This PPT presentation gives overview of Agricultural Research. Explains meaning of scientifc research, Characteristics of research, research process at a glance, Importance of research and research development continnum Prof Jayne Mugwe Kenyatta University

1. Foundations of
Agricultural Research
Prof. Jayne Mugwe
School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development
Kenyatta University

2. Learning outcomes
• Gain basic understanding of meaning of scientific
research
• Describe characteristisc of scientific research
• Explain importance of research
• Explain briefly the research steps
• Describe stakeholders in Agricultural Research
• Explain role of farmers in scientific research
• Explain the research-development continuum

3. What is research?
• Dictionary Defns
• According Oxford Advanced Learner’s
Dictionary: a careful study of a subject,
especially in order to discover new facts or
information about it
• According to Macmillan Dictionary: the
detailed study of something in order to
discover new facts especially in a university
and scientific institutions

4. Definitions of Research
Research is a systematic, formal, rigorous and
precise process employed to gain solutions to
problems and/or to discover and interpret
new facts and relationships. (Waltz and
Bausell, 1981).

5. Definition by Creswell 2014
• Research is a process of steps used to
collect and analyze information to
increase our understanding of a topic or
issue”
• This definition states that a research is a
systematic way to find a solution of a
problem and that solution helps in adding to
the available knowledge.

6. What is research?
• Research is about carrying out a diligent
inquiry or a critical examination with an aim
of generating new information
• What would be your definition of research?

7. What is agricultural Research?
• Agricultural research is a systematic inquiry to
generate new information to solve problems in
Agriculture
Trials in
Agronomy,Varietal
Screening, Fertilizer
trials, Feeding trials etc
etc

8. Your Research Project
As a student the following are key activities for a
successful research project for your thesis/research
project
1. You will have choose a research topic, identify a
research problem and formulate objectives
2. You will have to use appropriate design and
analytical techniques
3. You will have write and present research
project proposal and receive approval
4. You will have to generate data is that is valid
and reliable

9. Your Research Project…….
• 5. You will write and present research project
report and present for examination.
• 6. You will need to publish your work in a
refereed journal
• 7. Your final report should be quality and reflect
who you are
• 8. Your report will be accessible to readers:
therefore do a good study

10. Why Research skills ?
• Research is important for development of
nations
• Research cuts across all disciplines
• Academic and Research Institutions carry
out Scientific research
• As a post graduate student you need
research skills for your project

11. Scientific Research
Pose a question/problem
Collect data to answer the question
Present answer to the question

12. What is Scientific Research?
• Research conducted for the purpose of contributing
towards science by the systematic collection,
interpretation and evaluation of data
• Planned and carried out by a researcher
• Needs skills and is organized
• Not just gathering information
• You have to learn how to carry out research
• Does not include casual research carried out by layperson
e.g. google check and asking people what they think?
• Collecting information with no clear purpose, methods
(not research)

13. Research is a process
•Not an event
•Is a personal journey
•Challenging, exiting and enjoyable
•Need a solid understanding of research
concepts and principles
•Pure desk review is not acceptable for
thesis work

14. Research process at a glance
Research has a beginning (Research question)
and an end (Answer provided)
1. Definition of the research problem:
crucial first step that leads to formulation of
objectives and hypothesis
1.No research is worth being conducted if not
backed up by a problem
2.What is driving your research?

15. Research process at a glance…..
• 2. Developing a research plan: clear plan
of the design stating the activities and
procedures to be used in collecting the
data. All these information is captured in
a research proposal

16. Research process at a glance…..
• 3. Execution of research. Collect data as
per research proposal. In Agriculture, field
data collection is common.
• 4. Analysis and interpretation of data:
data is entered into relevant software,
followed by analysis and interpretation

17. Research process at a glance…
• 5. Drawing conclusions and reporting: the
final stage and requires the researcher to
reflect at the starting point in an attempt
to provide answer

18. Step Activity
One What is the
problem/issue?
Farmers are facing a problem of fall army
worms attack on maize and lack a
effective control measure
Two How will the problem
be addressed?
Write a proposal to justify the problem;
prepare a research design. Here you will
clearly need to indicate what you wish to
achieve and have a suitable design
Three How will data be
collected?
As per the proposal, set up your field
experiment to test options for controlling
fall army worm in maize and collect data
Four How will data be used
to give solution?
Collect data, analyse and interpret
Five How will the findings be
disseminated?
Report research findings as per the
needs of the various stakeholders
Example of five stage process in addressing
problem of fall army worm in maize

19. Start Here
(Topic)
SUPERVISOR
Write and Present Proposal
Collect
Data
Analyse Data and write Report/Thesis
Journal Articles
Examination
The Role of Supervisor

20. Key terms in research (Activity)
Look up in research methods books meaning
of the following key terms;
• Research proposal
• Research project/Thesis/Dissertation
• Variable
• Validity
• Reliability
• Research design
• Theory
• Quantitaive Research
• Qualitative research

21. Characteristics of scientific research
1. Purposive: Every research must be justified
clearly and show the purpose. Address a problem
2. Systematic: Follows orderly and sequential
procedure
3. Objective- based on empirical observations;
data from experience and direct observation
4. Logical:guided by rules and logical reasoning;
logically validating procedures and analysis
5. Replicable: can repeated to enable research
arrive at results and conclusion

