Research and Writing Skills

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
Research

 A research is conducted to find answers

about something that one is “unsure of”.
 A research is conducted using
systematic methods to ensure that the
information obtained is reasonable and
is supported by quantitative or qualitative
data.
Research

 Data about a certain topic are collected

directly from individuals, group of
individuals, documentary items and other
sources of information
Research is an instrument…

 To obtain knowledge which is valid and

reliable, that is knowledge with scientific
and logical foundations.

 To collect evidence in order to give an

answer to any doubt or problem which
arises.
Research is an instrument…
 To correct any stereotyping, traditions
and beliefs which is untrue.

 To predict the existence of a

phenomenon.

 To explain the truth about a

phenomenon such its similarities,
differences and relationships.
Research Process

 Research  Instrumentations
Problem  Data Collection
 Determining  Data Analysis
Research  Research Results
Objectives
 Reference to
literature
 Research design
Research Structure
STYLES OF RESEARCH
Quantitative Research
 Quantitative researchers collect facts and
study the relationship of one set of facts to
another.
 They use structured and predetermined
research questions, conceptual frameworks,
and designs.
 Thus, they use techniques that are likely to
produce quantified and, if possible,
generalizable conclusions.
Qualitative Research
 Qualitative research generally uses non-numerical
data and usually has broader research questions at
the outset that home in on a narrower range of issues
as the research develops.

 Researchers adopting a qualitative perspective are

more concerned to understand individuals’ perceptions
of the world.
Mixed Mode
 Mixed methods research uses a combination
of quantitative and qualitative approaches to
collect data. The research hypotheses or
statements of belief are both quantitative and
qualitative.
Example

Quantitative Qualitative Mix mode

How many male How satisfied are How many male

and female the doctors who and female
doctors are work in the doctors are
working in the government satisfied working
government hospital? in government
hospital? hospital?
Types of research

 Descriptive Research

 Correlational Research

 Intervention Research
Descriptive Research

 Describes the characteristics of the

phenomenon that is being studied.

 This methodology focuses more on the

“what” of the research subject rather
than the “why” of the research subject
DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
Characteristics:
 Quantitative Research
(collect quantifiable information to be used for
statistical analysis)
 Uncontrollable Variables
(none of the variables are influenced in any way)
 Cross sectional studies
(different sections belonging to the same group
are studied)
Methods:

Observational Method

Case Study Method

Survey Research
Observational Method

 Quantitative observation and qualitative

observation are used in this research
method.
 Quantitative observation focused on
numbers and values.
 Qualitative observation deals with data
that can be observed with our senses:
sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing.
Quantitative Research

 Quantitative research is associated with

numerical data and accuracy.
 In quantitative research, a research
problem is stated in the form of a
hypothesis.
 The variables which are being studied
must be operationally defined before
they are measured.
Case Study Method

 Case studies involve in-depth research

and study of individuals or group
 Case studies lead to a hypothesis.
 Case studies should not be used to
determine cause and effect as they don’t
have the capacity to make accurate
predictions because there could be a
bias on the part of the researcher.
Survey Research
 Respondents answer through surveys or
questionnaires, or polls.
 They are a popular market research tool to
collect feedback from respondents.

 In order for a survey to gather good quality

data, it should have good survey questions,
which should be a balanced mix of open-
ended questions and close ended-questions.
Correlational Research

 Is a type of non-experimental research

method, in which a researcher measures
two variables, understands and assess
the statistical relationship between them
with no influence from any extraneous
variable.
Example
Continue…

 This means that people who are married

are less likely to develop cancer.
 However, this doesn’t necessarily mean
that marriage directly avoids cancer.
 In correlational research, it is not
possible to establish the fact, what
causes what.
Types of Correlational Research

Positive correlation:
A positive correlation between two variables is
when an increase in one variable leads to an
increase in the other variable and a decrease in
one variable will see a decrease in the other
variable.
For example, the amount of money a person
has might positively correlate with the number of
cars he has.
Negative Correlation

 This means, if there is an increase in

one variable, the second variable will
show a decrease and vice versa
 The level of being educated might
negatively correlate with the crime rate
Continue…
 This means if in some ways the level of
education in a country is improved, it can lead
to lowering the crime rates.
 Please note, that this doesn’t mean that lack of
education leads to crimes.
 This means lack of education and crime is
believed to have a common reason: poverty.
No correlation

 Two variables are not correlated.

