How to conduct proper research; various types of research; writing a research proposal...

1. Research
by
Rajesh Gunesh
Guidelines

2. TYPES OF RESEARCH
Descriptive Explanatory
2 3
1 4
Reporting Types of Predictive
research
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

3. REPORTING
Calls for knowledge and skill with
information sources and gatekeepers (for
example, experts in certain fields) of
information sources. It requires little
inference and conclusion drawing.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

4. DESCRIPTIVE
It involves the collection of data and the
creation of the distribution of a research
variable or relating the interaction of
two or more variables. A descriptive
study cannot explain the occurrence of
an event as well as interaction of
variables.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

5. DESCRIPTIVE
Tries to discover answers to the
questions WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE
and sometimes HOW. The researcher
attempts to describe or define a subject
by creating a profile of a group of
problems.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

6. EXPLANATORY
It is grounded in theory, that is, it
attempts to answer the WHY and HOW
questions. The researcher uses
hypotheses to explain the forces which
caused a certain phenomenon to occur.
These hypotheses are tested by
appropriate modelling.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

7. PREDICTIVE
It calls for a high degree of inference-
making and, therefore, contributes to
the development of a better theory of a
phenomenon (research variable). It is
used in research which are conducted to
evaluate specific courses of action or to
forecast current and future values.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

8. PREDICTIVE
Prediction will be based on explanatory
hypotheses. Once we can explain and
predict a phenomenon, it can be
controlled - control is the logical
outcome of prediction.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

9. GOOD
RESEARCH
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

10. GOOD RESEARCH
PURPOSE CLEARLY DEFINED
The problem should be sharply
delineated in terms which are as
unambiguous as possible.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

11. GOOD RESEARCH
RESEARCH PROCESS DETAILED
The research procedures used should
described in sufficient detail to permit
another researcher to replicate the
research. Sources of data and methods of
obtaining data must be revealed except
when secrecy is imposed.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

12. GOOD RESEARCH
RESEARCH DESIGN
THOROUGHLY PLANNED
The procedural design of the research
should be carefully planned in order to
obtain accurate and unbiased data (for
example, experiments should be
satisfactorily controlled, minimize
interviewer bias).
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

13. GOOD RESEARCH
HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS
• Safeguards against causing psychological
or physical harm to participants
• Moral concern about the practice of
responsible behaviour in society
• Careful consideration to the possibility of
exploitation, invasion of privacy and loss
of dignity
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

14. GOOD RESEARCH
LIMITATIONS FRANKLY
REVEALED
Honestly report any flaws in the
procedural design and estimate their
effect on findings (e.g. validity and
reliability)
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

15. GOOD RESEARCH
ADEQUATE ANALYSIS FOR
DECISION-MAKER
Analysis of data should be adequate to
reveal its significance and methods
should be appropriate – these show the
competence of the researcher! Validity
and reliability of data should be carefully
checked.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

16. GOOD RESEARCH
ADEQUATE ANALYSIS FOR
DECISION-MAKER
The classified data should enable the
researcher to come to pertinent
conclusions whilst revealing clearly the
findings which lead to those conclusions.
Errors should be estimated whenever
using statistical methods.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

17. GOOD RESEARCH
FINDINGS PRESENTED
UNAMBIGUOUSLY
• Language used must be restrained, clear
and precise
• Assertions should be carefully drawn and
hedged with appropriate reservations
• Effort to achieve maximum objectivity
• Comprehensive presentation of data
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

18. GOOD RESEARCH
CONCLUSIONS JUSTIFIED
• Conclusions confined to those justified
by the data
• Do NOT broaden the basis of induction by
including personal experience (not
verifiable)
• Do NOT universalise the results
• Specify conditions under which
conclusions seem to be valid
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

19. GOOD RESEARCH
RESEARCHER’S EXPERIENCE
REFLECTED
Research report should include
information about the qualifications of
the researcher – greater confidence is
warranted if the researcher is
experienced or is a person of good
integrity.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

20. RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

21. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
It is the procedure you propose to follow
in order to answer the problem in your
research design, a map through the
terrain of research area which prevents
you from losing your way in an entangled
field. Once finalised and approved, you
can start your thesis.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

22. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Your proposal is a planning document
that outlines your thinking about a
research problem and describes WHAT is
to be studied and HOW. It has to be laid
out for inspection and comment by
others in the academic community.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

23. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
It is an opportunity to persuade the
academic community that you know
what you’re talking about and that you
thought through the issues involved and
are going to deliver, that it is worthwhile
to take the risk of giving you a licence to
get on with it.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

24. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
It gives direction to your reading and
focus to your writing and facilitates data
collection. A clear proposal makes you
avoid unnecessary hazards and certainly
minimises wasted time.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

25. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
MAIN CHALLENGES
• Move from a research idea to a research
problem
• Gain clarity on the unit of analysis
• Select an appropriate research design
• Conform to the style and format of a
proposal
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

26. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
WHY DO I NEED A PROPOSAL?
It is a useful document to me, my
supervisor, my funders and the broader
researcher community. It outlines
• the focus
• the limits
• the logical development of my
investigation
• the methods to be used
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

27. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
WHY DO I NEED A PROPOSAL?
It gives me a clearer understanding of
• the literature
• the main considerations
• the potential pitfalls
• the perspective from which to approach
my research
• the ways in which data will be collected
from available sources
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

28. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
WHY DO I NEED A PROPOSAL?
It indicates to my supervisor whether
• I have done adequate thinking about the
topic
• I have the ability to put my ideas into
clear and logical writing
• I have a plan of action in order to reach
the completion of my thesis
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

29. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
WHY DO I NEED A PROPOSAL?
It gives my funders an indication of
whether my thesis is feasible and worth
supporting.
For the academic community, it is an
indication of the focus of my
investigation and how it links to the
ongoing debates in the literature.
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

30. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
WHY DO I NEED A PROPOSAL?
A good research proposal helps me
• define and formulate my research
question
• narrow down the study to a manageable
form within the prescribed time limits
• structure the development of my writing
• avoid wasting time in the literature
search and data collection stages of the
project
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

31. CRITERIA FOR JUDGING
• Do you have a clear idea of what you
plan to research?
• Does your proposal have focus?
• Is it a topic worthy of academic study
and significance?
• Do you demonstrate an adequate
understanding of the debates in the
literature on this topic?
• Is the project feasible?
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

32. CRITERIA FOR JUDGING
• Do you have a realistic idea of how you
are going to tackle the investigation?
• Is it doable within the time constraints?
• Does the bibliography and referencing
conform to accepted conventions?
• Is it technically faultless?
© Rajesh Gunesh – Aug 2010

33. Thank you!