Describe what is research

1. What is Research?

2. DEFINITION OF RESEARCH
• Research is defined as the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of
existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new
concepts, methodologies and understandings (the word RESEARCH is a
combination of two words “re” and “search”. It includes previous works
and scientific analysis of a subject matter). This could include synthesis
and analysis of previous research to the extent that it leads to new and
creative outcomes.

3. DEFINITION OF RESEARCH CONT.
• Research is a process of systematic inquiry that involves collecting data,
documenting critical information, and analyzing and interpreting that
data/information using suitable methodologies set by specific
professional fields and academic disciplines
• Research is conducted to evaluate the validity of a hypothesis or an
interpretive framework, to assemble a body of substantive knowledge
and findings for sharing them in appropriate manners, and to help
generate questions for further inquiries

4. • According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie,
Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and
control the observed phenomenon. It involves inductive and deductive
methods2
• Good research follows a systematic approach to capture accurate data,
and researchers need to practice ethics and a code of conduct while
making observations or drawing conclusions. The analysis is based on
logical reasoning and involves both inductive and deductive methods.
Real-time data and knowledge are derived from actual observations in
naturalsettings.

5. • The scientific method is a systematic process used in research that
involves observing the world around you and creating a hypothesis
about relationships in the world. A hypothesis is an informed and
educated prediction or explanation about something. Part of the
research process involves testing the hypothesis, and then
examining the results of these tests as they relate to both the
hypothesis and the broader body of knowledge in the field

6. • A research summary is a piece of writing that summarizes research
on a specific topic. Its primary goal is to offer the reader a detailed
overview of the study with the key findings. A research summary
generally contains the article’s structure in which it is written3

7. • In summary, research is an organized process of gathering and
analyzing data to gain better understanding and knowledge of a
particular concern or research problem using scientific methods. It
involves a systematic approach to capture accurate data, and the
analysis is based on logical reasoning and involves both inductive
and deductive methods.
• The scientific method is a systematic process used in research that
involves observing the world around you and creating a hypothesis
about relationships in the world.
• A research summary is a piece of writing that summarizes research
on a specific topic

8. • Baldwin, L. (2018, May 21). Overview of Research. Brill.com; Brill.
https://brill.com/display/book/9789004365155/BP000006.xml
• The Office of Research Integrity. (2019). Module 1: Introduction: What is Research? | ORI -
The Office of Research Integrity. Hhs.gov. https://ori.hhs.gov/module-1-introduction-what-
research
• Fleetwood, D. (2018, November 11). What is Research- Definition, Types, Methods &
Examples. QuestionPro; QuestionPro. https://www.questionpro.com/blog/what-is-research/
• Hampshire College. (2022). What is Research? Hampshire College; Hampshire College.
https://www.hampshire.edu/what-research
• Research Summary: What is it & how to write one. (2022, May 23). QuestionPro.
https://www.questionpro.com/blog/research-summary/

9. CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH

10. CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
• Directed towards the solution of a problem.
• Emphasize the development of generalizations, principles or
theories that will be helpful in predicting future occurrences.
• Demands accurate observation and description.
• Involves gathering new data from primary or firsthand sources or
using existing data for new purpose.
• Requires expertise

11. CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
• Strives to be objective and logical, applying every possible test
to validate the procedure employed, the data collected and the
conclusion reached.
• Involves the quest for answers.
• Characterized by patient and unhurried activity.
• Is carefully recorded and reported.
• Sometimes requires courage.

12. TYPES OF RESEARCH

14. TYPES OF RESEARCH CAN BE CLASSIFIED FROM
THREE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES (KUMAR, 2011):
1. Types of research: Application perspective
a. Pure research: This kind of research is academic in nature and is
undertaken in order to gain knowledge about phenomena that may or may
not have applications in the near future, and to develop new techniques and
procedures that form the body of research methodology.
b. Applied research: Most of the research in social sciences is applied. In
other words, the research techniques, procedures and methods that form the
body of research methodology are applied

