CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH

The abovementioned definitions of research lead to the following common characteristics of

research:

1. The research should be systematic. There is a system to follow in conducting research as there is a
system for formulating each of its parts. There is a big system (macro) and under it are small systems
(micro). In research writing, what is referred to as the "system" is composed of the chapters and their
elements. The macrosystem is composed of chapters that are organized in a logical and scientific
manner. On the other hand, the microsystem consists of the detailed contents of each chapter. The
contents are further divided into elements that are organized following a systematic procedure.

2. The research should be objective. Research involves the objective process of analyzing phenomena of
importance to any profession or to different fields or disciplines (Nieswiadomy, 2005). A researcher
should objectively look at the basis on which the work is founded. He or she must never produce results
out of nowhere; the results of the research should be validated. These results must never be based from
biases. It is very important for the researcher to clarify indicators and boundaries within which the
research is confined because these factors could affect objectivity.

3. The research should be feasible. Any problem of extraordinary nature that directly or indirectly affects
any profession is a feasible problem to study. In settings like in the community, school, or workplace,
unusual phenomena may happen and can turn into potential problems.

4. The research should be empirical. There should be supporting pieces of evidence and accompanying
details for every variable used in the study. References and citations of facts and information that the
researcher has gathered in his or her paper must be included. Plagiarism constitutes claiming another
person's idea or intellectual property as one's own. Through proper attribution, the researcher states
that the knowledge being shared through the study was taken from the study of other experts.

5. The research should be clear. The choice of variables used in the study should be explained by the
researcher. This can be done by enriching the review of literature or by discussing the different theories
on which the selection of the variables is based. Therefore, there must be sufficient indicators for each
variable. These variables can be gathered from different published and unpublished materials.