Write a detailed note on scientific method?
Answer:
The scientific method is the process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation. The basic process involves seeing, forming a hypothesis, making a prediction, conducting an experiment, and finally analyzing the results. The principals of the scientific method can be applied in many areas, including scientific research, business, and technology.
Steps of the scientific method
The scientific method uses a series of steps to establish facts or create knowledge. The overall process is well established, but the specifics of each step may change depending on what is being examined and who is performing it. The scientific method can only answer questions that can be proven or disproven through testing.
See or ask a question. The first step is to observe something that you would like to learn about or ask a question that you would like answered. These can be specific or general. Some examples would be "I observe that our total available network bandwidth drops at noon every weekday" or "How can we increase our website registration numbers?" Taking the time to establish a well-defined question will help you in later steps.
Gather background information. This involves doing research into what is already known about the topic. This can also involve finding if anyone has already asked the same question.
Create a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an explanation for the observation or question. If proven later, it can become a fact. Some examples would be "Our employees watching online videos during lunch is using our internet bandwidth" or "Our website visitors don't see our registration form."
Create a prediction and perform a test. Create a testable prediction based on the hypothesis. The test should establish a noticeable change that can be measured or observed using empirical analysis. It is also important to control for other variables during the test. Some examples would be "If we block video-sharing sites, our available bandwidth will not go down significantly during lunch" or "If we make our registration box bigger, a greater percentage of visitors will register for our website than before the change."
Analyze the results and draw a conclusion. Use the metrics established before the test see if the results match the prediction. For example, "After blocking video-sharing sites, our bandwidth utilization only went down by 10% from before; this is not enough of a change to be the primary cause of the network congestion" or "After increasing the size of the registration box, the percent of sign-ups went from 2% of total page views to 5%, showing that making the box larger results in more registrations."
Share the conclusion or decide what question to ask next: Document the results of your experiment. By sharing the results with others, you also increase the total body of knowledge available. Your experiment may have also led to other questions, or if your hypothesis is disproven you may need to create a new one and test that. For example, "Because user activity is not the cause of excessive bandwidth use, we now suspect that an automated process is running at noon every day.
Scientific method
What is the scientific method?
The scientific method is the process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation. The basic process involves seeing, forming a hypothesis, making a prediction, conducting an experiment, and finally analyzing the results. The principals of the scientific method can be applied in many areas, including scientific research, business, and technology.
Steps of the scientific method
The scientific method uses a series of steps to establish facts or create knowledge. The overall process is well established, but the specifics of each step may change depending on what is being examined and who is performing it. The scientific method can only answer questions that can be proven or disproven through testing.
See or ask a question. The first step is to observe something that you would like to learn about or ask a question that you would like answered. These can be specific or general. Some examples would be "I observe that our total available network bandwidth drops at noon every weekday" or "How can we increase our website registration numbers?" Taking the time to establish a well-defined question will help you in later steps.
Gather background information. This involves doing research into what is already known about the topic. This can also involve finding if anyone has already asked the same question.
Create a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an explanation for the observation or question. If proven later, it can become a fact. Some examples would be "Our employees watching online videos during lunch is using our internet bandwidth" or "Our website visitors don't see our registration form."
Create a prediction and perform a test. Create a testable prediction based on the hypothesis. The test should establish a noticeable change that can be measured or observed using empirical analysis. It is also important to control for other variables during the test. Some examples would be "If we block video-sharing sites, our available bandwidth will not go down significantly during lunch" or "If we make our registration box bigger, a greater percentage of visitors will register for our website than before the change."
Analyze the results and draw a conclusion. Use the metrics established before the test see if the results match the prediction. For example, "After blocking video-sharing sites, our bandwidth utilization only went down by 10% from before; this is not enough of a change to be the primary cause of the network congestion" or "After increasing the size of the registration box, the percent of sign-ups went from 2% of total page views to 5%, showing that making the box larger results in more registrations."
Share the conclusion or decide what question to ask next: Document the results of your experiment. By sharing the results with others, you also increase the total body of knowledge available. Your experiment may have also led to other questions, or if your hypothesis is disproven you may need to create a new one and test that. For example, "Because user activity is not the cause of excessive bandwidth use, we now suspect that an automated process is running at noon every day."
Using the scientific method in technology and computers
The scientific method is incredibly valuable in technology and related fields. It is obviously used in research and development, but it is also useful in day-to-day operations. Because almost everything can be quantified, testing hypotheses can be easy.
