LESSON 1: IDENTIFYING SCIENTIFIC PROBLEM

Science is a systematic and well-organized body of knowledge.

Scientific research is the process of systematic inquiry that is based on scientific methods.

● Research as a Scientific Inquiry

The steps of scientific research have its roots in the scientific method.

The main purpose of scientific research is to generate scientific knowledge and utilize
this information in improving people’s way of living.

Scientific research serves as the main source of scientific knowledge, which is a

generalized body of principles consisting of laws and theories that try to explain events
happening in our surroundings. A series of related research studies regarding a particular topic
often results in the creation of laws and theories.

STEPS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

A research problem may refer to a question or issue observed in your surroundings that need to
be addressed to look for a solution. It serves as the core of the whole research as it provides the
overall direction of the research project.

Problem Statement: This refers to the general overview of the scope and purpose of the study.

Research Objectives: These are specific parts of the general problem that show greater details
regarding the nature of the study.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM

FACTORS IN CHOOSING A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM
· Researchability
o A good research topic must be accompanied by existing information available in
different sources like books or the Internet. Researchability means that the
observations or data needed to answer the problem can be collected from the real-
world setting. It often happens that researchers are hindered due to the inadequate
procedures and techniques available to answer the main problem of their research.
· Theoretical and Practical Significance
o Research problems often have different levels of importance to people in terms of their
benefit. There are some research topics that only provide basic information regarding
current theories and laws in science, while some topics involve the development of
devices and gadgets that aim to improve ways of living. Regardless, a good research
problem must be socially relevant and worth investigating.
· Originality
o During the literature review, it is important that researchers check the novelty of the
research problem that they want to solve. It is possible that in other parts of the globe,
a different researcher has already published a similar work. There is no use wasting
time and energy in solving a research problem that has been thoroughly studied by
other researchers.
· Feasibility
o Researchers must check if their research problem can easily or conveniently be done.
Many considerations must be included in checking this part. Concerns on the
possibility of whether the selected research problem can be executed based on the
given finances, resources, availability of needed materials and equipment, manpower,
and time to complete the study must be of high priority.
· Specificity
o A good research problem must be specific. A vague or general topic has a wide scope
that often requires much time, cost, and patience. It is important for researchers to
 identify specific questions from the general problem that they have defined. The
research objectives must be clear and practically manageable.

· Ethical Consideration
o It is important that researchers observe practices within the confines of acceptable
ways of doing research. A researcher must take into account all the possible moral
considerations involved during data collection and publication of results. Sometimes,
research may involve animals that require ethical standards for handling. Different
countries have different sets of ethical standards for conducting research in different
fields of science. Research topics that go beyond ethical limits must be avoided.

LESSON 2: BASIC RESEARCH AND APPLIED RESEARCH

Basic research, also referred to as fundamental or pure research, is a type of research that is mainly
driven by a scientist's curiosity and scientific interest to answer scientific questions that are mostly
observed in our surroundings. The primary objective of conducting basic research is to expand man's
understanding of his environment. Its purpose is not primarily to invent. As a result, most of the time,
products of basic research have no obvious commercial value. It usually cannot be directly applied in
solving modern problems in society.

Applied research is a type of research that was conceptualized to solve practical real-life situations that
we face in modern society. Unlike basic research, applied research aims to invent and create solutions to
improve the human way of life. Outputs of applied research are more tangible in terms of function to
society. These often involve commercial products to be utilized by a wider number of people.

The difference in the ways of questioning when doing basic and applied research

● Differences between basic and applied research

LESSON 3: ETHICS IN RESEARCH

Ethics is a discipline that asks questions about right and wrong. It encompasses all fields of study and
research.

Ethics in research are principles or practices in conducting research that should be followed for the
protection of participants and the common good.
 · Historical Background of Research Ethics

● The National Ethics Committee (NEC) is tasked to uphold international and local ethical
standards specifically for research concerning human subjects.

