The Research 1 undergraduate class of the Saint Louis University’s (SLU) School of Accountancy, Management, Computing, and Information Studies (SAMCIS) conducted another insightful webinar titled “Aligning Research Objectives, Questions, and Hypothesis and Writing the Methodology Section” on 19 March 2026, via Google Meet. The session was organized to reinforce the institution’s commitment to producing competent and ethically grounded student-researchers.
The webinar featured Engr. Harold O. Lagto, an Institutional Studies and Methods Officer (ISRM) Officer at the SLU Research, Innovation, and Sustainable Extension (RISE) Center and a faculty member of the SAMCIS Mathematics Department, as the resource speaker. At the onset of his lecture, Engr. Lagto emphasized that alignment and methodology are core components of a research paper, explaining that poorly constructed sections directly affect the reliability and validity of the entire study.
The session was structured into two parts, beginning with the Alignment of Research Objectives, Research Problems/Questions, and Research Hypothesis. Engr. Lagto described these as the “backbone of a coherent research paper,” built upon three essential pillars that must align in terms of topic, variables, and logical direction. He stressed that misalignment among these components is one of the most common reasons research papers are returned for major revisions.
He further explained that the research problem and research questions serve as the starting point—defining what the study seeks to find out—and must follow the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Research objectives outline what the study aims to accomplish, while hypotheses provide testable predictions about variables. Throughout the discussion, Engr. Lagto presented relevant examples across Accountancy, Management, and Computing, along with common mistakes and strategies for improvement. He also introduced an alignment framework that guides students step-by-step from the research problem to the hypothesis, demonstrating their connection in real-world applications.
The second part focused on Writing the Methodology Section, which explains how the study will be conducted. Engr. Lagto outlined six essential components: Research Design, Research Locale, Respondents/Participants, Sampling Method, Data Collection Instruments, and Data Analysis. He discussed quantitative research designs commonly used by SAMCIS students, including descriptive, correlational, comparative, and developmental approaches.
He also compared quantitative and qualitative research paradigms, highlighting their distinct purposes and strengths, and introduced mixed-methods research to provide more comprehensive answers to research questions. The discussion further covered qualitative data collection and validation through trustworthiness criteria such as credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability.
Moreover, he emphasized the importance of clearly defining the research locale and respondents, selecting appropriate sampling methods, and following systematic data collection procedures from securing permissions and validating instruments to pilot testing, actual data gathering, and data processing. A complete methodology example aligned with SAMCIS courses was also presented, along with practical writing tips and a quality checklist.
Concluding the webinar, Engr. Lagto left participants with a strong reminder: “The quality of a research paper depends not just on what you study, but on how precisely you plan and align every component.”
The webinar successfully strengthened students’ understanding of research alignment and methodology, while reinforcing the importance of adhering to institutional ethical standards to produce credible and impactful research outputs. (Article by Ashanna Nicole G. Bautista, JPIA President | Photos by JPIA)
