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4 WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

July 02 2018, By Chidi Rafael
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The essence of research is to find more knowledge and add to the Categories
existing body of knowledge. How has your study contributed to the Business Administration Projects
Body of Knowledge? Accounting and Finance Projects
Mass Communication Research
This is one question students especially at the Masters or PhD level Projects
must answer one day. The body of knowledge (BOK) encompasses Insurance Research Project Materials
Banking and Finance Project Materials
every field of study from medicine to soap making and even our regular
Marketing Research Project Materials
sports. You may choose to look at it as a vast library that needs Computer Science Project Materials
constant updates from brilliant and creative minds to solve newer English Language Project Materials
Economic Research Projects
issues in the society.
Micro Bilogy Project materials
If you do not contribute, posterity may suffer because they cannot rely Industrial Chemistry Project Materials
Electrical Engineering Projects
on old data and theories to survive and keep up with the pace at which
Education Research Project Materials
the world is evolving today coupled with rapid growth in technology. Human Resource Project materials
Just imagine if we were to be using research studies on Malaria Entrepreneurship Project Materials
Quantity and Surveying Projects
conducted in 1890 to cure Malaria today...imagine how many people
Architecture Project Materials
that will die as a result of no current work to show that nutrition has Public Admistration Project Materials
improved, life styles have changed, hygiene is getting better, Political Science Project Materials
mosquitoes are getting smarter, newer herbs and chemicals exist-now Civil Engineering Project Materials
MBA/M.Sc Project Topics and
that is the essence of research! So do not feel bad when asked if your
Materials
work will or has added to existing knowledge.

From my little observations, most Nigerian students develop negative Featured Papers

mind sets that portray their work is not adding to the body of Making Awesome Presentations: Tips
and Tricks for Project Defense
knowledge...if possible, it may actually be subtracting. It is very funny
Developing Outstanding Research
how some students feel that every researchable idea or topic on earth Topics
has been tackled by someone. Some go to the extent of feeling that Challenges of Personal Income
Taxation in Ghana
there are no fresh research areas anymore, unless you are willing to
Work-Life Balance and its Effect on
tackle the 'impossible'. The most difficult areas where little or nothing Employee Productivity.
has been done on is tagged the 'impossible'. Effect of Employee Benefits on

The funny fact is you can still contribute positively without researching Organizational Performance
Impact of Nigeria Monetary Policies on
on the 'impossible' or trying to tie yourself down to a new research area
Foreign Direct Investment
where no one has ever crossed...you may hang on the way as material
availability may rob you. Various ways you can go ahead with your Subscribe to our mailing
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normal research and still contribute meaningfully to the body of
knowledge are addressed below, so take a good time out, read them,
apply them and contribute by bringing in your own ideas in the
comment box below. Enjoy!

YOUR RESERCH AREA IS YOUR FIRST CONTRIBUTION

Being smart in the defense room is your number one strength. Do not
allow your panel members to intimidate you with statements like 'this
study has been conducted by plenty people already, I do not see how it
can add to existing knowledge'. Very funny right? You may not know
how many Supervisors have frustrated students with this statement.
You may not know how many recognized and international Journal
websites have refused to publish original work done by students
because it is deemed 'popular' so no addition to knowledge. The first
secret in countering that statement is by using your area or case study
as a major contribution to knowledge. Remember you have got to be
smart and logical here. For the mere fact that you conducted that study
in your village is enough reason for it to be of great significance. A
popular topic like 'The Impact of Motivation on Employee Productivity in
New York' may not have the same findings if conducted in a town in
Nigeria say- Oshogbo. The mere fact that we have researched on the
impact of motivation on employees in Oshogbo, (which may be totally
new) is a contribution to the body of Knowledge. Surprised?

YOUR METHODS CAN BE A CONTRIBUTION

Another way students can add great significance to existing knowledge
is by methodology adopted. By reviewing empirical studies on a subject
matter, a student can discover a new method or approach in tackling
the same problem identified in prior research studies. For example,
data collection method, sample size, data analysis can be changed to
tackle the same problem in-order to bring out a unique study. If Mr. A
and B used questionnaires in their study, you can also contribute by
reviewing secondary data instead or opt for other measurement
instruments such as observations, focus group studies, interviews etc.
Different Inferential statistics or data analysis methods can also be
adopted here to bring a difference and hence add to the body of
knowledge. If appropriate, deeper analyses such as regressions,
ANOVA and the rest can make you outstanding.

SOLVING TRENDING ISSUES

Your ability to solve trending or new issues in the society is an added
advantage to you. This could be used in justifying the study as well as
a way of adding to existing knowledge. Through asking the right
questions and doing a thorough data analysis, one could solve current
issues in his or her environment from the findings of the study as well
as good recommendations listed. These trending issues are still new
and enough research may not have been carried out on the subject
matter. So the ability of the student to boldly tackle this new issue and
surviving the problems of new research areas and building literature for
the subject area is highly rewarded, hence it is a major contribution to
knowledge.

DEVELOPING A UNIQUE APPROACH/MODEL

Although not easy as it looks, but very possible. One can actually make
meaningful contribution to knowledge by using a different approach to
solving an identified problem. New models, conceptual
frameworks/concepts and hypotheses that are valid and result oriented
will definitely add to existing knowledge on the subject matter.

For Example:
‘The primary aim of the researcher in this study is to relook at the
concept of leadership from a new perspective.
So far most studies on leadership have focused on the individual
and the personal qualities and traits that shape leaders.
In this study the researcher has tried to shift the focus to the
issues rather than the individual glorification and this has lead to
the development of The Global Leadership Model which is based
on contemporary issues.
This model or the concept is The Global Leadership Model which
is issue based’.

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(Apr 29, 2019) Lucifer Morningstar said:

Extremely helpful. Thank you for listing the different scenarios

with examples; clear and concise.

(Apr 9, 2019) Isah Imam said:

very useful. simple and clear.

(Apr 3, 2019) Getahun said:

I can't thank you enough, such a wise and intelligent minds are
sharing what they have for the little minds like mine. Really you
are great.

(Mar 12, 2019) Anonymous said:

Thank you. Now I'am motivated.

(Feb 18, 2019) Parmanand said: 1

i was super worried what to do, now i feel relieved thanks

(Jan 21, 2019) Anonymous said:

Thank you for creating this article. Very helpful.

(Dec 14, 2018) tatenda magandi said:

thank you. this article was helpful

(Dec 8, 2018) NMNS said: 1

This is indeed helpful for my viva preparation. Thank you so

much

(Oct 31, 2018) olaolu said: 1

chidi..you ve really pushed me out-of-the-box..thanks

(Oct 15, 2018) Izhar Roghani said: 1

You are the best. You nailed it. Love from Pakistan.

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