PRINCIPLES IN ETHICS RESEARCH

ETHICAL PRINCIPLE DEFINITION

HONESTY This must be observed at all research-related communications.

The researchers must honestly present information on data,
results, research methods and procedures, and status of work.
It is prohibited to falsify and distort the data to deceive
 classmates, teachers, any school officials, or the public.

OBJECTIVITY
Research bias should be avoided in all stages of research. The
researchers should make sure that the observations and data
collected are recorded and presented as is. It must not be
changed in any way to agree with the wants of the researchers.

The researchers must uphold their promises and agreements,

MORALITY and to be honest and seek the guidance of teachers or any
school officials if necessary.

PRUDENCE The researchers must avoid careless errors and omissions. This
can be achieved with careful evaluation of your own work.
Being organized and strict with schedule are also other ways in
which this can be achieved.

OPENNESS The researchers must share data, ideas, tools, resources, and to
be open to criticism and new ideas.

RESPONSIBLE PUBLICATION The researchers should publicize the results of the research for
the sake of science and the pursuit of knowledge, and not for
the benefit of passing a subject or self-glorification. They
should also remember to make sure that the research which is
being published is thoroughly checked and reviewed by
experts or peers

CONFIDENTIALITY The researchers must save and secure confidential information,

such as profiles of respondents, professional or trade secrets,
records about health, and any other sensitive information that
might put anyone involved in the research in an untoward
situation.

RESPECT FOR INTELLECTUAL The researchers must respect patents, copyright rights, and
PROPERTY other forms of intellectual property. They should not use
unpublished data, methods, or results without permission—
quote where you must cite and thank properly for their help in
the research. It is a criminal act for anyone to plagiarize.

Researchers should respect and interact with each other

RESPECT FOR OTHER politely and honestly. Regardless if researchers are within a
RESEARCHERS group or interacting with other groups.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY The research that will be produced by the researchers must be
useful to the promotion of social welfare. It should benefit
members of the school, the community, or the society at large.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
The researchers must avoid discrimination against other
students, members of the school faculty, any school officials,
and participants of research due to sex, race, nationality,
 religion, or other factors unrelated to scientific excellence and
honesty.

SECURITY OF PEOPLE Conducting scientific research with human participants

INVOLVED IN SCIENTIFIC involves careful considerations with respect to human dignity,
RESEARCH privacy, and autonomy. The researchers must take special
precautions in working with vulnerable populations and seek
fair distribution of the research benefits and burdens.

COMMON ISSUES IN RESEARCH ETHICS

1. Lost in Practice (Negligence)

- It is imperative that researchers must always have these ethical guidelines and principles
on hand for easy access or become familiar with them by heart.

2. Fabrication and Falsification

- Fabrication is the act of manufacturing observations or data that appear to be collected

from participants, subjects, or samples but are actually created by the hands of the
researchers or people who are not included in the target population.

- Falsification, on the other hand, are observations and data collected from a legitimate
source but are used in a manner not intended to it. It can also be the modification of data
sets to agree with the research hypothesis. Misrepresentation in any part of the research
can fall under falsification as well.

3. Plagiarism

- Plagiarism is the act of copying or using works from another person and presenting it as
your own. It is basically stealing other people’s work. It is extremely discouraged in the
academic community. Sometimes, it may affect a professional’s career or in cases with
students’ involvement, expulsion.

LESSON 4: PLAGIARISM & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Intellectual Property
 - The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization established on January 1,
1995.

- Its main concern is to regulate and protect member countries in conducting any kind of trade.

- The WTO defines IP rights as the “rights that are given to persons over the creation of their
minds.”

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DESCRIPTION

TECHNOLOGY

TRADEMARK
●A trademark is any visible sign that can distinguish the goods or
services of an enterprise.

● The superscript ™ is used for trademarks that are not yet

registered to any IP authority.

● The superscript ®, by contrast, is used for registered trademarks.

Examples of this are logos of popular food chains, cars, electronic
devices, or social media platforms.

