Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PPP Research Mtds JU
PPP Research Mtds JU
Methods
• Action Research
– Part of applied research.
– Used by practitioners-teachers, administrators , etc.-to
solve problems at hand or make policies needed.
– Hence, action research is initiated to solve immediate
problem.
• A research to get cure for Ebola is a good example.
Ctd.
• Difference
– Action research is decision-oriented.
• It seeks to generate information with regard to an
existing situation.
–It is done:
• to assess the effectiveness of social or
economic programs implemented
• to assess the impact of development projects on the
development of the project area.
Ctd.
• Exploratory/Formulative research
– It is a preliminary study of an unfamiliar problem
about which the researcher has little or no
knowledge.
– It is like a doctor’s initial investigation of a
patient’s suffering from an unfamiliar disease to
get clues for identifying it.
– It usually takes the form of pilot survey.
• E.g., interviewing few people to know which forms of
corruptions are prevalent.
• Then, full-scale research can be conducted.
Ctd.
• Descriptive research
– It is a fact finding investigation with adequate
interpretation.
– It is the simplest type of research.
– It is designed to gather information and it
provides information for formulating more
sophisticated studies.
– Data are collected by using one or more
appropriate methods.
• observation, interviewing, questionnaire, etc.
Ctd.
• Diagnostic research
– This is similar to descriptive research in that both
are about what is happening.
– However, diagnostic research is different because
it deals not only with what is happening but also
with why it is happening (cause) and what could
be done about it.
– Hence, diagnostic research, unlike descriptive
research, cannot be done in areas where
knowledge is not advanced.
According to Method of Study
• Experimental research
–It is designed to assess the effects of
particular variables on a phenomenon by
keeping the other variables constant and
controlled.
• Judges
– To find the relevant law to the case at hand.
– To interpret the provisions of the law.
– To cause change in the existing law (case law),
etc.
Ctd.
• Lawyers
– To find the relevant law to the case of their clients.
– To convince courts on how existing laws should be
interpreted.
– To convince courts that a given law needs change, etc.
• Legal Academia
– They can do legal research to:
• cause change (influence policy-making) of law
• comment on law, cases, etc.
• guide interpretation of law, etc.
Types of legal research
• Legal research can be classified into:
• Doctrinal
• Non- Doctrinal
• Doctrinal legal research (DLR)
– It is a research into legal doctrines (rules, principles, etc.) (hence,
doctrinal).
– “into” here means it involves analysis of statutory provisions and
cases by applying power of reasoning.
– As such, DLR deals with legal documents (law and cases).
• Is the law adequate?
• Why was the law made?
• Is it as modern as other countries’ laws?
• What does the law say?
• What are the theories, policies, etc. behind a given law?
• Is the decision of the FFIC constitutional? etc.
Ctd.
• From the above examples, we can understand that
DLR could be analytical, descriptive, comparative,
historical , etc.
– Is the Ethiopian Constitution as accommodative of
minorities’ rights as is the US Constitution?
– Does the FDRE Constitution give sufficient protection to
children?
– How did the FDRE Constitution come about?
– What does the law of family say about religious
marriage?
Ctd.
• Basic tools (sources) for doctrinal legal research
– statutory materials
– case reports
– standard textbooks and reference books
– legal periodicals
– Parliamentary debates and government reports
Sub- Sub-
question 1 question 2
Sub-
Sub- Main
question 3
question 6 Question
Sub- Sub-
question 5 question 4
Ctd.
• Hypothesis
– It is a proposed explanation about something.
– Or, it is a statement created by a researcher to serve as a
tentative an answer /solution to a question or a problem.
• The statement is an assumption which is reasonable.
– A good hypothesis is the one that can be tested.
• Devil exists or the Moon has lives.
– However, hypothesis is not always needed.
• E.g., in legal research, hypothesis is not required.
• Instead, things like research question are required to keep
researchers focused.
– Yet, in researches which involve experimentation, hypothesis
is needed.
• Then, the researcher works towards proving or disproving it.
• This means, a hypothesis is used to keep the researcher focused.
Ctd.
• Significance
– This section shows the contribution of a research
to the field of study.
• Research must bring some gains/contribution.
• The gains could be theoretical or practical.
– Primary sources
• These are original sources/materials for a given information.
• They are materials/sources other researches are based on.
– E.g., people, laws, cases, etc. are primary sources.
• Methods of getting information from primary sources:
» Interview, Questionnaire, Observation, FGD, etc.
Ctd.
• Secondary sources
– These are sources which are prepared based on primary
sources.
– Hence, they are interpretations and evaluations of
primary sources.
• That means, secondary sources are not evidence, but rather
commentary on and discussion of evidence.
– E.g., published and unpublished sources such books,
journals, and treatise are secondary sources.
– Hence, it contains:
• Introduction
• Discussions and Findings
–In Chapters, sub-headings.
• Conclusion and Recommendations
–Summarize the discussion.
–Make recommendations, if necessary.
Ctd.
• Citations
– Citation is part of the main text of a research.
– As we know, research is an effort to find a fact which could
be an answer to a question or a solution to a problem.
– Thus, a researcher uses and must use information from
various sources to find the fact he looks for.
– However, the source from which his information is taken
must be acknowledged.
• Failure to do so will amount to plagiarism.
