Research Methodologies: Key Concepts

Methods of Research

• Research is an activity meant to acquire better knowledge by relearning what individuals already know through systematic observation and experimentation.
• Research is a systematic and objective analysis and recording of controlled observations that may lead to the development of generalizations, principles or theories resulting in prediction and possible ultimate control of events.

Nature of Inquiry

• Inquiry is important to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
• Inquiry is an act of studying something carefully and extensively in order to attain deep knowledge.
• Inquiry is a systematic investigation of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
• Research is an organized way of finding new ideas from existing knowledge with the help of useful tools that will lead to discover new and useful concepts in order to improve quality life.

Word Origin

• The word "research" can be split into two words: Re and Search.
• "Re" is a prefix which means "again".
• "Search" means “to look for something”.
• Research means "TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING, AGAIN" and it tries to unravel, improve, and create ideas or something useful out of something old.

Significance of Research

• Aims to verify or prove the truthfulness of existing theories of knowledge.
• Research may lead to the development of new ideas, strengthen a the current knowledge, or debunk a theory.
• Research can strengthen the truthfulness of a theory and bring forth new ideas regarding the theory or even create a new theory.
• Once a new knowledge is proven or verified, the researcher's next move is to utilize that new knowledge into something useful to humankind.
• Researchers conduct more studies to widen knowledge on a particular field, gain more knowledge, and learn from every experience they encounter.
• Researchers can become 'experts' of a particular field from which their study focuses on.

Functions of Research

• Seeks to find more information about a topic and a broader perspective or additional knowledge to what is currently known.
• Research provides foundation for future studies.
• The aim of descriptive research is to give additional information on newly discovered ideas which were results of exploration.
• Explanatory research looks on how things are connected together and how things interact and aims to explain relationships existing between variables.

Advantages of Writing Process

• Process is very flexible and the ability to find information and present it effectively in varied ways.
• Allows investigation of topics of interest.
• Can make study more meaningful.
• Discover real world application.
• Have hands-on, practical experience in field of study

Characteristics of Research

• Realistic: Results of an investigation are based on actual data gathered by researcher himself.
• Logical: Research follows valid procedures and principles.
• Cyclical: Starts with a problem and ends with another problem.
• Analytical: Researcher ensures all acceptable procedures in data gathering were employed correctly before stating the conclusion.
• Objective: Conclusion is drawn based on the accuracy of the empirical data that supports the study.
• Critical: Establishing a confidence level to be precise when using statistics in interpretations whether the results are significant or not.
• Replicable: To verify the validity and consistency of the results of the research when performed under the same conditions as the original research.

Key points to include

• Empirical
• Systematic
• Controlled
• Hypothesis
• Analytical
• Objective
• Original

Common Elements of Research

• Attain facts about the phenomenon being investigated.
• Be systematic.
• Be objective.
• Contain comprehensive investigation.
• Have accurate data gathering, recording and critical analysis of data and interpretation of facts

Types of Research

• Basic Research or Pure Research is conducted for the sake of knowing and is known as "theoretical research".
• Basic Research Objective is to design to add to understanding and store knowledge but without any particular practical goals.
• Testing or arriving at a theory with the ultimate goal of establishing general principles.
• Applied Research is done when the purpose is to obtain knowledge for practical application and is known as "practical research".
• Applied Research is designed to solve practical problems of the modern world, rather than to acquire knowledge for knowledge's sake.
• Applied Research is designed to improve the human condition.
• Applied researchers may investigate ways to improve agricultural crop production, treat or cure a specific disease, and improve the energy efficiency of homes, offices, or modes of transportation.
• Correlational Research is the systematic investigation or statistical study of relationships among two or more variables, without determining cause and effect.
• Descriptive Research provides an accurate portrayal of a class or a particular individual situation or group and is also known as statistical research.
• Ethnographic Research refers to the investigation of a culture through an in-depth study of the members of the culture.
• Experimental Research is an objective, systematic, controlled investigation for the purpose of predicting and controlling phenomena and examining probability and causality among selected variables that best establishes a cause-effect relationship.
• Exploratory Research is conducted for a problem that has not been clearly defined.
• Historical Research involves analysis of events that occurred in the remote recent past showing patterns in the past and over time which can help to see where we came from and what kind of solutions have been used.
• Phenomenological Research is an inductive descriptive research developed from phenomenological philosophy to describe an experience as it is actually lived by the person.
• Action Research involves the application of the steps of the scientific method in the classroom problems on a very limited scope.

