an intRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
- Research generally means inquire or search for knowledge. In fact the word “research” is synonymous with the following words: investigation, study, exploration, Inquiry, examination, experimentation, etc. It is defined as a process of systematic investigation or examination into and study of constituents and sources in order to discover, collect, interpret and establish facts, to revise accepted laws and theories in the light of new facts, or to apply new or revised theories or laws. Research is careful or diligent search; studious inquiry or examination (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2015). It is indeed a journey into discovery of facts.
- Research is usually an academic endeavor. Thus, it involves systematic, technical as well as empirical approaches. Procedurally, research generally consists of identifying or observing a problem or phenomenon and then establishing a systematic process of inquiry so that one may deductively or inductively arrive at specific solutions, establish conclusive facts or achieve a particular objective or research. The process of research is largely grounded on three main frameworks or methodological approaches:
Quantitative Approach |
Qualitative
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mixed method APPROACH |
Research Design Questions
Prior to conducting a research is a research design. Important questions need to precede the design itself. I summarize five of these questions. The first four are summarized as outlined by several researchers such as Crotty (1998) and Creswell (2003); I suggest to include question five
- What is being researched? On what knowledge or understanding (epistemology) is the research based?
- Why is the research being conducted? What is the purpose of the research? What is the claim behind the research? “What philosophical stance or theoretical perspective lies behind the methodology in question?”
- How will the research study be accomplished? What is the framework of the research? On what choices is this framework based? What methodology–action plan or strategy is to be taken in liking the methods and the objective of the research to achieve the desired outcome? What strategies will determine the choice of methods or procedures?
- How will it be done? “What methods–procedures and techniques are to be used? How will data be collected and analyzed?
- How will the findings be interpreted? What evaluation methods will be concurrent with each method? How will result be evaluated and report?
A YouTube video below "What is research?", by Mr. Beck's World, provides an introduction to research to shed more light on what has been described above.