CD314: RESEARCH METHODS

AND SKILLS

Week 1: COURSE OVERVIEW

Lecture Presenter: Mr. Adrian Sangundi

Venue: D/Hall
Date: 2th March 2021

Adopted from: Mr. Winuan, 2019

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 Lecture Outline

1.Introduction: In-House Keeping

2. Lecture: Overview of the Course

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 1.Introduction: In-House Keeping
1. CD 314 Research Methods and Skills

2. CD 314 Tutors (AS, JI, MW, NJ,JK, IA)

3. Lecture & Tutorials (3 hrs.)

4. Google Classroom Code:= qbk5rmy

Assessment Policy: Plagiarism & Late Submissions.

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2. Lecture: Overview of the Course
 Why Research Skills?
 What is Research?
 The Search for Truth
 Why Do We Research?
 Who Carry Out Research & Why
 The Scientific Methods
 The Research Methods
 The Research Process
 Characteristics of a Good Research
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WHY STUDY RESEARCH SKILLS ?

1. Develop an enquiry mind.

2. Apply problem-solving skills.
3. Select a research topic.
4. Conduct a literature review.
5. Select and design appropriate research
method.
6. Write a research proposal (plan) to conduct
a study. 5
WHY STUDY RESEARCH SKILLS ?

7. Write a research instrument & collect

field data.
8. Analyze and interpret field data.
9. Write and present a research report.
10. Acquire summary, paraphrase, quoting
& referencing skills.

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WHAT IS RESEARCH ?
1. Research is:
The process of arriving at dependable solutions
to problems (through the planned and systematic
collection, analysis and interpretation of data).

It is a most important tool for advancing

knowledge, for promoting progress, and for
enabling man to relate more effectively to his
environment, to accomplish his purposes, and to
resolve his conflicts.

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WHAT IS RESEARCH ?

2. Research seeks to answer questions of

science and of life by means of an orderly
investigation of a defined problem or
issue.

3. Research is simply looking for answers to

solve everyday problems or issues.

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 THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH
1. People have long been concerned to come
to grips with their environment & to
understand the nature of the phenomena
it presents to their senses.

2. The means by which they set out to

achieve these ends may be classified into
three broad categories – experience,
reasoning and research.

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WHY DO WE DO RESEARCH?

1. It helps us to understand the world.

2. It enables us to establish whether

something is true or not true.

3. It helps us to prove and explain things

that have not been proven nor explained.

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WHY DO WE DO RESEARCH?
4. It enables business people to make
decisions based on accurate and
reliable information.

5. It enables planners and decision-

makers in government &
organizations to understand well the
nature of a given problem and the
options available to them before they
make a decision and commit resources.
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 WHO CARRY OUT RESEARCH
AND WHY?
1. Undergraduates
2. Postgraduates
3. Academics
4. Gov’t. funded Research Institutions
5. Gov’t. Department Researchers
6. Companies & corporations’ Researchers
7. Private/Individual Researchers
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 THE TOOLS OF SCIENCE

There are two tools used to undertake

research – concepts and hypothesis.

1. Concepts enable us to impose some sort

of meaning on the world. Through them
reality is given sense, order and coherence.
They are the means by which we are able
to come to terms with our experiences.

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THE TOOLS OF SCIENCE (cont.)

2. Hypothesis is a tentative prediction about the nature of

the relationship between two or more variables.

It is from this that much research proceeds, especially

where cause-and-effect or concomitant
(natural/imposed) relationships are being investigated.

◦ A hypothesis represents an educated guess about what

will happen in an experiment.

◦ Hypotheses are always held tentatively.

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Example:

That social class background determines

academic achievement.

We have a relationship between one variable

(social class) and another (academic
achievement).

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 THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. The first most distinctive feature of science is its
empirical (practical) nature.
2. The next most important characteristic is its set of
procedures, which show not only how findings have
been arrived at, but are sufficiently clear for fellow-
scientists to repeat them, i.e. to check them out with the
same or other materials and thereby test the results.
3. Thirdly, a scientific method necessarily involves
standards & procedures for demonstrating the
“empirical warrant” of its findings, showing the match
or fit between its statements and what is happening or
has happened in the world.

