Research ranks among the most abused concept in the academic circle. Often times, a student who went to the library in search of facts to back up his or her term paper or assignment comes back to announce that he or she almost died carrying out research in the library. In this case, mere flipping through the pages of some books and copying some portions of the books become a research effort. Again, some people perceive checking for the meaning of a word or an historical fact in the encyclopedia as a research activity (Osuala, 2005). Research, however, is much more than all these. It is hardly as simple as consulting a dictionary or an encyclopedia to ascertain the meaning of a word or a historical fact that is already there in the dictionary or encyclopedia as the case may be.

1. THE DEMANDS OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES RESEARCH
May, 13 2016 BY OWO RAYMOND
Introduction
Research ranks among the most abused conceptin the academic circle. Often
times, a student who went to the library in search of facts to back up his or her term
paper or assignment comes back to announce that he or she almost died carrying
out research in the library. In this case, mere flipping through the pages of some
books and copying some portions of the books becomea research effort.
Again, some people perceive checking for the meaning of a word or an historical
fact in the encyclopedia as a research activity (Osuala, 2005).
Research, however, is much more than all these. It is hardly as simple as
consulting a dictionary or an encyclopedia to ascertain the meaning of a word or a
historical fact that is already there in the dictionary or encyclopedia as the case
may be.

2. Research is highly systematic. It calls for thoroughness. It is procedural. It takes a
lot of energy, time and money to execute.
What then is a Research?
Research is simply a systematic search for new knowledge, the aim of which is to
discover what hitherto is not known. Research offers objective and verifiable
interpretation of a given phenomena. It explains the nature of relationship existing
between variables. As Osuala (2005:1) put it:
Research is simply the process ofarriving at dependable
solutions to problems through planned and systematic
collection, and analysis, and interpretation of data
research is a most important tool for advancing knowledge,
for promoting process, and for enabling man to relate most
effectively to his environment, to accomplish his progress and
to resolve his conflicts.
ResearchProcess:What it involves
The process starts with identifying a problem. Research is geared towards solving
problems. Without a problem, there would be no need to carry out a research.
How does a researcher know that a problem is researchable? Two things are
involved.
(A) Guidelines
(B) Conceptualization
Under guidelines, we have:
(i) Interest

3. Before one carries out a research, then such topic must be of interest to the
researcher. Whenever a topic is imposed on a researcher, the interest may not be
there and it would be difficult for such work to be completed.
(ii) Originality
If one must choosea topic, it must be original to some extent. Sometimes, a topic
could be replicated but should not be duplicated so that the touch of originality
would not be there. Again, if duplicated one may be sued for plagiarism.
(iii) Feasibility
Here, questions like: How feasible is the study? How researchable is the topic
should be asked and answered by the researcher before he starts off. The researcher
has to make sure, there are referents (materials and books he can consult) and once
there are no referents, it is advised that he abandons suchtopic for another.
(iv) Topic must be significantenough
The aim of a research is to add to knowledge and the researcher should work
towards that too. Once a research is not able to impact positively to knowledge,
then the purposeof such study is defeated and at such point, the researcher should
have a re-think.
(v) How much resource does the researcherhave?
It is foolish to start a work you cannot complete or finish. The researcher before
starting off his research study should put into consideration how much time and
money he has to invest in it, so as to successfully complete his study within the
stipulated time.
(B) Conceptualization
This is a step that basically deals with identifying the major variables and concepts
in the work. As you determine, you specify the meanings of these variables and
concepts. And as you define, you give operational meanings. Operational
meanings has to do with how you intend to use these words in the context of the
work.

