Applied Research

Third Module Pedagogical Training for Teacher Professional Development

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 Outline
➢ Team of this Module
➢ Module Description
➢ Objective and Why this Module is important
➢ What is a Research
➢ Research and Development
➢ Types and Characteristic of Research
➢ The Research Process
➢ Setting the Aim (Objectives of the Research)
➢ Limits (The Scope) of the Research
➢ Statement of the Research Problem
➢ The End 2
 May –June -2020
Team of Applied Research Module UoD, UoZ and NZU

Prof.Dr. Hussin A. Ahmed Gargary Dr. Mohammed Aziz Ibrahem

haa_1957@yahoo.com m_aziz7951@uod.ac

Ms. Edi Saeed Kachal Dr. Rezgar Mostafa Mohammed

edi.kachal@uoz.edu.krd rezgarzebari@uod.ac

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 Module Description
1- Teaching Themes
1. Research Introduction A. Research Philosophy B. Critical Thinking C. Research Objective D. Research Finding

Learning Outcomes Assessment criteria

2.Academic Integrity and Research Ethics

A. Research misconduct (falsification, fabrication and plagiarism) B. Collaboration issues (authorship, data ownership and management)
C. Peer review D. Conflicts of interest or obligation E. Complicity and funding sources F. Animal subject research G. Human subject research

Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria

3.Research Methodology
A. Data Collection B. Data Management C. Data Analysis D. Data interpretation
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria

4.Publication
A. Types of publication: Scientific Article, Book, Thesis B. Journals C. Research writing D. Research proposal and grants
E. Indexing F. Software tools
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
5. Research Orientation

A. Academic B. Civil society C. State-government D. Entrepreneurial (Market-Oriented)

Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria
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 The Importance of Scientific Research
1) All scientific and literary fields are concerned with scientific research because: Records the latest findings of

human thought in a field or subject.

2) The purpose of scientific research is to highlight the truth in a particular subject, to address a problem and to

develop solutions for it, whether cultural, political, human, and natural, science, social or other.

3) It also presents new discoveries and develops machines or theories.

4) Provides people with usefulness and awareness through reliable information placed in search.

5) Helps to promote society, and increase its development and

growth to keep pace with the civilized development of nations.

6) The publication is essential for the researcher, because they

will benefit from cooperation, and publication lets the

cooperating group develop to include the whole world and

people who will come to your field in the future. 5

 Research Concepts
All research begins with a Question
Idea
Problem Recognition and Developing Research Questions

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The problem is defined as ambiguity in a situation with a desire to reach the truth
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 Goals and Objectives

Defining the goals and objectives of a research project is one of the most important steps in the
research process.
Clearly stated goals keep a research project focused.

The process of goal definition usually begins by writing down the broad and general goals of the study.
As the process continues, the goals become more clearly defined and the research issues are narrowed.

Exploratory Research
➢Literature reviews
➢Talking to people
➢Focus groups
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 The research question itself can be stated as a hypothesis.

A hypothesis is simply the investigator's belief about a problem.

Typically, a researcher formulates an opinion during the literature review process.

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 Preparation of writing a Scientific Research
The process of preparation of writing a scientific research is several stages, cannot be overlooked any
part of it, each part is an important element to show research scientifically reliable

Understand the title

Brainstorm ideas

Research

Write an outline

Write first draft

Check your work Note: A mistake many researcher make is to start writing before they
are ready, and to think they have finished once their first draft is done.
Redraft In reality, there are many steps involved in producing a quality piece
of writing, which begin when you first decide or see the title, and end
Proofread
when you submit the work.

Submit finished work 10

Prof.Dr. Hussin A. Ahmed Gargary

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 Research

The word “research” comprises:

- re- : again.
- search: to examine, to test, to try, or to probe (study) deeply,
closely and carefully.

Based on this, mere reviewing of literature is not research.

 Definition of Research

Research is the systematic and orderly approach (following

a series of steps) to obtain new and reliable information.

This definition is general and applies to all disciplines.

 Research is theoretically defined as (1) the careful systematic

study and investigation in some field of knowledge to establish facts

or principles, find answers to a set of questions and/or solve

problems.

Research is practically defined as the process of collecting, analyzing

and interpreting information to answer questions.

 Characteristic of Research

A research should be

1. Controlled
The researcher minimizes the effects of other factors.
2. Careful and Exact
The procedures followed are relevant, appropriate and
justified.
3. Systematic
The procedure adopted follows a certain logical
sequence.
 Characteristic of Research

4. Valid and Verifiable

The conclusions are correct and can be verified.