• To avoid plagiarism, which has a serious consequence, a
researcher must cite his sources in:
– Footnotes
– Endnotes
– In-text
– We will see rules of citation at the end.
Ctd.
• The end matter
– Bibliography
• List of reference materials used in a research.
– Everything must be included.
– Similar materials should be put under one category.
– E.g., Laws, Books, Journals, etc.
– Appendix
• This is the section that contains attachments to a research
report.
• For example, a research may annex the following materials to
his report.
– Laws, Letters, Reports, Interview questions, photos, etc.
– Index
• A part that contains important concepts in the report and the
page on which the concepts are found.
• For example:
– Parliament 6, 15, 25, 30.
– President 3, 14, 20, 47.
6. Ethics in Research
• Not easy to define ethics.
– We may say ethics refers to (moral) norms that can
distinguish acceptable behaviors from none acceptable
ones.
– We get them from home, school, churches, and at other
social settings.
• For example, do no harm, help someone in need, etc.
• These are ethical norms people use in daily life.
• In research, too, there are norms a researcher shall
observe.
Ctd.
• Emergence
– Before WWII, ethical issues were not that important in
research.
– However, the issue because so topical after the WWII.
– The two important factors leading to the topicality of
research ethics are:
• The tragedy committed by Nazi doctors (23) on war
captives (using them as guinea-pigs).
– Millions were tortured, killed, etc.
• One particular event that happened in the US involving
research in health science (1932-1972).
– Hundreds died, suffered, etc.
– These two incidents led to the emergence of many ethical
rules.
• In one way or another, these rules are now commonly
respected.
Ctd.
• Importance of Ethical Rules in Research
• It promotes the aims of research such as knowledge, truth, and
avoidance of error.
– E.g., no fabricating, falsifying, misrepresenting of research data.
• It promotes values that are essential to collaborative work.
– Trust, accountability, mutual respect, fairness, etc.
• It helps us ensure researchers are accountable to the public.
– Avoiding research misconduct, avoiding conflict of interests, etc.
• It helps us build public support for research.
– Funding and others
• It promotes other important moral and social values.
– Social responsibility, human rights, animal welfare, compliance
with the law, and health and safety.
– This is why many research institutions have policies on research
ethics.
Ctd.
• Indicative list of Ethical rules/standards
– Honesty
• In all communications:
– Data reporting, analysis, interpretation, publication, etc.
– Never fabricating, falsifying, or misrepresenting data.
– Never deceiving colleagues, granting agencies, or the
public.
– Objectivity
• Avoiding bias.
• He must remain objective in the process
– No bias when
» research is designed
» data is gathered, analyzed, interpreted
» Other decisions are made.
Ctd.
• Integrity
– Keep your promises and agreements.
– Act with sincerity.
– Strive for consistency of thought and action.
• Carefulness
– Avoid careless errors and negligence.
– Carefully and critically, examine your own work and that
of your peers.
– Keep good records of research activities, such as data
collection, research design, and correspondence with
agencies or journals.
Ctd.
• Openness
– Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources.
– Be open to criticism and new ideas.
• Responsible Publication
– Publish to advance research and scholarship.
– Avoid wasteful and duplicative publication.
• Responsible Mentoring
– Help to educate, mentor, and advise students.
– Promote their welfare and allow them to make their
own decisions.
Ctd.
• Respect for colleagues
– Respect your colleagues
– Treat them fairly.
• Social Responsibility
– Strive to promote social good.
– Prevent or mitigate social harms through research,
public education, and advocacy.
• Non-Discrimination
– Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students on
unwarranted grounds.
Ctd.
• Competence
– Maintaining & improving professional competence and
expertise through lifelong education and learning.
• Legality
– Know and obey relevant laws, policies, etc.
• Voluntary participation
– Don’t force people to participate in a research without
consent.
– E.g., don’t force prisoners to give information.
• Informed consent
– Participants must be fully informed about the
procedures and risks involved in a research.
Ctd.
• No risk of harm
– No physical or psychological harm or risk of harm to
them.
• Protection of privacy
– Participants’ privacy should be protected.
– Confidentiality
• Not disclosing information obtained from participants.
– Anonymity
• Keeping participants unknown.
• It may involve changing names, dates, or both.
• Respecting peoples’ norms, culture, religion, way of life,
etc.
– Obeying rules of the community/people.
7. Avoiding Plagiarism
• Consequences
• It is a violation of research ethics such as honesty, authorship,
and respect for Intellectual property.
• Hence, it entails serious consequences/punishment like being
striped of one’s degree..
Ctd.
• How can plagiarism be avoided?
• Using citation and quotation.
• Citation
– Give necessary information about the source of your
information.
– Readers can check if they want to.
» We will see how to cite.
• Quotation
– Sometimes, citation alone is not enough.
– You have to quote the original author.
» We will see when quotation is necessary.
Ctd.
• Rules relating to Quotation:
– Unless there is a good reason, a researcher should not use
direct quotation from other sources.
– He has to use his own expression by paraphrasing the
original idea.
– But when there are good reasons the language of the original
source could be used.
– Examples:
• John (1999: 151)
• (John, 1999: 151)
– If you are referring to the whole source (like when you
summarize points or arguments), you need not cite the
page.
– Example, Wilson (2001) or (Wilson: 2001), as the case may
be.
• In the reference part, however, complete information
must be provided save for pages.
The End!