4. Virtue of a Researcher
Can anyone be a good researcher? Do researchers possessspecific virtues that
make them succeed in the field of scientific inquiry? While every researcher is
given the opportunity to carry out a research study, not all of them can really do it
unless they possessthe virtue required of a good researcher. Just like leaders,
researchers can also be made, not just born. Fora researcher to succeed in this
challenging task, which requires a lot of imagination and perseverance, it is
expected that he possessthe following virtue:
(1) A good researchershould searchfor new information.
A good researcher shows an open mind about things. He does not just see things by
himself but explores new grounds. He adopts the philosophy of “thinking beyond
the box”, leaving out the conventional for something innovative. He treads the
unknown frontier.
Evidence of this thirst for new information can be observed in people who do not
stop learning and those who maintain an openmind for new possibilities to
happen, even when everything appears to have been discovered or studied, or
options exhausted. Two hundred years ago, had anyone ever thought that man
could go to the moon? Or explore the depths of the sea? Or tap on the keys of the
cell phone to communicate with another personso far away? Thanks to research
that has made all these possible today.
(2) A goodresearcherhas a keensense ofthings around him.
Keenness is a virtue developed through an observant attitude. A good researcher
sees something more out of common occurrence around him and sees them
quickly.
(3) A goodresearcherlikes to reflect or think about the things he
encounters.
Researchers who pause and reflect about the knowledge they gained, either
formally in schoolor through their experience, gain insights. Insights are a creative
thought that makes one nod his head and say, “Aha! This is something I have been
looking for” A creative idea was born.

5. (4) A goodresearchermust be intelligent enoughto express his ideas.
How can you express your thoughts if you cannot write? The point here is that, a
good researcher must be adept (having a natural ability) in the written language.
How can people understand your point when you are the only one who can
understand what you have written? This is actually those virtue(s) ingrained in
individuals. But if you recognize your weakness in this realm, why not seek
someone who can? After all, what is more important is the idea, but of course,
better if you present it in such a way that others understand well what you want to
say.
(5) A goodresearcherapplies a systematic approachin assessing situations.
Research requires systematic and objective thinking to arrive at something
tangible. Logical reasoning therefore, is applied by a good researcher. He is able to
analyze things, and meaning. He can break down complex situation into
manageable bits that he can focus his attention into.
(6) He must be ready to adjust or shift grounds.
What could be a dissertation or thesis today can be anti-dissertation or anti-thesis
tomorrow. Therefore, a good researcher must not be rigid.
(7)He must not be judgmental and biased.
Be it in pure research, which seeks to gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge
itself or applied research, which scientific investigation is undertaken to solve a
specific problem, a communication researcher must know the objectives of such
research study, so as to fulfill the demands of that particular study.
Communication studies involve different areas of knowledge. Therefore, every
communication studies research is often based on societal phenomenon. It is
expected that, the researcher must keep faith with his findings so long as the
procedures and objectives of the study are followed systematically and empirically.
The following are the demands of communication studies research:
 The researcher is expected to declare the subject and intention of the
research being undertaken work governing the study, findings,

6. recommendations, and a conclusion intention of the research being
undertaken, helpful hints on the direction of the study, a theoretical frame
governing the study, findings, recommendations and a conclusion. This is
usually under the subhead–abstract, which is the synopsis of the work with
about 100 – 175 words.
 A thorough knowledge of research techniques which agrees with the
problems posed by such studies is required. If a researcher uses a wrong
technique/methodology, it would be quite difficult for him to successfully
arrive at the acceptable result. Such demands could be addressed through
seminars, workshops, symposia, and full blown research. Each of these
demands a serious grounding in the knowledge of this technique.
Before this, the problems so envisaged must be properly articulated, that problems
that necessitated the studies. This is usually stated scholarly in a question or
declarative form in a manner that would tell anybody that would come in contact
with the study to know what the study is all about.
 Following the statements of the problem are few research questions which
usually protects or guides the study for the researcher. It is usually referred
to as objectives of the study. To make it fall in line with the demands of the
scholarly exercise, some sortof research objectives must be re-phrased into
perspective to form the research questions which is then followed by the
research hypotheses.
 Research hypotheses are usually presented as an alternate hypothesis, until
proven otherwise. The research hypotheses guide the researcher in planning
the course of his inquiry.
 Justification of the study tells the reader the value of the study as well as
those whom the study is meant for. Coming after that is the delimitation and
limitations of the study.
 Delimitation and limitations of the study clearly defines the researcher's
work in terms of scope, and set forth the boundaries of the topic being
researched. While delimitation of the study “builds a fence” around a topic
under study, limitations of the study are those factors inherent in the research