5. Empirical
The conclusions are based upon results deduced from data
collected from real life experiences or observations.

6. Critical
The process of investigation must be free from
drawbacks.
 The basic types of research are as follows:

1. Descriptive vs. Analytical

Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-

finding enquiries that describe the state of affairs as
it exists at present. Here, the researcher has no
control over the variables; he can only report what
has happened or what is happening.
2. Applied vs. Fundamental
Applied research aims at finding a solution for an
immediate problem.
Fundamental research is mainly concerned with
generalisations and the formulation of a theory.
3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Quantitative research is based on the measurement of
quantity or amount.
Qualitative research is concerned with qualitative
phenomenon, i.e. phenomena relating to or involving quality
or kind.
4. Conceptual vs. Empirical

Conceptual research is related to some abstract idea(s) or theory.

Empirical research relies on experience or observation alone. It is

data-based research, coming up with conclusions which can be
verified by observation or experiment.
5. Other Types of Research

Other types of research are based on the purpose of research,

the time required to accomplish research, n the environment in which
research is done.

Concening time, there is Cross-sectional research

Which is confined a single time-period or longitudinal research which is

carried on over several time-periods. Research can be field-
setting research or laboratory research or simulation research,
depending upon the environment in which it is carried out.
 Research Design

A research design is simply the framework or plan for a

study that helps in collecting and analyzing the data.

Actually, it is a map that is usually developed to guide the

research.
Purposes of a Research Design
Research designs are used for the following purposes;

- To minimize the expenditure.

- To facilitate smooth scaling.

- To collect relevant data and techniques.

- To provide blue print for plans.

- To provide an overview to other experts.

- To provide a direction.
 Characteristics of Good Research Design
Generally, a good research design minimizes bias and
maximizes the reliability of the data collected and analyzed.

Similarly, a design which yields maximum information and

provides an opportunity for considering different aspects of
a problem is the most appropriate and efficient design.

A good research design possesses the following

characteristics;

- Objectivity; - Reliability; - Validity; - Generalizability; -

Adequate Information.
 Types of Research Design
There are several types of research designs. A
researcher selects the type that fits the nature of the
study.

1. Descriptive Designs
These describe phenomena in order to answer
a research question. Quantitative descriptive designs
enables getting access to in-depth information about
the subject matter. Following are the main types of
Descriptive Designs:
 Types of Research Design
- Descriptive research.
- Survey.
- Naturalistic observation.
- Case study.
- Correlational studies (Case control study, Cross sectional study,

Longitudinal study, Cohort study, Observational study, Semi-

experimental designs, Quasi-experimental design, Field experiment,
Twin studies, Experimental designs, Double-blind experiment, True
experimental design).
2. Simple Experimental Techniques

They measure known variables in a population.

Various methods can be used to collect descriptive data:
-Control group.
- Pre-test & post-test design.
- Randomized controlled trials.
- Randomization.
- Between subjects design.
- Within subject design.
3. Complex Experimental Designs

Complex experimental designs can be divided into the following

categories:
- Matched subjects design.
- Solomon four-group design.
- Repeated measures design.
- Factorial design.
- Bayesian probability.
- Counterbalanced measures design.
 The research Process
Research process consists of a series of sequenced actions

or steps to effectively carry out the research.

One should remember that the various steps involved in a

research do not necessarily follow each other in any specific
order.
However, the following order provides a useful
procedural guideline of the research process:

(1) formulating the research problem;

(2) extensive literature survey;

(3) developing the hypothesis;

(4) preparing the research design;

(5) determining sample design;

(6) collecting the data;

(7) execution of the project;

(8) analysis of data;

(9) hypothesis testing;

(10) generalisations and interpretation, and

(11) preparation of the report or presentation of the results,

i.e., formal write-up of conclusions arrived at.
 Selecting Research Topic

The researcher should, after reviewing a

considerable number of research topics, decide
upon a topic for his/her research. Such a choice is
usually done by consulting others or having
knowledge about or interest in a certain field
relevant to his/her specialization.
The Points to be Considered on Selecting a Research Topic

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On selecting a topic, the following points should be seriously considered:

1. Interest

To remain motivated, one should select topics of great interest. The possible

motives/ desire for doing research may be:

1. getting a research degree along with its consequential benefits;

2. facing the challenge in solving the unsolved problems.

