REVIEWER FOR RESEARCH 1

1. Introduction to research
2. Research process
3. Ishikawa diagram
4. RRL

RESEARCH
- means again and again

Research is an objective, systematic and scientific investigation of a problem through

collection, analyses and interpretation of data in order to gain understanding about a
phenomena.

What are we searching for? WE ARE SEARCHING FOR KNOWLEDGE TO FILL A GAP
BETWEEN WHAT IS AND WHAT OUGHT TO BE.

Did you say a gap? Yes.

Every aspect of human behavior has a problem. This is replicated in society. In society,
there were problems, there are problems and there will be problems.

A problem does not mean when things are going bad; but a problem is any situation that
makes the researcher ask him/herself, ‘WHY’. Therefore even when things are going on
well, the researcher asks why?

A ‘why’ means there is a gap that calls for investigation or research.

That is why we have stated that a gap is a discrepancy between the ways they are (or the
way we know them as normal) and how they ought to be.

Therefore a gap is the research problem. Therefore we have to find answers to these
problems.

HOW? We find answers by collecting data, analyzing data, writing a report and
disseminating the findings to your audience. This constitutes the answer(s) to the problem.

That is what research is all about.

NOTE THE FOLLOWING REGARDING RESEARCH

1. We conduct research because there is a problem;
2. Research is problem-driven not topic driven;
 3. Research is not conducted out of hearsay. The problem must be documented. I.e.
the research problem is anchored on data. Secondly, always remember that a
research report is a public document which can be scrutinized by anyone.

1. Phenomena - a phenomena is an object of investigation. It is what the researcher is

interested in investigating. It may be a program, a project, a policy, a school, an
institution, an organization etc.
2. The term systematic implies that research developed and presented in a coherent
manner. It is methodical based on laid out procedures.
3. A scientific investigation implies that the process of research is conducted
carefully following specific steps and with specific objectives to solve the problem
under consideration and findings are based on investigation.
4. Objective - implies that research findings are not influenced by personal feelings,
opinions and attitudes. They are reported as it is in the field.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

1. Specific/Purposiveness - any good research must have a definite purpose and
must be focused. A statement of the purpose of the study guide in the achievement
of the research objectives
2. Empirical - Research is based on observation and measurement of phenomena, as
directly experienced by the researcher. The results of research are based on real life
experiences.
3. Testability - a good research must be testable in terms of objectives and
hypotheses developed. If the hypothesis/objectives are too abstract and difficult to
measure, then the scientific investigation is weakened.
4. Replicability - this means that the results of the research should be supported again
and again when the research is repeated in other similar circumstances.
5. Precision and confidence - precision reflects the degree of exactitude of the results
based on the sample. Confidence refers to the probability that our estimates are
correct.
6. Objectivity - our results should be objective based on facts resulting from the actual
data and not from our own subjective or emotional values.
7. Generalizability - this refers to the scope of applicability of the research findings.
The wider the range of applicability of the solutions generated by research, the more
useful the research is.
8. Parsimony - research being scientific does not mean that we have to have to be
complicated. Parsimony refers to the simplicity of explaining the phenomena that
occur and in the applications of solutions to the problem.

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH IS TO EXPLORE, DESCRIBE, AND EXPLAIN PHENOMENA.

- Explore addresses the “what” question
- Describe addresses the “who, what, when, and where” questions
 - Explain focuses on the “why” question

3 TYPES OF RESEARCH
1. Descriptive Research - aims at describing the characteristics of a population i.e.
finding out the what of the population
2. Exploratory research - similar to basic research which investigates a problem that is
not well defined.
3. Explanatory research - builds on exploratory and descriptive research where it goes
further to determine causes and reasons, extend theory or principles as well as
provide evidence to support or refute an explanation or a prediction.

RESEARCH refers to a systematic and scientific investigation of a problem or issue that

aims to generate new knowledge or validate existing knowledge. It involves a structured
and organized process of gathering and analyzing data to answer specific questions or
solve problems.

Research can be applied in various fields, including natural sciences, social sciences,
engineering and humanities, among others.