Most modern computer systems are complicated and difficult to troubleshoot. Using the scientific method of hypothesis and testing can greatly simplify the process of tracking down errors and it can help find areas of improvement. It can also help when you evaluate new technologies before implementation.
Using the scientific method in business
Many businesses processes benefit when using the scientific method. Shifting business landscapes and complex business relationships can make behaviors hard to predict or act counter to previous history. Instead of using gut feelings or previous experience, a scientific approach can help businesses grow. Big data initiative can make business information more available and easier to test with.
The scientific method can be applied in many areas. Customer satisfaction and retention numbers can be analyzed and tested upon. Profitability and finance numbers can be analyzed to form new conclusions. Making predictions on changing business practices and checking the results will help to identify and measure success or failure of the initiatives. Common pitfalls in using the scientific method
The scientific method is a powerful tool. Like any tool, though, if it is misused it can cause more damage than good.
The scientific method can only be used for testable phenomenon. This is known as falsifiability. While much in nature can be tested and measured, some areas of human experience are beyond objective observation.
Both proving and disproving the hypothesis are equally valid outcomes of testing. It is possible to ignore the outcome or inject bias to skew the results of a test in a way that will fit the hypothesis. Data in opposition to the hypothesis should not be discounted.
It is important to control for other variables and influences during testing to not skew the results. While difficult, not accounting for these could produce invalid data. For example, testing bandwidth during a holiday or measuring registrations during a sale event may introduce other factors that influence the outcome.
Another common pitfall is mixing correlation with causation. While two data points may seem to be connected, it is not necessarily true that once is directly influenced by the other. For example, an ice cream stand in town sees drops in business on the hottest days. While the data may look like the hotter the weather, the less people want ice cream, the reality is that more people are going to the beach on those days and less are in town.
History of the scientific method
The discovery of the scientific method is not credited to any single person, but there are a few notable figures who contributed to its development.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle is one of the earliest proponents of logic and cycles of observation and deduction in recorded history. Ibn AL Haytham, a mathematician, established stringent testing methodologies in pursuit of facts and truth, and he recorded his findings.
During the Renaissance, many thinkers and scientists continued developing rational methods of establishing facts. Sir Francis Bacon emphasized the importance of inductive reasoning. Sir Isaac Newton relied on both inductive and deductive reasoning to explain the results of his experiments, and Galileo Galilei emphasized the idea that results should be repeatable.
Other well-known contributors to the scientific method include Karl Popper, who introduced the concept of falsifiability, and Charles Darwin, who is known for using multiple communication channels to share his conclusions.
Question # 02
Discuss the main characteristics of Scientifics research in detail.
Answer:
A careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or problem using scientific methods. According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie, “Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon. Research involves inductive and deductive methods.”
Inductive research methods are used to analyze an observed event. Deductive methods are used to verify the observed event. Inductive approaches are associated with qualitative research and deductive methods are more commonly associated with quantitative research.
Research is conducted with a purpose to understand:
· What do organizations or businesses really want to find out?
· What are the processes that need to be followed to chase the idea?
· What are the arguments that need to be built around a concept?
· What is the evidence that will be required for people to believe in the idea or concept?
Characteristics of research
1. A systematic approach must be followed for accurate data. Rules and procedures are an integral part of the process that set the objective. Researchers need to practice ethics and a code of conduct while making observations or drawing conclusions.
2. Research is based on logical reasoning and involves both inductive and deductive methods.
3. The data or knowledge that is derived is in real time from actual observations in natural settings.
4. There is an in-depth analysis of all data collected so that there are no anomalies associated with it.
5. Research creates a path for generating new questions. Existing data helps create more opportunities for research.
6. Research is analytical in nature. It makes use of all the available data so that there is no ambiguity in inference.
7. Accuracy is one of the most important aspects of research. The information that is obtained should be accurate and true to its nature. For example, laboratories provide a controlled environment to collect data. Accuracy is measured in the instruments used, the calibrations of instruments or tools, and the final result of the experiment.
Following are the types of research methods:
Basic research: A basic research definition is data collected to enhance knowledge. The main motivation is knowledge expansion. It is a non-commercial research that doesn’t facilitate in creating or inventing anything. For example: an experiment to determine a simple fact.
Applied research: Applied research focuses on analyzing and solving real-life problems. This type refers to the study that helps solve practical problems using scientific methods. Studies play an important role in solving issues that impact the overall well-being of humans. For example: finding a specific cure for a disease.
Problem oriented research: As the name suggests, problem-oriented research is conducted to understand the exact nature of a problem to find out relevant solutions. The term “problem” refers to multiple choices or issues when analyzing a situation.