3. getting intellectual joy of doing some creative work;

4. being of service to society;

5. getting respectability.
2. Length (Size)
A topic of research should be of reasonable size so as to be
finished within the time and with the sources available.

3. Measurement of Concepts
Concepts in the research can be measured by clear
indicators and measurements.

4. Relevance
The research should be relevant to the existing body of
knowledge and bridge any existing gaps by adding to it.
5. Availability of Sources (References)
The researcher should make sure that enough satisfactory
references are available.

6. Ethical Issues
Ethical issues concerning the study population should be
thought of and solved in advance.

7. Level of Knowledge
A researcher should have enough and adequate
knowledge to deal with the research topic. This is the most
crucial step because the moment a topic is chosen, it
determines almost every step that follows.
The Steps followed on Selecting a Research Topic

Step 1 Identifying a broad field of interest.

Step 2 Dividing the broad field into subfields.

Step 3 Selecting a subfield that is of most interest.

Step 4 Raising research questions.

Step 5 Formulating aims.

Step 6 Assessing aims.

Step 7 Checking the availability of related literature.

 Developing a Research Outline(Research Plan)

To come out with a successful research paper, it is important

to first design an outline of the headings to be accounted for
so as to include the possible brief information about the
research topic.
A research outline includes the sections to be included in
the research. A researcher should have an outline since it

(1) includes some main themes related to the

research topic, and

(2) stands for a number of aspects that have a

direct and indirect effect on the research topic.
 Setting the Aim (Objectives of the Research)

- Definition of Aims

Aims are the objectives to be achieved. They should be clearly and

specifically worded.

Types of Aims

1. Main Aims

Main aims are the statement of the main associations and

relationships to be discovered or established.
 Setting the Aim (Objectives of the Research)

2. Sub-Aims

Sub-aims stand for the specific aspects of the topic to be investigated. They
should
(1) have clear and complete wording

(1) use verbs such as ‘to determine’, ‘to find out’,‘to ascertain’, ‘to measure’,
‘to explore etc.,

(3) each sub-aim should contain only one aspect of the research.
- Wording (Writing) of Aims

This refers to the way or the style in which the aims

are written. It is important because it determines
(1) the research type (descriptive, correlational and
experimental), and
(2) the research design which the researcher adopts
to achieve the aims.
 Writing the Aims

The current research aims at

1. identifying the …….. (main aim)…………….,

2. studying the main types of ………………..., and

3. investigating the reasons behind ………………… .

Quite frequently, researchers fail to come out with good
findings or conclusions because they are unable to lay the
research objectives clearly.
On writing the aims, the following should be kept in mind:

-There should be one main ‘aim’ of the research

and not more than 5-6 secondary aims.
-The aims of the research should be clear, concise,
attainable, measurable, and quantifiable.
 Stating the Aims of Different Types of Research

- The purpose of research is to discover answers to

questions through the application of scientific
procedures.

- Though each research study has its own specific

purpose,

- We may think of research objectives as falling

into a number of following broad groupings:
1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights
into it (exploratory researches);

2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual,

situation or a group (descriptive researches);

3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with

which it is associated with something else (diagnostic researches).

4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables

(hypothesis-testing researches).
 Limits (The Scope) of the Research

This section tells about what is accounted for in

the research and what lies beyond the boundaries of the
research.
Example:
This research (The current research, The present
research) is limited to the study (investigation) of ……….
Other topics (types, factors) are not accounted for since
they are beyond the scope of this research.
 Statement of the Research Problem

The statement of the research problem stands as a brief

overview of the relevant issues or problems.

It is an explanation of the issues prevalent in a particular

sector which drive the researcher to take interest in that
sector for in-depth study and analysis, so as to understand
and solve them.
Components of the Problem Statement
The problem statement in any research therefore
includes the following four important segments:

- Background of the Problem: The facts related to the

problem that make the researcher understand the gravity
of the problem.

- Anchor: How one needs to resolve the research problem.

- General problem: How the problem impacts a larger

population.

- Specific problem: How the problem impacts the research

sample.
 Researchers usually fail to state the problems of
their researchers in the right in case

- They are unable to clearly identify the research

problem.

- They are often confused with the stated research

questions.

Or the problem is
- not encouraging enough for the researcher to read
further.
- not data driven, i.e. there are no citations.
- more than 300 words.
- not focused with the research subject.
 The End
Thank you

Prof.Dr. Hussin A. Ahmed Gargary Miss: Edi Saeed Kachal

haa_1957@yahoo.com edi.kachal@uoz.edu.krd