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Etymology
The word research is
derived from the Middle French "recherche",
which means "to go about seeking", the term itself being derived
from the Old French term "recerchier"
a compound word from "re-" + "cerchier", or
"sercher", meaning 'search'. The earliest recorded use of the
term was in 1577.
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by Martyn Shuttleworth -
"In the broadest sense of the word, the definition of research
includes any gathering of data, information and facts for the advancement
of knowledge."
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by Creswell who states - "Research is a process of steps used to
collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or
issue". It consists of three steps: Pose a question, collect data to
answer the question, and present an answer to the question.
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The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines research in more detail
as "a studious inquiry or examination; especially :
investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation
of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts,
or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws"
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Research is a systematic, formal, rigorous and
precise process employed to gain solutions to problems or to discover and
interpret new facts and relationships. (Waltz and
Bausell, 1981).
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Research is the process of looking for a specific
answer to a specific question in an organized, objective, reliable way. (Payton, 1979).
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Research is systematic, controlled, empirical and
critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed
relations among natural phenomena. (Kerlinger,
1973).
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Research is the pursuit of truth with the help of
study, observation, comparison and experiment; the search for knowledge
through objective and systematic method of finding solutions to a problem (Kothari, 2006).
So RESEARCH research is the systematic activity
directed towards objectively investigating specific problems in order to
discover the relationships between and among variables. It seeks to answer
specific questions
2. RESEARCH CARACTERISTICS
1. Reliability is a subjective term which can not be measured
precisely but today there are instruments which can estimate the
reliability of any research. Reliability is the repeatability of any
research, research instrument, tool or procedure. If any research yields
similar results each time it is undertaken with similar population and with
similar procedures, it is called to be a reliable research. Suppose a
research is conducted on the effects of separation between parents on class
performance of the children. If the results conclude that separation causes
low grades in class, these results should have to be reliable for another
sample taken from similar population. More the results are similar; more
reliability is present in the research.
2. Validity is the strength with which we can call a research
conclusions, assumptions or propositions true or false. Validity determines
the applicability of research . Validity of the research instrument can be
defined as the suitability of the research instrument to the research
problem or how accurately the instrument measures the problem. Some
researchers say that validity and reliability are co-related but validity
is much more important than reliability. Without validity research goes in
the wrong direction. To keep the research on-track define your concepts in
the best possible manner so that no error occur during measurement.
3. Accuracy is also the degree to which each research process,
instrument and tool is related to each other. Accuracy also measures
whether research tools have been selected in best possible manner and
research procedures suits the research problem or not. For example if a
research has to be conducted on the trans-gender people, several data
collection tools can be used depending on the research problems but if you
find that population less cooperative the best way is to observe them
rather than submitting questionnaire because in questionnaire either they
will give biased responses or they will not return the questionnaires at
all. So choosing the best data collection tool improves the accuracy of
research.
4. Credibility comes with the use of best source of information and
best procedures in research. If you are using second-hand information in
your research due to any reason your research might complete in less time
but its credibility will be at stake because secondary data has been manipulated by human beings and is
therefore not very valid to use in research. A certain percentage of
secondary data can be used if primary source is not available but basing a
research completely on secondary data when primary data can be gathered is
least credible. When researcher give accurate references in research the credibility of research increases
but fake references also decrease the credibility of research.
5. Generalizability is the extent to which a
research findings can be applied to larger population. When a researcher
conducts a study he/she chooses a target population and from this
population he takes a small sample to conduct the research. This sample is
representative of the whole population so the findings should also be. If
research findings can be applied to any sample from the population, the
results of the research are said to be generalizable.
6. Empirical nature of research means that the research has
been conducted following rigorous scientific methods and procedures. Each
step in the research has been tested for accuracy and is based on real life
experiences. Quantitative research is more easy to prove scientifically
than qualitative research. In qualitative research biases and prejudice are
easy to occur.
7. Systematic approach is the only approach for research. No
research can be conducted haphazardly. Each step must follow other. There
are set of procedures that have been tested over a period of time and are
thus suitable to use in research. Each research therefore should follow a
procedure.
8. Controlled-in real life experience there are many factors
that effect an outcome. A single event is often result of several factors.