For example, revenue of a car company has decreased by 12% in the last year. The following could be the probable causes: there is no optimum production, poor quality of a product, no advertising, or economic conditions.
Problem solving research: This type of research is conducted by companies to understand and resolve their own problems. The problem-solving method uses applied research to find solutions to the existing problems.
Qualitative research: Qualitative research is a process that is about inquiry. It helps create in-depth understanding of problems or issues in their natural settings. This is a non-statistical method.
Qualitative research is heavily dependent on the experience of the researchers and the questions used to probe the sample. The sample size is usually restricted to 6-10 people. Open-ended questions are asked in a manner that encourages answers that lead to another question or group of questions. The purpose of asking open-ended questions is to gather as much information as possible from the sample.
The following are the methods used for qualitative research:
1. One-to-one interview
2. Focus groups
3. Ethnographic research
4. Content/Text Analysis
5. Case study research
Quantitative research: Qualitative research is a structured way of collecting data and analyzing it to draw conclusions. Unlike qualitative methods, this method uses a computational and statistical process to collect and analyze data. Quantitative data is all about numbers. Quantitative research involves a larger population — more people means more data. With more data to analyze, you can obtain more accurate results. This method uses close-ended questions because the researchers are typically looking to gather statistical data. Online surveys, questionnaires, and polls are preferable data collection tools used in quantitative research. There are various methods of deploying surveys or questionnaires. Online surveys allow survey creators to reach large amounts of people or smaller focus groups for different types of research that meet different goals. Survey respondents can receive surveys on mobile phones, in emails, or can simply use the internet to access surveys.
There are three purposes of research:
1. Exploratory:As the name suggests, exploratory research is conducted to explore a group of questions. The answers and analytics may not offer a final conclusion to the perceived problem. It is conducted to handle new problem areas which haven’t been explored before. This exploratory process lays the foundation for more conclusive research and data collection.
2. Descriptive: Descriptive research focuses on expanding knowledge on current issues through a process of data collection. Descriptive studies are used to describe the behavior of a sample population. In a descriptive study, only one variable is required to conduct the study. The three main purposes of descriptive research are describing, explaining, and validating the findings. For example, a study conducted to know if top-level management leaders in the 21st century possess the moral right to receive a huge sum of money from the company profit.
3. Explanatory: Explanatory research or causal research is conducted to understand the impact of certain changes in existing standard procedures. Conducting experiments is the most popular form of casual research. For example, a study conducted to understand the effect of rebranding on customer loyalty.
To understand the characteristic of research design using research purpose here is a comparative analysis:
| Exploratory Research | Descriptive Research | Explanatory Research |
Research approach used | Unstructured | Structured | Highly structured |
Research conducted through | Asking research questions | Asking research questions | By using research hypotheses. |
When is it conducted? | Early stages of decision making | Later stages of decision making | Later stages of decision making |
Qualitative Methods
Qualitative research is a method that collects data using conversational methods. Participants are asked open-ended questions. The responses collected are essentially non-numerical. This method not only helps a researcher understand what participants think but also why they think in a particular way.
Types of qualitative methods include:
· One-to-one Interview: This interview is conducted with one participant at a given point in time. One-to-one interviews need a researcher to prepare questions in advance. The researcher asks only the most important questions to the participant. This type of interview lasts anywhere between 20 minutes to half an hour. During this time the researcher collects as many meaningful answers as possible from the participants to draw inferences.
· Focus Groups: Focus groups are small groups comprising of around 6-10 participants who are usually experts in the subject matter. A moderator is assigned to a focus group who facilitates the discussion amongst the group members. A moderator’s experience in conducting the focus group plays an important role. An experienced moderator can probe the participants by asking the correct questions that will help them collect a sizable amount of information related to the research.
· Ethnographic Research: Ethnographic research is an in-depth form of research where people are observed in their natural environment without this method is demanding due to the necessity of a researcher entering a natural environment of other people. Geographic locations can be a constraint as well. Instead of conducting interviews, a researcher experiences the normal setting and daily life of a group of people.
· Text Analysis: Text analysis is a little different from other qualitative methods as it is used to analyze social constructs by decoding words through any available form of documentation. The researcher studies and understands the context in which the documents are written and then tries to draw meaningful inferences from it. Researchers today follow activities on a social media platform to try and understand patterns of thoughts.
· Case Study: Case study research is used to study an organization or an entity. This method is one of the most valuable options for modern this type of research is used in fields like the education sector, philosophical studies, and psychological studies. This method involves a deep dive into ongoing research and collecting data.
