 Research Basics

 The Research Process

 Research Proposal
Development
 Why Research Methods
•Is It Because We Want Degrees?
•So We Can Understand Works In Our Profession?
•That We Can Conduct A Meaningful Research?
•So We Can Evaluate Existing Research Works?
•Improve Knowledge In Our Area Of Study?
•Contribute To Existing Knowledge In Specific
Field/Area Of Study?
•Etc.
 Research Isn’t Information Gathering:
 Gathering Information From Sources Such As
Books Or Magazines Isn’t Research.
 No Contribution To New Knowledge

 Research Isn’t The Transportation Of Facts:

 Merely
Transporting Facts From One Source To
Another Doesn’t Constitute Research.
 No Contribution To New Knowledge
 Although, This Might Make Existing
Knowledge More Accessible.
  Research is:

 “…The Systematic Process Of Collecting &

Analyzing Information To Obtain Empirical Data
 In Order To Increase Our Understanding Of
The Phenomenon About Which We Are
Concerned Or Interested In.”

1. Leedy P. D. and Ormrod J. E., Practical

Research: Planning & Design, 7th Edition. 2001.
RESEARCH:
1.Originates With A Specific Problem, Questions
&/ Hypothesis
2.Requires Clear Articulation Of A Goal/Objectives

3.Follows A Specific Plan Or Procedure.

4.Often Divides Main Problem Into Sub-problems.

5.Accepts Certain Critical Assumptions.

6.Requires Collection & Interpretation Of Data.

7.Cyclical (Helical) In Nature.

 Research Begins With A Problem.
 This Problem Needs Not Be Earth-shaking.

 Identifying This Problem Can Actually Be

The Hardest Part Of Research.

 Generally, Good Research Projects Should:

 Address An Important Question.
 Advance Existing Knowledge.
 Create New Knowledge
 The Following Kinds Of Projects
Are Usually Not Good Research:

 Self-enlightenment.
 Comparing Data Sets.
 Correlating Data Sets.
 Questions With Yes / No Answers.
 Good Research/Project Requires:
 Clearly Defined Scope / Delimitations Of
The Work
 Clearly Explained Process So That It Can
Be Reproduced & Verified By Other
Researchers.
AThoroughly Planned Design That Is As
Objective As Possible.
 Good Research Requires That:
 Highly Ethical Standards Be Applied.
 All Limitations Be Documented.
 DataMust Be Adequately Analyzed &
Explained.
 AllFindings Be Presented Unambiguously &
All Conclusions Be Justified By Sufficient
Evidence.
 Observations.
 Literature Reviews:
 ExistingProject Work Reports / Theses
 Research Works / Research Papers
 Journal Articles
 Professional Conferences/
Workshops/Seminars/AGMs.
 Institutional & Industrial Problems
 Societal Phenomena / Concerns / Interests


 Once You’ve Identified A Research Problem:
 State That Problem Clearly & Completely.
 Determine The Feasibility Of The Research.

 Identify Sub-problems:
 Completely Researchable Units.
 Small In Number.
 Add Up To The Total Problem.
 Must Be Clearly Tied To The Interpretation Of
The Data.
 Hypotheses Are Tentative & Intelligent
Guesses As To The Solution Of A
Problem.
 There Is Often A 1-1 Correspondence B/n A
Sub-problem & A Hypothesis.
 Hypotheses Can Direct Later Research
Activities
 Since They Can Help Determine The Nature
Of The Research & Methods Applied.
 All Research Works Have Some
Delimitations
 Eg.,
Certain Works That Will Not Be
Performed In One Research, But Must Be
Done In Another Study/Project/Research.

 The Work That Will Not Be Undertaken

For Various Reasons Is Described As:
 TheDelimitations / Scope Of A
Research/Project
 Define Each Technical Term As It Is Used
In Relation To Your Research / Project.
 This Helps Remove Significant Ambiguity
From The Research / Project Itself
 By Ensuring That,
At Least They Know What You’re Talking
About.

Though Reviewers May Not Agree With

Your Definitions,
 Assumptions Are Those Things That The
Researcher Is Taking For Granted.
 E.g.,: A Given Test Instrument Accurately &
Consistently Measures A Phenomenon In
Question.

 As A General Rule, You’re Better Off

Documenting An Assumption Than Ignoring It.

 OverlookedAssumptions Provide A Prime

Source Of Debate About A Project’s Results.
 Many Research Problems Have A Kind Of
Theoretical Feel About Them.
 SuchProjects Often Need To Be Justified:
 What Is The Research Project’s Practical Value?

 Without This Justification,

 ItWill Prove Difficult To Convince Others
That :
 The Problem In Question Is Worth Studying
 THE
RESEARCH
PROCESS
 THE END OF
LECTURE No. 1B