lecture 1.ppt
- 1. Research Methodology and Communication Skills ITEC-802 First Semester M.Phil, 2016 Dr. Khalil-ur-Rahmen Khoumbati Professor Institute of Information and Communication Technology University of Sindh, Jamshoro Khalil.khoumbati@gmail.com Lecture #1
- 2. 2 • This course will provide an opportunity to establish understanding of research through critical exploration of research language, ethics, and approaches. The course introduces the language of research, ethical principles and challenges, and the elements of the research process within quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Course Description
- 3. 3 • Participants will use these theoretical underpinnings to begin to critically review literature relevant to their field or interests and determine how research findings are useful in informing their understanding of their environment (work, social, local, global) Course Description
- 4. 4 • To understand research terminology • To become aware of the ethical principles of research • To understand research designs and different research methods • To identify the components of a literature review process • To understand correct ways to refer and to cite from scientific literature • To enhance communication skills. Objectives of the course
- 5. 5 Schedule of assessment tasks for students during the semester Assessment No Assessment task Week due Proportion of Assessment from 100 Marks 1 Assignment 7th Week 15% 2 Presentation 10th week 15% 3 Final test As announced by University 70%
- 6. 6 What is research? • According to the oxford concise dictionary: • a. Research is the systematic investigation into and study of materials, sources, etc, in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. • b. Research is an venture to discover new or collect old facts etc by the scientific study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation.
- 7. 7 7 Contd. • Research is what we do when we have a question or a problem we want to resolve • We may already think we know the answer to our question already • We may think the answer is obvious, common sense even • But until we have subjected our problem to rigorous scientific scrutiny, our 'knowledge' remains little more than guesswork or at best, intuition.
- 8. 8 What are the Objectives of Research? • The prime objectives of research are to discover new facts to verify and test important facts to analyze an event or process or phenomenon to identify the cause and effect relationship to develop new scientific tools, concepts and theories to solve and understand scientific and nonscientific problems
- 9. 9 Contd. • To find solutions to scientific, nonscientific and social problems and to overcome or solve the problems occurring in our every day life.
- 10. 10 Importance of Research • Research is important both in scientific and nonscientific fields. In our life new problems, events, phenomena and processes occur every day. Practically, implementable solutions and suggestions are required for tackling new problems that arise. • Some important avenues of research are:
- 11. 11 Contd. • A research problem refers to a difficulty which a researcher or a scientific community or an industry or a government organization or a society experiences. • It may be a theoretical or a practical situation. It calls for a thorough understanding and possible solution. • Research on existing theories and concepts help us identify the range and applications of them.
- 12. 12 Contd. • It is the fountain of knowledge and provide guidelines for solving problems. • Research provides basis for many government policies. For example, research on the needs and desires of the people and on the availability of revenues to meet the needs helps a government to prepare a budget. • It is important in industry and business for higher gain and productivity and to improve the quality of products.
- 13. 13 Contd. • Mathematical and logical research on business and industry optimizes the problems in them. • It leads to the identification and characterization of new materials, new living things, new stars, etc. • Only through research inventions can be made; for example, new and novel phenomena and processes such as superconductivity and cloning have been discovered only through research.
- 14. 14 Contd. • Social research helps find answers to social problems. They explain social phenomena and seek solution to social problems. • Research leads to a new style of life and makes it delightful and glorious.
- 15. 15 The Nature of Research • Research is very time-consuming. • Research is subjective. • Research can be undertaken by anyone. • Research can also be fun. • Research can take over your life • Research can be much more interesting than its results. • Research is about being nosy
- 16. 16 • Research can be done in many ways. • You can research any thing. • Research uses everyday skills. • Research gets into your dreams. • Spies do research, so do newspaper reporters. • Research can be done by the people and for the people. • Research can done theory in action. Continue
- 17. 17 • Research can lead you in unexpected directions. • Even hard men do research. • There are no definitive answers • You can do research Continue
- 18. 18 The main lesson to learnt is that you need to practice your skills, read and think about research, and to build up your confidence. So what is the main lesson
- 19. 19 What you have to prove in your research • To have produce a thesis which is an original contribution to knowledge, as judged through review. • To have acquired and understand a substantial body of knowledge at the forefront of the discipline in a systematic way.