Question # 03
In which areas, educational research should be done in Pakistan? Discuss in detail.
Answer:
Since the time of the Revolution, education has been an important part of the American ethos. When Europeans claimed that the social fabric would disintegrate without a king, the founders of the Republic argued that an educated citizenry would hold the polity together. A century later, as waves of newcomers filled the land, schooling was promoted as the way to make them Americans, to knit together a nation of immigrants. Now, two centuries later, the United States is in the midst of fundamental transitions: it can no longer dominate the world politically or economically as it did in the 35 years after World War II; industrial production is migrating overseas, changing the nature—and the intellectual and technical demands—of the contemporary workplace; the concentration of poverty and disadvantage that characterizes large cities has become an intransigent problem. Once again, education is at the top of the national political agenda. Every state has mandated reforms and countless local programs and alliances have initiated efforts for improvements. Because education holds so central a place in the nation, education reform efforts in the United States have been almost continuous. These efforts have been based on passion, conviction, and, occasionally, research. Almost all have been declared a success by at least some people. And indisputable progress has been made in terms of school attendance, years of schooling, levels of literacy, and the quality of classrooms and equipment. Yet, as the twentieth century ends, few people are fully satisfied with the condition of education in the United States. Many individuals and institutions have been involved in school reform. From the great education reformers of the nineteenth century—Horace Mann in the 1840s, John Dewey in the 1890s—to the major philanthropies in the twentieth century—the Carnegie, Spencer, and Ford Foundations and the Julius Rosenwald Fund (which built schools all over the South) the idea of improving education in order to improve society has been a powerful force. Since the 1850s, when the principle of state-supported schools for all children triumphed in most parts of the country, state and local governments have played a central role in the governance of what rapidly became “school systems.” In successive waves of reformist sentiment, schools have been used as the instrument for shaping a rural populace into an increasingly urban and industrial one. Each reform attempt is an exercise in optimism and creativity. Reform efforts require considerable energy and commitment. They also require financial resources and longtime horizons. The dynamism and ferment that characterize education reform efforts in the United States have led to significant change and progress on many fronts. But the country has undergone even greater change, with the consequence that public frustration with the quality of education in the United States has been as constant as reform efforts. Research is one of the most important tools society has for ensuring that government policies and practices are thoughtful and effective. Research has, for example, been a potent force for improved public health: because of advances in biomedical research that produced the polio vaccine, public health officials could confidently inoculate the entire youth population with a live virus. So axiomatic is the profitability of research in agriculture that one of the nation’s foremost seed companies was willing to invest 40 years of effort in the development of a seedless watermelon. In education, however, the potential of research has not been realized. The sheer complexity of the enterprise has been a factor, as have underinvestment, lack of focus, and the difficulties of translating research results for practical ends. Complexity
Education in the United States is an extraordinarily complex, dynamic system, which has to continually adapt to changes in the society. More centralized systems or more traditional societies, or simply smaller countries, present more manageable challenges for designing education research, but in any setting, it must deal with the behavior and development of individual students, group dynamics of the classroom, and institutional change of school systems—all in the context of the evolving needs of the society. Research in education examines an ever-changing process, without end and without final answers. Yet good research can often make the difference between adaptations that improve the educational process and those that don’t.
Underinvestment
The federal government has made major investments in research in many fields in the last half century. As a result, medical treatment, defense, agriculture, space exploration, technology, and other social goods have made important progress. Although between 60 and 75 percent of support for education research comes from the federal government; that represents less than 1 percent of federal spending on education. And the dollar amount pales when compared with federal support of medical, defense, or even agricultural research. From another view, although education for kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) costs close to $340 billion per year (U.S. Department of Education, 1997), virtually no state funding supports education research. In short, the nation has made an enormous social investment in education with relatively little reflection, scientific rigor, or quality control.
Lack of Focus
Past investments in education research can only be described as diffuse. K-12 schooling in the United States is such a vast enterprise and takes place in such diverse settings that letting” a thousand flowers bloom” in education research appeared to
be a sensible, responsive approach. The federal bodies that set priorities for education research have tended to frame their agendas very broadly. The foundations and agencies that fund research have encouraged and supported an extremely wide spectrum of research and development activities. This approach has resulted in innovative studies, fascinating findings, and isolated success stories, but it has not had the widespread effects on student learning that would create demand for the fruits of research. The National Research Council’s recent assessment of the federal role in supporting education research concluded that the agencies responsible for education research have spread their limited resources “so thinly that mediocrity was almost assured.
