Research Agenda

Reformulated Regional Research Agenda DepEd Order No. 39, s 2016 promulgated the Basic Education Research Agenda, which makes known the research priorities of the Department across four themes:

1.    Teaching and Learning

2.    Child Protection

3.    Human Resource Development

4.    Governance and three cross-cutting theme:

a.    Gender and Development

b.    Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

c.     Inclusive Education.

THEME 1: TEACHING AND LEARNING

The national institution is mandated to provide quality basic education to all Filipinos. Thus, DepEd strives for ensure that learning outcomes are achieved by maximizing the competencies of teachers and potentials of all types of learners. This theme thus covers the actors, activities and fundamental aspects of teaching and learning in various contexts. Specifically, the Research Agenda looks into the strategies, best practices, and facilitating and hindering factors relative to five-subthemes namely: instruction, curriculum, learners, assessment and learning outcomes. Main topics under Teaching and Learning include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

·         Student Achievement

·         Competencies

·         Values

·         Behaviors

·         Career Paths/Tracks/Goals

·         Personality Traits

·         Affective/Psychological Traits

·         Self-efficacy

·         Special Education

·         Gifted Education

·         ICT Application

·         School-Home Linkage

·         School Community Networking

·         MTB-MTLE

·         Flexible Learning Options

·         Spiral Progression

·         Assessment

·         Materials and resources

·         Artificial Intellegence

THEME 2: CHILD PROTECTION

DepEd's learner-centered approach recognizes that a child's condition can significantly affect the achievement of learning outcomes. While the Department may not have the direct mandate and resources to address many of the social, economic and personal issues of learners, it is committed to ensuring their well-being, particularly in situation where harm can occur in school or disrupt their studies.

The Department's commitment warrants a separate section on Child Protection, particularly to address reported incidents of bullying, teenage pregnancy, addictive behaviors, and child labor. While laws and policies are in place to address these, there is a need for in-depth studies on their prevalence and effects. There is also a need to assess the effectiveness of previous interventions, and the potential of new approaches to better protect learners in school. Main topics under Child Protection include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

·         Prevalence

·         Teenage Pregnancy

·         Bullying

·         Drugs

·         Child Labor

·         Gambling

THEME 3: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

As DepEd is the nation's largest bureaucracy, it is imperative that various strategies are developed to nurture the vast human capital involved in delivering basic education. Research questions will delve into three subthemes: 91) teaching and non-teaching qualifications and hiring; (2) career development; and (3) employee welfare. Primary focus is given to teachers due to their frontline role in reaching out to learners. Research questions probe into the teachers' existing qualifications and competency requirements vis-a-vis the needs of the K to 12 and special education programs such as ALS. The topics extend to teacher education institutions, particularly on ways to upgrade pre-service preparation and DepEd's role in providing continuous quality training. Similarly, developing the support structure of DepEd through its non-teaching personnel is an important area of inquiry. Key topics under Teaching and Non-Teaching Qualificatios and Hiring include but are not limited to, the following topics:

·         Teaching and Non-Teaching

·         Qualifications and Hiring

·         Career Development

·         Employees' Welfare

·         Gender and Development

THEME 4: GOVERNANCE

Managing the largest bureaucracy towards education the nation's future requires efficient and effective operations. The Governance theme of the Research Agenda, which covers planning, finance, programs management, transparency and accountability, and evaluation, underscores DepEd's commitment to ensure that its structure, systems, and process contribute to the achievement of basic education outcomes. The Department has already provided internal guidance (DepEd Order 13, s. 2015) for the development of effective and efficient policies. With this in place, DepEd's next concern is to ensure that these policies are implemented and translated into appropriate programs, Because it governs a very large sector with complex interrelationships, the Department often encounters challenges in its Planning process. This section deals with standards and policies that ensure the achievement of the Department's goals. Key topics under Governance include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

·         Planning

·         Finance

·         Program Management

·         Transparency & Accountability

·         Evaluation

·         Customers' Satisfaction

Subsequently, in conducting applied and action researches, three approaches may be used: quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method approach. According to Creswell (2014), quantitative research is an approach for testing objective theories by examining the relationship among variables. These variables, in turn, can be measured, typically on instruments, so that numbered data can be analyzed using statistical procedures. On the other hand, qualitative research is an approach for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem. The process of research involves emerging questions and procedures, data typically collected in the participant's setting, data analysis inductively building from particulars to generals themes, and the researcher making interpretations of the meaning of the data.

Whereas, mixed methods research is an approach to inquiry involving collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, integrating the two forms of data, and using distinct designs that may involve philosophical assumptions and theoretical frameworks.