15. 2. Types of research: Objectives perspective
a. Descriptive: A research study classified as a descriptive study attempts
to describe systematically a situation, problem, phenomenon, service or
program, or provide information about the living conditions of a
community, or describe attitudes towards an issue
b. Correlational research: The main emphasis in a correlational study is
to discover or establish the existence of a relationship/association/
interdependence between two or more variables or more aspects of a
situation

16. 3. Types of research: Mode of enquiry perspective
From the point of view of the mode of enquiry perspective, there are two
types of research
a. Quantitative research (structured research): The main objectives of this
research is to quantify the variation and diversity in a phenomenon, situation
or attitude.
b. Qualitative research (unstructured): A qualitative study describes the
variation and diversity in a phenomenon, situation or attitude with a flexible
approach so as to identify as much variation and diversity as possible

17. RESEARCH METHOD

18. 1. EXPERIMENTS
• It is a collection of designs which use manipulation and controlled
testing to understand causal processes.
• Generally, one or more variables are manipulated to determine their
effect on a dependent variable.
• The experimental method is a systematic and scientific approach to
research in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables, and
controls and measures any change in other variables

19. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH IS OFTEN USED
WHERE:
• There is time priority in a causal relationship (cause precedes effect)
• There is consistency in a causal relationship (a cause will always lead to
the same effect)
• The magnitude of the correlation is great

20. 2. SURVEYS
• It involve collecting information, usually from fairly large groups of
people, by means of questionnaires but other techniques such as
interviews or telephoning may also be used.
• There are different types of survey. The most straightforward type (the
“one shot survey”) is administered to a sample of people at a set point in
time. Another type is the “before and after survey” which people
complete before a major event or experience and then again afterwards

21. QUESTIONNAIRES AND
INTERVIEWS
Questionnaires
• are a good way to obtain information from a large number of people
and/or people who may not have the time to attend an interview or take
part in experiments.
• They enable people to take their time, think about it and come back to the
questionnaire later. Participants can state their views or feelings privately
without worrying about the possible reaction of the researcher.

22. Questionnaires
• Typically contain multiple choice questions, attitude scales, closed
questions and open-ended questions. The drawback for researchers is that
they usually have a fairly low response rate and people do not always
answer all the questions and/or do not answer them correctly.
• Unfortunately, some people may still be inclined to try to give socially
acceptable answers. People should be encouraged to answer the questions
as honestly as possible so as to avoid the researchers drawing false
conclusions from their study.
• Questionnaires are the main tool in conducting survey type researches.

23. Are usually carried out in person i.e. face-to-face but can
also be administered by telephone or using more advance
computer technology such as Skype.
They are held in the interviewee’s home, sometimes at a
more neutral place.
It is important for interviewees to decide whether they
are comfortable about inviting the researcher into their
home and whether they have a room or area where they
can speak freely without disturbing other members of the
household.
Interviews

24. • The interviewer (which is not necessarily the
researcher) could adopt a formal or informal
approach, either letting the interviewee speak
freely about a particular issue or asking specific
predetermined questions.
• A semi-structured approach would enable the
interviewee to speak relatively freely, at the same
time allowing the researcher to ensure that certain
issues were covered

25. • When conducting the interview, the researcher might have a check list or
a form to record answers. This might even take the form of a
questionnaire.
• Taking notes can interfere with the flow of the conversation, particularly
in less structured interviews. Also, it is difficult to pay attention to the
non-verbal aspects of communication and to remember everything that
was said and the way it was said.
• Consequently, it can be helpful for the researchers to have some kind of
additional record of the interview such as an audio or video recording.
They should of course obtain permission before recording an interview

26. PARTICIPANT AND NON-PARTICIPANT
OBSERVATION

27. Studies which involve observing people can be divided into
two main categories:

28. IN PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION STUDIES,
• The researcher becomes (or is already)
part of the group to be observed. This
involves fitting in, gaining the trust of
members of the group and at the same
time remaining sufficiently detached as
to be able to carry out the observation.
The researcher should be open about
what s/he is doing, give the participants
in the study the chance see the results
and comment on them, and take their
comments seriously.

29. IN NON-PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION STUDIES,
The researcher is not part of the group
being studied.
The researcher decides in advance
precisely what kind of behavior is relevant
to the study and can be realistically and
ethically observed.