GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT

RESEARCH SKILLS
RESEARCH – A systematic process or way of investigating about a particular problem.

STAGES OF RESEARCH/ RESEARCH FORMAT

1. Choosing a topic
2. Formulation of a hypothesis
3. Formulation of aims/ objectives
4. Data collection methods
Data presentation methods
5. Data analysis/ interpretation
6. Data evaluation
7. Conclusion
8. Recommendation

CHOOSING A RESEARCH TOPIC (characteristics)

 Topic should have a place of study

 Topic should be specific/ have focus ie. Start with words such as “Causes,
Effects..etc
 Topic should be manageable

Examples of research topics

 The disadvantages of water shortage in Bobonong
 The causes water pollution in S/Phikwe
 The effects of drought in Tonota
 The impacts of foot and mouth disease to pastoral farmers in Matsiloje
 Causes of paper littering in S/Phikwe

FORMULATION OF A HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis – the idea that the researcher wishes to test and it should be measurable.

Examples of hypotheses on the topic “Causes of water shortage in Bobonong ’’

 Farmers are mostly affected by water shortage in Bobonong

 Lack of rainfall is the main cause of water shortage in Bobonong
 Increase in population is the least cause of water shortage in Bobonong
 Animals mostly affected by water shortage are cattle in Bobonong

OBJECTIVES
 To find out the causes of water shortage in Bobonong
 To find out the main sources of water in Bobonong
 To find out the effects of water shortage in Bobonong
 To find out the solutions to the problems of water shortage in Bobonong

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

(a) Interview
How it is done
 Prepare a set of questions
 Make a sample of respondents

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 Appoint with respondents
 Ask questions orally
 Write down responses
 Compile the information

Advantages of interview
 Gives first hand information
 Clarity of information/ probing
 Language flexibility
 High response rate
 Suitable for both literate and illiterate people
 Non verbal behaviour or facial expression can be observed
 Researcher writes responses himself/herself hence easy to compile data

Disadvantages
 High transport costs involved
 Time consuming
 Biased/ subjective information
 Respondents may withhold information
 Respondents may not honour appointments
 Lack of cooperation by respondents
 Long distances to places of research
 Lack of transport

b). Questionnaire
 Prepare a set of questions
 Make a sample of respondents
 Mail or physically distribute questionnaires to respondents
 Collect the questionnaires
 Compile information

Advantages
 First hand information
 Wider coverage of respondents
 Respondents have time to consult the records

Disadvantages
 Low response rate
 Delayed responses
 Lack of clarity/ probing

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
 Suitable for literate people only
 Questionnaire can get lost
 Language barrier
 Expensive to post the questionnaire
 Non verbal behaviour cannot be observed
 Time consuming
 Biased information
 Not all questions may be answered
 Difficulty in verifying the responses

How to construct a questionnaire ?

1. Title e.g Questionaire on-----------------------------

2. Bio data e.g Age--------------------------------------
Sex--------------------------------------
Occupation-----------------------------
3. Questions
a.-------------------------------------------------------------
b.-------------------------------------------------------------
c.-------------------------------------------------------------
d.-------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you.

c). Observation
 Make an observation checklist

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  Physically visit the area
 Study the situation
 Take field notes
 Compile the information

Advantages
 First hand information/ primary data
 Possible to revisit the study area/ flexibility
 The researcher writes field notes himself/herself hence easy to compile data

Disadvantages
 Time consuming
 Can easily be disturbed by bad weather conditions
 Traveling expenses may be high
 Information may be biased/ subjective
 Lack of transport

d). Documentary study

 Collect relevant materials to the topic at hand
 Study the documents to extract relevant information
 Take/write down notes
 Compile information

Advantages
 The source material can be used many times
 Easy to gather more information in a short time
 Detailed and specific information may be obtained

Disadvantages

 Information may be outdated

 Lack of accessibility to obtain some information
 Biased information
 Pages may be missing in some texts

e). Experiment
 Make a checklist of materials to be used
 Collect samples
 Test samples
 Compile information

Advantages
 First hand information
 More reliable
 Results can further be tested for validity

Disadvantages
 Too expensive
 Time consuming

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  Wrong method may be used
 Cannot be used to measure human behavior
 Lack of knowledge on the use of equipments

General problems likely to be encountered during research

 Disrupted by bad weather
 Lack of cooperation
 Long distances to places of research
 Lack of accessibility
 Lack of time
 High travelling costs/ Lack of money for transport
 Lack of security
 Language barrier
 Lack of transport

NB- After the researcher has collected data, what can he/she do with the
Findings ?

 Present them
 Analyse/ interpret
 Evaluate
 Test hypothesis
 Conclude/ summarise
 Recommend/ provide solution
 Write a report
 Publish
 Submit to relevant authorities

METHODS OF DATA PRESENTATION

 Bar graph/ Bar chart

 Line graph
 Photograph
 Histogram (No spaces between bars)
 Scatter graph
 Pictograph
 Pie charts
 Flow charts
 Table
 Maps
 Prose
 Triangular graph( see diagram below)

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GRAPHS
Things to remember when constructing graphs;

 Title
 Labeling of x and y axis
 Plotting
 Consistent scale

CHARTS
a. Pie charts - should have a title
- correct labeling of angles in degrees
-segments add up to 360 degrees (draw diagram)

DATA ANALYSIS/ INTERPRETATION

Information presented in statistical form need to be analysed in order to find its deeper meaning.
This can be done by giving reasons or explaining the picture that is shown by the different
graphs, tables and charts

RECOMMENDATIONS

 These are suggestions or possible solutions to the problem investigated i.e what you think
can be done.

Example – For the topic on “ Causes of water shortage in Bobonong” , the

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 possible recommendations are;

 Build more dams

 Reuse water
 Reduce consumption
 Redirect/rainwater harvesting/use of catchment tanks
 Education
 Increase water charges/tariffs

NB: DO NOT use the word “AVOID” in your recommendations