Introduction to Research

Overview of the Course

What is Research?
Research in Different Disciplines
From Idea to Topic to Hypothesis
Designing a Research Proposal
Literature Review
Tools of Research
Population and Sample
Data Analysis
Writing of Academic Research
Academic Supervision

Research!
an indispensable component
of
university education

Research!
in natural and pure sciences
is different but is equally
important

 What

is Research?

What is Research?

Research is a process of constant

exploration and discovery
Some other Definitions:
A Formal Document
Knowing a Subject Thoroughly
Expression of your Understanding about the
Topic
Outcome of Critical Thinking
Investigation
Examination of Information
Careful Questioning

Result of your Intellectual Curiosity

Information about your Findings
Demonstration of your Analytical capabilities
Explanation of your personal Insights and
Experiences
Integrated Learning and Thinking
Analysis and Synthesis of different sources
Careful Evaluation of Evidence
A Reasonable, Bias free conclusion

What is Research?

The systematic study of materials and sources

in order to establish facts and reach new
conclusion.
(Oxford English Dictionary, 2002)

A systematic process of collecting and

analyzing
information
(data)
for
some
purpose.
(McMillan and Schumacher, 1997),

Systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical

investigation of natural phenomena guided by
theory and hypotheses about the presumed
relations among such phenomena.
Kerlinger (1986)

Why Research is
conducted?

We may like to call this process

(research)
as
a
persons
thinking game or whole brain
activity,
which
the
psychologists call as right and
left brain attributes.
(Cherry et.al. 1993).

Where is it Conducted?

Research
settings:

is

conducted

in

many

Educational institutes,
laboratories,
classrooms,
libraries,
the city streets
foreign cultures, etc.

Every
research
differs
in
time
duration funding and effort involved

Attributes of a Good
Research

is based on the work of others

can be replicated
is generalizable to other settings
is based on some logical rationale and
tied to theory
is doable
generates new questions or is cyclical in
nature.
is incremental
is an apolitical activity that should be
undertaken for the betterment of society

Why Research After

All?

Research is done to:

have an understanding of the idea in

your mind
find the truth
produce knowledge in research/learning
journey
familiarize you with the ins and outs of
undertaking research
find out the attributes of a good research

Source
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/kbroad.php

STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Asking the question

Identifying important factors
Formulating the hypothesis
Collecting relevant information
Testing the data
Working with the hypothesis
Working with the theory
Back to new questions

EACH STEP SETS A STAGE FOR THE NEXT STEP