 This means a change in one variable
may not necessarily see a change in the
other variable.
 For example, being a millionaire and
happiness is not correlated. This means
an increase in money doesn’t lead to
happiness.
Data Collection in Correlational Research

Naturalistic Observation
Observation is a way of data collection in
which people’s behaviour is observed in
their natural environment, in which they
typically exist
It could mean a researcher might be
observing people in a grocery store, at the
cinema, playground or similar places.
Data Collection in Correlational Research

Archival Data
Archival data is the data that has been
previously collected by doing similar kind
of research.
Archival data is usually made available
through primary research.
Intervention Research
 Intervention research includes studies in which
researchers arrange (or follow) a systematic change in
conditions to determine the effects on a physical
capacity, skill, or performance important to dancers.

 Clinical and experimental research are the most

common types of intervention research but other
systematic efforts to measure the effects of an
intervention, including intervention-based case studies
and qualitative studies, may be included
Example:
Important Aspects in Stating a Research Problem

 The research problem should be practical, that

is, it should be investigated and the data which
is collected can be analysed.

 The research problem must also state the

research target. This means the population
which the researcher intends to study.
Important Aspects in Stating a Research Problem

 The research problem must state the main variables that will be
studied. For instance, in the research “The effects of thinking
styles” and academic performance of university students”, the
main variables are “thinking styles” and “academic performance”.

 The research problem must be stated clearly and precisely. It

must be stated clearly to enable readers to understand the issues
that are being studied, and it must be stated precisely to enable
the researcher to concentrates on the research focus. Confusing
terms need to be replaced with terms that are easily understood.
RESEARCH SKILLS
Clear about our goal

 Our goal is to produce good

research results, to make
advancements in science and
technology
 NOT to get a job, or to make
more money, …
Skill 1: Curiosity
 Intellectual curiosity
 How does it work? What
if you change this? Why
did you do this? …
 Ask questions to
everybody (and to
yourself) and in all
circumstances
 Look at what others do
 Can be very helpful in
learning how to
recognize the interesting
questions
Skill 2: Patience
 Good research needs time
 Don’t expect great results
immediately
 Theorems may be hard to
prove
 Coding may take more
time that initially thought
to be bug-free
 Experiments need to be
tuned to show interesting
results and lessons
 Allow ample time to do either
theoretical or empirical
research
Skill 3: Enjoyment
 Research has to be
something you like to do
 Don’t do it for some other
reason (money, recognition,
fame, jobs, etc.)
 If you enjoy it, more chances
that the results will be
interesting, and all the other
things will come
 Just relax and have fun
 Think carefully if this is what
you like
 If you can imagine a
better life, you should go
and take that life
Skill 4: Problem formulation
 A problem should be
formulated in a simple
and crisp way
 Everybody, even non-
expert people, should be
able to understand it
 An unnecessary
complex formulation
may hide the essence of
the problem and also its
solution
 Talk to others, define
your problem to them,
get feedback
Skill 5: Review existing work
 Being able to find and
evaluate previous work
 Look for what others
have done before
starting your research
project
 It helps defining and
tuning your problem
 May give you ideas on
how to solve it
 Avoids reinventing the
wheel and wasting time
Skill 6: Problem solving and
adaptability
 Find suitable tools to
answer a question or to
solve a well-posed
problem
 Be able to adapt
yourself to the context
 Turn a problematic
situation into an
interesting research
problem
 Read, read, read
 Don’t get discouraged, a
solution can always be
found
Skill 7: Independence and courage
 Independent thoughts
 Not just following others’
ideas
 Courage to pursue your ideas
 Self-confidence
 Also courage to know
when to stop
 Don’t worry to state your
ideas and to be criticised
 Better to be criticised than to
be ignored
 No need for people who
follow others
Skill 8: Communicating your results
 A paper
 A talk
 A Ph.D. thesis
 General advice:
 The idea and
motivation is important,
not just the technical
details
 The simpler your way
to present your idea,
the more chances
people will pay
attention