When similar event is tested in research, due to the broader nature of
factors that effect that event, some factors are taken as controlled
factors while others are tested for possible effect. The controlled factors
or variables should have to be controlled rigorously. In pure sciences it
is very easy to control such elements because experiments are conducted in
laboratory but in social sciences it becomes difficult to control these
factors because of the nature of research.
3. THE PURPOSE OF RESEARCH
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The main purpose and role of research is to help
plan and gather information on a certain topic before carrying it out .It
helps to test and create a theory on a certain thing and with the
information given this helps to gather to generate a topic to find out more
on. By carrying out research this helps to gather and explore more into a
certain topic which helps to backup your opinions with the findings.
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The purpose of research is also to gather a detail
of a certain topic which can help after to understand more about the topic
that has been searched. By researching about something before carrying it
out put a purpose in carrying out the topic and helps to put a meaning to
what is being carried out. Research is to use it to explain why something
is occurring. Most often this means identifying and explaining a certain
thing in more detail and giving a overall explanation to what it is.
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By researching you are able to backup and give
others views and opinions in order to help to justify your findings.
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Research also helps to monitor something before
carrying it out example an activity in a childcare setting research helps
to identify how the activity can help children ,what use the activity will
come to how the activity may have an effect on others and this helps you to
investigate more before carrying out something
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Research also helps to discover new things by
gathering and looking out for what others around have done this can helps
in childcare setting as it helps to learn from others and allows developing
on your learning.
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Research helps to test a hypothesis or theory by
looking up on what others may say and statistic that are given can
strengthen and weaken your hypothesis by the information that your may have
gathered
4. THE BENEFIT OF RESEARCH
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Finding and understand raw data and information
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Formulating informed opinions through study of research finding
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Entering the discourse,or conversation,of other writers and scolars
in your field
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Learning how other in your field use primary and secondary
resources
Research expands and
arguments your experiences and knowledge,providing a broader base for
thinking ang writing.It enablesyou to become an epert in areas not directly
related to your everyday life.When you engage in research,you build valuable
critical skills that serveyou in other areas of life.You learn to ask
probing and thoughtful question,gather and interpret data,read
critically,from intelligent opinions,and manage and undrestand conflicting
information.As you do research in your choosen specialization,you become an
expert in that area.In addition,when you write about your
discoveries,others come to respect your knowledge and value your opinion.
5. STEPS AND PROCESS OF RESEARCH
The research process consists of
a number of closely related activities necessary to effectively carry out
research. The activities overlap continuously and are not mutually
exclusive events. They do not necessarily follow each other in any specific
order. The order presented here is only a useful procedural guide of the
research process. In the following section, a brief mention is given of
what each stage in the research process entails. Detailed discussion of
each stage will be presented in other sections.
1. Identify and formulating the research problems
This involves the identification
of a general topic and formulating it into a specific research problem. It
requires thorough understanding of the problem and rephrasing it in
meaningful terms from an analytical point of view.
Types of Research Projects
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those that relate to states of nature
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those which relate to relationships between
variables
In understanding the problem, it
is helpful to discuss it with colleagues or experts in the field. It is
also necessary to examine conceptual and empirical literature on the
subject. After the literature review, the researcher is able to focus on
the problem and phrase it in analytical or operational terms. The task of
defining the research problem is of greatest importance in the entire
research process. Being able to define the problem unambiguously helps the
researcher in discriminating relevant data from irrelevant ones.
2. Extensive literature review
Review of literature is a
systematic process that requires careful and perceptive reading and
attention to detail. In the review of the literature, the researcher
attempts to determine what others have learned about similar research
problems. It is important in the following ways:
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specifically limiting and identifying the research
problem and possible hypothesis or research questions i.e. sharpening the
focus of the research.
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informing the researcher of what has already been
done in the area. This helps to avoid exact duplication.
“If one had the literature and
exercised enough patience and industry in reviewing available literature,
it may well be that his problem has already been solved by someone
somewhere some time ago and he will save himself the trouble.” Nwana
(1982).
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Providing insights into possible research designs
and methods of conducting the research and interpreting the results.
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Providing suggestions for possible modifications
in the research to avoid unanticipated difficulties.