- 20. 20 Continue • To have demonstrate a detailed understanding of the applicable techniques for research and academic enquiry. • To have demonstrate the ability to conceptualise, design and implement the thesis for the generation of new knowledge, application and understanding
- 21. 21 Continue • To have demonstrate that the thesis is genuinely your work, and is a satisfactory record of your research. • To have demonstrate that the thesis is satisfactory as regards literary presentation.
- 22. 22 TYPES OF RESEARCH Exploratory research Takes place where there is little or no prior knowledge of a phenomenon. This type of research attempts to gain some familiarity with the appropriate concepts and looks for patterns or ideas without any preconceived ideas or explanation.
- 23. 23 Descriptive research Describes a particular phenomenon, focusing upon the issue of what is happening, or how much of it has happened, rather than why it is happening.
- 24. 24 Explanatory research This type of research is involved in explaining why something happens, and assessing causal relationships between variables.
- 25. 25 Predictive research Forecasts future phenomena, based on the interpretations suggested by explanatory research.
- 26. 26 PURE AND APPLIED RESEARCH Pure research takes place to explore a particular concept, or issue, without regard for a specific problem, and may be carried out to simply gain a better understanding of the overall concepts. Applied research is undertaken to solve a specific problem or provide a solution to a practical question.
- 27. 27 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESEARCH Primary research Refers to research that has involved the collection of original data specific to that particular research project, for example through using research methods such as questionnaires or interviews. Secondary research Refers to research where no such original data is collected, but the research project uses existing (or secondary) sources of data, for example census or archive data.
- 28. 28 THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL RESEARCH Theoretical research generally uses the findings from existing works to develop new ideas through analysing existing theory and explanations. These new ideas are not tested through collecting evidence in the form of primary data. Empirical research supports the development of new ideas through the collection of data (empirical = observation or measurement rather than theoretical reasoning).
- 29. 29 HOW TO READ RESEARCH 1. Locate and read a few articles from within a field you are comfortable with. 2. Read studies that are of interest to you. 3. Read the abstract first. 4. Identify the research question and objectives. 5. Why did the researcher(s) choose a particular setting or sample? 6. What were the methods chosen to collect data? 7. What were the most important findings? 8. Do not be over-concerned with statistical analysis. 9. Be critical but objective.
- 30. 30 Showing Originality • Setting out a major new piece of information in writing for the first time. • Continuing a previously original piece of work • Carrying out an original piece of work designed by a supervisor. • Providing original techniques. • Having a original ideas, methods and interpretations performed by others.
- 31. 31 Continue • Showing originality in testing others’ ideas. • Carrying out empirical work which has not been done before. • Using existing material, but with new interpretation. • Taking a current technique and applying it to a new area. • Bringing new evidence to bear on an old issue.
- 32. 32 Continue • Using ideas for the first time in one discipline from another. • Adding to knowledge in a way that has not been done before.
- 33. 33 Characteristics of good research • There are three distinct but interrelated characteristics of good research: • Research is based on an open system of thought • Researchers examine data critically • Researchers generalize and specify the limits on the generalization.
- 34. 34 Continue • Research is based on an open system of thought: • There is no hidden agendas, no close systems,. • The continual testing, review and criticism for its own sake by researchers of each others work is an important way in which thinking is developed.
- 35. 35 Continue • The key to the approach is to keep firmly in mind that the classic position of a researcher is not that of one who knows the right answers but of who is struggling to find out what the right questions might be.
- 36. 36 Researchers examine data critically • Researchers examines data and the sources of data critically, so that the basic research approach to provocative statements: such as soft drinks are less harmful to health than alcohol. • Researchers are continually having to ask:
- 37. 37 Continue • Have you got the fact right? • Can we get the better data? • Can the results be interpreted differently • Researcher priorities are different. They have to go to get systematic, valid and reliable data because the aim is to understand and interpret.
- 38. 38 Researchers generalize and specify the limits of their generalizations • It is the aim of research to obtain valid generalizations because this is the most efficient way of applying understanding in a wide Variety of appropriate situations. But there are the defaulters here:
- 39. 39 Continue • According to Dumas, All generalization are dangerous, where it applies and where it does not apply, must be continually tested. • The way generalizations can best be established is through the development of explanatory theory.
- 40. 40