Prepared by Given Mahapelela Simataa

1. CONDUCTING RESEARCH

2. COMING UP WITH THE RESEARCH TOPIC
•Research always begins with an idea, and it is up to
you as a student or researcher to turn that idea
into a researchable problem.
•Take note that research subject may not always be
a problem, because it can sometimes just be a
topic.

3. •Whatever topic or problem you take must be within
the field of study under which you are studying.
•Whether your topic is a direct problem, or just a
topic, it should have a problem within it.
•A research topic can reflect a real problem in life
based on observation, or it can simply be a ‘gap in
knowledge or literature.

4. •Whatever topic you pick must be a something that
interests you. This is because you will work on this
topic for a long time, therefore you should be able to
live it, eat it, sleep it and dream it. If you pick a topic
that does not interest you, you are most likely to give
up when you come across obstacles.
•Be realistic about what you can or cannot do.
•Ensure that your topic is at an acceptable scientific
level in terms of researchability.

5. STEPS OF CHOOSING A TOPIC
1.Identify a broad research topic (pick a topic
relevant to your intended work)
2.Identity your interest (what is it that interests you
about your intended work?)
3.Identify a problem from you are interested in (you
can talk to people about it)
4.Get information regarding your topic (read about
your proposed topic)
5.Create a concept note

6. WHAT IS A CONCEPT NOTE
Under the concept note you address the following
questions:
•What is the topic and what the problem?
•Why is it important to solve the problem?
•How are you going to do to solve it?
•Where will the study take place?
•When will you do it?

7. SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPICS
Where do we get our research topics? These come
from different corners expositions, and include:
1.Everyday situations
2.Magazines and periodicals
3.Other research studies
4.Books (archive data/secondary)

8. CONDUCTING THE LITERATURE REVIEW
•It is a terrible mistake to begin a research project
without first consulting available literature
because then your research has no backbone.
•It is important to do a literature review because it
helps provide information about what was done,
how it was done, and what results were generated
about your topic.

9. •By doing literature you identify gaps that may
exist in the findings of other authors and
researchers.

10. QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS IN REGARDS TO LITERATURE
1. What type of research has been done in the area?
2. What has been found in previous studies?
3. What suggestions do other researchers make for
further study?
4. What has not been investigated?
5. How can the proposed study add to our knowledge
of the area?
6. What research methods were used in previous
studies?

11. ETHICAL ISSUES IN RESEARCH
Research ethics refers to the moral principles
guiding research – which actually means
conducting a research study in responsible and
morally acceptable manner.
In short, research ethics refer to the morally
acceptable conduct of a researcher.

12. ETHICAL ELEMENTS/GUIDELINES IN STUDIES
INVOLVING HUMANS
1.Protection of participants from harm
2.Ensuring informed consent
3.Confidentiality, Anonymity and Privacy
4.Avoidance of plagiarism
5.Avoidance of deception
6.Freedom to withdraw from study
7.Assent for the minors