Introduction To Research PDF

After completing this chapter, the student should be able to: Define research in general and Scientific research in particular. Enumerate the characteristics of research and what research is not. Identify the benefits of research. Identify the different types of research. Describe the (steps) i...

After completing this chapter, the student should be able to: Define research in general and Scientific research in particular. Enumerate the characteristics of research and what research is not. Identify the benefits of research. Identify the different types of research. Describe the (steps) involved in designing a research plan. - It is the systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data to generate new knowledge and answer a certain question or solve a problem. - It is a process through which we attempt to achieve ***systematically*** and with a support data the ***answer*** to a ***question***, or a ***resolution*** to a ***problem.*** - Research is the search for knowledge or any systematic investigation to establish facts. (Wikipedia's definition). - Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to increase our understanding of the phenomenon under study (Pearson's definition). - the researcher increases the understanding of the phenomenon and communicates that understanding to others. - Research is a creation of a new knowledge. - Research is an ***organized*** and ***systematic*** way of finding ***answers*** to ***questions***. Research is; - ***Organized***- There is a structure or method in doing research. It is a planned procedure not a spontaneous one. It is focused and limited to a specific scope. - ***Systematic***- Research follows a set of procedures and steps. There are certain things in the research process which are always done in order to get the most accurate results. - ***Finding answers-*** This is the end of all research. Whether it is an answer to a hypothesis or even a simple question, research is successful when we find answers that are either positive or negative. - ***Questions-*** These are central to research. If there is no question, the answer is of no use. Without a question, research has no focus, drive or purpose. - *Research is systematic*. From the beginning to the end, pre-established rules & regulations should be followed - *Research is an activity based on the work of others.* No, this does not mean that you copy the work of others (that is plagiarism), but you always look at the work that has already been done to provide a basis for the subject of your research and how you might conduct your own work. - Good *research is generalizable* to other settings. This means for example if adolescent boys are susceptible to peer pressure in one setting, then the results would be generalized in a different but related setting. - Research *generates new questions or is cyclical in nature.* answering one question leads to generating many other new questions. - Good research is *replicable*; thus verified by proving the study. - Research is an activity that should be undertaken for the *betterment of the society.* - Research requires the collection and interpretation of *data* in problem resolution. - *Research is empirical*. This means that any conclusions drawn are based upon hard evidence gathered from information from real life experiences or observations. - 'Empirical' comes from the Greek *empeiria, meaning "knowledge based on experience and observation" (Gummesson, 2000: 64)* - Research is feasible. - If the above attributes make good research, what is bad research? It takes the opposite approach of all the things stated above. In sum, bad research is; - Plagiarizing other peoples work - Falsifying data to prove a point - Misrepresenting information and misleading participants - Providing in-adequate references for your work - Unfortunately, there are researchers whose work is characterized by these practices, but they are the minority. - Obtain a (higher) degree, or promotion (this mainly applies to the academic career. - To acquire new knowledge. - To find answers to questions. - To solve a problem in the practical world. - Enhance critical skills in communication, independent thinking, creativity and problem-solving. - To face a challenge. - To get intellectual joy. - Note: several sources classify research in many different ways. - But, there are generally two types of research: - ***Basic Research*** (also known as fundamental or pure research) - Basic research focuses on improving one's knowledge and understanding about an underlying phenomena without specific applications in mind. - The main motivation is to expand man's knowledge not to create or invent something. - E.g A neuron-surgeon who studies the brain to learn about its general workings is doing basic research.. ***Applied Research*** - Systemic study to gain knowledge or understanding designed to solve a practical problem of the modern world, rather than to acquire knowledge for ones sake. - E.g. neurologist who is searching for the origins of memory loss disease is involved in applied research. - An ICT final year student who implements his project is also doing applied research. - ***Quantitative research*** is concerned with investigating things which we could observe and measure in some way. - Such observations and measurements can be made objectively and repeated by other researchers. - Quantitative research is more concerned with questions about: how much? How many? How often? To what extent? etc. - ***Qualitative research***. The study is classified as qualitative if the purpose of the study is primarily to describe a situation, phenomenon or event. - Qualitative research attempts to increase our understanding of why things are the way they are in our social world and why people act the way they do. - Qualitative research is concerned with finding the answers to questions which begin with: why? How? In what way? - A research plan helps you to manage your time as a researcher. - Research involves several activities e.g. reading, working, writing, reflecting, & even relaxing! - Time allocation to the activities involved in your research is vital. - But the time you allocate to some of the activities varies with the type of research or research area/ discipline you are working on. - Create a complete list of tasks in your research - Arrange the tasks in a logical, sequential order - Assign an approximate and reasonable time period against each task - If you do this using project management software, you can see the tasks on critical path. - Convert your schedule into a calendar - Develop a more detailed research plan, describing the actual research methodology in a little more detail