22. Characteristics of scientific
research
6. Control: minimizes the effects of other factors
affecting the relationship
7. Critical and analytical: Careful judgement.– no
error in collection, analysis and interpretation
8. Valid: Accurate; describes the truth; the way things
are
9. Reliable; consistent results, similar at different
times
10. Rigorous; precise methods, data

23. What drives agricultural Research?
• All humans depend on agriculture for food
• Population is increasing
• Demand for food is increasing
• Need to increase production
• Enhance productivity (production per unit
area)
• We need new crops, varieties, technologies,
for increasing production

24. Purpose of research (Why do we
carry out research?)
1. Discover new knowledge, new facts,
Extension of knowledge
2. Creating new methods, practices, tools
and ideas-. eg new drugs, products,
machinery, new agrochemicals,
3. Describe a phenomena –eg size, age,
shape, colour, weight of an insect pest,
change over time; describe population,
describe a farming system

25. Purpose of research
4. Enable prediction – Estimate A, given B. eg
average yields and rainfall patterns = predict the
yield in the next 10 years
5. Enable control –ability to regulate the
phenomena under study
6.Enable theory development –involves
formulating concepts, laws and generalization
about a given phenomenon. Theory is set of accepted beliefs
or organized principles that explain and guide a practice eg theory of
light.eg theory of education; innovation-diffusion theory

26. Purpose of research
7. Confirm or validate existing theories
8.Search for meanings: involves study of
activities, practices, beliefs, attitudes,
experiences
9. Developing new research
methodologies, tools of data analysis eg
spectroscopy methods of soil analysis (rapid
methods)

27. Purpose of research
10 Evaluation of effectiveness of
Programmes; Planning and
production purposes
12. Test Hypothesis (prediction)

28. Objectives of Agricultural Research
1. Develop sustainable and cost effective
agricultural and production systems
2. Develop improved production technologies
(e.g., Artificial insemination, embryo transfer
(irrigation)
3. Increase agricultural productivity in terms of
quantity and quality (e.g., selection of
drought -resistant crops and animals,
development of new pesticides, simulation
models of crop growth )

29. Objectives of Agricultural Research ….
• Prevent and correct adverse effects e.g. climate
change, Integrated pest and diseases management
• Develop effective Marketing systems; Profitability
• Develop effective management strategies for
Institutional support
• Create enabling Policy for agricultural development
• Develop technologies to develop transform of
primary products into end-consumer products-
agro processing (e.g., production, preservation, and
packaging of dairy products)

30. Stakeholders in agricultural research
Conduct research, Beneficiaries, Donors
1. National Agricultural Research Institutions; KARLO (Kenya),
NARO (Uganda)
2. Universities: Staff and students
3. International Agricultural Research Centres (IARCs); CIMMYT,
IITA
4. Donor agencies; Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
(AGRA)
5. Non Governmental Organizations; One acre fund, Heifer
international,
6. Farmers: Beneficiaries…do farmers carry out research? (On
farm trials)
7. Private companies; Business, seed companies, agrochemicals
(Syngenta)

31. Farmers play a
critical role in
agricultural
research
Food for
thought
Are they
researchers?

33. Field Experiment
What do you think is being evaluated?

34. Biophysical and Social Science
research
• In agriculture, like many other disciplines we carry
both biophysical and social science research
• Biophysical research; biological physical processes
and phomenon eg yields
• Social science research is about people and their
behaviour
• Social sciences will include psychology (human
behaviour) Sociology (science of social groups) and
economics (pricing, markets and economies)

35. Examples of fields of research in Agriculture
Agronomy (Crop
Science)
Clinical health
(animals)
Entomology
Agricultural economics ICT in agriculture Animal science
Gender in Agriculture Animal breeding Animal nutrition
Soil Fertility Seed science Veterinary science
Soil and water
conservation
Crop protection Horticulture
Agricultural Markets Pathology Agricultural
extension
Epidemiology Agricultural
policy
Agribusiness
Plant breeding Climate change
and agriculture
Aquaculture
Others…….. Others……………..

36. Role of farmers in Agricultural Research
1. Contribute in problem identification
2. Manage the experiments
3. Provide research land & materials
4. Manage and run the experiments
5. Adopt and sustain new ideas and models
6. Give feedback about the new technologies and models
7. Help in identifying issues for further research
8. Make research more applicable
9. Farmers provide social aspect in research
10.Provide opportunity for realistic evaluation

37. Research Development Continuum
• Research is an investment which should
benefit society through development
• Research and development is continuous

38. Development phase
• Focusses on technologies that can be
adopted to increase productivity
• Several prototypes may be developed
• Trials, modifications and improvements
occur
• Modifications to improve productivity and
profitability

39. Dissemination
and Upscaling
Action
Research
Adaptive
Research
Applied
Research
Basic Research
Field days
Farmer field school
Community participation
and identification of
Impacts
Pilot technologies and
products
Understand ranges and
options
Understand mechanism
and scientific discovery
Research
and
development
Continuum

40. Bibliography
1. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative
and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
2. Kothari CR (2014). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques.
New Delhi. New age International publishers
3. Kumar R (2011). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for
beginners. SAGE publications. India.
4. Mugenda O and Mugenda A (2010). Research methods. Quantitative
and Qualitative approaches, Acts Press, Nairobi
5. Waltz, C. F., & Bausell, R. B. (1981). Nursing research: design,
statistics and computer analysis.Philadephia: F.A. Davis Co.