Research and Scientific Method: Definition and Types
Etymology: in (Latin) = in, into; vestigium (Latin) = trace, mark, sign, or signal. Investigate = to trace or follow the vestige of something. Investigate (investigare in Latin) is an action verb meaning to make inquiries, keep track of someone or something in order to find out new knowledge (Moreno-Heméndez, 1997). Research is the search for knowledge and its validation on important issues.
Booth and Williams (2001) define research as a rigorous process that uses methods and techniques to obtain true knowledge to respond to problems of social or natural origin, which emerge from a need or difficulty not immediately settled by humans. Research presupposes a systematic, methodological, and technical process that guides and directs the researcher.
Tamayo and Tamayo (1997) state: “Research is a process that, by applying the scientific method, attempts to obtain relevant and reliable information to understand, verify, correct, or apply knowledge.”
Ander-Egg (1989) notes: “Research can be a number of methods to solve problems whose solutions need to be obtained through a series of logical operations, taking objective data as a starting point.”
Hernández Sampieri (2003) refers to scientific research as more rigorous and systematic, involving the application of valid and reliable methods; facts cannot be observed by chance.
Purposes of Research
Research serves two main purposes:
- a) Producing new knowledge (theoretical explanation)
- b) Solving practical problems (applied research)
Research is a tool and discipline leading to understanding reality and, at one point, satisfying curiosity and human needs. It is distinguished by its level of rigor:
- a) Systematic
- b) Methodical
- c) Factual
- d) Rational
- e) Experimental
- f) Explanatory
- g) Critical
- h) Controlled
- i) Rich in empirical data
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research examines the causes of a phenomenon, problem, or object of study in a systematic and technical way. It uses procedures and tools for problem-solving or acquiring new knowledge, approving or disproving hypotheses. It is explanatory, and problems arise based on principles of cause and effect.
- It starts from reality.
- The researcher observes, discovers, explains, and predicts reality.
- The phenomenon, fact, or subjects are discussed in terms of quantity.
- The researcher must be highly objective.
- It is not supported by anything that is not truly controlled, studied, captured, and understood.
- It is deductive.
- It raises hypotheses.
Qualitative Research
According to Herrera (2004), qualitative research provides a detailed description and understanding of situations, events, people, interactions, and behaviors that are observable. It incorporates what participants say, feel, and experience—their attitudes, meanings, beliefs, thoughts, and reflections—as expressed by them. It focuses on understanding and describing.
- It is inductive.
- It is holistic.
- It starts from a natural interaction between the researcher and the object of study.
- It covers reality in its own context.
- In this investigation, nothing is implied, but rather observed objectively.
The realization of any type of research, therefore, has as its final product, knowledge, and it explains, understands, and describes the phenomenon under natural or social facts (Bunge, 2004).
Utility of Research
Research allows for:
- The formulation of new theories.
- Proposing new methods of analysis.
- Application in solving problems surrounding humanity.
- Appreciating the object of study in full and in parts.
- Structuring a written report.
- Organizing the collection of information.
- Planning the activities of the researcher.
The Scientific Method
The term “method” derives from the Greek word “Methodus,” meaning “change towards something.” It is the way to say or do anything or any activity. It can also mean the path we must follow to achieve the purposes set by the researcher. Bunge (2004) states that “a method is a procedure to treat a set of problems.” Moreno-Hernández (1997) notes that the scientific method “is the body of scientific knowledge used to investigate all matters relating to scientific problems and the validation of its results.” The scientific method is a tool that allows science to exist because it guides the researcher to a satisfactory, acceptable, and complete end. The scientific method is a form of activity or action in an orderly manner that allows us to verify and monitor the knowledge and results arising from the research process, addressing the needs of the researcher and the characteristics of the object of study.