RESEARCH UNDERTAKING AND REPORT WRITING: WHAT A STUDENT SHOULD KNOW PRESENTED BY MUHAMMAD BIN ISA

The methodology The paper wishes to highlight the following Definitions and objectives Research methodology How to define research problem Need for research design Interpretation and report writing of research findings Translating research findings into practical applications

Definitions Research is an art of scientific investigation/inquiry for new facts in any branch of knowledge A scientific and systematic search for new information on a specific topic Search for knowledge through objective and systematic method of finding solution to a problem Is the pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation, comparison and experiment

definition cont Research is an academic activity of defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested \solutions, collecting, organising evaluating data, making deductions and reaching conclusion and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis

Type of research Exploratory/ Formulative Descriptive Diagnostic

What motivate people to undertake research Desire to face the chllenges in solving the unsolved problem To be relevant and productive to the society To gain respect of the society To get intellectual joy of doing some creative work

Islamic perspective of scientific research Islam encourages Muslims to dedicate all their time and actions for the benefit in the hereafter (Aakhira) and to dedicate some fraction of it also for worldly matters, thus contributing to the benefits of civilization and humanity such as in technology, science and inventions. Muslim pray always: “"Our Lord, give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire" (cf. al-Baqarah 2:201).”

Islamic perspective of scientific research cont…… European Universities, including the University of Paris, based their curricula on translations of Muslim scientific works for six hundred years and used their methods of research. Therefore the Islamic civilization was one of the most amazing that history has ever known. “ Muslims are not like anyone else. When they adhere to their religion, they are at the forefront in worldly affairs too, but when they forsake their religion and neglect it, they end up tailing behind others

Qur’an encourage man to contemplate in Allah's creation {Lo! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of night and day, and the ships which run upon the sea with that which is of use to men, and the water which Allah sendeth down from the sky, thereby reviving the earth after its death, and dispersing all kinds of beasts therein, and [in] the ordinance of the winds, and the clouds obedient between heaven and earth: are signs [of Allah's sovereignty] for people who have sense.} (Al-Baqarah 2:164)

Sunnah also encourages research undertaking The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "There is no Muslim who plants something and birds or people or animals eat from it, but he will have the reward of charity for it." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2195; Muslim, 1553

Research methods versus methodology Research methods: are all techniques that are used for conduction of research eg:- -Library research -Field research -Laboratory research Research methodology: is a systematic way of solving the research problem, in other word is understood as a science of studying how research is done scientifically

Research methodology Define research problem Review the literature Formulate hypotheses Design research Collect data Analyse the collected data Interpret the findings report translate the findings into practical application

How to define research problem The first and far most step in research is the selection of research problem “This is some difficulty which a researcher experience in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution to it” (Fatima, 2012) It is best formulated after carrying observation and examination of available literature to be acquainted with the selected problem

example Observation: Every African dwarf I have seen is red Hypothesis: All African dwarf must be red Experiment: Sample African dwarf randomly from every part of African continent where they are indigenous Result: Only red African dwarf are found Interpretation: The study conducted has indicated that African dwarf are always red Prediction: The next African I see will be red Theory: All African dwarf are red

Need for research design A research design is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose. Is a conceptual structure within which research is conducted, it constitute the blue print for collections, measurement and analysis of data. This also include an outline of what the researcher will do from writing the hypothesis and its operational implication to the finsl analysis of data

Need for research design cont……. In any experimentation the following principles are adhere to strictly: Choice of experimental field Eperimental design Allocation of treatments Set up of control experiment Replication of treatment sampling

Interpretation research findings .Data collected from experiment must be subjected to mathematical interpretation before it become meaningful. Thus, summerising it in the form of tables or graph. The commonly used statistical tools are: -Measure of central tendency -Measure of dispersion

Report writing of research findings (thesis) The standard guidelines for writing undergraduate research thesis is itemised as follows: Introductory pages - Title page - Abstract - Certification - Acknowledgement - Dedication - Table of content - List of tables/figures/plates

Report writing Cont…… Main project should consist of five chapters as follows: 1-Introduction 2-Literature review 3-Materials and methods 4- Result and discussion 5-Conclusion/recommendation References Appendixes

Translating research finding into practical applications For a conducted research to maintain its relevance, researchers must have something to take to the industry and to bring back from the industry.

conclusion Thank you for listening! Any Comment? Any question?