What is Research?

Kanak Chopra
Definition
Objectives
Broad category of Research: Scientific and Non-scientific
Characteristics of a Good Research
Goals of Research
* Alternative to Research and Common Errors
The word “research” comes from a French word, that literally means to search, to go around and to
wander. So we can say that research is kind of a scientific, intellectual walking around or exploration.
Webster has defined research as a diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to
discover or revise facts, theories and applications.
APA: research
n. the systematic effort to discover or confirm facts, to investigate a new problem or topic, or to describe
events and understand relationships among variables, most often by scientific methods of observation and
experimentation. Research is essential to science in contributing to the accumulation of generalizable
knowledge.
Objectives of Research: A research can either contribute to existing pool of knowledge, or identify and fulfil
gaps in previous research.
PTSD, Suppose a community or group intents to provide psychotherapeutic services, two questions arise,
viz., (i) What kind of psychotherapy they should offer and (ii) Which one of the different forms of
therapeutic methods is most effective for a given type of mental disease.
Research can be both scientific or non scientific.
Scientific Research
It questions random sample from a wider population. It is a means of making observations using scientific
methods so as to ensure minimum errors.
Scientific method is a merger of two historical methods of science. Empirical and Hypothetico deductive
model.
Empirical Model: gathering data, induction process

Hypothetical deductive model: . According to this description scientific inquiry and research proceeds by
means by formulating hypotheses that can be either proved or disproved through experimentation and
observation.
CHARACTERTISTICS OF A GOOD RESEARCH
- It is systematic. Certain standards, rules, format is to be followed. The subjective beliefs of the
researcher should not interfere in the research process or the outcome.
- It is empirical. It is based on observable, conclusive evidence that justifies research work.
- It is verifiable and valid. It should be accurate. Other research should support the finding. Eg.
Medicines will help in recovering from depression, other pharma using same salt should get similar
results.
 - It should be logical. Research should be guided by rules of reasoning and logical process of
deduction and induction.
- Good research develops theories and principles.
- Research should is replicable.
GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
1. DESCRIPTION: What is Happening?
Description involves observing a behaviour and noting everything about it, as for example, what is
happening, where it happens, to whom it happens, and under what circumstances it happens.
For example, a teacher might notice that a young girl in second grade classroom is not behaving
properly. She’s not turning in her homework, her grades are slipping badly, and she seems to have a
very negative attitude toward school. The teacher here describes the student’s behaviour, and this
description of what she is doing gives a starting place for the next goal : why is she doing it?

2. Explanation: Why is it Happening?

A theory is a general explanation of a set of observations or facts. 1 3 The goal of description
provides the observations, and the goal of explanation helps to build the theory.

3. Prediction: When Will it Happen Again?

Determining what will happen in the future is a prediction.
4. Control : How can it be Changed ?
The goal is to change a behaviour from an undesirable one (such as failing in school) to a desirable
one (such as academic success). Such efforts also include attempts at improving the quality of life.