What is Research? research is an unusually stubborn and persisting effort to think straight which involves the gathering and the intelligent use of relevant data (H. M. Hamlin, What is Research? American Vocational Journal, September 1966.)

What is research? “A careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles” (Grinnell, 1993:4). An effort to be closer to the truth. An effort to come to the fact.

Characteristics It is rigorous. Procedures followed to find answers to a problem must be relevant, appropriate and justifiable. Researcher needs to be very careful about this. It is systematic. Procedures adopted for a research should follow a logical sequence. Some procedures must follow others. It should be valid. Your research conclusion based on findings should be correct and can be verified by you as well as others.

Contd., It is empirical. The conclusions of the research should be based on evidence gathered from information collected from real life experiences/ observations

Research process- Steps 1. Formulation a of a research problem 2. Creation of a research design 3. Constructing instruments for data collection 4. Selecting a sample 5.Writing the research proposal 6. Collecting data 7. Processing data 8. Writing the report

Formulating research problem Any question that needs answer can be a research problem. However, not all questions can be transformed into research problems. What matters here: Your knowledge in research methodology Your knowledge of the subject area Your understanding of the issues to be examined

Contd., Formation of a research problem is the first step in the research. Identify the destination before you start the journey. It is the foundation of your building. Sources of research problems: People (individuals, groups, organizations, communities) Problems (Issues, situations, associations,, needs, demographic)

Contd., Programmes (contents, structure, outcomes, attributes, satisfaction, users, consumers) Phenomenon (cause and effect relationships, study of a phenomenon itself)

Consider the following when selecting a topic: Your interest Your level of expertise as well as of your supervisor

Contd., Use concepts that can be measured Topic should be relevant to your profession/ subject area Availability of data

Formulation of objectives Objectives are goals of your study Main objectives Secondary or sub-objectives They must be clear, complete and specific

Identifying variables A concept or perception that takes on different values and that can be measured is a variable. It is something that varies. Types: Independent variables (they are responsible for bringing about change in a phenomenon, situation)

Contd., Dependent variables (effects of a change variable, the outcome of the changes brought about by changes in an independent variable) Extraneous variables (other factors that affect the changes bring about by independent variables) Intervening variables (those that link the independent and dependent variables)

Constructing hypotheses It is an ‘anticipation of nature’ or a hunch, assumption, assertion “a tentative statement about something, the validity of which is usually unknown’ (Bailey, 1976:126) It may be right, partially right or wrong It should be simple, specific and conceptually clear

Research design It is the plan, structure and strategy of investigating the research problem It is an operational plan Procedures to be adopted Testing the design

Constructing an instrument for data collection Data collection methods: Primary sources Observation Interview Questionnaire Use of secondary sources Establish the validity of the selected instrument

Selecting a sample “Process of selecting a few from a bigger group” Bigger group is the population and the selected few is the sample Larger the sample size the more accurate will be the findings

Sampling types Sampling strategies are numerous. They can be categorized into three groups: Random/probability sampling Non-random/probability sampling Mixed sampling

Research proposal It is your plan of research It reveals what you are going to do, how you plan to do and why you have selected the proposed procedures It guides you as well as your supervisor It is an academic piece of writing It shows the strength of your proposed research

Elements Introduction (an overview of the main area under study, historical background, philosophical issues etc., trends, major theories, main issues under consideration etc.) Importance (Why you do it? What are the benefits?) Problem (Your research problem or the research questions) Literature review

Contd., Objectives ( main and secondary) Hypotheses Study design (population, sample, data collection methods etc.) Setting (brief description of the community, organization or agency in which you are going to carry out the research) Analysis of data (methods you are going to use)

Contd., Structure of the report or chapterization Limitations and problems you may encounter Work plan or schedule Budget (optional)

Collection data Ethical issues relating to research participants ( their consent, incentives, sensitive information, harm to participants etc.) Ethical issues relating to the researcher (avoiding bias, using appropriate research methodology, correct reporting etc.)

Processing data Editing data Coding data Verifying coded data Analyzing data Displaying data (charts, diagrams, tables)

Writing the report or thesis Follow standards (International standards or departmental guidelines) Use appropriate referencing/citation system Preparation of a bibliography Avoid plagiarism

Sources: Kumar, Ranjit (1999). Research methodology : a step by step guide for beginners, 2 nd. ed., Sage, London Kothari, C.R. (1990). Research methodology : methods and techniques, 2 nd. Ed., Wishwa Prakashan, New Delhi

Miles, M. B and Huberman, M. A Qualitative Data Analysis. London: SAGE Publication. Nunan, D Research Method in Language Learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Seidman, E.I, Interviewing as Qualitative Research. New York: Teachers College Press.