Research types based on data

• Qualitative Research is a scientific research answering a question, systematically using a predefined set of procedures, collecting evidence, and producing findings that were not determined in advance that are applicable beyond the study.

Research methods

• Participant observation is appropriate for collecting data on naturally occurring behaviours in their usual contexts.
• In-depth interviews are optimal for collecting data on individual's personal histories, perspectives, and experiences, particularly when sensitive topics are being explored.
• Focus groups are effective in eliciting data on the cultural norms of a group and in generating broad overviews of issues of concern to cultural groups or subgroups.
• Quantitative Research conducted to find answers to questions about relationship among measurable variables and explain, control and predicts phenomena.
• Aims to determine the relationship between one thing (an independent variable) and another (a dependent or outcome variable) in a population.
• Reserach designs fall under descriptive(measured once) an experimental(measured twice)

Research Process

• Define Research Problem then Review the Literature then Formulate the Hypothesis then Design Research then Collect Data then Interpret and Report then Analyze Data.

How Research is Conducted

• Identifying the Research Problem.
• Formulating Hypotheses and Designing your Study.
• Data Collection.
• Analysis of Data.
• Interpreting Data.
• Reporting Results.
• Research problems may be in the form of questions which the researcher aims to answer at the end of the research activity and serves as the researchers' guide throughout the research process and the focus of all research activities.
• Hypotheses guide the researcher toward answering whether the hypothesis formulated is correct or not.
• Data collection gathers information by means of a defined method, in order to support hypotheses, and could be anything used to represent facts, values or anything that may represent a characteristic of something being measured.
• Data analysis is examining data. If the data gathered suggests truthfulness of the hypotheses, then hypotheses will be accepted, otherwise, the hypotheses will be rejected.
• Conducting the study results in the evaluation of a particular theory or testing the hypothesis based on the accounts of your subjects.
• Returning to the subjects for validation purposes or member-checking is needed in qualitative research.
• Reporting or communicating the results of the study is essential.

Properties of a Good Title

• Needs to be specific.
• Title should have expressive power to show scale of research.
• Indicate totla nature of the subject.
• Be defiant and clear.
• Attract the attention of the readers.

Title Guidlines

• Must be concise containing the essence of the content.
• Typically around 10 to 12 words and should not be formulated as a question.
• If th title exeeds one line, it should follow a V format.
• Shall not be written on more than 3 lines.

Acronym for title guidlines

• Title must be SMART
• SPECIFIC – clearly defined and identified
• MEASURABLE – able to quantify or qualify the targets and benefits
• Attractive – catchy and interesting to the reader
• REALISTIC – represent familiar things in a way that is accurate or true to life
• TRENDY OR TIME-BOUND – up to date or with specified period of time
• A central concept in research and measurable characteristic that changes in value.
• May vary from one group to another group, one person to another or even with the same person over time.

Types of Variables

• Continuous and Discrete.
• Continuous is a variable that can take infinite number and values, with the values divided into fractions.
• Discrete is known as categorical or classificatory variable wiht a limited number of distinct values and cannot be divided into fractions.

Variable Types

• Independent: Cause variable/responsible for conditions to bring change.
• Dependent: Outcome variable/result or effect of changes brought about by other variables.

Statement of the Problem - Best Practices

• Approach should involve addressing the document's fit, and ensure it contributes to document focus, providing clear direction to readers
• Document should set tone for understanding to ensure effective argument and resolution

Statement Of Good Probel, Guidlines

• Questions to ask when determining
• What is the problem (when, where, who' what , why)
• Who has the issue (who needs the solution)
• How can it be solved (what's the scope and limitations)
• Focus on the scope with SMART characteristics(Specific, Measurable, Accurate, Realistic, and Time Bound

Steps to follow:

• An analytical introduction to expand it with additional depth.
• In the introduction, ensure linkage to initial questions
• Ensure presentation of new knowledge with elicitations.
• If the questions are suitable to make the original problem elicit a positive conclusion.

Title page details:

• A brief statement should indicate the overall title

• Indication needs to be in uppercase letter form

• Title should be between 12-14 lettering size

• Use Arial, Roman Times or style as instructed

• Hypotheses should include possible results

• Should show the theoretical test and prove it in negative or affirmative

• Should show data doesn't not need to be tested

Details of The Study Should Show

• Who shows be most beneficial
• Explanation of the problems should be presented
• Why the is investigation is deemed important

Scope And Overview

• Should state all attributions and specifications to be implemented
• Should state the all timelines, values, and people relevant to conducting the study

Explore critical analysis, basic vs applied research, objectivity, and originality in research. Understand different research types and their applications. Learn how to ensure research quality and robustness.