Practical Research 2: Designing Useful Research

Designing Research Useful in Daily Life

• Research significantly influences societal perceptions, relationships, and governance.
• Useful research topics should address community needs at local, national, or global levels.
• Consider feasibility regarding time, resources, and budget before choosing a research topic.

Steps to Design Useful Research

• Selecting a relevant topic is crucial; options can include business, education, health, environment, social issues, and politics.
• Clear objectives guide the research process, ensuring focus and effective data collection.
• Briefly describe the specific location where the research will take place to provide context.
• Identify primary (interviews, surveys, observations) and secondary (research articles, online searches) data sources.
• Employ effective data collection techniques such as interviews, questionnaires, and document analysis to gather information.

Writing a Research Title

• A research title encapsulates the research question and should be original, clear, and concise.
• Titles must attract attention and create a positive first impression for the reader.
• Essential elements of a title include the subject matter, study setting, and participants involved.
• Limit titles to 12 substantive keywords and avoid unnecessary phrases like “Analysis of” or “A Study of.”
• Capitalize all words in the title and avoid punctuation at the end.

Characteristics of a Good Research Title

• Should be engaging and reflect the tone of the research.
• Important keywords should be included to convey the core topic.

Background of the Study

• Introduce the research topic with definitions and main developments in the field.
• Clearly articulate the research gap or problem that needs resolution.
• State the primary goal of the research and formulate a thesis statement articulating the main argument.
• Highlight the significance or contribution of the study to the relevant discipline.
• Revise and edit for clarity, coherence, and relevance.

Writing the Opening Paragraph of the Background

• Start with an overview of the research topic, defining key concepts.
• Indicate the research gap, highlighting problems needing investigation.
• Define the main goal of the study and explicitly state the thesis statement.

Activity and Community Research

• Identify and select topics for research that are pertinent to everyday life.
• Consider community issues needing exploration, along with the study's aims and potential benefits.

This quiz focuses on the principles of designing research that is applicable in daily life. It covers the creation of effective research titles and writing a well-structured background for studies. Understanding these concepts is crucial for conducting meaningful research that impacts society.