Research

• Search for knowledge• Aims at discovering truth• Original contribution to existing stock of

knowledge• Objective and systematic method of finding

solutions to problems

What Is Research?

• “A combination of investigation of past work and effort in the present that will help others in the future”

• A set of opposites– Fun and frustration– Small steps and large insights– Building on others’ work and contributing your own work

• Finding or developing something new that changes the world….

Definition

• Research is a process of systematic and in-depth study or search of any particular topic, subject or area of investigation backed by collection, Computation, Presentation and interpretation of relevant dates.

• Research is necessary to examine extent of validity of old conclusions or to find some new facts and generating new ideas in connection with existing ones.

Objectives of Research

• To find out truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered so far.

• It aims at advancing systematic knowledge and formulating basic theories.

• Social research- to understand social life and to gain a greater measure of control over social behaviour.

• Educational research- to provide an educational program, skills of research, training.

Qualities of good Research

• Systematic – Structured with specified steps.• Logical- guided by rules of logical reasoning.• Empirical- research should be related to one or

more aspects of real solution.• Results can be verified by replicating study.• Procedure followed in research work should be

described in sufficient details.• Data used for research should be valuable and

reliable.

Development of Research Skills

• Learning how to conduct good research:– New skills (that many people do not have)– Better understanding and interpretation of the

literature– Recognize new questions that need investigation

• Objectivity is the key element of research

Theory vs. Hypothesis

• Hypothesis

– A belief or prediction of the eventual outcome of the research

• Theory– A belief or assumption about how things relate to each

other– A theory establishes a cause-and-effect relationship

between variables with a purpose of explaining and predicting phenomena

Hypothesis

Theories

Laws

In an ideal world…

New Questions Arise

Results Interpreted

Data Collected

Question Identified

Hypotheses Formed

Research Plan

Closed-loop conceptualization of the research process (Drew, Hardman, and Hart, 1996)