kalin (1995) sees research as the systematic and objective analysis and recording of controlled observations that may lead to the development of generalizations, principles or theories, resulting in prediction and possibly ultimate control of events.
Travers (1969) has described research as an activity directed towards the
development of an organized body of scientific knowledge about the events with which human beings are concerned
Leedy (1997) defines research as the systematic process of
collecting and analyzing information (data) in order to increase our understanding of the
phenomenon with which we are concerned or interested.
Research originates with a question or problem: Everywhere around us is filled with
many answered questions and unresolved problems. When we look around, we observe
things that make us wonder and to ask questions. These questions may start to spark
igniting chains of reactions which terminate in the research process. An inquisitive mind
is the beginning of research.
Research requires a clear articulation of a goal: It is critical to have a clear and
unambiguous statement of the problem. This statement gives you an exercise in intellectual honesty. The ultimate goals of the research should be given in a
grammatically complete sentence which is precise and clear.
Research requires a specific plan of procedure: You should not hope that the data
necessary to solve the problem would somehow fortuitously come up. You have to have
rather a planned attack, a search – and – discover mission explicitly planned or designed
in advance.
Research usually divides the principal problem into more manageable subproblems: A whole is made up of parts. This is a natural law universally accepted. So
when you think about your principal goal in research, try to observe this goal precept.
Research is guided by specific research questions, problems or hypothesis: These
guide you and direct you on what to do and how to do it in order to arrive at the solution
to the problem.
Research accepts certain critical assumptions: These must be self-evident truths.
These assumptions must be valid in order to make the research to proceed. You must let
others know what you assume with respect to your study.
Research requires the collection and interpretation of data: You need to collect
appropriate data, organize them in a meaningful way so that they can be analyzed and
interpreted.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
The major characteristics of any research are; Objectivity, precision, design and
verifiability.
Objectivity: In an ideal situation, a research is beyond the subjective bias of the researcher. As a
researcher, you have to make deliberate efforts to eliminate all personal preferences. You
should resist the temptation to seek only such data which support your hypotheses or your
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line of taught. In a scientific research, emphasis is on testing the hypothesis not to prove
it. You have to willingly suspend your personal judgment in order to allow the data and
logic to lead independently to a sound conclusion.
Precision: When you conduct a good research and write the report but your readers do not
understand what you have done, you may have succeeded in wasting your time and
efforts. Every research should use a technical language in order to convey the exact
meaning to the readers. Such research languages include validity, reliability, random
sampling variables etc. The most precise expression in quantitative research is the
mathematical equation or statistical finding which explains or represents the truth. But
in qualitative research, precision is achieved through words rather than numbers
Design: If you want to have a good research, you must have a very good and systematic design.
This implies that every scientific inquiry will generally undergo such steps as:
-
Definition of the problem
- Statement of the hypothesis
- Collection and analysis of data
- Testing and confirmation or rejection of hypothesis.
- Reporting of the results.
Any research, which has no orderly design, cannot be replicated
for verification.
Verifiability: When you conduct a research, you write your report. This presents the research design and the
findings to the professional community. From this point other researchers and scholars will study the report, analyze it in order to confirm or reject the outcomes. This tells you that research is a
social enterprise. Its information is open for public scrutiny. Verification is related to objectivity
and precision. It is only through further investigation or replication of the study can the results of
any study be confirmed, revised or rejected. It is also through this process that a body of new
knowledge is developed and new questions identified.
Verifiability can be achieved through two
different approaches:
- Analyzing the same data on the same sample through alternative analytical tools or statistical
methods.
- Replicating the study on a different sample.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
Research in general can be classified in many different ways. If we want to classify research
based on its goal or objective, then we think of two major types. These are fundamental or basic
research and applied research.
Fundamental Research:
The main purpose of these types of research is to obtain empirical data which can be used to
formulate, expand or evaluate a theory. It is not actually directed in design or purpose towards the
solution of practical problems. The main aim is to expand the frontiers of knowledge without the
intention of having practical applications.
Applied Research:
Unlike basic research, this type is directed towards the solution to an immediate, specific and
practical problem. It is the type of research which you can conduct in relation to actual problems
and under the conditions in which they are found in practice.
When research is classified according to methodology, if can also be classified according to
Creswell (1994) into two broad areas. These are quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Quantitative and Qualitative Research:
According to Leedy (1995) Quantitative research is an inquiry into a social or human problem,
based on testing a theory composed of variables measured with numbers or figures and analyzed
with statistical procedures in order to determine whether the predictive generalizations of the
theory hold true. He also defines Qualitative research is an enquiry process of understanding a
social or human problem, based on building a complex, holistic picture formed with words reporting detailed views of information, and conducted in a natural setting.
Posted by: Monday Desmond
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