Units 1&2-Lrw2014-Aspects of Research

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RESEARCH



hat is research?



Several authors describe inherent aspects of research: A thought process, surrounding accumulated facts and data -

seeking to determine what the facts ‘say’ and what the data

means – Leedy, 1989:4-8 Systematic investigation into and study of materials to establish

facts and reach new conclusions – Reader’s Digest Illustrated

Oxford Dictionary, 1998:699 nvestigation and study undertaken to establish facts and thereby

reach new conclusions t is of a systematic nature – utc!inson, 199":669! "iligent, protracted investigation of some phenomenon or a series

of phenomenon – #unk $ #agnalls, 1964:x$

Defining research



%roperly structured and organised Focused on a single issue &ased on current and academically accepted

sources / scientific investigation Synthesis and analysis of sources "emonstrate use of legal logic %roperly referenced

%resented in acceptable academic language %resented in the acceptable academic form 'he facts have to be ob(ective, trustworthy and valid #ollow ethical behaviour for researchers

Characteristics of academic

research



Should have some utility – of value to society –

utc!inson, 199":669 %ropels search for knowledge and understanding of

phenomena "etermines applicability of ob(ectives %romotes efficient and effective utilisation of resources mproves decisionma!ing such as the determination

of a case )erification of assumptions, data so as to establish

facts

Importance of research



*aking rational and factually correct decisions +nsuring the best possible utilisation of e"isting

resources such as knowledge #dentifying problem areas in a specific discipline "eveloping possible solutions to these problems, as

well as future control mechanisms n industry, research could also pertain to work directed

towards the innovation, introduction and improvement

of products and processes the current new ta law.! An endeavour to discover or collate old facts by the

scientific study of a sub(ect

Objectives of conducting

research



+nhancing the !no$ledge and insight of a

specific trend or discipline%

&eveloping ne$ theories or modify eisting onesto accommodate for changing conditions, "etermining the currency and validity of

specific theories to specific circumstances!

See %rynard et al, &"'14:"($

Objectives of conducting

research



LECT!E T O



/!&asic research

0!Applied research

1&: "istinction relatesto purpose for whichresearch is used –%ailey, 19)8:1*-1)

T"pes of research



2sed to develop theories bytesting hypotheses that

have been deduced fromthem

1ot necessarily conducted

with any immediate practicalapplication in mind

3ften attempted only toincrease knowledge in a

certain area

+g, do basic research toestablish the psychological

processes which occurwhen child learns to read!

#asic research



2ndertaken specifically to solve a certain problem

'he results can be used to solve an immediateproblem

4esearch problem is selected according to thepractical value the research would have in a

particular situation

+g, an immediate problem in agriculture is how to

treat fresh fruit against decay in order to etend itsmarketing potential!

$pp%ied research



4esearchproblem

4esearch design

+mpiricalevidence

5onclusions

See "e )os et al,0660,78-79

E%ements of research



5uriosity about the unknown

Searching for data to eplain the unknown

Satisfying the curiosity of finding an answer

"etermining the truth of the answer

'he practical use of the answer

&ub'e%ements of the above e%ements



• +pistemological• *ethodological• Sociological• 3ntological•

+outon, 1996: "8-",41-4,46 !

Dimensions of research



All research is driven by thepursuit of valid knowledge

ith the ob(ective of arriving at

results that are as close to truthas possible

Epistemo%ogica%



4esearch is methodological andsystematic

+n;uiry, ie, the application of

methods and techni;ues inpursuit of valid knowledge!

(ethodo%ogica%



•4esearch is a social activity,•4esearchers are social beingsand the world of science ispart of the social world!

&ocio%ogica%



t’s important to understand

research terminology

'his helps in obtaining clarity in

compilation of framework

!esearch Termino%og"



5onceptual frame work: mentalconceptualisation of an abstract idea or

plan!

'heories: epositions of the principlesof a science or a system of ideas

eplaining or predicting something!

*odel: the representation or copy of aneisting thing or of a proposed

structure! t is indicative of a particulardesign or style!

!esearch termino%og"



%roposition: statement or assertion, ascheme proposed and a proposal!

)alue: worth, desirability and utility<ability to serve a purpose!

Attribute: something having orpossessing a characteristic, eg,

=married> is a characteristic of themarital status of an individual!




%aradigm: pattern of commonlyheld theories or assumption on

models of both a scientific andsociological nature, which serveas eamples or patterns for a

particular research topic andwhich influence the research




5ause: that which produces a particular effect or gives rise to an action,phenomenon or condition, person or thing that occasions something –

reason?motive

a principle, belief or purpose

a matter to be settled at law

+ffect: the result or conse;uence of an action

an impression produced on a spectator or hearer

Termino%og"



Approach: to make atentative proposal

4igour: that which is of

logical eactitude andto the severity and strict

enforcement of rules!

Termino%og"

Units 1&2-Lrw2014-Aspects of Research

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