7. situation that might affect the result or outcome of the study. Next, is the
operational definition of terms.
 Here, terms that are technical in nature are defined in a way the researcher
intends to use for reader’s easy comprehension.
 Review for related literature is usually found in Chapter two of the research
work. According to Osuala (2005),review of related literature serves two
purposes:
(1)to set the theoretical basefor the research and
(2)to set the research into perspective. To show “the state-of-the art”. To select
the theoretical base, it is expected that the researcher would have read and
reviewed writings and researches in related areas in which his own study
may be founded. The second type of review shows how the researcher’s
work fits into the whole scheme of things. Again, in the words of Osuala,
review of related literature surveys the research previously done on the
problem, and evaluates what the research has and has not accomplished in
solving the problems currently under study, and also points out similarities
and differences between the two researches. The review of related literature
should be done in an organized form. Under the following subheads: Review
of Concepts, Review of Opinions, Review of Studies and Theoretical
Framework .
 Chapter three of the communication studies research is usually known as
Research Methodology.
According to Osuala (2005), “this procedure section is perhaps the crux of the
research report; it is the background against which the reader evaluates the findings
and the conclusions…” This section is addressed under: Research Design,
Population of the Study, Sample Size and Sampling Procedure, Description of
Research Instruments, Validity of Research Instruments, Reliability of Research
Instruments, Method of Data Collection & Method of Data Analysis.
 Data Presentation, Analysis and Discussion of Findings is usually captured
in Chapter four. Here, data are presented, analyzed and discussed objectively

8. under appropriate sub-titles for easy comprehension. And are as follows:
Data Presentation and Analysis, and Discussion of Findings.
 Next to data presentations, analysis and discussion of findings is the
summary, conclusion and recommendation which forms part of the research
proposalthat will eventually metamorphose into a dissertation.
 The summary need not be a repetition of previous chapters, but a description
of the procedures in general terms, with only enough details to enable the
reader obtain a general picture of what was done.
 The conclusion the researches draws, must be based directly on the findings,
which in turn must be logically based on procedures which the researcher
has deployed.
 Recommendations must be derived directly from the conclusions the
researcher arrived at.
Here, the researcher is at liberty in his writing. He speculates a bit and the
recommendations allow him use his creative ability in pin-pointing the possible
uses of the findings as well as in raising further questions for investigation. The
researcher can make recommendations for the future in the area of his study, but
the recommendations should have as a base, the findings of the study.
 According to Ashong (1993), “References refer to a full list of books and
periodical articles cited or consulted in the process ofwriting a paper. The
standard practice is to arrange the names of the authors (beginning with
surnames) in alphabetical order”. Eyoh also defines, references including its
application:
This conceptrefers to only a list of books and related
materials cited in books where APA style is used. The style
of listing here of coursefollows APA. No work that has not
been cited need be listed here.
Important to note is, there are two popular styles of writing the references mainly:
Modern Language Association – MLA and American Psychological Association –

9. APA. Over the years, the Department of Communication Arts, University of Uyo,
Nigeria have adopted and maintained the American Psychological Association
APA, as the standard style of referencing of every research work.
Then follow the appendix.
 Appendix refers to materials related to the study, but which would make the
bodyof the study bulky or awkward and are placed in the appendix. These
include: cover letter, questionnaires, interview guides, detailed explanation
of statistical tests used in the study and supplementary materials and related
items.
Conclusion
Let us therefore conclude that, the above mentioned points are the demands of a
communication studies research, and researchers are expected to adhere strictly to
them.
Recommendations
The researcher recommends the following:
(1)Postgraduate students should adoptand maintain the demands as stated as it
is the acceptable guidelines universally.
(2)Lectures should continue as they have also been doing in encouraging
Postgraduate students to maintain these acceptable standard of presentation
as this would help them tremendously.
References
Ashong, A. C. (1993). “The Term Paper”, in David Eka (ed),
Fundamentals of Communication in English, Calabar:BONUniversal
Limited.
Eyoh, L. (2000). Effective Use of English Volume 2. Uyo:
Billy Printing and Publishing Company.

10. Nwodu, L.C.(2006). Research In Communication and Other Behavioural
Sciences -Principles, Methods and Issues. Enugu: Rhyce Kerex Publishers.
Osuala, E. C. (2005). Introduction to Research Methodology. Onitsha:
Africana – Fep PublishersLimited.
Osuala, E.C.(2001). Introduction to Research Methodology. Onitsha:
Africana - Fep Publishers Limited.
Udontre, E.(2000). The Basics of Research Methodology. Uyo: EMSEL
Publishers.