What Research Is Not

Mere accumulation of facts

It is only an information gathering for a person
and can be used as a basis for research
Fact-transferring
Looking up a few facts and then jotting them on a
paper is fact finding and fact transferring

What Research Is
An investigation that is directed to the
discovery of some facts by careful study of
a subject, or a course of critical or scientific
inquiry
An investigation undertaken to discover
new facts
It is an extended investigation or inquiry
into some particular subject

Characteristics
of
Research
Research begins with a problem
A problem usually starts as a question in the mind of a researcher
Research demand the identification of a problem
Good research begins with a clear, simple statement of the problem that the researcher seeks to
resolve
Research requires a plan
No researcher is able to find an answer to a problem by sheer luck, research demands a careful
plan with a definite direction and strategy for fact finding and their interpretation
Research requires that main problem be divided into sub-problems
If sub-problems are not identified, research project becomes unwieldy and poorly defined
Research proposes a hypothesis as a possible answer to the problem
A hypothesis is a supposition or a logical guess and a good hypothesis can give direction to
research by proposing a possible solution to the problem on hand
Research attempts to interpret facts
Facts are organized in coherent and scientific manner so that they can be interpreted in the
context of research problem
Research is cyclical
One solution gives rise to another question and the solution to that to further questions, hence
research is not something that is done once and forgotten.

Checklist for Evaluating Research Studies

Is the central problem for research clearly stated? Yes/No

Are the sub-problems clearly stated?
Does the research reveal a good plan and careful organization?
Has the researcher clearly stated his/her hypothesis?
Are the hypothesis related to the main problem or sub-problem?
Is the research methodology clearly stated?
Has the researcher tried to interpret the facts collected?
Are the conclusions justified by the facts?
Is there any indication that the hypotheses are either accepted or
rejected?
Is there any evidence that the researcher had examined the relevant
studies already in existence?
IF ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS IS NO ONE MAY
SAY THAT IT IS NOT RESEARCH

Lesson-2: Exercise

Select one article from any business

magazine and evaluate it by applying
the criteria given in the checklist