Practical Research Essentials

What is Practical Research?

• Practical research focuses on solving real-world problems and improving practices in a specific field or industry.
• It involves identifying a practical problem, gathering data, and applying the findings to develop solutions or recommendations.

Characteristics of Practical Research

• Problem-focused: Practical research aims to address a specific problem or issue.
• Applied: Findings are applied to real-world situations to improve practices or solve problems.
• Collaborative: Often involves collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders.
• Pragmatic: Prioritizes feasibility and practicality over theoretical or ideological considerations.

Steps in Practical Research

1. Problem identification: Identify a practical problem or issue in a specific field or industry.
2. Literature review: Review existing research and literature to understand the context and scope of the problem.
3. Research design: Develop a research design that addresses the problem, including methods, data collection, and analysis.
4. Data collection: Gather data through various methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, observations).
5. Data analysis: Analyze data to identify patterns, trends, and relationships.
6. Findings and recommendations: Draw conclusions and make recommendations for solving the problem or improving practices.
7. Implementation and evaluation: Implement the findings and evaluate their effectiveness in real-world settings.

Types of Practical Research

• Action research: Involves active participation in the problem-solving process, often in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Evaluation research: Focuses on assessing the effectiveness of programs, policies, or interventions.
• Developmental research: Aims to develop new products, services, or processes to solve practical problems.

Benefits of Practical Research

• Improves practices: Leads to practical solutions and improvements in real-world settings.
• Informs decision-making: Provides evidence-based information for decision-making.
• Enhances collaboration: Fosters collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders.
• Increases relevance: Ensures research is relevant and applicable to real-world problems.