Difficulties of Translating Research
Because educational practice in the United States is controlled at the local, indeed, the classroom level, the challenge of incorporating even the strongest research findings into over a million classrooms is daunting. It is not that most people who are involved in helping children learn do not want to do a better job. Parents and teachers want their children to succeed. Policy makers and administrators want to improve the performance of their schools. Curriculum developers and entrepreneurs want to develop new ideas and provide new products. But few of these people have access to research findings, and there is no centralized system (such as exists in Japan or France) to convey the most important research knowledge and to systematically train practitioners in its application. Furthermore, the language of researchers is not the language of practitioners; there is a cultural divide that hampers accessibility, and the incentive structures in research universities tend not to reward researcher-practitioner interface. Therefore, improvement efforts, no matter how conscientious or well intentioned, are—and are likely to remain—hit-or-miss attempts.
Question # 04
Write a detailed note on applied research.
Answer:
Every research begins with a clear delineation of the purpose of the investigation as this goes a long way to determine the research process or methodology adopted. In this sense, a researcher may choose to carry out basic research or applied research.
Applied research is set on providing answers to specific questions in a bid to provide a solution to a defined problem. In this article, we will outline the features of this method of systematic investigation as well as how it differs from other approaches to research.
What is Applied Research?
Applied research is a type of research design that seeks to solve a specific problem or provide innovative solutions to issues affecting an individual, group, or society. It is often referred to as a scientific method of inquiry or contractual research because it involves the practical application of scientific methods to everyday problems.
When conducting applied research, the researcher takes extra care to identify a problem, develop a research hypothesis and goes ahead to test these hypotheses via an experiment. In many cases, this research approach employs empirical methods to solve practical problems.
Applied research is sometimes considered to be a non-systematic inquiry because of its direct approach in seeking a solution to a problem. It is typically a follow-up research design that further investigates the findings of pure or basic research to validate these findings and apply them to create innovative solutions.
Types of Applied Research
There are 3 types of applied research. These are evaluation research, research and development, and action research.
· Evaluation Research
Evaluation research is a type of applied research that analyses existing information about a research subject to arrive at objective research outcomes or reach informed decisions. This type of applied research is mostly applied in business contexts, for example, an organization may adopt evaluation research to determine how to cut down overhead costs.
· Research and Development
Research and development is a type of applied research that is focused on developing new products and services based on the needs of target markets. It focuses on gathering information about marketing needs and finding ways to improve on an existing product or create new products that satisfy the identified needs.
· Action Research
Action research is a type of applied research that is set on providing practical solutions to specific business problems by pointing the business in the right directions. Typically, action research is a process of reflective inquiry that is limited to specific contexts and situational in nature.
Examples of Applied Research
Applied research is relevant in different fields of study; especially science and social science-related fields. Examples of applied research can be seen in medicine, education, business, engineering, psychology and health, and these would be further explicated below.
Applied Research Example in Business
Applied research is used in business to build knowledge and develop product solutions. It enables organizations to identify the peculiar needs of target markets, and this would help them to create different business strategies that would allow them to satisfy these needs.
In addition, conducting contractual research would help business owners to get insightful feedback on product gaps that may have, otherwise, been ignored. This is a great way to get first-hand information on target market reactions which can inform brand decisions.
Applied research also helps employers of labor to identify and address the productivity needs of their workforce. For instance, an organization may carry out applied research to measure the effectiveness of its recruitment practices or of its organizational structure.
Examples
1. Applied research to improve an organization’s hiring process.
2. Applied research to improve workplace efficiency and organizational policies.
3. Applied research to bridge skill gaps in the workplace.
Applied Research Examples in Education
In education, applied research is used to test pedagogic processes in order to discover the best teaching and learning methods. It is also used to test educational policies before implementation and to address different issues associated with teaching paradigms and classroom dynamics for a better learning experience.
Educational applied research attempts solving a problem by gathering data from primary sources using a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. This data serves as empirical evidence which is then subjected to rigorous analysis and description in order to arrive at valid conclusions.
The goal of this research methodology is to determine the applicability of educational theory and principles by way of subjecting hypotheses to experimentation within specific settings. Applied research in education is also more utilitarian as it gathers practical evidence that can inform pragmatic solutions to problems.
Characteristics of Applied Research in Education
1. It clearly highlights generalizations and hypotheses that inform the research findings.
2. It relies on empirical evidence.
3. It is set at providing solutions to a defined problem.
4. It requires accurate observation and description.
Examples
1. A study into the way to improve teacher-learner classroom engagements.
2. A study into the way to improve a school's readiness for its students.
3. A study to build students' interests in Mathematics.
Applied Research Example in Science
In itself, applied research is a scientific method of investigation because it applies existing scientific knowledge to practical situations. It is useful in different fields including thermodynamics, physics, material sciences and microbiology.
