THE NATURE OF RESEARCH

THE SUMMARY NATURE OF RESEARCH

A.     DEFINITION

As per the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the word research is derived from the Middle French "recherche", which means "to go about seeking"

A broad definition of research is given by Martyn Shuttleworth - "In the broadest sense of the word, the definition of research includes any gathering of data, information and facts for the advancement of knowledge.”

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines research in more detail as "a studious inquiry or examination; especially  : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws".

Research is systematic attempt to provide answers to question. (Bruce W. Tuckman)

Research is systematic process of enquiry which has a certain amount of rigour and is governed by certain guidelines. This process seeks to make known something about a field of practice or activity which is currently unknown to the researcher. (Brown & Dowling, 1998; Hitch cock & Hughes 1989)

Another definition of research is given by Creswell who states - "Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue". It consists of three steps: Pose a question, collect data to answer the question, and present an answer to the question.

From several definition bellow, we can take the conclusion, research is te systematic investigation into and study of materials in order to establish facts and reach new conclusion.

B.      CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS.

According to Gulnaz Ahmad in his blog, the characteristic of research, there are;

1. Reliability is a subjective term which cannot be measured precisely but today there are instruments which can estimate the reliability of any research. Reliability is the repeatability of any research, research instrument, tool or procedure. If any research yields similar results each time it is undertaken with similar population and with similar procedures, it is called to be a reliable research. Suppose a research is conducted on the effects of separation between parents on class performance of the children. If the results conclude that separation causes low grades in class, these results should have to be reliable for another sample taken from similar population. More the results are similar; more reliability is present in the research.

2. Validity is the strength with which we can call a research conclusions, assumptions or propositions true or false. Validity determines the applicability of research . Validity of the research instrument can be defined as the suitability of the research instrument to the research problem or how accurately the instrument measures the problem. Some researchers say that validity and reliability are co-related but validity is much more important than reliability. Without validity research goes in the wrong direction. To keep the research on-track define your concepts in the best possible manner so that no error occur during measurement.
3. Accuracy is also the degree to which each research process, instrument and tool is related to each other. Accuracy also measures whether research tools have been selected in best possible manner and research procedures suits the research problem or not. For example if a research has to be conducted on the trans-gender people, several data collection tools can be used depending on the research problems but if you find that population less cooperative the best way is to observe them rather than submitting questionnaire because in questionnaire either they will give biased responses or they will not return the questionnaires at all. So choosing the best data collection tool improves the accuracy of research.
4. Credibility comes with the use of best source of information and best procedures in research. If you are using second-hand information in your research due to any reason your research might complete in less time but its credibility will be at stake because secondary data has been manipulated by human beings and is therefore not very valid to use in research. A certain percentage of secondary data can be used if primary source is not available but basing a research completely on secondary data when primary data can be gathered is least credible. When researcher give accurate references in research the credibility of research increases but fake references also decrease the credibility of research.
5. Generalizability is the extent to which a research findings can be applied to larger population. When a researcher conducts a study he/she chooses a target population and from this population he takes a small sample to conduct the research. This sample is representative of the whole population so the findings should also be. If research findings can be applied to any sample from the population, the results of the research are said to be generalizable.
6. Empirical nature of research means that the research has been conducted following rigorous scientific methods and procedures. Each step in the research has been tested for accuracy and is based on real life experiences. Quantitative research is more easy to prove scientifically than qualitative research. In qualitative research biases and prejudice are easy to occur.
7. Systematic approach is the only approach for research. No research can be conducted haphazardly. Each step must follow other. There are set of procedures that have been tested over a period of time and are thus suitable to use in research. Each research therefore should follow a procedure.
8. Controlled-in real life experience there are many factors that effect an outcome. A single event is often result of several factors. When similar event is tested in research, due to the broader nature of factors that effect that event, some factors are taken as controlled factors while others are tested for possible effect. The controlled factors or variables should have to be controlled rigorously. In pure sciences it is very easy to control such elements because experiments are conducted in laboratory but in social sciences it becomes difficult to control these factors because of the nature of research.

Why Research is Needed?

à     Asked to investigate an area which we may need more detailed knowledge

à     learning how others in your field use primary and secondary resources

à     entering the discourse of other writers and scholars in your field

à     formulating informed opinions through study of research findings

à     finding and understanding raw data and information

Why Research is Important?

à   to get the valid data

à   transferring research-based knowledge into practice

à   to produce knowledge that is applicable outside of the research setting

C.      STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS

According to Bruce W. Tuckman steps in the research process bellow that;

1.      Identifying a Problem

For a student, identifying a problem is the most difficult step in the research process. One must discover and define not only a problem area but also a specific problem within that area that one chooses to study.

2.      Constructing a Hypothesis

Once problem has been identified, the researcher often employs the logical processes of deduction and induction to formulate an expectation of the outcome of the study. That is, he or she conjectures or hypothesize about the relationship between the concepts identified in the problem.

3.      Reviewing the Literature

The selection of variables and construction of hypotheses draw heavily on significant work in the field preceding the study.

4.      Identifying and Labeling Variables

After formulating a hypothesis, the researcher must identify and label the variables both in the hypothesis and elsewhere in the study. The following five types of variables are outlined: independent, dependent, moderator, control, and interviewing.