● Catchy taglines associated with a brand are also protected by a

trademark such as “Love ko ‘to”, “We find ways”, “Hari ng
padala”, or “Simply amazing”.

TRADE NAME
● This is the name in which a trademark refers to.

● The logo and the tagline “Love ko ‘to” both refers to the trade
name of Mcdonald’s Philippines.

COPYRIGHT
● The scope of copyright is confined to literary and artistic works
which are intellectual creations that are protected from the moment
of their inception.

● Examples of literary works are books, dissertations, research

papers, computer programs, speeches, manuscripts, reports, or any
textual work with or without illustrations.

● For artistic works, examples include drawings, paintings,

performances, sculptures, photographs, architectural designs, or any
non-textual works.

PATENT
● Patents refer to any technical solution to a problem in any field of
human activity. This includes an invention or improvement of a
product or process.
 ● A good example is the invention of the alternating current or AC
by Nikola Tesla. It is indeed a technical solution and an efficient
way of transmitting electricity to great distances.

● It can be considered to be both a product invention because of the

generator to be used to produce an AC, and a process invention
because of how electricity is designed to be transmitted.

PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES

World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO

The international Lead an effective Provide an avenue for

forum that international member countries to
campaigns for the implementation of an IP formulate policies,
protection of system that enables cooperate with one another,
intellectual property creativity and innovation and become a repository of
for the benefit of all IP related information.

LAWS AND POLICIOES IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The 1987 Philippine Constitution on Intellectual Property

It states that “the use of IP ownership is a It also says that the state shall
property bears a social right of every Filipino, encourage, develop, enrich,
function, and all and its economic and regulate the works and
economic agents shall benefits shall be creation of Filipino scientists
contribute to the enjoyed by them. and artists for national
development.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFRINGEMENT

● Copyright and patent infringement happen when there is a violation of the

exclusive economic and moral rights granted to the copyright or patent owner.
 ● The possession of copyrighted or patented works for the purposes of selling,
distribution for profit, and exhibition are also types of infringement because they
impair the owner of the economic benefits of his or her work.

● As we can observe, copyright and patent infringement are similar. The only
differences are the length of protection that is given to possess the monopoly of a
copyright or a patent and the types of works that can be copyrighted or patented.
These factors will contribute to the outcome of each case that is litigated.

● Penalties for violators, however, can go as high as Php 1.5M worth of fines and/or up
to 9 years imprisonment.

COPYRIGHT – protected during the life of the author and for 50 years after his death.

PATENT – 20 years

AVOIDING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFRINGEMENT

FOR THE OWNER

- As the owner of a work that can be copyrighted or patented, the most obvious way to
prevent infringement is to register your work to proper authorities immediately after creation.

- This will ensure the protection of your creation under Philippine law.

- Another is to be vigilant. It will be very difficult to monitor who uses your copyright or
patent unless it surfaces to circulation, but becoming aware of where it could be illegally
used will be helpful.

- The last way to prevent IP infringement is to actively campaign the ethical and
responsible use of all IP materials, especially within the academic community.

FOR THE USER

- From the perspective of the user of an IP material, especially for researchers, the best
way to protect yourself from copyright infringement is to cite all references. It is the way of
authors to properly acknowledge the creations and knowledge that are produced by other
people.

- This is also an important way to prevent the act of plagiarism, which will be discussed in
the next section.

- Finally, the mere awareness of the laws on IPs and the active decision of not violating
them will be of tremendous help for IP material users.

PLAGIARISM

● Plagiarism is an act of copying or using work from another person and presenting it
as your own.
 ○ To prevent this, always cite sources properly.

ACTS OF PLAGIARISM
1. verbatim repetition of someone else’s words without acknowledgment;
2. presentation of someone else’s ideas without acknowledgment;
3. paraphrasing, translating, or summarizing someone else’s ideas without
acknowledgment;
4. improper acknowledgment of sources, as with incomplete/imprecise documentation; and
5. having one’s work done by someone else or having one’s work substantially revised by
someone else.