Examples of applied research in science include the following:
Examples
1. Applied research to improve agricultural crop production
2. Applied research to treat or cure a specific disease.
Applied Research Examples in Psychology
There are different reasons psychologists would make use of applied research in the course of their work. In many cases, industrial psychologists concerned with workplace behavior, human resources and organizational development combine psychological principles with applied research to proffer solutions.
Examples of applied research in psychology include:
1. Applied research to improve workplace commitment by arriving at practical worker-motivation strategies.
2. Investigating treatment and management options for anxiety and panic attacks.
3. Investigating factors that improve worker's productivity.
Applied Research Example in Health
In health and medical sciences, applied research serves as the background to evidence-based and solution-oriented medicine. It effectively merges scientific knowledge and methods with health experiences in order to arrive at accurate and verifiable results, using empirical research data or evidence.
The adaptation of applied research to medicine is referred to as applied clinical research. Many health and medical practitioners use applied research to measure the extent to which the findings of basic or pure research can be adopted or modified into a solution-oriented approach.
Examples of applied research in health include:
1. An investigation to identify the healing properties of a specific herb.
2. An investigation to identify the side effects of using a particular drug.
APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS
Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods are used in applied research to gather empirical evidence that is further subjected to experimentation in order to arrive at valid research outcomes. The following are data collection methods in applied research:
· Interviews
An interview is a qualitative method of data collection that involves having a one-on-one interaction or discussion with the research subjects in order to gather relevant information that can serve as empirical data. It can be conducted with the use of an audio recorder, digital camera or camcorder.
Even though it is time-consuming and expensive, interviews allow the researcher to gather the most relevant data which gives him or her in-depth knowledge about the research subjects. An interview may be structured, semi-structured or unstructured, depending on the research purpose.
· Surveys/Questionnaires
A questionnaire is an instrument that is typically used for quantitative data gathering. It outlines a series of questions relating to the research context and requires the research subjects to choose or provide responses that reflect their knowledge and experiences.
· Data Reporting
The process of gathering useful information about a research subject which can be used for further research. This can be done through not-for-profit reports, newspapers, website articles and hospital records.
It helps you gather relevant data that results in more insightful decisions. However, it is susceptible to bias because the information can easily be exaggerated by the individual or group collecting the data.
· Observation
A type of data gathering method in applied research that requires the researcher to pay close attention to a subject (s) in order to gather useful information about it. Although bias may arise with this method, observation is widely considered as a universally accepted research practice.
Observation helps the researcher to gather empirical data and thus, it is the starting point for the formulation of a hypothesis. There are different techniques for observation including complete observer, complete participant, participant as observer and observer as participant.
· Focus Groups
A focus group is a type of qualitative data collection process that allows the researcher to gather information about the disposition, feelings and opinions of the research subjects about a specific issue.
Here, the researcher engages a group comprising 6-10 individuals with a range of open-ended questions with the aim of gathering feedback about their emotional disposition to the issue at hand. This method is cost-effective compared to one-on-one interviews, and the information obtained is insightful and detailed.
How is Applied Research Different from Basic Research?
Applied research and basic research are common methods of inquiry, based on purpose or utility. However, there are key differences between these 2 research approaches, and these would be clearly outlined below:
· Definition
Applied research is a type of research that is aimed at the practical application of science to solve practical problems. On the other hand, basic research is a type of research that is aimed at expanding knowledge rather than solving problems.
· Approach
Basic research is theoretical in nature while applied research is practical and descriptive in nature. Basic research explores and generates theories that may be abstract while applied research tests these theories in order to solve a problem.
· Scope
Basic research is universal while applied research is limited. Basic research can focus on diverse or multiple contexts while applied research focuses on specific contexts with the aim of providing a solution to an identified problem.
· Focus
Applied research is focused on providing answers or solutions to a specific research question while basic research focuses on multiple concepts at the same time in its quest to expand knowledge.
· Applied research pays attention to external validity while basic research is more focused on internal validity.
Characteristics of Applied Research
1. Applied research is solution-specific, and it addresses practical problems. Unlike basic research that is aimed at theorizing and expanding knowledge, applied research focuses on addressing a particular problem using a range of science-based approaches.
2. Applied research is descriptive in nature as it arrives at solutions by experimenting on empirical evidence and describing research outcomes.
3. Usually, applied research tests theories arrived at by pure research in order to determine the usefulness of these theories in solving practical problems.
