involves developing and testing theories and hypotheses

What is research?
CHAPTER 1
Research: A Way of Thinking pure research concerned with the development, examination,
verification and refinement of research methods,
techniques and tools that form the body of research
Has several paradigms Research is one of the ways to
methodology.
and approaches find answers to our questions
applied research Most of the research in the social sciences is applied,
Types of research such as enhancement of understanding of a phenomenon.

The research process:

applications descriptive study describe systematically a situation, problem or provides
characteristics and requirements
information about, the living conditions of a
community, or describes attitudes towards an issue.
 Controlled – uncontrolled external factors, attempt to quantify
their impact. correlational study
to discover or establish the existence of a
objectives
have to be scrupulous in ensuring that the relationship/association/interdependence between two
 Rigorous – procedures followed to find answers to questions or more aspects of a situation.
are relevant, appropriate and justified. explanatory research
to clarify why and how there is a relationship between
 Systematic – implies that the procedures adopted to undertake two aspects of a situation or phenomenon.
an investigation follow a certain logical sequence. to develop, refine & test measurement tools and
procedures
 Valid and - implies that whatever you conclude on the basis of mode of
structured approach
verifiable your findings is correct and can be verified by you enquiry objectives, design, sample, and the questions should be
and others. determined in advance.
to determine the extent of a problem or phenomenon
 Empirical – conclusions drawn are based upon hard evidence Unstructured
gathered from information collected from real-life approach classified as quantitative research
experiences or observations.
classified qualitative research
 Critical - the process of investigation must be fool proof and
free from any drawbacks. The process adopted and allows flexibility in all aspects of the process
the procedures used must be able to withstand
qualified quantitative if the purpose of the classified as quantitative if the purpose of the study
critical scrutiny.
study is primarily to describe a situation, is primarily to describe a situation, phenomenon,
phenomenon, problem or event. problem or event.