Research Methods Introduction 12/28/20161Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Outline Introduction –Nature and Meaning of Research –Objectives and Motivation of Research –Characteristics and Criteria of Good Research 12/28/20162Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Introduction What is research and what is not? –Walliman (2005) argues that research could not have the following characteristics: Just collecting facts or information with no clear purpose Reassembling and reordering facts or information without interpretation. 12/28/20163Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Introduction Cont.. –Research should have the following characteristics: Data are collected systematically. Data are interpreted systematically. There is a clear purpose: to find things out. 12/28/20164Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Nature & Meaning of Research Research … refers to a search of knowledge Research as a systematic search … for information on a specific topic. Research is an art of scientific investigation. It is actually a journey of discovery. Research is considered an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge. (Kothari, 2004) 12/28/20165Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Objectives of Research The purpose is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures: –To gain familiarity with a fact or to achieve new insights into it (exploratory study) –To describe the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group (descriptive study) 12/28/20166Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Objectives of Research cont.. –To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else (diagnostic study) –To test a hypotheses of a causal relationship between variable (hypothesis testing study) 12/28/20167Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Motivation in Research What makes people to undertake research? –Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits –Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problem –Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work. 12/28/20168Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Motivation in Research cont.. –Desire to be of service to society. –Desire to get respectability. –Employment conditions and requirements. 12/28/20169Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Characteristics & Criteria of Good Research One may expect that scientific research to satisfy the following characteristics: –The purpose of the research should be clearly defined. –The research procedures used should be described in sufficient detail to permit another researcher to replicate for further advancement. –The procedural design of the research should be clearly planned. –The researcher should report with complete frankness. 12/28/201610Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Characteristics & Criteria of Good Research Cont.. –The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal it significance and the method of analysis used should be appropriate –Conclusions should be confined to those of justified by the data of the research –Greater confidence in research is warranted (experienced, good reputation and integrity in research) 12/28/201611Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD

Discussions Q&A 12/28/201612Ali Yassin Sheikh, PhD