RESEARCH

RESEARCHFROM START TO FINISH

Courtesy: Workshop by Dr. Ruba Butaineh. RESEARCHDEFINITION

CONDUCTING RESEARCH

PUBLISHINGWHAT IS RESEARCH?It is the investigation of a particular topic using a variety of reliable scholarly resources.

It is the systematic means of problem solving -(Tuckman, 1978)THE RESEARCH PROCESS..It is a scientific process done to provide an objective, unbiased evaluation of data.

It has a beginning, middle, end, and a lot in between where information is the building block.It is a skilled activity that needs to be practiced like any other skill.It is a discovery process of information based activities.CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD RESEARCH.Novelty/Originality/ AuthenticitySimple/ Manageable/ Easy to handleUniversality/ Appeals to a wider section of journals.Relevant to field, discipline and environment.Interesting( personally relevant to the researcher)Feasible( in terms of time, money, and effort)Researchable ( measurability of data)Ethical ( Maintain ethical standards)

RATIONALE FOR DOING RESEARCH.Job requirement

Curiosity

Advancing knowledge

College requirementPURPOSE OF RESEARCH..Establishing facts

Analyzing information

Reaching new conclusionsRESEARCH DESIGN CONTINUUM..BASIC APPLIED

Analytical Descriptive Experimental

Historical Survey Case study Pre-experimentalPhilosophical Quasi-experimental True experimental TYPES OF RESEARCH BY PURPOSE..BASIC RESEARCH: For discovery of knowledge for its own sake, for academia, not addressing an immediate problem.APPLIED RESEARCH: To solve problems of immediate concern e.g. something noticed in the classroom. A larger audience, not specialized.EXPLORATORY: Explore a phenomena.EXPLANATORY: To explain a phenomena.EVALUATION RESEARCH: To evaluate the results of a certain practice that has been included in the classroom.EXPERIMENTAL: It involves a direct association of how one variable influences another. All extraneous variables must be held constant while a single variable is manipulated and the effect is measured. This type of research usually holds the test of time.

RESEARCH STEPSThe seven most important steps are.although the process is flexible, non-linearSelect a topicReview relevant theoritical and practical researchDevelop one or more hypothesis or questionsDetermine the approach or research designCollect the relevant dataAnalyze and interpret the resultsPresent the results and discuss implicationsFind a publication venue to communicate findings

APPROACH NEEDEDConfidence yet humbleCritical yet collaborativeAmbitious yet realisticPro- active yet willing to take calculated risksTHE SCIENTIFIC METHOD.The process of writing academic research requires a scientific method, a set of principles and methods that helps researchers obtain valid research results.following universally accepted guidelines for acquiring, evaluating, and communicating information.ELEMENTS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHODEmpirical: evidence based from careful, systematic observationObservationQuestions that can be answeredHypothesis: empirically testable proposition that can be accepted or rejected.ExperimentsAnalysis (Qualitative or Quantitative)ConclusionReplicationHYPOTHESIS STRUCTURESCONDITIONAL: If X is fulfilled Y will result.CORRELATIONAL: The value of X is related to changes in the value of Y.CAUSAL: Cause and effect relationship.

TERMSVALIDITY: Accuracy of the instruments- If it measures what it has to measure.RELIABILITY: The extent to which the measurements are consistent.Point to ponder Valid measurements are almost always reliable BUT A reliable measurement may not be necessarily valid.REPLICATION: To establish the reliability of research findings.ANALYSISQUALITATIVE: Themes, Theory based, looking at a phenomena in depth, subjective,

QUANTITATIVE: Statistics and numbers, questionnaire based.UNIVERSITIESAre basically about three things---------------INSTRUCTION/EDUCATION

---------------RESEARCH

----------------COMMUNITY SERVICEGROWTH OF THE INTERNET..Since 1990 it has grown to be a valuable research tool alongside traditional publication sources yet one needs training to access scholarly material and databases or else the quality of the research will be compromised.PART 11- CONDUCTING RESEARCH:DESIGN AMD EXECUTION.CHARACTERISTICSThere should be a clear link between the overall methodology, the research approach, and the field methods.It should be well thought out.Should have a precise focus with a well crafted research question stating the purpose and how it can be achieved.It should be ethical and should provide confidentiality and security both for the researcher and the researched.

STEPS OF RESEARCH DESIGNSMap the larger context and identify the key social issue or concern to be researched asking who is it for?Define the research projectappropriate title, identify the research problem with a literature review to bridge gaps.Data collectionData AnalysisDisseminate findingsRESEARCH OBJECTIVESLiteracy related practicesIdentify children reading interestsIdentify teacher classroom practicesTechniques to foster children reading interestsRESEARCH DESIGN..DESCRIPTIVE: Asks what is and uses a survey research design.RELATIONSHIP RESEARCH: Studies what is the relationship between two or more variables e.g. What is the potential relationship between reading and vocabulary acquirement?

