IDENTIFY AND DISCUSS

S T E P S I N V O LV E D I N GROUP 16
PHILOSOPHICAL
LECTURER IN CHARGE:
RESEARCH METHODS
ACCORDING TO DR. MEROYI
AKINPELUMI
 INTRODUCTION

 There is an increased demand for Research. Every

society needs research for it’s growth. It is needful
to understand that research cannot be undergone
anyway. There is therefore need to understand the
processes of making a valid research.
 W H AT I S P H I L O S O P H Y ?

 Getting a specific definition of philosophy is a herculean task

because of the nature of philosophy and its diversities in
different disciplines. However, a relatively all-inclusive
description of philosophy would state that When done well,
philosophy should be a rigorous, structured, sequential
conversation (with oneself or others) that is both cooperative
and oppositional, and that aims to investigate, clarify, and
defend the organization and content of our thoughts in response
to alleged issues and conundrums about reality, knowledge,
value, and meaning
 W H AT I S R E S E A R C H ?

 Research is a systematic and objective analysis and

recording of controlled observations that may lead
to the development of generalizations, principles,
theories and concepts, resulting in prediction for
seeing and possibly ultimate control of events. -
John.W. Best (Saunders, 2016)
RESEARCH PROCESS

 The research process, also referred to as the

scientific method, is presented as a series of
sequential steps that researchers follow when
planning and conducting research and
communicating the findings; however, the
steps are often revisited during the process.
( Fisher and Bloomfield, 2019).
 PHILOSOPHICAL
RESEARCH

 The purpose of philosophical research is to publish

works by authors who see philosophy as a
collaborative scientific endeavor. The series is
inspired by the methodological ideal of analytic
philosophy in this respect, but it is also open to
contributions from any branch of philosophy,
whether they are of a historical or systematic nature.
TYPES OF PHILOSOPHICAL
RESEARCH

 According to Wingo, there are three types of

philosophical research: These are the following

1. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

2. ANALYTICAL RESEARCH
3. NORMATIVE RESEARCH
 I D E N T I F I C AT I O N O F S T E P S
I N V O LV E D I N
PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH
METHOD ACCORDING TO
AKINPELUMI

 Identification of a broad area of research interest,

 Familiarization with the philosophical and non-
philosophical aspects,
 Selection of a topic of philosophical interest,
 Literature review on the selected topic,
I D E N T I F I C AT I O N O F S T E P S I N V O LV E D I N
PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH METHOD
ACCORDING TO AKINPELUMI

 Statement of the problem,

 In-depth analysis of issues in the problem,
 Synthesis of themes into a thesis,
 Counter-objectives to the thesis and
 Conclusion.
D I S C U S S I O N O F S T E P S I N V O LV E D I N P H I L O S O P H I C A L R E S E A R C H

METHOD ACCORDING TO AKINPELU

 Identification of a broad area of research:

 Akinpelumi went on to say that a piece of research is interesting if it challenges the
researcher's intelligence or piques their curiosity. Philosophy is after all sometimes said to as a
"child of wonder" and a "product of failure" (Akinpelu 2012)
F A M I L I A R I Z AT I O N W I T H T H E P H I L O S O P H I C A L A N D N O N -
PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECTS

 There could be a close similarity between philosophical and non-

philosophical issues. The researcher should be able to identify the
philosophy underlying every philosophical issue.
SELECTION OF A TOPIC OF PHILOSOPHICAL INTEREST

 In this step, the researcher selects a topic that would drive his
curiosity. Something the researcher has an interest. The topmustust
be able to keep the drive of the researcher going.
L I T E R AT U R E R E V I E W O N T H E S E L E C T E D T O P I C

 The researcher, should read and study other philosophical

works based on the selected topic area.
 STATEMENT O F T HE PROBL EM

 The researcher should now start to develop a "feel" for the issues
and turn reading-related concepts into a research challenge. Here,
the researcher's philosophical expertise will start to play a
significant role as he critically evaluates the problems at hand and
formulates the problems into a statement(s).
I N-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF ISSUES IN
T HE PRO BLE M

 This is a stage at which the philosophical competence of the

researcher is demonstrated. First, the major concepts in the
topic must be clearly and thoroughly analyzed to eliminate
any ambiguity or vagueness in the topic to detect what is
usually referred to as the “bewitchment of language
 SYNTH E SI S I NTO A THESIS

 The researcher should be gathering together all the tested, positive

ideas highlighted in the process of his critical analyses of the
concepts and the issues in the topic. It is a drawing together of the
loose and scattered findings, which are now woven into a
restatement of his reasoned and logical point of view
 COUNTER- OB JECT IVES TO THE
TH ESIS

 This is the quality of sensitivity the philosophy fosters in a person.

It is a sign of philosophical maturity to be willing to accept when a
particular issue cannot be fully addressed and to see it as a
restriction to his thesis. This is also a way to avoid what is known
as "strawman arguments," which are arguments that are simple to
disprove.
 CO NCL USION

 At this point, the researcher's argument has been cleaned up of all

obvious flaws and restated in a polished and wholesome manner.
From there, suitable conclusions can be reached and implications
for policy or practice can be made if they are needed or justifiable
C O M PA R I N G T H E A K I N P E L U M I ’ S N I N E
STEPS OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS
WITH OTHER RESEARCH PROCESSES.
 Akinpelu, (1981) like other philosophers, formulated steps of philosophical
research but not authoritatively for fear of imposing a rigid format that ultimately
halts individual creative imagination. Philosophers did not prescribe the steps
they use in their research works for fear of imposition and authoritarianism. So,
Akinpelu has his steps, and other philosophers also have but not stressed as the
philosophical research method in strict sense to allow individuals to explore their
potentialities and use their intellect too.