Research Methods

M. Sc. Students
23-11-2020

Introduction to Research
Assist. Prof. Dr. Dyary Hiewa
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Sulaimani
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What is Research?

Research is an organized and systematic way of finding answers to questions.

• Systematic since it is a definite set of procedures and steps which are followed
• Organized since it is a planned procedure, not a spontaneous one. It is focused and limited to
a specific scope.
• Finding Answers is the end of all research. Research is successful when we find answers.
Sometimes the answer is no, but it is still an answer.
• Questions are fundamental to research. Without question, research has no focus, drive, or
purpose.

History of Scientific Research

The development of rules for scientific reasoning has not been straightforward; the scientific
method has been the subject of intense and recurring debate throughout the history of science.
Despite the disagreements about approaches, the scientific method has advanced in definite
steps. Greek-speaking ancient philosophers engaged in the earliest known forms of what is today
recognized as a rational theoretical science. Thales of Miletus (623-548 BC) was the first known
philosopher to use natural explanations, proclaiming that every event had a natural cause.

The Research Process

The step-by-step process of empirical research is intended to find out determinably unbiased
answers to specific questions and to report those answers in a manner that does not lead to
deceptive or ambiguous interpretation.

Stages of the Scientific Research Process

1. Identifying a topic 6. Planning the methods to test the hypothesis

2. Searching and reviewing the literature 7. Collecting data
3. Defining a topic 8. Analyzing data and interpreting results
4. Stating a general question or a problem 9. Writing about the findings
5. Phrasing an operationally defined hypothesis

Stage 1: Identifying a Topic

It is recommended to select a general subject or issue of interest, either personally or

professionally (or both). A person may or may not already know something about the topic, but
they must like it enough to want to learn more about it. Without genuine appeal and curiosity,
any topic can quickly become uninteresting. If a researcher does not like the topic of study, he
will probably hate it by the end of the research process.

Stage 2: Searching and Reviewing the Literature

Before exploring a specific question, it is essential to become knowledgeable about the subject
matter and existing literature connected to that topic's vastness. In other words, it is necessary
to learn the current status of the topic by searching and reviewing the available literature
connected to it.

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Stage 3: Defining a Topic

After doing a primary literature search, the goal is to decide on a particular and detailed issue or
question while avoiding vagueness and indefinite scope. At this point, the topic is more clearly
defined and stated, which is also referred to as the statement of the problem.

Stage 4: Stating a General Question or a Problem

The problem statement is a deliberate and understandable explanation that expresses the
question or issue of interest in definite terms. The statement is usually one sentence in length.
The statement not only defines the topic but also formally announces the intention or reason
for the investigation. More simply, the problem statement clearly states the main topic and the
point of the study.

Stage 5: Phrasing an Operationally-Defined Hypothesis

The purpose of the research hypothesis is to depict the expected connection among or between
variables of interest. The variables of interest are the things or stuff being questioned or
measured in the study. A well-written research hypothesis clearly states how it is anticipated
that the independent variable of interest will influence or change the dependent variable of
interest.

Stage 6: Planning the Methods to Test the Hypothesis

When the methods and procedures are planned, the study's measurements must be connected
to the hypothesis and the problem statement. The methods must focus on the variables of
interest and how they will be measured or evaluated to best answer the research question. The
methods explain the step-by-step directions describing what variables will be measured or
tested and how.

A research question or problem can often be addressed from more than one perspective, using
more than one type of methodology. Searching and reviewing the existing literature can provide
a perspective on how similar questions or problems have been examined in the past.
Additionally, reviewing the discussions, limitations, and suggestions for future research
directions from relevant earlier studies can help plan the methods to test the current study's
hypothesis.

Stage 7: Collecting Data

In the data collection stage, information about the variables of interest is carefully gathered and
documented. The methodology part planned how to collect the data. During this stage, these
methods and procedures are executed.

Stage 8: Analyzing Data and Interpreting Results

Once the data have been collected, they must be analyzed and interpreted. To determine which
statistical tests are most appropriate to analyze the data collected, the researcher must keep in
mind what general question was being asked or what problem was being addressed in the study
or experiment. It is important to remember that the research problem and the research
question(s) drive both the research methods and the data analysis. It is challenging to separate
research methods from data analysis because these are like two sides of the same coin.

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Stage 9: Writing about the Findings

After the data have been analyzed and interpreted, the results of the study must be reported. If
something of interest was measured, what was the outcome? How did one variable influence or
change another? Regardless of the results, it is important to stick to the facts and report what
was found even if it differs from the expected.

RESEARCH-RELATED TERMINOLOGY

CASE STUDY: It is a detailed analysis of a person or group, especially as a model of medical or

social phenomena such as studying the occurrence of a rare disease in specific individuals.

THESIS: It is a long piece of writing on a particular subject to earn a degree at a university.

ARTICLE: It is a written work published in print or electronic medium. It may be to propagate the
news, research results, academic analysis, or debate.

RESEARCH PAPER: It is an article published in academic journals and contains original research
results or reviews existing results.

REVIEW ARTICLE: Review articles attempt to summarize the current state of understanding on a
topic. They analyze or discuss research previously published by others rather than reporting new
experimental results.

REPORT: A report is written or spoken information on something that one has observed, heard,
done, or investigated.

ASSAY: It is a quantitative or qualitative test of a substance to determine its components.

ESSAY: A short piece of writing on a single subject, usually presenting the author's personal
view.

BULLETIN: A brief report (especially an official statement issued for immediate publication or
broadcast) or a periodical, especially one published by an organization or society.

MAGAZINE: A periodical publication containing articles and illustrations, often on a particular

subject or aimed at a particular readership.

JOURNAL: This is a publication printed with ink on paper or distributed online and generally
published on a regular schedule and containing a variety of content.

PUBLICATION: The preparation and issuing of a book, journal, or piece of music for public sale
to make content available to the general public.

COPYRIGHT: The legal right granted to an author, publisher, or distributor to exclusive

publication, production, sale, or distribution of a literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic work.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: A complete or selective list of works compiled upon some common principle, as
authorship, subject, or place of publication.

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SCIENTIFIC THEORY: It explains an aspect of the natural world that can be repeatedly tested and
verified following the scientific method, using accepted protocols of observation, measurement,
and evaluation of results.

HYPOTHESIS: It is a supposition or proposed explanation based on limited evidence as a starting

point for further investigation.

Even though the words "hypothesis" and "theory" are often used synonymously, a scientific
hypothesis is not the same as a scientific theory. A working hypothesis is a provisionally
accepted hypothesis proposed for further research.

INDEX: Something that serves to guide, point out, or otherwise facilitate reference. In a book,
the index is an alphabetized list of names, places, and subjects, giving the page or pages on
which, each item is mentioned.

QUOTATION

1. A group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated by someone other than the
original author or speaker

2. A formal statement setting out the estimated cost for a particular job or service

CITATION: A quotation from or reference to a book, paper, or author, especially in a scholarly

work. Synonyms: quotation, quote, extract, excerpt.

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