This assignment will discuss the characteristics of educational research and with clear examples.

But before going into our main business it is important to define what educational research is, in
order to define educational research, we must first look at what research is. Research is a
combination of the both experience and reasoning and must regarded as the most successful
approach to the discovery of truth, particularly as far as natural sciences are concerned
(borg,1963 as cited in Cohan, manion, & Morrison,2002). Therefore, educational research can be
defined as a purposeful and systematic enquiry to solve a problem, illuminate a situation or add
to our knowledge (mutch, 2005, pp.14) by the discovery of non –trivial facts and insights
Howard & sharp,1983, as cited in bell, 2005, pp.2).

In other ways educational research can be a careful, systematic investigation into any aspect of
education. from the French word” recherché’’ which means to travel through or survey.

The nature of educational research is analogous with the nature of research itself, which is
systematic, reliable, verifiable, objective, precise and valid to find the truth, investigates
knowledge, and solves problems (William wiersma, 1991) moreover, educational research
process involves steps to collect the information in order to investigate problems and knowledge.
however, the educational research is more complex, and history, In addition, educational
research is important because of contributing knowledge development, practical improvement,
and policy information (John W. because it can use various approaches and strategies to solve
problems in educational setting. It also can involve many disciplines such as anthropology,
sociology, behavior Creswell, 2005). Therefore, educators can use those research findings to
improve their competences and teaching and learning process.

To start with, the characteristics of educational research are a part of its nature. According to
Gary Anderson (1998), there are so many characteristics of the educational. I tried to classify
those into three categories, which are the purpose of research, the procedures of the research, and
the role of the researcher. The purposes of research are to solve the problems, investigate
knowledge, and establish the principles in educational phenomena. In short, it focuses on solving
the problems and developing knowledge.

Furthermore, procedure is an important characteristic of educational research, which involves

collecting data with accurate observation, objective interpretation, and verification. Finally,
researchers need to be experts and familiar with their field of study, using the data to develop
solutions and increase knowledge. The researchers also need to be patient and careful to use
every step of research’s procedure to achieve the purpose of research.

In this case let us have a look on the following characteristics and explain each and every
characteristic with the clear examples. Like we said earlier on that educational research have
about ten characteristics as started by Anderson and arsenault, (1998). therefore, we have this
kind of characteristic of educational research saying research is systematic so what it means or
trying to tell us is that a research is the organized and systematic because it is a process broken
up into clear steps that lead to conclusions. Generally, our research knowledge is acquired using
a systematic approach to investigate and answer a specific research question. The systematic
approach includes various ways to go about doing the research also known us research
methodologies. For example, the experimental design is well defined research that incorporates
the scientific method to rigorously investigate a specific research question. Consider that our
health topic of interest is pain relief. We have a group of patients who are going through knee –
replacement surgery. We set up an experiment to investigate a new drug called ABC, pain
reliever. Our research question is focused on how well the new drug works to relieve pain among
a group of patients going through knee replacement surgery. Our study compares the ABC drug
currently used for pain relief (a drug commonly used in a specific treatment is referred to as the
gold –standard).

We design our research study to include two groups of patients, who one –half, the experiment
group receives the new ABC drug, while the other half, the control group are given the gold-
standard pain reliever. We hypothesize or state before we start our study that the ABC drug will
reduce pain better in experimental group compared to gold-standard treatment in control group.
We observe and record all research events or outcomes across our two groups of the patient.
When we will analyze all results and make our conclusions. We will state what we learned,
based on our research study regarding our original research study used a systematic process, the
scientific method to complete the study is a scientific manner.

according to the American sociologist earl Robert babbie, research is systematic inquiry to
describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon. A systematic must be followed
for the accurate data. Rules and procedures are an integral part of process that set the objective.
Researchers needs to practice ethics and code of conduct while making observations o r drawing
conclusions

furthermore, education research also has objectives, therefore research objectives describes what
we expect to achieve by a project. Research h objectives are usually expressed in lay terms and
are directed as much as to the client as to the researcher. Research objectives may have linked
with a hypothesis or used as a statement of purpose in a study that does not have a hypothesis.

Even if the nature of research has not been clear to the layperson from the hypotheses, s/he
should be able to understand the research from the objectives. A statement of research objectives
can serve to guide the activities of research. Consider the following examples. Objective: To
describe what factors farmers take into account in making such decisions as whether to adopt a
new technology or what crop to grow.

Objective: To develop a budget for reducing pollution by a particular enterprise.