4. It describes the relationship between research variables by measuring the characteristics of dependent and independent variables.
5. Applied research relies on empirical evidence in order to arrive at valid research outcomes.
6. It is not theoretical, and it is not directly concerned with the expansion of knowledge.
7. Applied research is synthetic in nature.
8. It is aimed at the cost-effective reduction of social problems.
9. Applied research is action oriented.
Advantages of Applied Research
1. Validity: Applied research is unbiased in nature because it tests empirical evidence to arrive at valid research outcomes. It employs carefully mapped-out procedures, and this makes it a more valid research approach.
2. It is useful in solving specific problems. It helps individuals and organizations to find solutions to specific problems.
Disadvantages of Applied Research
1. It is not flexible in nature as it is restricted to a stipulated deadline.
2. Applied research is limited in nature and it cannot be generalized. In other words, the findings from applied research cannot be generalized.
Conclusion
Applied research is an important research approach because it helps organizations to arrive at practical solutions to specific problems while improving their productivity and output. Unlike basic research that focuses on generating theories that explain phenomena, applied research pays attention to describing empirical evidence with the aim of providing solutions.
In carrying out applied research, the researcher combines several qualitative and quantitative data-gathering methods including questionnaires, observation methods, and interviews. This helps the researcher to gather empirical evidence that is then subjected to experimentation depending on the type of applied research and the overall focus.
Question # 05
Write in detail the type of research that inspires you the most and why?
Answer:
Research is how individuals and businesses collect and analyze data. Accurate and relevant research guides key business decisions, including marketing plans, staffing decisions and expansions. Determining what data is most useful for your goals and finding the most effective ways to obtain it can help your company make successful long-term decisions.
In this question, we discuss 19 different types of research and we provide you with examples so you can choose the methodology that works best for your goals.
What are types of research?
Types of research are the different methodologies used to conduct research. Based on research goals, timelines and purposes, different types of research are better suited for certain studies. The first part of designing research is to determine what you want to study and what your goals are. For example, you may simply want to learn more about a topic, or you may want to try to determine how a new policy will affect lower-level employees at your company.
Different types of research studies are useful across industries and fields, including:
· Biology, chemistry, and other science-related fields
· Government offices and agencies
· Education
· Business
19 types of research:
Here are 19 different types of research you may consider as you design your research methodology:
Fundamental research:
Fundamental, or basic, research is designed to help researchers better understand certain phenomena in the world; it looks at how things work. This research attempts to broaden your understanding and expand scientific theories and explanations. For example, fundamental research could include a company's study of how different product placements affect product sales. This study provides information and is knowledge-based.
Applied research:
Applied research is designed to identify solutions to specific problems or find answers to specific questions. The research is meant to offer knowledge that is applicable and implementable. For instance, applied research may include a study on ways to increase student involvement in the classroom. This research focuses on a defined problem and is solution-based.
Fundamental and applied research are the two main research categories. Most research can be defined as fundamental or applied, depending on the goals of the study.
Qualitative research
Qualitative research involves nonnumerical data, such as opinions and literature. Examples of qualitative data may include:
· Focus groups
· Surveys
· Participant comments
· Observations
· Interviews
Businesses often use qualitative research to determine consumer opinions and reactions. For instance, a marketing organization may present a new commercial to a focus group before airing it publicly to receive feedback. The company collects nonnumerical data—the opinions of the focus group participants—to make decisions.
Quantitative research:
Quantitative research depends on numerical data, such as statistics and measurements. For example, a car manufacturer may compare the number of sales of red sedans compared to white sedans. The research uses objective data—the sales figures for red and white sedans—to draw conclusions.
Mixed research:
Mixed research includes both qualitative and quantitative data. Consider the car manufacturer comparing sedan sales. The company could also ask car buyers to complete a survey after buying a red or white sedan that asks how much the color impacted their decision and other opinion-based questions.
Exploratory research:
Exploratory research is designed to examine what is already known about a topic and what additional information may be relevant. It rarely answers a specific question, but rather presents the foundational knowledge of a subject as a precursor to additional research. Often, exploratory research applies to lesser-known issues and phenomena.
For instance, you may consider what is currently known about the success of year-long maternity and paternity leave programs. This research can include gathering all relevant information and compiling it together in an accessible format that has not been available previously. Your research may reveal gaps in information, leading to additional studies in the future.
Longitudinal research:
Longitudinal research focuses on how certain measurements change over time without manipulating any variables. For instance, a researcher may examine if and how employee satisfaction changes in the same employees after one year, three years and five years with the same company.
