INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

F. M. Kapepiso
 Learning objectives

At the end of the lecture, you should be able to:

• Define research
• Understand the essential features of research
• Describe the importance of research
• Distinguish between scientific research, social research
and business research
• Explain the requirement of conducting research and
understand ethical issues in research
 Introduction - Research
• Word ‘Research’ is drawn from a French word
‘rechercher’ which means seek again.
• Research is an intellectual activity undertaken with
the object of advancing the frontiers of human
knowledge and capability.
• “Scientific research is systematic, controlled, empirical
and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions
about the presumed relations among natural
phenomena.”
Fred N. Kerlinger
 Definitions of research
• Definition 1: Du Plooy-Cilliers, Davis & Berzuidenhout
(2014: 6) define research as a complex and logical step-by-
step process of asking questions and finding answers to
these questions, and identifying problems and finding
solutions to these problems.

• Definition 2: Leedy & Omrod (2005, 2010, p.2) define

research as a systematic process of collecting, analyzing,
and interpreting information (data) in order to increase our
understanding of the phenomenon about which we are
interested or concerned.
 Essential Features of Research
1. Objective –Solution of a Problem
2. Basis- Observations, empirical evidence, sharing
experiences, knowledge of subject , experimentation,
field investigations, etc.
3. High emphasis on Accuracy
4. Use of Scientific Methods
5. Demands High Level of Commitment
6. Alternative Approach – Induction or Deduction
7. Scientific Objectivity in Interpretation and Reporting Findings
8. Process – Observation-Prediction-Theorisation
9. It is a Continuous Process
10. Open system of thought
 Importance of Research
• According to Creswell (2012, 2014: 17-20), research is important for 3
reasons: research adds to our knowledge; research improves practice;
and research informs policy debates:

(i) Research adds to our Knowledge:

• Educators undertake research to contribute to existing information about
issues.
• Through research we develop/ generate results that help to answer
questions and we accumulate these results, we gain a deeper
understanding of the problems.
• How can research specifically add to the knowledge base and existing
literature? A research report might provide a study that has not been
conducted and thereby fill a void in existing knowledge.
• It can also provide additional results to confirm or disconfirm results of
prior studies.
• It can help add to the literature about practices that work or advance
better practices that educators might try in their educational setting.
• It can provide information about people and places that have not been
previously studied.
 Importance of Research...
(ii) Research Improves Practice:
• Research is important because it suggests improvements for
practice.
• Armed with results educators become more effective professionals.
• Research offers practicing educators new ideas to consider as they
go about their jobs. From reading research studies, educators can
learn about new practices that have been tried in other settings or
situations.
• Research also helps practitioners evaluate approaches that they
hope will work with individuals in educational settings. This process
involves sifting through research to determine which results will be
most useful.
• At a broader level research helps practicing educators to build
connections with other educators who are trying out similar ideas in
different locations.
 Importance of Research…
(iii) Research informs Policy debates:
• Research provides information to policy makers
when they research and debate educational
topics.
• For policy makers, research offers results that
can help them weigh various perspectives. When
policy makers read research on issues, they are
informed about current debates and stances
taken by other public officials.
• To be useful, research needs to have clear
results, be summarized in a concise fashion, and
include data based evidence.
 Science and Scientific Research

• Science is a body of Systematised knowledge.

Essential elements of Science -

1. Employs Systematic Methods
2. Universal in Applicability
3. Subject matter is Factual not fiction
4. Results are Verifiable – Validity can be tested
5. Provides sound basis for Accurate Prediction
6. Based on Cause and Effect Relationship
 Scientific Method
“Scientific method is a collective term denoting various processes by
the aid of which the sciences are built up. In a wider sense, any
method of investigation by which scientific or other impartial and
systematic knowledge is acquired is called a scientific method.”
Encyclopedia Britannica

Scientific Method stretches from problem to solution

Types of Scientific Methods
1. Induction – From individual to general
2. Deduction – From general to individual
 Process of Scientific Research
1. Observation
2. Recording
3. Classification
4. Analysis
5. Generalization
6. Verification
 Social Research
• Social research is “the systematic method of discovering
new facts or verifying old facts, their sequences, inter-
relationships, causal explanations, and the natural laws
which govern them, regarding a social phenomena.”
P. V. Young
• “the systematic and objective analysis and recording of
controlled observations that may lead to the
development of generalizations, principles and theories,
resulting in prediction and possibly ultimate control of
the events.”
 Social Research
Social research thus is a tool used by social scientists to understand
the social processes, social values, ideas,realities, their inter-
relationship and linkage with natural laws.

