scientific method of enquiry (2)

8/3/2019 Scientific Method of Enquiry (2)

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Ch. Peidu

Dept of Library and Info. Science

Univ. of Delhi

SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF ENQUIRY


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INTRODUCTION

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Considering research in general sense, Merriam-Webster Online

Dictionarydefined it as studious inquiry or examination; especially:investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery andimplementation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in thelight of new facts, or practical applications of such new or revisedtheories or laws. The term research can be defined in a broad or

narrow sense. If one were to define it too narrowly to include onlythose areas where the scientific method of inquiry is used toestablish or disestablish the truth of a given relationship one wouldrun the risk of excluding a vast reservoir of library literature. On theother hand, if one were to give it too broad such as any conscious

premeditated inquiry any investigation which seeks to increaseones knowledge of a given situation one also runs the risk ofopening the floodgates for all kinds of library literature masqueradingas research.


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SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF INQUIRY (SMI).

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From about 15th century, mans attempt to acquire knowledge

and to ascertain truth gave rise to a new type of approach whichemphasized more than ever before the verification in the real world

(and not only in logic) of relationships which were thought, presumed,

or deduced to exist. This method of acquiring knowledge is called

scientific method of inquiry, and is characterized by the use of

induction, which in brief is the formulation of general principle from anumber of specific individual cases.

Babbie sees the SMI as a combination of the inductive and

deductive methods. Charles Darwin developed this modern

combination of inductive and deductive methods, with the constantmovement from data to an hypothesis, to implication of the

hypothesis, and back to the data again.


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CONTD

SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF INQUIRY (SMI).

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The terms scientific method here should not bemisunderstood. for a method that is applied only used by scientist

in their research, laboratory work and writings. This method is very

much used in social sciences and humanities also. Essentially any

method of objective research that attempts to investigate cause-

effect relations between two entities is scientific one. This method

can be applied to any research methodology. In other words, it

means that if SMI is not applied to the research it is not research

at all.

There is not a concrete definition of SMI !!! It is better defined

by its characteristics.


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BASIC STEPS IN SMI

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There is general consensus among researchers regarding the basic pattern

of the scientific method of enquiry, but specific elements do sometimes vary. PeterHenon has very comprehensively grouped the steps involve in SMI into five

components:

1st of which is reflective inquiry (problem statement, literature review and

theoretical framework, logical structure, objectives, and, as appropriate, research

questions and hypotheses). 2nd component isprocedures, or research design and method(s) of data collection,

and

3rd component centers on gathering,processing, and analyzingdata.

4th component relates to issues of reliability and validity (quantitative study) orcredibility, trustworthiness, transferability, dependability, and confirmability

(qualitativestudy).

5th component is an extension of the third component: presentation of research

findings.


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BASIC STEPS IN SMI

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Step 1: ReflectiveInquiry

Step 1.1: Problem Statement - A problem statement indicates that a study hassome uniqueness, has a clear focus, and addresses the value of that research

being conducted.

Step 1.2: Literature Review - The literature review identifies and describes key

works relevant to the problem under investigation.

Step 1.3: TheoreticalFramework - ensures that the search for relevant literature

is not confined to LIS, that concepts central to the problem

under investigation are understood, and that known research(regardless of discipline), as appropriate, is applied.

Step 1.4: Research Questions/Hypotheses the Hypothesis is a scientific

guess at the nature of that relationship, established before the empirical

investigation takes place and developed from the theoretical framework.


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BASIC STEPS IN SMI

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Step 2: Procedures

What steps will be involved in accomplishing the study

objectives? The procedures, which refer to the studydesignand the methods by which the researchers will study the problem,

are the operational blueprint that answers the above-mentioned

question. The procedures grow out of the reflective inquiry and deal

with the how not the what orwhy of the research.

Step 2.1: Research Design - Researchers might use experimental,

descriptive, correlational, or other approaches, and they might

employ case studies to probe a situation in-depth and to identify

variables and propositions that can serve to direct additional

research.


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BASIC STEPS IN SMI

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Step 3: Data Gathering, Processing and Analysing

It refers to data collection, processing, analysis, and

interpretation within the context of the studys objectives, research

questions, and hypotheses.

Be sure what you are doing before entering the field. Make connection with the field site.

Pilot the data collection instrument.

Prepare a detailed timetable of the fieldwork. Enjoy the fieldwork.

Thanks the participants.

Remember research and measurement are susceptible to error.


