INTRODUCTORY CLASS

We will be looking at research skills required for obtaining empirical information about the
social world. These skills are required for problem solving and improvement of everyday life.
The importance of research cannot be ignored in the continuous existence of man. As such we
will be looking at what research is, it characteristics, types and the research process.

What is Research?

Research is made up of two syllables “Re” and “Search”.

Re is a prefix that means - again, over again, once more or anew

Search means to examine closely and carefully or investigate

The advance English dictionary defines research as the systematic investigation into and study of
materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusion.

It is also a systematic investigation (the gathering and analysis of information) designed to

develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. It is a careful consideration of study regarding
a particular concern or problem using scientific methods.

According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie (1998), “Research is a systematic
inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon.

Characteristics of Research
 It rigorous, a careful search or studious inquiry.
 It is empirical, subjected to inquiry and test.
 It is self-correcting and has inbuilt mechanism for protecting against error.
 It is systematic, a set of procedures in the search for more knowledge that specify the
information to be gathered and how it should obtained.
 It is controlled, valid and verifiable (replicable), and critical.

Type of research
Basic Research: A basic research conducted to enhance knowledge. The main motivation is
knowledge expansion. It is a non-commercial research that does not facilitate creating or
inventing anything.

Applied Research: Applied research focuses on analyzing and solving real-life problems. This
type refers to the study that helps solve practical problems using scientific methods. These
studies play an important role in solving issues that impact the overall well-being of humans.
For example: a nutritionist discovered that the recovery of COVID-19 patients are dependent on
the combination of certain diets that enhance recovery and boost immunity but also observed that
patients have different health history. In order to address the chances of recovering patients
through food/diet s/he has to address underlining health issues by studying patients’ health
history in order to proffer appropriate diet schedule for them. The result of this kind of research
work would provide detailed information on diet for COVID-19 patients with or without other
health issues and help them recover fast when they are infected with the virus.

The Research Process

The research process starts with problem identification (topic selection) through the literature
review (for gap identification and guide for further research) to the formulation of a clear and
precise statement of problem that answered by the study objectives using the appropriate
methodology (study design, samples, data collection instruments) and appropriate analysis not
neglecting ethical issues in the course of the study.

Research is iterative, it’s like a spiral that allows you see the end from the any point of the
process. For example, the title of a research work may be suggestive of the type of method to be
used for data gathering, likewise the direction for literature search. The literature on the other
hand gives direction to the title because it allows for gaps to be identified and provide a guide for
the study.

For example
If the literature search on diet and recovery rate of COVID-19 patient was found to be
significantly related in previous studies carried out during the pandemic and a student is asked to
conduct a research on such gap in a particular country, then the following would be applicable.
1. The suggested topic would then be “diet and recovery status of COVID-19 patient”
2. The literature review will then follow chronologically.
3. Statement of problem will be in line with the identified problem (probably related to the
effect of certain diet on immunity boost or recovery rate )
4. Objectives will then be drawn from identified problem(s)
5. Methodology ( study design would probably be descriptive, sampling technique will be
purposive (data will be collected from caregivers of COVID-19 patients, data collection
instruments would be a triangulation of both quantitative and qualitative approach
questionnaire / interviews )
6. Ethical issues of confidentiality and others will be applicable because human subjects are
involved.
7. Data Analysis for both approaches will detailed (the use of SPSS and content analysis)
8. Discussion will be based on findings supported with literature indication similarities or
differences and why variation(s) exist in the research work.
9. Limitations in the course of study will lead to other gap or lacuna for further research
work that makes the cycle start again.