The library is the most likely
physical location for the research literature. Within the library there is
access to books, periodicals, technical reports and academic theses. Other
sources are the Education Index and the Educational Resources information
centre (ERIC). Computer-assisted searchers of literature have become very
common today. They have the advantage of comprehensiveness and speed. They
are also very cost-effective in terms of time and effort although access to
some of the databases requires payment. Irrespective of the sources of the
literature, ethics of research require that the source is acknowledged
through a clear system of referencing.
3. Developing the hypothesis, objectives or research
questions
A hypothesis is a tentative
assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or empirical
consequences. It provides a focal point for the research. It also affects
the manner in which tests must be conducted in the analysis of data.
Hypotheses are based on discussions, examination of records, and review of
similar studies or personal investigations. Occasionally there may not be
need to have a working hypothesis. This is the case especially in
exploratory of formulative research which does not aim at testing a
hypothesis. In such cases it is usual to work with specific objectives or
research questions.
4. Preparing the research design
A research design is the
conceptual framework within which the research will be conducted. Some
scholars have called it the blue print of the research. The research design
is meant to ensure efficiency of the research project. It ensures
collection of relevant evidence with minimal expenditure of effort, time
and money. The design used is dependent upon the purpose or objectives of
the research. Research may be done for exploration, description, diagnosis
or experimentation. Preparation of a research design is influenced by the
following factors:
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means of obtaining the information
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skills of the research personnel
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time available for the research
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resources available to the researcher
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size of the sample
The major types of research
designs include the randomized or true experiment, quasi-experiment and
non-experiment. A more detailed discussion of designs will be done at a
later stage. For now it should suffice to say that the design is used to
structure the research; to show how all the major parts of the research
project - the samples or groups, measures, treatments, methods of
assignment - work together to address the central research question.
5. Determining the sample
An inquiry in which the entire
population under study is considered is referred to as a census inquiry.
‘Population’ here refers to all the members or items under consideration.
Very often it is not possible to study the entire population due to
considerations of cost, time, energy, volume of data etc. In such cases the
researcher often resorts to sampling. A sample is that part of a population
that is actually considered in a study. Effort should be made to ensure
that the sample is not biased and is as representative of the population as
possible. Sampling designs are used for this purpose. Samples can either be
probability or non-probability samples.
6. Collection of data
This is the stage where
appropriate information for answering the research question is collected.
The researcher should select the most appropriate methods of collecting
data and the required data collection tools. This calls for consideration
of the nature of the investigation, the respondents, objectives and scope
of the inquiry, resources available, time and the desired degree of
accuracy
7. Analysis and interpretation of data
Analysis of data involves the
application of raw data into categories through coding and tabulation. The
unwieldy data is condensed into manageable categories for further analysis.
The researcher attempts to classify the raw data into some purposeful and usable
categories. In coding, the categories of data are transformed into symbols
that may be tabulated and counted. Use of computers is helpful especially
when dealing with large amounts of data. Analysis work after tabulation is
usually based on computation of various statistical measures. Data entry
and analysis software such as SPSS, EPI info, Excel and Access are helpful
at this stage. In analysis, relationships or differences that support or
conflict the original hypothesis are subjected to tests of significance to
determine the validity with which conclusions can be made. If there are no
hypotheses, the researcher seeks to explain the findings.
THE PROCESS RESEARCH:
Generally, research is understood to follow a certain structural process. Though step order may vary depending on the
subject matter and researcher, the following steps are usually part of most
formal research, both basic and applied:
1.
Observations and Formation of the
topic: Consists of the subject area of ones interest and
following that subject area to conduct subject related research. The
subject area should not be randomly chosen since it requires reading a vast
amount of literature on the topic to determine the gap in the literature
the researcher intends to narrow. A keen interest in the chosen subject
area is advisable. The research will have to be justified by linking its
importance to already existing knowledge about the topic.
2.
Hypothesis: A testable prediction which designates the relationship
between two or more variables.
4.
Operational definition: Details in regards to defining the variables and how
they will be measured/assessed in the study.
5.
Gathering of data: Consists of identifying a population and
selecting samples, gathering information from and/or about these samples by
using specific research instruments. The instruments used for data
collection must be valid and reliable.
6.
Analysis of data: Involves breaking down the individual pieces of data
in order to draw conclusions about it.
7.
Data Interpretation: This can be represented through tables, figures and
pictures, and then described in words.
6. TYPE OF RESEARCH
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