Objectives of Social Research are -

1. Understand Social Phenomena
2. Exploration of New Ideas and Concepts
3. Find the Truth about social phenomena
 Utility of Social Research
1. Facilitates Control over Social Phenomena
2. Helps in Social Planning
3. Useful in Social Predictions
4. Creates Social Understanding
5. Leads to Social Growth
6. Contributes to Human Welfare
7. Satisfaction of Intellectual Curiosity
 Business Research
• Business research is the process through which business
organisations source and supply information for
decision making.
• Through business research an attempt is made to fill up
the gap between requirement and availability of
information for decision making in various management
functions, viz., marketing, production, human resource
management, finance, etc.
 Nature of Business Research
1. Applied in nature – Solution of some business problem
2. Targeted to achieve certain goals and objectives
3. Lay down policies, processes, guidelines, etc.
4. Based on cost benefit approach
5. Social Welfare focus – Better products, better services,
quality of social life,
customer satisfaction,
employee satisfaction, etc.
 Objectives of Business Research

1. Solution of business problems

2. Designing business policies
3. Development of new products and services
4. Greater customer satisfaction
5. Improve quality of work life
6. Meet Social responsibility of business
7. Achieve business goals
 Scope of Business Research
1. Product and Service Research
2. Market Research
3. Policy Research – Marketing, HR, Pricing, Distribution,
Product Promotion,
Advertisement
4. Financial Research – Investment, Financing, Capital
structure
5. HR Research –Motivational Research
5. Consumer Research –Attitude Research
6. Trade Research – International Trade
 Problems of Business Research
1. Balance Between Theory and Application
2. Emphasis on Quantification
3. Use of Appropriate Methodology of Research
4. Scientific Analysis
5. Testing Significance of Results
6. Inter Disciplinary Approach
7. Scientific Objectivity
8. Ethical Issues
 Requirements of Research
Personal Qualities of Researcher
1. A sensitive Mind
2.Objectivity
3. Patience and Perseverance
4. Alertness and Imagination
5. Ability to Research
6. Knowledge Base

Supportive Environment
1. Library and Documentation Facilities
2. Field Investigation and Computational Facility
3. Financial Support and Sponsorship
4. Team Support and Networking with other Researchers
5. Recognition, Reward and Appreciation
6. Application of Research and Feedback
 Life Skills for Research
• Reading
• Listening
• Watching
• Selecting
• Questioning
• Organising
• Summarizing
• Writing
• Presenting
• Reflecting
 Research ethics
• Ethics are norms or standards of behavior that guide moral choices about our
behavior and our relationships with others.
• Ethics in its widest sense is the principles of good human behavior.
• Ethics differ from legal constraints, in which generally accepted standards have
defined penalties that are universally enforced.
• The goal of ethics in research is to ensure that no one is harmed or suffers
adverse consequences from research activities.
a. A research should be properly planned and executed.
“It is unethical to conduct research, which is badly planned or poorly executed.”
Declaration of Helsinki (1975) section 4.2
b. Complete objectivity and ethical standards should be maintained in the process
of research.
I. In the selection of respondents
II. In the development of research instruments
III. Interpretation of results, and
IV. In reporting the research findings.
 Ethics in Behavior with Others
a. The researcher should demonstrate full sensitivity towards the
participants/respondents.
b. The researcher must guard the client/user interest so that
sponsors receive an ethically conducted and reported research.
c. The client/user must guard the researcher and his team’s
interest.
d. A research must safeguard public interest including the interest
of the user of the product and service.
 Sensitivity towards Participants/respondents
1. Explain the study benefits –neither over nor under state
• Motivate them to answer questions truthfully
2. Explain to participants their rights and protections.
• To tell full truth
• Avoid bias
• Protection of confidentiality
• Right to withdraw, if threat experienced
3. Obtain informed consent
• Fully disclosing the purpose, procedure and design
• Obtain a written and signed consent. In case of children from
guardian or parent of child
4. Debriefing in case deception is used.
• Explain deception used and its purpose.
5. Share results with participants to calm down adverse anticipation.
 Sensitivity towards Participants/respondents
6. Right to privacy. Researcher to show full respect to right of privacy.
Give full assurance of confidentiality of information shared
a. Giving signed non disclosure document
b. Restricting access to participants identification
c. Revealing information on written consent of participant.
d. Restrict access to research instruments where identification may exist.
e. Non disclosure of data sub-sets
7. Right of refusal to give information/interview
• Refusal to answering a particular question
• Limit time of interview
• Not answering telephone call at odd hours or at no time
• Not admitting surveyors at home
Thanks