DIFFERENCE RESEARCH: Studies the difference between two variables e.g. Most families living in poverty are headed by individuals with low levels of education( The variables are poverty and educationand the unit of analysis is family)TERMINOLOGYCONCEPTUAL/ OPERATIONAL DEFINITION Conceptual definition is definition of a word as in dictionaries

Operational definition is based on researchers own definition.VARIABLES..To ascertain objectivity a researches has to identify the variables at the very beginning..INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: an entity that supposedly imposes an effect on another variable but does not change e.g. The effect of attitude on achievement.DEPENDENT VARIABLE: The variable that receives the change e.g. achievement.INTERVENING VARIABLE: Variables that cannot be controlled or manipulated e.g. university regulations.MODERATOR VARIABLE: May or may not be controlled but has an effect on the situation e.g. the phenomena of age or years of work experience.IDENTIFYING LIMITATIONSThis is an important step by doing this, the research becomes more manageablelimitations should be taken into account in the choice of research method, time coverage, geographical coverage, target variables, type and selection of sample size which should be un-biased as well as representative and ethical issues.LITERATURE REVIEW..The review of previous related literature.Should be well writtenan analytical ,critical, systematic collection of data narrative with a lot of synthesis going on to bring the reader up to date on literature available and to resolve gaps.The purpose is to bring the reader up to date on what is known on a given topic and to provide fresh insight to advance knowledge.It gives a theoretical and empirical framework of what has been done before.a well written, systematic narrative to bring reader up to date on what is known.STEPS IN WRITING THE LITERATURE REVIEWPLANNING: Read the literature relevant to hypothesis or question asked,READING/RESEARCH: Read and decide what to include.ANALYZING: Summarize, synthesize, ..critique, and compare.CONCLUDE: What is the gap to be studied?DRAFT: Summarize main findings and closure. Report our own personal reflection on the literature , point out the importance of the research question you are going to study, and state what are the implications of the research.WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE LITERATURE REVIEWPurpose of the research.A brief introduction of the sample/Instrumentation.Major findings relevant to current research.A paragraph per study which should be brief, to the point, critically studying, summarizing and paraphrasing important points.Point out how it is related to the present research question being studied.Refrain from quoting verbatim-review not reproduce.Can also go thematically or chronologically from newest to oldest.MAJOR APPROACHES IN THE LITERATURE REVIEW..THEMATIC: Research with the same findings are grouped together.---Introduction---Foreign literature on the topic---Local literature on the topic---Synthesis of the literature.CHRONOLOGICAL: From newest to oldest.CITING SOURCESIf it is not your own idea and not common knowledgedocument it!!!Paraphrase key ideasUse quotations sparinglyUse proper in-text citation to document the ideas.Maintain accurate bibliographic records to avoid unintentional plagiarism.RESEARCH METHODPHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONQuantitative / Qualitative Deductive(from general to specific)/Inductive(single to larger)AIM:To set pre-set hypothesisTo explore complex human issues.PLAN:Step wise-pre-determined/ flexible-iterativePOSITION OF RESEARCHER:Detached and objective/ subjective, integral part of the processASSESSMENT QUALITY OF OUTPUTDirect tests of validity/ indirect quality assuranceMEASURES OF UTILITY OF RESULTS:Generative/ TransferabilitySAMPLING-BASIC CONCEPTS..A whole set of a universe-PopulationsSample- a sub-set of a population e.g. nursery school teachersIt depends on the data source.Random samplingStratified samplingConvenience samplingRESEARCH INSTRUMENT..The research instrument must be related to the purpose and appropriate to the phenomena being measured.A pilot study of a questionnaire can be positive as it alert the researcher to potential problems.DATE COLLECTION METHODS..FeasibilityResearch purposeAudienceBudgetPrimary data(data you collected yourself)Secondary data( someone elses data)SURVEY INSTRUMENTSQuestionnairesInterview ObservationDESIGNING QUESTIONNAIRES..StructuredOpen endedSemi- structuredLinkert scale- should ideally generate sufficient variants among respondents.Be more specific e.g. give a time frame, Have you read any book over the past 3 months

STEPS OF SURVEY RESEARCHDefining research question amd methodDesigning a questionnaireSelecting a sampleCollecting dataBuilding a databaseAnalysis( The data must be interpreted and changed into value judgements e.g. What does it mean that 25% rated the workshop as 5 and 75% marked it as 1) PresentationCOMPONENTS..TitleAbstract(100-250 words, summary of how, why, and the major results)Introduction: (Defining the key terms, purpose, and hypothesis)Research methods( whys and hows)Literature review( critical examination of previous work)ReferencesFindings and discussionConclusionResearch LimitationsPractical implicationsWHERE TO PUBLISH?Specialized journalsRefereed peer reviewed journalsConference participation which build confidence and credibility.JournalsBooksDatabases e.g. Bibliographic databases.

PROCESS OF PUBLICATIONWrite manuscriptSubmit to journal editor( it is unethical to send to various sources at the same time)Review by editor where the editor can accept, reject, suggest changes major or minorDecision communication.Manuscript acceptance.Manuscript publication in journal.