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 THE RESEARCH METHODS

1. Types of Research
(i)PURE RESEARCH – Scientific research
undertaken to advance theories, principles
and concepts, expand knowledge and
discover new things.

(ii)APPLIED RESEARCH – concerned

with topics & issues that have practical
applications.
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THE RESEARCH METHODS (cont.)

1. Types of Research (cont.)

(iii) POLICY RESEARCH – concerned

with policy issues for decision-making.

(iv) ACTION RESEARCH – research

undertaken to improve practices and
organizational effectiveness at current
workplaces.

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THE RESEARCH METHODS (cont.)

2. Research Approaches
2.1 QUANTITATIVE – This approach is
numerically-based. It uses numbers &
statistics to quantify & present its data. It is
objective and empirical. It is an approach
used to gauge people’s attitudes, beliefs,
behaviour, perceptions, reactions, etc… to a
situation or circumstance.

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THE RESEARCH METHODS (cont.)
2.1.1 Research Styles/Designs embracing
Quantitative Approach
a) SURVEY – Investigates people’s perceptions,
views, etc… held on certain issues, leading to
generalizations made. There are four kinds of
surveys: cross-sectional, longitudinal, trend & cohort.

b) EXPERIMENT – This style seeks to study cause-

and-effect relationships between specimens. It is
carried out under controlled laboratory or field
conditions & uses specialized equipment and careful
procedure.
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 THE RESEARCH METHODS (cont.)
Research Styles/Designs embracing Quantitative
Approach (cont.)
c) CORRELATIONAL STUDIES – This style is chosen
when you want to undertake comparative studies,
comparing two or more variables.

d) CONTENT ANALYSIS – This method is applied

when data is obtained from studying and reviewing
documents. Quantitative methods of statistical analysis
is applied on its data.

e) ACTION RESEARCH– This kind of study is

undertaken by practitioners to solve problems to
improve current practice at the workplace.
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THE RESEARCH METHODS (cont.)

2. Research Approaches (cont.)

2.2 QUALITATIVE – This approach
uses observation, interview transcripts, field
notes & diaries and narratives to get to the
results or describe a phenomenon living and
behaving in its natural, authentic
environment. Data is qualified with
description & categorical arrangement in
analyzing it to make sense of it. Data is
relative & subjective.

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THE RESEARCH METHODS (cont.)

2.2.1 Research Styles/Designs embracing the

Qualitative Approach
(a) CASE STUDY – This style is used when you study one
or two samples among the several out there and give it a
much deeper, sharper study focus. Its aim is to discover
fresh insights to the behaviour and activity of the specimen.
(b)NATURALISTIC/ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH –
This research style requires the researcher to go to the
natural environment or setting of the specimen and observe
its activity and behaviour in its authentic environment for
an extended period of time. It uses field notes, narratives
and description to depict and portray the specimen’s
circumstances.

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THE RESEARCH METHODS (cont.)

2.1.1 Research Styles/Designs embracing the

Qualitative Approach (cont.)

(c) CONTENT ANALYSIS – This method is applied

when data is obtained from studying and reviewing
documents. Qualitative methods of analysis are applied
on its data.

(d) ACTION RESEARCH– This kind of study is

undertaken by practitioners to solve problems to improve
current practice at the workplace. Data is analyzed using
the Qualitative methods.

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THE RESEARCH PROCESS

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CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD
RESEARCH
1. Research must be accurate (data).

2. It should be objective (data).

3. It should be replicable (study procedure).

4. Research should be reliable (instrument).

5. Research should be empirical (data).

6. Research should be purposeful and beneficial

(findings).
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WEEK 1: TUTORIALS
 Youare to establish your 4-members Research
Group within your respective Tutorial class.
 You will discuss the criteria for selecting your
RESEARCH TOPIC which relates to your degree
program.
 Youmust select a research topic by the end of
Tutorial 2 this week to write your RESEARCH
PROPOSAL on during the course.
 Also,you must start thinking about constructing
items for your SURVEY
QUESTIONNAIRE beginning this week.

~ ~ ~ ~End of Lecture!~ ~ ~ ~
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