1. Seminar 1 Introduction to Research
Research Methodology
Seminar 1
Introduction to Research by
Assist Prof. Aslamzai

2. Table of contents Introduction What can be a research
What can not be a research
Why Research is Important
Research Characteristics
Types of Research
Summary

3. What is Research?
‘research is a structured inquiry that utilizes acceptable scientific methodology to solve problems and creates new knowledge that is generally applicable.’
Grinnell further adds: (1993: 4)

4. What is Research?
Burns (1997: 2) defines research as ‘a systematic investigation to find answers to a problem’.
According to Kerlinger (1986: 10), ‘scientific research is a systematic, controlled empirical and critical investigation of propositions about the presumed relationships about various phenomena’.

5. What is Research?
Research is an effort to obtain new knowledge in order to answer a question or to solve a problem.
Research is a creative activity leading to the production of new knowledge
In a university setting, research is defined as an original investigation undertaken in order to contribute to knowledge and understanding in a particular field.

6. What is Research? New knowledge can either be:
A new idea or a new problem.
A new technique to solve the current problem.
To adjust a current technique to solve a current problem in a new environment.
the sense that the facts, the interpretation of those facts, or the theories used to explain them might not have been used in a particular way before in that specific discipline

7. Not research? Preparation of teaching materials
The provision of advice or opinion e.g consulting works
Feasibilities studies (asked by clients)
Routine data collection (no attempt for new knowledge)
Routine information system development (not experimental design of new product/service)
Any other routine professional practise.

8. Why Research is Important?
New knowledge will enable a society, an organization or a company to expand.

9. Why Research is Important?
Islamic scholars must do research in order to get fact for new problems such as:
Forward trading
Internet trading

10. Why Research is Important?
Educationist and social workers must do research in order to find:
Effective teaching approach.
Solutions for drugs addiction problem

11. Why Research is Important?
Political parties must do research:
To determine the level of support within the society
To find the best method for increase support – for example to determine what are the issues that will attract more support form the people.

12. Why Research is Important?
Companies must do research:
To develop a new product
To find ways to market their products
To find out whether their products are accepted by the customers

13. Research Characteristics
Must be done:
Within a certain philosophical framework
By using procedure, method and techniques that are reliable
Properly designed so that it is objective and not bias

14. Research Philosophy
Knowledge can be obtained through discussion and justification
Unclear source of knowledge such as dream, cannot be taken as a basis for knowledge development.

15. Research philosophy aka Research Paradigm
The expectations that you made in doing research
The assumptions provide guidance for conducting your research
Have to comply with the research standards specific to the research paradigm you are using rather than those that guide alternative approaches

16. Research philosophy
Understanding the theoretical assumptions helps you recognize what the techniques you are working with do well and what they do less well, and lets you design your research to take full advantage of their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses
The examniners/ reviewers might follow different research philosophies from yours and may be unwilling to accept the legitimacy of your approach unless you can make its assumptions clear

17. Research philosophy Positivists naturalist
who use quantitative tools, techniques that emphasize measuring and counting,
naturalist
who prefer the qualitative tools of observation, questioning, and description

18. Research Characteristics
Controlled
Rigorous (hard)
Systematic
Valid
Empirical (experimental)
Critical (serious)

19. Types of Research Application Mode of Inquiry Basic Applied
Quantitative
Qualitative

20. Summary