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BASIC STEPS IN SMI

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Step 4: Quality/ GeneralizabilityIssues

Step 4.1: Quantitative Study - Reliability and validity are concepts ofmeasurement. Reliability deals with the consistency of the data;

consistency is the extent to which the same results are produced from

different samples of the same population. Reliability means freedom from

random error; if a measure repeatedly produces the same response, it is

considered reliable.

A question or a data collection instrument is valid to the extent that it

measures what it is supposed to measure. Validity centres on removing

systematic influences that move responses in another direction.

Step 4.2: Qualitative Study - Qualitative research tends to apply to a moreholistic and natural approach to the resolution of a problem than does

quantitative research. It also tends to give more attention to the subjective

aspects of human experience and behaviour.


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BASIC STEPS IN SMI

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Step 5: Presentation ofFindings


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CHARACTERISTICS OF SMI

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SMI is just more than induction, or induction-deduction. For one

thing it relies on carefulobservationsof nature and on therecording of these observations. It utilizes the situations in-situ but

even more sets of circumstances resulting form controlled

experimentsand the precise manipulationorsuppressionof the

various factors in the situation being studied.

SMI is characterized by a concern for correlating all known facts

in an effort to arrive at a generalization. ........ and is in turn to be

tested against further cases.

SMI has the power to stimulate furtherstudies leading to animprovementand extension of the generalization in question. Thus

it is not a closed but an opensystem.


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CHARACTERISTICS OF SMI

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Induction

Induction-Deduction

Controlled Experiment

Assumptions Observation and Recording

Generalizability

Evidence

Measurement

Measuring Devices and

Instruments

Reliability

Open System

Systematic Replicability

Definitions


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WHY SMI IN LIS RESEARCH?

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As stated Mouly stated, it is the purpose of Scientific researchto go beyond experience and common sense, which frequently are quite

limited and adequate and often quite incorrect .. for advancingknowledge, for promoting progress, and for enabling man to relate moreeffectively to his environment, to accomplish his purposes, and toresolve his conflicts.

To test the various myths, assumptions, rule-of-thumb, and otherconventions by which it has operated do long a time, to link conceptswhich have been proven through the testing to be valid, and theoriesindigenous to the field itself.

For Putting Knowledge to Work i.e. in library management and

administration.

SMI will allow one to understand and critically evaluate the researchreport of others.


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IMPLICATIONS OF SMI IN LIS RESEARCH

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Librarianship is too complex in nature than in natural sciences.

Perturbations are not easily ascertain, extraneous factors are not

easily isolated or measured.

A second possible difficulty is that research in librarianship cannot be

successful in many of the cases because it is studying the work of

man and is subjected to bias, and because the act of observing my

influence the phenomenon in question.

A third objection which might be leveled against the application of

research in librarianship is that there is less possibility to conduct

experiments.

The laboratories of LIS are usually too extreme i.e. too natural or too

unnatural that effect the research question.


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S. R. RANGANATHANS SPIRAL OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD

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To demonstrate that librarianship is a science S.R. Ranganathan

in the second edition of his classic Five laws of library science (1957)

added a chapter entitled Spiral of Scientific Method to silence orconvince the skeptics of the scientific nature of library science discipline.

It is an overview and visual presentation of the method of

science, which he says, moves like a spiral. That is it moves

clockwise in a circle yet keeps moving onto new places. It meansscience is always progressive scaling new heights and discovering

new knowledge. It accounts for the continuous growth of knowledge.

It is summarized in the table below:

Quadrant Span/Situation Phase Method

I N A Empirical Exp / Obs / Lit Revw

II A Z Hypothesizing Intuition / Imagination

III Z D Deductive Intellection / Logic

IV D - N Verification Appln / Obs


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IIV

IIIII


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CONCLUSION

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Scientific Method is crucial if the field of library and information

science is to solve professional problems, develop tools andmethods for the analysis of organization, services, and behavior, to

determine cost and benefits of our services, and most importantly,

to establish or a develop a body of theory of knowledge on which to

base our practice. Busha and Harter argued that if librarianship is to merit the covet

designation sciencea significant number of scholars and research

workers must regularly apply scientific method to analyse

relationship among the problems which librarian are obligated toexplore and which they are qualified to serve.


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QS ASKED IN THE EXAMINATION

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(2011) Describe the various characteristics of scientific method ofresearch. Discuss by giving examples, how scientific method of

research is helping Library and Information Science to be called a

Science.

(2010) What do you understand by scientific method of research?Explain Ranganathan's spiral of scientific method as a method of

research. Also explain how scientific method is helping LIS to be

called a science.

(2005) Describe the characteristics of scientific method of research.Discuss, by giving examples. How far scientific method is applicable

to research in Library and Information Science?

scientific method of enquiry (2)

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