Research_Lecture_1_of_chapter_one_1 (1).pptx

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1. RESEARCH AND THE RESEARCH PROCESS Presented BY Mr. Zubair h. jama

2. Decision-making Process M ethods of obtaining information in decision-making Authority –from credible individuals who have expertise in the decision being made (reduces searching time) e.g. parents, teachers etc. Intuition – accepted because it appears to be true; the information does not necessarily agree with established facts.(tradition/cultural beliefs) Experience – based information is drawn from past situations that were similar in nature to the current problem. Research

3. Relationship of Research & Mankind Problems The development of the society from its simple to its complex state will reveal the many and varied problems which afflict human kind. Thus, solutions to problems must be based on knowledge, not on mere beliefs, guesses or theories. To acquire knowledge and to continuously evaluate its accuracy and usefulness requires a well planned and systematic procedure on which research has been devised to meet this need.

4. Relationship of Research & Mankind Problems Research is a human device invented and developed not only to push far the limit of human knowledge but to improve the quality of individual and group life. This underscores the importance of research, the continued existence and relevance of which will last as long as there is human being who wishes to expand his knowledge and understanding about the world and everything therein.

5. RESEARCH Re ---------------- Search Re----- means (once more, afresh, anew) OR (back; with return to a previous state) Search------ means (look through or go over thoroughly to look for something) OR (examine to find anything concealed/unknown) 6

6. What is Research? Research is an ORGANIZED and SYSTEMATIC way of FINDING ANSWERS to QUESTIONS . 7

7. Cont …. ORGANIZED In that there is a structure or method of going about doing research. It is a planned procedure, not a spontaneous one. It is focused and limited to a specific scope. 8

8. Cont …. SYSTEMATIC B ecause there is a definite set of procedures and steps which you will follow. There are certain things in the research process which are always done in order to get the most accurate results. 9

9. Cont …. FINDING ANSWERS I s the end of all research. Whether it is the answer to a hypothesis or even a simple question, research is successful when we find answers. Sometimes the answer is no, but it is still an answer. 10

10. Cont …. QUESTIONS A re central to research. If there is no question, then the answer is of no use. Research is focused on relevant, useful, and important questions. Without a question, research has no focus, drive, or purpose. 11

11. Other definitions Research is a scientific and methodical investigation into a subject in order to discover facts, to establish or revise an existing theory in order to develop a plan of action based on the facts discovered.

12. Other definitions According to Clifford Woody (Kothari,1985), research comprise defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solution; collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusion; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulated hypothesis.

13. WHY DO RESEARCH? Importance of Research: The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through application of scientific procedures. Research corrects perceptions as well as expands them. Research gathers information on subjects or phenomena we lack or have little knowledge about.

14. WHY DO RESEARCH? Cont’d Research also develops and evaluates methods that test concepts, practices and theories. Research verifies and tests existing facts and theories Research provides hard facts which serve bases for planning, decision-making, project implementation and evaluation. Redirect courses of action and evaluate policies

15. Research methodology and methods Two terms are often treated as synonyms: Methodology is broader and envelops methods. Research methodology refers to the methods, materials or techniques employed to systematically solve the research problem (Kothari, 2008). The choice of which methodology to use depends on the type of research one ought to undertake.

16. The scope of research methodology is wider than that of research methods. We consider the logic behind the methods we use in the context of our research study and explain why? (justification) we are using a particular method or technique and why we are not using others so that research results are capable of being evaluated either by the researcher himself or by others .

17. Research Methods Research methods are set of specific techniques for selecting cases, measuring and observing aspects of social life, gathering and refining data, analyzing data and reporting on results. Research techniques refer to the behavior and instruments we use in performing research operations such as making observations, recording data, techniques of processing data and the like.

18. Cont …. E.g. in Field/survey Research 1. Questionnaire -method of collecting data Attitudinal scales for opinions -technique 2. Mass observation of site activities-method Recording info, interacting with site staff- technique

19. Research process Lecture II 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 20

20. Research Topic What is a Research Topic? A topic is the subject to be researched, analyzed and interpreted Typically, a researcher selects a research topic by identifying a wide area of interest or concern (research area) and then narrows that area to a manageable set of research questions 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 21

21. Elements of a Research Topic A well written research topic is a brief statement that describes the “ what” and the “ where” of a study That “ what” describes the variables (subject and object) and the “ where” describes the area or the target population of the study. 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 22   Research Topic is - what (subject + object) + where (target population) of a study

22. Sources of Research Topics One major difficulty for beginning researchers is where to obtain research topics Most students spend a lot of time struggling to locate research topics because they imagine that a topic is a very special issue that can only come through divine intervention 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 23

23. Continue Yet research topics exist around us: in our families, classrooms, places of work, and everywhere in the general environment 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 24

24. The common sources of research topics include: Personal Experiences: A researcher can seek to explain why these things are the way they are and suggest a topic such as effect of shoe colour on students’ achievement in mathematics Existing Theories: Theories are general principles whose applicability to specific problems or situations are not known unless empirically tested 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 25

25. Continue Formal Needs Assessment: Careful assessment of needs may reveal problems that may require research to solve, and research topics may result from such problems for example; effect of mathematics texts on students’ achievement in mathematics. 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 26

26. Continue Literature Sources: Every research that has been concluded and reported contains recommendations for future research, and research topics could result from such recommendations For example; Students can obtain research topics by just consulting the recommendations sections 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 27

