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RESEARCH
Research is a “systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation of natural
phenomena guided by theory and hypothesis about the presumed relation among such
phenomena”.
The term systematic and controlled refer to the degree to which the observations are
controlled and alternatives explanations of the outcome are ruled out. The term
empirical and critical point to the requirement for the researcher to test subjective beliefs
against the objective reality and have findings open to further scrutiny and testing.
“Systematic” refers to the requirement that the research project should be well
organized and planned the strategic and tactical aspects of the research design must be
detailed in advance, and the nature of the data to be gathered must be anticipated.
“Objective” implies that the research strives to be unbiased and unemotional in
performing its responsibility.
Dominant sources of knowledge for the researchers were logic, reason, faith,
speculation and mysticism. In empirical research, knowledge was acquired not through
logic, reason, faith or speculation but through empirical evidence, namely through
evidence based on facts gathered by the researcher.
DIVERSITY OF RESEARCH
Research is diverse and pluralistic. This diversity is associated with a number of criteria
such as its focus, its methods, its purpose and its underlying paradigm. Research may
focus on people and the physical and social environment, or on hidden structures and
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meanings. It can aim to increase scientific knowledge or to emancipate (liberate) people
and change their life-world.
Nevertheless, the most significant, most common and also fundamental distinctions in
social research are qualitative versus quantitative research. Almost every type of
research, regardless of its nature and purpose, is conducted within either a qualitative
or a quantitative strategy.
TYPES OF RESEARCH:
Basis research is concerned with the production of new knowledge and with the
increase of scientific understanding of the world, and not with the application of
its outcomes. It aims purely at the discovery of knowledge; therefore it is also
referred to as pure research.
Longitudinal research studies social issues on more than one occasion using
the same or different samples.
Exploratory research aims to establish the most basic criteria of the research
topic, often before the actual study has started.
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Participatory action research (PAR) is characterized by the strong involvement
and degree of participation of members of the public in the research process.
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The research design: choosing sampling procedures and data collection
methods that favour the production of certain data.
Fabrication of data: presenting data that have never been collected.
Falsification of data: changing the contents of the answers.
Data analysis: choosing a type of analysis that would favour personal views.
Interpretation: interpreting the findings according to personal beliefs and
convictions.
Presentation of the findings: presenting the findings in a manner that does not
reflect the real theme of the study.
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Introduce the institution that granted the ethics approval and the funding body,
where appropriate.
Describe the manner in which the respondent was selected, and the
nature/number of participants.
Explain the nature and purpose of the research in detail.
Clarify the benefits of the research for the subject and/or the community.
State specifically the nature and extent of the subject’s planned involvement and
any risks or discomfort associated with the study.
Offer a guarantee of anonymity and confidentiality of the data.
Make it clear that the respondent can withdraw from the project at any time.
Offer alternative research procedures to be used if preferred.
Provide details of the person who can be contacted by the subject in case of
conflicts or complaints.