a preparation for
more extensive research as they go to undergraduate level.
Suggested areas of Year IV Thesis
The Year IV Thesis must be useful to school. It must not exist or have
been proposed by previous Researchers. The proposed study may fall in any of
the following categories, but not limited to:
Math
Problem Solving Skills
St. Pauls School of Ormoc Foundation, Inc. | Year IV Thesis Policies and Guidelines 8

Strategies in Teaching Math
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
English
Language
Literature
Computer
Web development
E-learning system
Information Kiosks