research: a way of thinking...1. research: an integral part of your practice research is a way of...

Research: A Way of Thinking

Some of the Reasons for doing research

How research can be used to gather evidence to inform your

practice,

- Evidence-based practice (EBP).

Application of the research,

- The service provider, service administrator, consumer and the professional.

Characteristics and requirements of the research process,

- Controlled, Rigorous, Systematic, Valid & verifiable, Empirical, critical.

Types of research from the perspective of applications,

- Application of the finding, objectives of the study, mode of enquiry.

objectives and enquiry modes.

- Quantitative research and qualitative research.

@Copyrights: Research Tactics Organized by Dr. Ahmad Jalal (http://portals.au.edu.pk/imc/)

1. Research: an integral part of your practice

Research is a way of thinking.

- examining critically the various aspects of your day-to-day professional work,

understanding and formulating guiding principles that govern a particular

procedure;

and developing and testing new theories that contribute to the advancement of

your practice,

Habit of questioning what you do, how to improve,

- appropriate changes for a more effective professional service.


1. Research: an integral part of your practice (Cont…)

For Example:

Suppose you are working in the field of health.

- a front-line service provider, supervisor or health administrator/planner (i.e.,

nurse, doctor, etc.) finds;

- following questions may come to your mind as;

How many patients do I see every day?

What are some of the most common conditions prevalent among my patients?

What are the causes of these conditions?

What are the health needs of the community?

Why do some people use the service while others do not?

How satisfied are patients with the service?

How effective is the service?

How can the service be improved?


2. Research: a way to gather evidence for your practice

Evidence-based practice (EBP)

EBP is the delivery of services based upon research evidence about their

effectiveness;

Ways of collecting accurate, sound and reliable information about the effectiveness

of your interventions;

As service providers and professionals; we use techniques and procedures

developed by research methodologies;

- to consolidate, improve, develop, refine and advance clinical aspects of research

areas.


3. Application of research

Application of research methodology are used to strengthen and advance their

own profession.

Application of research can be viewed from four different perspectives;

1) The service provider;

2) The service administrator, manager and/or planner;

3) The service consumer; and

4) The Professional.


3. Application of research (Cont…)

Diagrammatic flow of application of research;


4. The research process: characteristics and requirements

To qualify as research, the process must have certain characteristics.

- it must be controlled, rigorous, systematic, valid & verifiable, empirical and

critical.

(i) Controlled:

In real life, there are many factors that affect an outcome.

One-to-One relationship.

Cause and effect relationship;

- it is important to be able to link the effect (s) with the cause (s) and vice versa.

(ii) Rigorous:

To find answers to questions are relevant, appropriate and justified.

(iii)Systematic:

Investigation follow a certain logical sequence.

The different steps cannot be taken in a haphazard way.

- some procedures must follow others.


4. The research process: characteristics and requirements

(iv) Valid & verifiable:

This concept implies that;

- whatever you conclude on the bases of your findings is correct.

- and can be verified by you and others.

(v) Empirical:

Conclusions drawn are based upon “hard evidence” gathered from information

collected from “real-life experiences”.

(vi) Critical:

The process of “investigation must be foolproof” and.

“free from any drawbacks”.


5. Types of research


Applied Research

Research done with the intension of applying the results of its finding to solving

specific problems currently being experienced (Real life);

Basic Research

Research done wit h the intention to generate more knowledge and understanding

of the phenomena that occur;

Build theories based on the research hypothesis;

Types of research can be looked at from 3 different perspectives;

1)Applications of the findings of the research study;

2)Objectives of the study;

3)Mode of enquiry used in conducting the study.

5. Types of research (Cont…)


Types of research;



1) Applications of the findings of the research study;

The perspectives of applications have two broad categories;

(a) Pure Research , (b) Applied research.

(a) Pure Research :

Pure research is also known as basic or fundamental research. It is undertaken

out of intellectual curiosity or inquisitiveness.

It involves developing, testing theories and hypothesis.

- but may or may not have practical application at the present time or in the

future.

- testing of hypothesis containing very abstract and specialized concepts.

It may lead to either discovery of a new theory of refinement of an existing

theory.

For Example; pure research formed the basis for innumerable scientific and

technological inventions like stream engine, machines, telecommunication, etc.

- Newton’s contributions, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.



1) Applications of the findings of the research study;

The perspectives of applications have two broad categories;

(a) Pure Research , (b) Applied research.

(b) Applied Research :

Applied research is carried on to find solution to a real life problems requiring

an action or policy decision.

It is thus problem oriented and action directed.

- it has immediate practical results and solutions.

Applied research in the field of Technology, Management, commerce,

economics, etc.

Applied research can contribute now facts:

- It may aid in conceptual clarification.

- design structure and integrate previously existing theories.

For Example; Market research carried on for developing a new market.



2) Objectives of the study;

From the perspective of its objectives, broadly a research can be classified as;

- descriptive, correlational, explanatory or exploratory.

(a) Descriptive research :

attempts to describe systematically a situation, problem, phenomenon, service or

programme.

for example;

- describe the types of service provided by an organization.

- administrative structure of an organization.

(b) Correlation research :

discover or establish relationship, association, interdependence between two or

more situations.

for example; -

- what is the relationship between stressful living and the incidence of heart attach?

- what is the relationship between technology and unemployment?



2) Objectives of the study;

(c) Explanatory research :

attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between 2 aspects of

situation or phenomenon.

for example;

-Why stressful living results in heart attacks.

-How the home environment affects children’s level of academic achievement.

(d) Correlation research :

To explore an area where little is known.

Or to investigate the possibilities of undertaking a particular research study.

for example; -

- when a study is carried out to determine its feasibility. It is also called a feasibility

study or a pilot study.



3) Mode of enquiry perspective study;

To find answers to your research questions, broadly, there are two approaches to

enquiry;

(a) The structured approach : In the structured approach;

Everything that forms the research process – objectives, design, sample, and the

questions that you plan to ask the respondents – is predetermined.

Structured approach to enquiry is usually classified as quantitative research.

for example;

Suppose you want to find out the types of service available to victims of domestic

violence in a city and then extent of their utilization.

-Type of service is the qualitative aspects of the study as finding out about them.

-description of the services.



3) Mode of enquiry perspective study;

(b) The Unstructured approach :

The unstructured approach, by contrast, allows flexibility in all these aspects of the

process (objectives, design, sample, and the questions that you plan to ask the

respondents).

Unstructured approach as qualitative research.

for example;

-Extent of utilization of the services is the quantitative aspect.

=> it involves estimating the number of people who use the services.

=> and calculating other indicators that reflect the extent of utilization.

Home Assignment


Draw a comparison table and finding our major differences in-between;

Quantitative research and

Qualitative research.

Find-out suitable examples w.r.t specific research area, by considering;

Quantitative research and

Qualitative research.

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