Cross-sectional research:
Cross-sectional research studies a group or subgroup at one point in time. Participants are generally chosen based on certain shared characteristics, such as age, gender or income, and researchers examine the similarities and differences within groups and between groups. The group is often used as a representation of a larger population. Like longitudinal research, researchers observe participants without altering variables.
For example, a company may research the sales techniques of its top 10% of salespeople and compare them to the techniques used by its bottom 10% of salespeople. This can help provide the company insights into the most successful and least successful sales methods.
Field research:
Field research takes place wherever the participants or subjects are, or "on location." This type of research requires onsite observation and data collection. For instance, a manufacturing plant may hire an environmental engineering firm to test the air quality at the plant to ensure it complies with all health and safety requirements. The researchers would travel to the plant to collect samples.
Laboratory research:
Laboratory research takes place in a controlled laboratory setting rather than in the field. Often, the study demands strict adherence to certain conditions, such as elimination of variables or timing conditions. Laboratory research includes chemical experimentation and pharmacological research.
Fixed research:
Fixed research involves experiment procedures that are determined ahead of time, such as how often testing will take place, where testing will take place, number of subjects and types of subjects. The research depends on precise conditions and compliance with predetermined protocols to reduce variables. Generally, fixed research is more reliable and replicable than flexible research.
Experimentation is often fixed research. For example, a researcher may test how different labels affect consumers' ratings of a sports drink. The researcher must try to control all other variables that may affect how the participants rate the drink, except the label. Participants are given the same drink with different labels at the same time and take a survey about taste and overall impressions. The timing of giving each drink and the subsequent surveys are critical to the validity of the study.
Flexible research:
Flexible research allows procedures to change throughout the course of the experiment. The different types of flexible research include:
Case studies: Case studies are in-depth analyses and observations about a specific individual or subject.
Ethnographic studies: Ethnographic studies are in-depth analyses and observations about a group of people.
Grounded theory studies: Grounded theory studies are designed to develop theories based on carefully collected and analyzed data.
Action research:
Action research refers to the process of examining your actions, assessing their effectiveness in bringing about the desired outcome and choosing a course of action based on your results. Action research is typically used in educational settings for teachers and principals to perform a type of self-assessment and course correction.
For instance, a teacher may collect data about their methods of teaching fifth-grade math. At the end of the first school quarter, the teacher may discover only a third of the students demonstrated proficiency in the concepts. As a result, the teacher implements new methods in her fifth-grade math class for the second quarter.
Policy research
Policy research is designed to examine the effects of current government or social policies or predict the potential effects of proposed policies as those effects relate to the distribution or redistribution of resources. Policy researchers often work within government agencies and conduct the following types of studies:
· Cost analysis
· Cost-benefit analysis
· Program evaluation
· Needs analysis
· Classification research
Classification research seeks to identify and classify individual elements of a group into larger groups or subgroups. For example, biologists research animals and place them in defined categories based on shared characteristics, such as:
· Body segmentation
· Type of habitat
· Reproductive methods
· Diet
· Comparative research
Comparative research is designed to identify similarities and differences between two individuals, subjects or groups. For instance, an owner may review new hire training documentation and discover that new employees are receiving much of the same training at orientation and their initial departmental training. The owner may decide to incorporate all of the similar training into orientation documents to allow more time for department-specific training.
Causal research:
Causal research, also called explanatory research, seeks to determine cause and effect relationships between variables. This research is designed to identify how much one variable may cause a change in the other. Causal research is important for evaluating current processes and procedures and determining if and how changes should take place.
For instance, a business may study employee retention rates before and after instituting a work-from-home policy after six months of employment to see if this policy increases employee retention.
Inductive research:
Inductive research, also known as theory-building research, is designed to collect data that may help develop a new theory about a process or phenomenon. This type of research examines observations and patterns and offers several hypotheses to explain these patterns. Inductive research moves from the specific to the general.
Inductive research is often the first step in theory generation and may lead to additional research, such as deductive research, to further test possible hypotheses.
For example, researchers may observe that the year 12 international corporations enacted in-house carbon emissions standards, worldwide emissions declined. The researchers may theorize that worldwide emissions can be reduced significantly if international corporations impose in-house emissions standards.
Deductive research:
Deductive, or theory-testing, research is the opposite of inductive research and moves from the broad to the specific. Researchers choose a hypothesis and test its accuracy through experimentation or observation.
Consider the previous example of emissions standards in international corporations. The deductive approach to this hypothesis is conducting research that compares global emissions levels before and after international companies enact emissions standards.
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