27. Selecting a Research Topic How to select/ formulate/develop a research title /topic Conceptual stage/ identification and formulation of a research problem This stage involves identifying and stating the research title/problem. The first step in identifying a research title is to pick an area of interest. This area is related to one’s professional interest and goals. 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 28

28. Continue Next step is to identify a specific problem with in the researcher’s area of interest. This problem should be important and serious in that it needs a solution immediately. it is from the problem that a researcher formulates a research title. Examples of research problems are workers productivity in the public sector, student’s performance at university level, strikes in secondary schools. 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 29

29. Continue The selection of a problem even to experienced researcher is always a difficult step in the research process. but graduate students spend many anxiety ridden days and sleepless nights worrying about where they are going to find the problem they need for their thesis or dissertation. 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 30

30. Example 1 The following is the steps of formulating a research title/topic. Problem identification : select an area of interest- must related to area of specialization e.g. small business Specific problem : business failure Define your problem : inability of managers to achieve objectives of the business, which is indicated by low outcome, low quality, lack of sustainability. 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 31

31. Continue 4) Identify possible causes: Lack of capital Lack of managerial skills Lack of accountability Lack of adequate resources Improper problem identification 5)  Select one cause : lack of managerial skills 6) Link your cause to the problem Lack of managerial skills and small business failure 7/24/2015 Research Methodology 32

32. Continue 7 ) Refine the statement – remove biases negatives and waste words. Managerial skills and small business success 8) Modify your statement further - add the context and unit of analysis –context is the area you are going to study unit of analysis – respondents/units to be studied. Title/topic: Managerial skills and small business success in hargiesa Somaliland. 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 33

33. Example 2 Problem identification : Specific problem: Define your problem 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 34

34. Continue 4) Identify possible causes: 5) Select one cause : 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 35

35. Continue 6) Link your cause to the problem 7) Refine the statement: remove biases negatives and waste words. 8) Modify your statement further - add the context and unit of analysis – context is the area you are going to study unit of analysis – respondents/units to be studied. 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 36

36. Qualities of an Effective Title It should be brief and specific __ makes the title stand out and have a strong impact. ___ it is easier to identify the independent and dependent variables. __the title becomes clear and focused. It should be in line with the set objectives the title is a brief summary of what the study is about. The words used in the title should clearly reflect the focus of the study. 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 37

37. Continue It should be clear and unambiguous the title should not lead to various interpretations of the study. It should reflect a relationship between the independent variables (IV) and Dependent Variable (DV) It should be researchable 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 38

38. End Thanks for your Attention 7/24/2015 Research Methadology 39

39. Types of research Lecture 3 40

40. Different Types of Research Conceptual Vs Empirical Research Quantitative Vs Qualitative Research Desciptive (Ex post factor) Vs Analytical Applied Vs Fundamental Experimental Vs Simulation 41

41. Conceptual Vs Empirical Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory It is generally used by philosophers and T hinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones Empirical research relies on experience or observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by observation or experiment 42

42. Continue We can also call it as experimental type of research In such a research it is necessary to get at facts firsthand, at their source, and actively to go about doing certain things to stimulate the production of desired information In such a research, the researcher must first provide himself with a working hypothesis or guess as to the probable results 43

43. Continue He then works to get enough facts (data) to prove or disprove his hypothesis He then sets up experimental designs which he thinks will manipulate the persons or the M aterials C oncerned so as to bring forth the desired information Such research is thus characterized by the experimenter’s control over the variables under study and his careful manipulation of one of them to study its effects 44

44. Continue Empirical research is appropriate when proof is sought that certain variables affect other variables in some way Evidence gathered through E xperiments or Empirical studies is today considered to be the most powerful support possible for a given hypothesis. 45

45. Quantitative Vs Qualitative Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity Qualitative research , on the other hand, is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e ., phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind For instance, when we are interested in investigating the reasons for human behaviour (i.e., why people think or do certain things ), we quite often talk of ‘ Motivation Research ’, an important type of qualitative research 46

46. Continue Qualitative research is specially important in the behavioral sciences where the aim is to discover the underlying motives of human behavior Through such research we can analyze the various factors which motivate people to behave in a particular manner or which make people like or dislike a particular thing 47

47. Descriptive Vs Analytical Descriptive research includes survey and fact finding enquiries of different kinds. The major purpose of descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it exists at present In social research we quite often use the term ex post factor research for descriptive research studies The main characteristic of this method is that the researcher has no control over the variables 48

48. Continue He can only report what has happened or what is happening Most Ex post factor research projects are used for descriptive studies in which the researcher seeks to measure such items as frequency of building , preferences of people or similar data The methods of research utilized in descriptive research are survey methods of all kinds including comparative and correlation methods 49

49. Continue In Analytical research , on the other hand, the researcher has to use facts or information already available , and analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the material 50

50. Applied Vs Fundamental Research can either be applied (or action) research or fundamental (to basic or pure) research Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/business organization whereas fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalizations and with the formulation of a theory 51

51. Continue “Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research .” Research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics are examples of fundamental research Similarly, research studies, concerning human behavior carried on with a view to make generalizations about human behavior , are also examples of fundamental research 52

52. Continue But research aimed at certain conclusions (say, a solution) facing a concrete social or business problem is an example of applied research The central aim of applied research is to discover a solution (collapse of buildings) for some pressing practical problem Whereas basic research is directed towards finding information that has a broad base of applications and thus, adds to the already existing organized body of scientific knowledge 53