5.      Constructing Operational Definitions

Since research is composed of a series of operations, it is necessary to convert variables from an abstract or conceptual form to an operational form. Operationalizing variables means stating them in an observable and measureable form, making them available for manipulation, control and examination. After establishing the need for operational definitions, methods for identification of variables and discusses the criteria used for construction of operational definitions.

6.      Manipulating and Controlling Variables

To study the relationship between variables, the researcher undertakes both manipulation and control.

7.      Constructing a Research Design

A research design is a specification of operations for the testing of a hypothesis under a given set of conditions.

8.      Identifying and Constructing Devices for Observation and Measurement

Once the researcher has operationally defined the variables in a study and chosen a design, he or she must adopt or construct devices for measuring selected variables.

9.      Constructing Questionnaires and Interview Schedules

Questionnaires and interviews are used by researchers to convert into data the information directly given by a person (subject). By providing access to what is ‘’inside a person’s head’’ these approaches make it possible to measure what a person knows (knowledge or information), what a person likes and dislikes (values and preferences), and what a person thinks (attitudes and beliefs). Questionnaires and interviews can also be used to discover what experiences have taken place (biography) and what in occurring at the present. This information can be transformed into numbers or quantitative data by using the attitude scaling or rating-scale techniques.

10.  Carrying Out Statistical Analyses

A researcher uses measuring devices to collect data in order to test hypotheses. Once data have been collected, they must be reduced by statistical analysis so that conclusions or generalizations can be drawn from them (that is, so that hypothesis can be tested).

11.  Using the Computer Data of Analysis

The computer is a useful tool for data analysis. Its efficient use requires that data be suitably rostered, that appropriate programs be identified, that programs be modified for their desired use, and that final print outs be interpreted.

12.  Writing a Research Report

The first we must know in this section is about Research Proposal. It is consists of two parts-an introduction and a method section. The preparation of the introductory section is described below. Depending upon the length of the section, subsection headings may or may not be used (for example, context of the problem, statement of the problem, review of the literature, statement of the hypotheses, rationale for the hypotheses, and so on).

13.  Conducting Classroom Research

Many researchers are themselves teachers, and much educational research is carried out in the classroom. Moreover, the classroom is the primary site in which school learning takes place.

14.  Conducting Evaluation Studies

While evaluation does not represent a discrete step in the research process, today’s educational researcher must have a clear conceptualization and grasp of it.

D.     TYPES OF RESEARCH

According to Prof. Dr. Suharsimi Arikunto there are many type of research from each category, there are;

A.     Research based on purpose:

1.      Exploratory research

Exploratory research is research to find effect or anything that give influence something happen.

2.      Research and Development

Research related with teaching process, observed, and making perfectible.

3.      Verifikative research

Verifikative research is research to correct the chance from last research.

B.      Research based on approach

1.      Longitudinal research

Longitudinal research is research to observed one object in a long time continuously.

2.      Cross-sectional research

Cross-sectional research is research to observed many object in a same time.

C.      Research based on science

 Educational research

Research who observed education for more specific is hygiene research, geography research, chemistry research, etc.

D.     Research based on place

As usually research held in laboratory, but now research also can do in library, family, society, factory, hospital, etc. Wherever you take place for your research is no problem, the important one is how you can get the goal of your research.

E.      Research based on variable

1.      Ex post facto research

Research of variable that have been happened before the research do. For example, teacher observe comparison of curriculum KTSP with last curriculum.

2.      This moment variable

Research that rise variable intentional  to give action for subject. During this observe researcher attention the process, because the goal of this research is know how the action to go on, and how the effect of the action. For example, teacher who usually gives speech method and discussion method, for this time she/he want to try discussion in a variation group. Each group responsible by one to another person as leader. The teacher  prepare plan to observe this action.

3.      Future variable

Research which create variable with intentional create variable, then observe accurately to know what the effects of this action.

According to Prof. Dr. Suharsimi Arikunto there are three way how doing research, there are;

1.      Description research is research purpose to investigate situation that the result explained to report of research form. There are five types of description research, they are survey research, correlation research, comparison research, tracer study, evaluation research.

2.      Action research is research held by someone who work about what he/she doing right now without changes system of process. For example, a teacher repair the way of teaching a topic. He/she write her/his result of research while try another way. If the way that he/she try is successful, the teacher satisfied and begin to use it the next time, but maybe he/she can try the other way that he/she think it can give the better result.

3.      Experimental research is research to find relation cause-effect between two factors that intentional appeared by researcher with eliminate or decrease the unimportant factor.

Type of Research according to Prof. Dr. Sugiyono;

A.     Research method based on purpose

1.      Basic research

Basic research is develop theory and not consider usefulness that direct practice. Basic research usually held in laboratory which the protective condition

2.      Applied research

Applied research is apply, test, and evaluate skill of a theory that apply to solve practice problem.

3.      Research and Development

Research and Development is research held to develop products that used to education and learning.

B.      Research method based on naturalistic and place of research

1.      Experimental research

Experimental research is research method used to find effect a treatment.

2.      Survey research

Survey research is research method used to get the data from a natural place.

3.      Naturalistic research

Naturalistic research is research method used to observe the natural place, researcher collect the data based on source of data, not from researcher analyzes.

C.      Quantitative and Qualitative Research

Quantitative research is the methodology of the positivist paradigm as scientific with analyzes data that use statistic.

Qualitative research is the methodology of the interpretive paradigm as artistic method with natural setting process.