Research: Concept, Need and Some Research Ethics

1. Research:
Concept, Need & Ethics
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

2. Introduction
 Research is a systematic effort to gain new knowledge.
 A systematic inquiry into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, etc.
 A careful investigation for new facts in any branch of knowledge
 Defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis/objectives; collecting,
organizing and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; testing the
conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis/objectives
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

3. Research
The word ‘Research’ can be an acronym, each letter of the word, standing for a particular
aspect:
R = Rational way of thinking
E = Expert and Exhaustive treatment
S = Search and solution
E = Exactness
A = Analysis
R = Relationship of facts
C = Critical observation, Careful panning, Constructive attitude and Condensed generalisation
H = Honesty and Hard working
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

4. Definitions
• “If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn’t be called research, would it?” (Albert Einstein)
• Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences, “The manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the
purpose of generalization to extend, correct or verify knowledge whether that knowledge
aids in the construction of a theory or in practice of an art.”
• Ranganathan “to represent a critical and exhaustive investigation to discover new facts, to
interpret them in the light of known ideas, theories and laws, to revive the current laws and
theories in the light of the newly discovered facts to apply the conclusion to practical
purpose”.
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

5. Need and Purpose
• The need for research is to build up an infrastructure for creating new knowledge
to develop a knowledge reservoir.
• The application of this knowledge for socioeconomic and cultural development
of a country to provide material well being of societies, is the purpose.
• For the business and industrial community, KM has become a crucial area for
combating competition. This challenge has made them to invest very heavily on
research on new knowledge creation
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

6. • Research plays the vital role in Creation of following:
– Creation of learned societies and professional associations,
– Publication of primary and secondary sources for dissemination of information and
knowledge,
– Information systems and services through libraries and information centers,
– Consultancy organizations to bridge research and industrial development,
– Multimedia communication through Internet and websites,
– and many others are undoubtedly oriented towards building up our knowledge base
Need and Purpose
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

7. Ethics of Research
• “Ethics is the disciplined study or morality….and morality asks the question…what should
one’s behavior be” by Jeff Cooper.
• “Greek ethos ‘character’ is the systematic study of value concepts—good, bad, right,
wrong and the general principles that justify applying these concepts”.
• Basically, there are two types of ethics,
– Descriptive Ethics:
• What does the culture or society believe is morally correct?
– Prescriptive Ethics asks:
• How should I behave as a researcher?
• What character traits should I cultivate?
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

8. Six Norms of Scientific Research
 Valid research design – takes into account relevant theory, methods, and prior
findings
 Competence of researcher – capable to carry out the procedures
 Identification of consequences – assessment of risks and benefits (maximizing
benefit and minimizing risk)
 Selection of subjects – appropriate to the purposes of the study, representative of
the population that will benefit from the research and appropriate in number
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon

9.  Voluntary informed consent – obtained before study begins, without undue threat or
inducement, with enough information, and agreement to participate
 Compensation for injury – responsibility for what happens to the subject (federal law
requires that subjects be informed about compensation, but does not require
compensation)
Six Norms of Scientific Research
Dr. Irfan ul Haq Akhoon