Notes on Research

Research involves five processes;
a) Identifying where the problem actually lies
b) Correct recognition of the relevant factors involved in the situation needing investigation
c) Knowing what types of information are to be gathered and how
d) Knowing how to make use of the information so collected and draw appropriate conclusions to make the right decision, and
e) Finally, implementing the results of these processes to solve the problems?

What research encompasses
Research encompasses the processes of inquiry, investigation, examination and experimentation.

The Hallmarks of science
Purposiveness
Rigor
Testability
Replicability
Precision and Confidence
Objectivity
Generalizability
Parsimony

The term scientific research applies to both basic and applied research.
Some obstacles to conducting scientific research
We may not be able to find exact results in measuring or calculating subjective kinds of things like emotions, enthusiasm, devotion etc. these problems occur whenever we try to quantify human behaviour. Thus it is not necessary always to meet all the hallmarks of science in making a research.

The building blocks of science in research
Deduction and Induction
Deduction
It is a process in which we arrive at a reasoned conclusion by logical generalization of a known fact.
Induction
It is a process in which we observe certain phenomena and on this basis arrive at conclusions.

The Hypothetico-Deductive Method
There are seven steps in the hypothetico-deductive method:
a) Observation
b) Preliminary information gathering
c) Theory formation
d) Hypothesizing
e) Further scientific data collection
f) Data analysis
g) Deduction

Other types of research
a) Case study, and
b) Action research

Case studies involve in-depth, contextual analysis of similar situations in other organizations, where the nature and definition of the problem happen to be the same as experienced in the current situation.
Action research begins with a problem already identified, and relevant data is gathered to provide a tentative solution. This solution is then implemented, with the knowledge that there may be unintended consequences following such implementations. The effects are then evaluated, defined and diagnosed and the research continues on an ongoing basis until the problem is fully resolved.

Primary and secondary data
Primary data is the data gathered from the actual sites of occurrence of events.
Secondary data is the data gathered through the existing sources of information.

Literature survey
It is the documentation of a comprehensive review of the published and unpublished work from secondary data sources in the areas of specific interest to the researcher.
Reason for literature survey
Literature is reviewed to ensure that no variable concerned with the problem specified in the past is ignored.

Online databases for ELT and Speech therapy
Developing a theoretical framework
A theoretical framework is a conceptual model of how one theorizes or makes logical sense of the relationships among the several factors that have been identified as important to the problem. From the theoretical framework testable hypotheses can be developed to examine whether the theory developed is valid or not.

A variable is anything that can take on varying or differing values.

Types of variables
There are four types of variables:
a) Dependent variable
b) Independent variable
c) Moderating variable
d) Intervening variable
a) Dependent variable