RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Welcome!! Bon voyage!!

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Research Methodology

What Research is not

Introduction

People have different denotations of the term research. The term Research has been used to mean something totally different from what it is.

Research is not the following

1.
2.

Research is not mere info gathering- i.e. info discovery that lies somewhere may in the lib or archives Research is not mere transportation of facts from one location to another-it more than collection of data, assembling-also include interpretation of that data and reporting of findings

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Research Methodology

What Research is not contd.

3.

Research is not merely rummaging for info-this is self-enlightenment about a particular topic/issue

4. Research is not a catch word to used to get attention after many years of research is phrases commonly used by many businesses to get peoples attention to get them to buy their products and services

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Research Methodology

WHAT IS RESEARCH?
Meaning of research:
a search for knowledge (Kothari) scientific & systematic search fro pertinent info on a specific topic A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search of new facts in any branch of knowledge. (ALDCE) Movement from known to unknown-a voyage of discovery Mugenda & mugenda Carrying out a diligent inquiry or critical examinition of a given phenomenon-implies an exhaustive study, investigation or experimentaiton following some logical sequence.

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Research Methodology

WHAT IS RESEARCH?

Involves a critical analysis of exiting conclusions or theories with regard to newly discovered facts. This is Important in a world that is ever changing in technology-thus research is a continued search fro new knowledge and u/standing of the world around us. A process of arriving at effective solutions to problems thro systematic collection analysis and interpretation of data. According to Leedy (Practical research)-research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing info (data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which we are concerned or interested.

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Research Methodology

Characteristics of a good research

1.

The focus is formal research-one in which we intentionally set out to enhance our understanding of a phenomenon and expect to communicate what we discover to the larger scientific community. Research project vary in size and duration however they typically have 8 distinct x-tics Research originates with a question or a problem- the world is filled with unanswered questions and unresolved problems. We see things that cause us to wonder, to speculate, and to ask questions that strike the first spark of igniting the chain reaction that that terminates in the research process-an inquisitive mind is the beginning of research.

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Research Methodology

Characteristics of a good research contd.

2. Research requires a clear articulation of the problem- a clear unambiguous statement of the problem is critical. This statement is an exercise in intellectual honesty i.e. it must be set forth clearly and in a grammatically complete sentence clearly what the ultimate goal of the research is. The statement answers the question what problem do u intend to solve? It is essential for the success of the any research u/taking Without it the research is on shaky ground indeed as the saying goes a problem well stated is a problem half solved.

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Research Methodology

Characteristics of a good research contd.

3.Research follows a specific plan or procedure its not a blind excursion in to the unknown, with the hope that the data necessary to answer the question at hand will somehow fortuitously turn up. Instead it is , a carefully planned attack- a searchand-discover mission mapped out in advance. The overall research effort must be explicitly planned and logically designed. The research design and the specific research methods are planned purposefully in way so that one can acquire data that is relevant

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Research Methodology

Characteristics of a good research contd.

4. Research usually divided the principle problem into more manageable sub problems Breaking the main problem into several sub-problems helps in that when they are solved, the main problem is resolved. e.g. traveling from Nairobi to USA-no direct flight form NBO to USA. Thus the journey is broken into two-first to any destination in Europe than to US

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Research Methodology

Characteristics of a good research contd.

5.Resaechis guided by the specific research problem, question or hypothesis

Having stated the problem and its constituent sub problems, the researcher typically forms one or more hypothesis abut what he /she may discover. A hypothesis is a logical supposition, a reasonable guess or an educated conjecture. That is made in order to draw out conclusions and test its logical or empirical consequences. It provides a tentative explanation fro the phenomenon under investigation. Over time as particular hypothesis are supported by a growing body of data, they evolve into theories A theory- is an organized body of concepts and principles intended to explaining particular phenomenon.
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Characteristics of a good research contd.

6. Research accept certain critical assumptions

Assumptions are self-evident truths generally accepted principle. They are what the research takes fro granted. They must be valid or else the research is meaningless and thus researchers must set forth a statement of their assumptions as the bedrock upon which their study must rest. Its important because others inspecting the research must do so in accordance with their own assumptions

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Characteristics of a good research contd.

7. Research requires the collection and interpretation of data in an attempt to resolve the problem that initiated the research. After all the above stated activities the next step is to collect data that is seemed appropriate and to organize them in meaningful ways so that they can be interpreted. Data, events and observations are, in and themselves only data, events, and observations-nothing more. The significance of the data depends on how the researcher extracts meaning from them. In Research uninterpreted data by human mind are worthless.
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Research Methodology

Characteristics of a good research contd.

8.Research is by its nature, cyclical, or more exactly helical. The research process follows a cyclic path and begins simply and follows logical and developmental steps. a. A questioning mind observes a particular situation and asks, why? What caused that? How come? b. The question becomes formally statedas aproblem. c. Data are gathered d. A guess/hypothesis is made

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Characteristics of a good research contd.

e. The quest for more data continues f. The body of data is processed and interpreted g. A discovery is made; a conclusion is reached

h. The tentative hypothesis is either supported by the data or is not supported; the question is answered (partially or completely) or not answered. i. The cycle is complete

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Characteristics of a good research contd.

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Purpose/objective of Research

The main purpose of research is to discover answers to questions. Though each research study has its own specific purpose, research objectives may be thot of as falling under the following broad categories. To discover new knowledge-facts, their correct interpretation, and practical application. Its the most reliable source of knowledge, and the most accurate system of securing knowledge since it seeks to demonstrate truth. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or achieve new insights into it. Such studies are termed as exploratory or formulative studies
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1.

2.

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Purpose/objective of Research
3

To portray accurately the x-tics of a particular

individual situation, group, phenomenon i.e. being able to describe a phenomenon-this kind of study is known a descriptive research studies
4

To enable prediction-ability to estimate a phenomenon A, given phenomenon B. This involves testing the hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables such are known as hypothesis testing research studies.
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Purpose/objective of Research
5.

To enable control-

Control is concerned with the ability to regulate the phenomenon under study. Usually one phenomenon is manipulated in order to exert control over another. E.g. a lab experiment, a drug that suppresses body growth is administered to a group of rats to investigate its effects on weight gain in rat. Another group of rat is feed with the same food in the same amount without the drug and all other conditions are kept constant. After some time all the weights of the rats are taken, if the weight of the rat taking the drug is significantly less than the other rats not on drugs then we can confidently say that the drug controls weight.

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Purpose/objective of Research
6. To enable theory development.

Theory development involves formulating concepts, laws and generalizations about a given phenomenon. Research is also conducted in an attempt to confirm or validate existing theories. This is sometimes called falsification of theory

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Discovering the discipline of research

1. 2.

3.

Browsing the periodicals section in the library-research journals Finding journals in the internet Evaluating the research of others-juried (refereed) Vs uninjured. Juried are better. Some uninjured are good but one has top cautious Benefiting from others workkeep a log of all the articles author, title, year name of journal, volume, No. and pages Take time to consider how you can improve your own workwhat do you learn or not learn from their work Read as many journals as possible. Get used to reading and evaluating; for a researcher this is a lifelong endeavor. Always look for additional things to learn.
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conclusion

Research is an academic activity and as such the term should be

used in a technical sense. It comprises defining and redefining

problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions, collecting, organizing, and evaluating data , making deductions and reaching conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.

Research is thus an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for its advancement.

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