The PowerPoint presentation notes provided cover the fundamental aspects of research, its nature, characteristics, purpose, and various research methods. The presentation begins by defining research as a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. It emphasizes the careful investigation and inquiry required to expand knowledge and move from the known to the unknown.
The nature of research is discussed, highlighting its relevance to academics, policy makers, and practitioners, and the need for a trans-disciplinary approach. The notes also stress the contextual nature of research, making it difficult to replicate, and emphasize the importance of disseminating and exploiting research findings.
The characteristics of research are outlined, including the need for a clear question or problem, articulation of goals, specific plans of procedure, and the division of complex problems into manageable sub-problems. It is highlighted that research is guided by research problems, questions, or hypotheses and relies on critical assumptions. Collection and interpretation of data are crucial for resolving the research problem.
The purpose of research is explored, emphasizing its goal of adding to existing knowledge through scientific methods. The four primary purposes of research, namely exploration, description, causal explanation, and prediction, are explained. Exploration refers to the examination of previously unexplored phenomena, while description involves gathering data-based information. Causal explanation aims to establish cause-and-effect relationships, and prediction seeks to anticipate future events based on plausible explanations.
The presentation also introduces quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative methods, including inferential, experimental, simulation, and descriptive approaches, are discussed, highlighting their ability to examine cause and effect, describe characteristics, and explore relationships between variables. Qualitative methods, such as phenomenological, ethnographic, and grounded theory approaches, are mentioned, emphasizing their focus on understanding lived experiences, cultural aspects, and theory development.
Overall, the presentation notes provide a comprehensive overview of research, covering its definition, nature, characteristics, purpose, and different methods employed.
3. What is Research?
• The Word Research is composed of two syllables –
Re and Search.
• Research is a scientific and systematic search for
pertinent information on a specific topic.
• It is a careful investigation or enquiry specially
through search for knowledge.
• It is the movement from known to unknown.
5. Nature of Research
• Involves:
• Academics
• Policy Makers
• Practitioners
• Trans-Disciplinarily
• Related to Context (not easily replicated)
• More emphasis on dissemination & exploitation
8. Characteristics of Research
1. Originates with a question or problem.
2. Requires a clear articulation of a goal.
3. Follows a specific plan of procedure.
4. Usually divides the principal problem into more
manageable sub-problems.
5. Is guided by the specific research problem, question,
or hypothesis.
6. Accepts certain critical assumptions.
7. Requires the collection and interpretation of data in
attempting to resolve the problem that initiated the
research.
9. Purpose of Research
The principal objective or purpose of research in any field
of inquiry is to add to what is known about the
phenomenon under the investigation through the
application of scientific methods.
The purpose of research is the following:
1. Exploration
2. Description
3. Causal Explanation
4. Prediction
10. Purpose of Research
Exploration: Exploration is finding out about some
previously unexamined phenomenon. It is
particularly useful when researchers lack a clear
idea of the problems they will meet during the
course of the study.
Description: Description refers to the data based
information-gathering activities. The situations and
events which are described through studies are
referred to as descriptive studies. Descriptive
studies try to discover answers to the questions
who, what, when, where and sometimes how.
11. Purpose of Research
Causal Exploration: An explanatory study goes
beyond description and attempts to establish
cause-and-effect relationship between variables. It
explains the reason for the phenomenon that
describes study observed.
Prediction: Prediction seeks to answer when and in
what situations the event will occur, if it can be
provided plausible explanation for the vent in
question. In addition to being able to explain an
event after it has occurred, it will be able to predict
when the event will occur.
15. Quantitative Method
Experimental – cause and effect (if A, then B)
Quasi-experimental – also examines cause, used
when not all variables can be controlled
Descriptive – examine characteristics of a
particular situation or group
Correlational – examine relationships between
two or more variables
16. Qualitative Method
Phenomenological – examines the lived experience
within a particular condition or situation
Ethnographic – examine the culture of a group of
people
Grounded theory – using a research problem to
discover and develop a theory
