Research is a systematic process of exploring unanswered questions or issues through collecting and analyzing data. It aims to increase understanding and make informed decisions. There are two main types of research - basic research which develops new theories, and applied research which evaluates actions for industry or practice. Research methods can be qualitative using open-ended questions, or quantitative using measurable variables. Good research is systematic, logical, replicable, and has clearly defined objectives and appropriate methodology. Key factors for a good research topic include being novel, relevant, feasible, researchable, and ethical. A master's thesis demonstrates knowledge in the field while a PhD thesis makes an original contribution.

1. Research
Fundamentals
Dr. Christine Basta

2. What is research?
- Exploring the unexplored (better solution to existing problem,
new understanding about a phenomena, theory, formula)
- Systematic process of collecting, analysing data and information
to increase our understanding of the world in general and
specific phenomenon of our interest in particular to make
informed decisions.

3. Research according to C.C. Crawdford
“Research is simply a systematic and refined technique of thinking,
employing specialized tools, instruments, and procedures in order to
obtain a more adequate solution of a problem than would be possible
under ordinary means.
It starts with a problem, collects data or facts, analyses these critically and
reaches decisions based on the actual evidence. It evolves original work
instead of mere exercise of personal. It evolves from a genuine desire to
know rather than a desire to prove something. It is quantitative, seeking to
know not only what but how much, and measurement is therefore, a
central feature for it”

5. Why do we conduct research?
● Advance human knowledge (new discoveries)
● Get a degree
● Solve real-life issues
● Determining the validity and accuracy of
information through analyzing it and
identifying it as valid or weak
● To face a challenge
● To get intellectual joy
Can you think of more reasons?

6. Why do we conduct research?
DIKW pyramid

7. Purpose of research
● Exploratory research: needs to know more
● Explanatory research: proper explanations are required
● Descriptive: form facts to produce knowledge
● Deterministic: evidence based outcomes are required (experimental)

8. Exercise 1:
Give an example between a research or non-research project!

9. Research types
Basic vs applied
Academic vs industrial

10. Basic vs applied
Basic research is known as fundamental-pure research:
can develop theories or ground breaking research
Applied research
Evaluations, actions, social impact, applied in industry or practie

11. 5 min exercise
Differences between basic and applied research. (easy to google)

12. Academic vs industrial research

13. Research methods:Qualitative methods
Qualitative methods
Qualitative research is a method that collects data using conversational methods, usually
open-ended questions. The responses collected are essentially non-numerical. This method helps
a researcher understand what participants think and why they think in a particular way.
Types of qualitative methods include:
● One-to-one Interview
● Focus Groups
● Ethnographic studies
● Text Analysis
● Case Study

14. Research methods: Quantitative methods
Quantitative methods
Quantitative methods deal with numbers and measurable forms. It uses a systematic way of
investigating events or data. It answers questions to justify relationships with measurable variables
to either explain, predict, or control a phenomenon.
Types of quantitative methods include:
● Survey research
● Descriptive research
● Correlational research

15. Research methods: Quantitative methods
It is essential to ensure that your data is:
● Valid – founded, logical, rigorous, and impartial.
● Accurate – free of errors and including required details.
● Reliable – other people who investigate in the same way can produce similar
results.
● Timely – current and collected within an appropriate time frame.
● Complete – includes all the data you need to support your business decisions.
Remember, it is only valuable and useful when it is valid, accurate, and reliable.
Incorrect results can lead to customer churn and a decrease in sales.

16. Outcome of academic research
- Degrees
- Research publications
- Patents

17. Research Process
1. Identifying the research question or problem area
2. Initial review of literature
3. Distilling the question to a specific research problem 4. Continued
review of literature
5. Formulation of hypotheses

18. Research Process
6. Determining the basic research approach
7. Identifying the population and sample
8. Designing data collection plan
9. Selecting or developing specific data collection instruments or procedures
10. Choosing the method of data analysis
11. Implementing the research plan
12. Preparing the research report

19. Research Process
https://www.scribbr.com/catego
ry/research-process/

20. Characteristics of good research
● Good research is systematic:
It means that research is structured with specified steps to be taken in specified
sequence in accordance with the well-defined set of rules.
Systematic characteristic of the research does not rule out creative thinking but
certainly does reject the use of guessing and intuition in arriving at conclusions.

21. Characteristics of good research
● Good research is logical:
This implies that research is guided by the rules of logical reasoning and the logical
process of induction and deduction are of great value in carrying out research.
Introduction is the process of reasoning from a part to the whole; whereas, deduction is
the process of reasoning from some premise.
In fact, logical reasoning makes research more meaningful in the context of decision
making.

22. Characteristics of good research
● Good research is replicable:
This characteristic allows research results to be verified by replicating the study
and thereby building a sound basis for decisions (Kothari, 1990).

23. Good research is:
● Systematic
● Clearly defined purposes/objectives
● Carefully planned design
● Appropriate and adequate method(s)
● Adequate analysis of data a Valid and reliable data (i.e Replicable)
● Honest, Competent, High integrity

24. Factors for good topic
● Novel:
When considering a research topic, the researcher has to focus on one which has
not been investigated before.
In the event that the problem has been studied before, he has to inject originality
in it by coming up with another research design, using a different data-gathering
tool or a different scheme for analyzing the research data

25. Factors for good topic
● Relevant:
The results of the study on a given problem should be of practical value to the
researcher and the significant others in the field. This means that once the study
had been completed, its findings, its conclusions and recommendations can be
used in improving practices or solving an identified difficulty.
• Will the results add knowledge to information already available in the field?

26. Factors for good topic
● Feasible:
This means that a problem that an investigator is going to work on can be
completed without undue amount of time, money or effort.
Feasibility of research also means that the researcher has the necessary
competence or expertise to conduct the study on the chosen problem.
• Is the topic too broad? (e.g. the effects of TV violence on children)
• Can the problem really be investigated? (e.g. availability of information)
• What costs and time are involved in the analysis?

27. Factors for good topic
● Researchable:
Data can be collected to answer the problem posed by the researcher.
• Can the data be analyzed? (Can the data be measured?)
● Ethical:
A problem is said to be ethical when it does not involve physical or psychological
harm or damage to human beings or organizations. In other words, a study on a
particular topic should not put people or institutions in a bad light.

28. Master vs PhD
A master's thesis must demonstrate that the student knows the background and
principal works of the research area, and can produce significant scholarly work. It
should contain some original contribution whenever possible.
A doctoral thesis must contain a substantial contribution of new knowledge to the
field of study. It presents the results and an analysis of original research, and should
be significant enough to be published.

29. Sources of the lecture:
- https://www.ums.edu.my/ppps/files/PostgraduateResearchMethodologySept20
16.pdf
- http://univ-biskra.dz/sites/fll/images/houadjli%20Ahmed%20Chaouki.pdf
- Esham, Mohamed. (2007). Strategies to Develop University-Industry Linkages
in Sri Lanka. Research Studies on Tertiary Education Sector Study Series. 4.