Research meaning :
The word research is composed of two syllables, re and search.re is a prefix meaning again, a new or over again , search is a verb meaning to examine closely and carefully, to test and try, or to probe.Together they form a noun describing a careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles.
Research as a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. In fact, research is an art of scientific investigation.
According to Clifford Woody research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organising and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.
In short, the search for knowledge through objective and systematic method of finding solution to a problem is research. The systematic approach concerning generalisation and the formulation of a theory is also research. As such the term ‘research’ refers to the systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting the facts or data, analysing the facts and reaching certain conclusions either in the form of solutions(s) towards the concerned problem or in certain generalisations for some theoretical formulation.
When you say that you are undertaking a research study to find answers to a question, you are implying that the process;
1. is being undertaken within a framework of a set of philosophies ( approaches);
2. uses procedures, methods and techniques that have been tested for their validity and reliability ;
3. is designed to be unbiased and objective .
Philosophies - means approaches e.g. qualitative, quantitative and the academic discipline in which you have been trained.
Validity -means that correct procedures have been applied to find answers to a question.
Reliability - refers to the quality of a measurement procedure that provides repeatability and accuracy.
Unbiased and objective -means that you have taken each step in an unbiased manner and drawn each conclusion to the best of your ability and without introducing your own vested interest.
Adherence to the three criteria mentioned above enables the process to be called ‘research’.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH:
Controlled- in real life there are many factors that affect an outcome. The concept of control implies that, in exploring causality in relation to two variables (factors), you set up your study in a way that minimizes the effects of other factors affecting the relationship.
Rigorous-you must be scrupulous in ensuring that the procedures followed to find answers to questions are relevant, appropriate and justified. Again, the degree of rigor varies markedly between the physical and social sciences and within the social sciences.
Systematic-this implies that the procedure adopted to undertake an investigation follow a certain logical sequence. The different steps cannot be taken in a haphazard way. Some procedures must follow others.
Valid and verifiable-this concept implies that whatever you conclude on the basis of your findings is correct and can be verified by you and others.
Empirical-this means that any conclusion drawn are based upon hard evidence gathered from information collected from real life experiences or observations.
Critical-critical scrutiny of the procedures used and the methods employed is crucial to a research enquiry. The process of investigation must be foolproof and free from drawbacks. The process adopted and the procedures used must be able to withstand critical scrutiny.
For a process to be called research, it is imperative that it has the above characteristics.
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this object in view are termed as exploratory or formulative research studies);
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group (studies with this object in view are known as descriptive research studies);
3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else (studies with this object in view are known as diagnostic research studies);
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as hypothesis-testing research studies).
MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
1. Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits;
2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i.e., concern over practical problems initiates research;
3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work;
4. Desire to be of service to society;
5. Desire to get respectability.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
Research can be classified from three perspectives:
1. application of research study pure research and applied research.
2. objectives in undertaking the research descriptive, correlational, explanatory and exploratory
3. inquiry mode employed
Structured approach (quantitative research) and Unstructured approach (qualitative research)
More details of types of Research : Types of Research
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