TYPES OF RESEARCH
1. Pure Research or Basic Research - seeks to advance knowledge in a specific area
without a practical application in mind. It prioritizes fundamental principles and
concepts over practical problems. Solving pure research is undertaken to expand
knowledge without any practical application. Astronomers, for example, study black
holes to understand their properties including how they form and interact with their
surroundings. Although the discoveries made in pure research can later have various
practical applications the primary focus is on fundamental understanding.
2. Applied Research - aimed at solving practical problems in a particular field. It is often
conducted with a specific application in mind and is focused on finding solutions to
real-world problems. An example of applied research is the development of a new
drug to treat specific disease. Researchers might identify a biological target that is
involved in the disease and develop a drug that can interact with that target to
alleviate the symptoms. This research is focused on finding a practical solution to a
real world problem, namely the treatment of the disease. The findings from applied
research in this field can lead to the development of new drugs that can improve the
lives of patients suffering from the disease.
3. Policy Research - gathers data to inform policy decisions providing policy makers
with evidence-based information. Its aim is to assess the effectiveness and impact of
policies on specific populations or areas of concern. An example of policy research is
a study assessing the effectiveness of a government program aimed at reducing
poverty researchers would collect data on the program’s impact including the
number of people who benefited from its changes in poverty rates and feedback from
 program participants. This information could then be used to inform policy decisions
regarding the program’s future funding and design. Policy research could also be
used to evaluate the impact of economic policies such as tax cuts or trade
agreements on specific populations or industries helping policy changes.
4. Action research - research methodology that involves a cyclical process of planning,
implementing, observing, reflecting and modifying actions in a specific context. Its
aim is to improve practices and address practical problems while involving the
participation of stakeholders in the research process.

RESEARCH PROCESS typically involves several stages

1. Identifying the research problem which involves defining the issue or topic that
requires further investigation.
2. Formulating research questions or objectives .This involves defining the specific
questions or objectives that the research aims to answer.
3. Selecting an appropriate research method or methodology. This involves choosing
the best approach to answer the research questions or objectives.
4. Collecting data. This involves gathering information through various methods such
as surveys, interviews or experiments.
5. Analyzing data.This involves organizing, categorizing, and interpreting the data to
draw conclusions.
6. Drawing conclusions. This involves summarizing the findings and making
recommendations based on the results of the research.

KEY CONCEPTS
1. Validity - refers to the extent to which the research accurately measures what it is
intended to measure.
2. Reliability - refers to the consistency and stability of the research findings over time.
3. Sample - refers to the group of individuals or objects that are studied in the research.
4. Population - refers to the larger group of individuals or objects that the sample
represents,
5. Bias - refers to any factors that may influence. The research findings in a particular
direction, such as the research is beliefs or expectations. In essence research is a
process that requires critical thinking, creativity and persistence. Through research,
we can broaden our knowledge and deepen our understanding of the world around
us.

ISHIKAWA DIAGRAM
A fishbone diagram, also known as a cause and effect diagram, is a way to visualize the
cause, named for its resemblance to a fish skeleton. It is useful for product development in
troubleshooting processes, as it identifies the causes of a problem, instead of merely
treating the symptoms to create a Fishbone diagrams list.
A fishbone diagram is helpful for finding potential causes to a problem, as well as revealing
areas of weakness in a business process and insurance. Corrective actions are put in place
to resolve any future issues.

RRL
1. PURPOSE
- determine what has already been done that relates to your
topic;
- determine what has already been done that relates to your
topic;
- provide the rationale for your research hypothesis, and
indications of what to be done can help you justify the
significance of your study;
- helps the researcher to refine the research questions;
- provides a way for novice researcher to convince the
- reviewers of the proposal that s/he is knowledgeable about
the related research and the “intellectual traditions” that
support the proposed study
- discover research strategies and specific data collection
approaches that have or have not been productive in
investigations of topics similar to yours;
- provides a framework for establishing the importance of the
study as well as a benchmark for comparing the results with
other findings.

2. THE USE OF LITERATURE

(a) integrate what others have done and said,
(b) criticize previous scholarly works,
(c) build bridges between related topics, and
(d) identify the central issues in a field.