Objective: To describe the habitat of the giant panda in china.in the above example the intent of
the research is largely descriptive.in the case of the first example, the research will end the study
by being able to specify factors which emerged in household decisions, in the second, the results
will be the specification of a pollution reduction budget and third, creating a picture of the
habitat of giant panda in china. These observations might prompt researchers to formulate
hypotheses which could be tested in another piece of research. So long as the aim of the research
is exploratory, i.e. to describe what is rather than to test an explanation for what is, a research
objective will provide an adequate guide to the research. Therefore, research objectives describe
concisely what the research is trying to achieve. They summarize the accomplishments a
researcher wishes to achieve through the project and provides direction to the study. A research
objective must be achievable, i.e. it must be framed keeping in mind the available time,
infrastructure required for research, and other resources. Before forming a research objective,
you should read about all the developments in your area of research and find gaps in knowledge
that need to be addressed. this will help you come up with suitable objectives for your research
project. Additionally, research objective can be into two types: primary and secondary objective
so primary objective is the same as specific objective while secondary objectives are same as
general objective. Not every research has secondary or general objectives but every research has
a specific objective. these are formulated after the research problem is finalized, they provide the
meaning and defines the research to the readers. Their purpose is to find the answer to the
research problem so in every step of research, the researcher uses, objectives to be more specific.

Research report is precise, now for us to explain what is means and able to give the examples
will first or investment bank. And precise means strictly correct or very exactly. Henceforth, the
term precision defines research report and precise separately. first of over will define research
report as a document prepared by an analyst or strategist who is part of the investment research
team in stock refers to how precisely an object of study is measured. The amount of precision
will vary with the research requirements. For example, the measurement of the baby ages are
measured in years. Brokerage. Charles. C.M and Merton , C.A (2002)

A research report is a publication that reports on the findings of a research project or

alternatively scientific observations on or about a subject. Research reports are produced by
many sector including industry, education, government and non-government, organizations and
may be disseminated internally, or made public. Lawrence, Amanda (2018-01-080.

From the statement which state that research report is precise it means that the research should
be clear and precise, if the hypothesis is not clear and precise, the inference drawn on its basis
cannot be taken as reliable.

Additionally, should be capable of being tested. Some prior study may be done by researcher in
order to make hypothesis a testable one. A hypothesis is testable if other deductions can be made
from it which, in turn, can be confirmed or disproved by observation. Hypothesis should be
stated as far possible in most simple terms so that the same is easily understandable by all
concerned. but one must remember that simplicity of hypothesis has nothing to do with its
significance.

The hypothesis should be consistent with most known facts i.e.it must be consistent with a
substantial body of established fact, in order words, it should be one which judges accept as
being the mostly likely. Also the hypotheses selected should be amenable to testing within a
reasonable time. The researcher should not select a problem which involves hypotheses that are
not agreeable to testing within a reasonable and specified time. He must know that there are
problems that cannot be solved for long time to come. These are problems of immense difficulty
that cannot be profitable because of the lack of essential techniques or measures. It is important
the hypothesis to explain the facts that gave rise to the need for explanation. This means that by
using the hypothesis plus other known and accepted generalizations one should be able to deduce
the original problem condition. Thus hypothesis must actually explain what it claims to explain,
it should have empirical reference.

Therefore, research reports mainly take the form of a thesis dissertation, journal articles and a
paper to be prescribed at a professional meeting. Research reports vary in format and style. For
example , there are difference found in research report prepared as a manuscript for
publication.the dissertation and thesis are more elaborate and comprehensive. While research
papers prepared for journal articles and professional meeting are more precise and concise.

Perhaps when we talk of research is repricable or verifiable we normally talk about a research
must have a proof that someone can prove after research as researcher. Therefore verifiable
research is research that you can verify for yourself. Not in the sense of verifying the scientific
conclusions, which often can only be done many years later. The more modest goal is to verify
that a publication contains no mistakes of the kind that every human being tends to make:
mistakes in manual computations, mistakes in transcribing observation from a rab notebook, etc.

Ideally, all research should be verifiable. A paper is supposed to provide sufficient details about
the work that was done to enable competes Peer to verify the reasoning and repeat any
experiments. Peer review is supposed to certify that a paper is verifiable, and reviewers are even
encouraged to do the verification if that is possible with reasonable effort.

In the pre-computing era, much published research was indeed verifiable. Given the high cost of
verifying experimental work, it is safe to assume that actual verification was the exception. But
theoretical work of any importance was commonly verified by many readers who repeated the
(manual) computations. With the increasing use of computers, papers slowly turned into mere
summaries of research work. Providing all the details was simply impossible-software was too
complex to be fully described in a journal article. It also became common to use software written
by people, and even commercial software whose detailed working are secret. This development
was nicely summarized by buckeheit and Donoho in 1995 in what became a famous quote in the
reproducible research movement.

Finally, best & Kahn (1995). gave a conclusion of the characteristics of educational research so
as to clarify its meaning. Educational research with its characteristics is influenced by four major
paradigms. The nature of educational research is analogous with the nature of itself, which is
systematic, reliable, objective, precise, verifiable and valid to find the truth investigates
knowledge solves problems. Moreover, educational research involves steps to collect the
information in order to investigate problems and knowledge.
 REFERENCES

Anderson (1998) characteristics of research in education. London:

Routledge

Best & Kahn (2002) educational research. New York: Longman.

Charles, C.M. and Merton, C.A, (2002) introduction to educational

research. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Cohen, L. and Manion, L. (1994) research methods in Education,

London: lout ledge

Creswell, J.W. (2002) Educational research, New jersey: Upper Saddle

River.

Lawrence Amanda (2018-01-08) Research Report Investopedia retrieved