Research Methods
Lesson 1
Introduction and Topic Selection
Session Objectives
By the end of the session students must be able to:
⚫ Define the concept of research
⚫ Explain the use of research.
⚫ Know the content of research methods course.
⚫ Describe sources of research topic and /or problems.
⚫ Explain principles/rules of selecting a research topic.
⚫ Explain characteristics of good research problem.
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Definition of Research
We all possess the instinct of inquisitiveness which makes us enquire when we
are faced by the unknown. This inquisitiveness is the mother of all knowledge
and the methods we can employ in obtaining knowledge of whatever the
unknown can generally be termed as research.
Therefore
Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information
(data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which
we are concerned or interested.
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Research involves the following:-
⚫ A systematic enquiry reported in a form that allows the research
methods and outcomes to be accessible to others
⚫ Concerned with seeking solutions to problems or answers to
meaningful questions
⚫ Meaningful questions are expressed in a way that indicates what
you will accept as an answer
⚫ Non-meaningful (in research terms) questions are not answerable
as a result of enquiry alone (eg judgemental or metaphysical
questions)
⚫ Inclination to a known paradigm/perspective .
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What Research Is Not!
⚫ Research is not information gathering:
⚫ Gathering information from resources such books or
magazines is not research.
⚫ No contribution to new knowledge.
⚫ Research is not the transportation of facts:
⚫ Merely transporting facts from one resource to
another does not constitute research.
⚫ No contribution to new knowledge although this
might make existing knowledge more accessible.
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Use of Research
Research is often considered to have 2 orientations:
Fundamental (basic or pure) and applied research.
1) Fundamental Research
⚫ Focuses on supporting theories about social sciences.
⚫ Source of most new ideas and theories.
⚫ Theory construction.
⚫ Builds ideas through cycles of research, replication, and
revision.
⚫ Produces most of the new methods in the discipline.
⚫ Testing ground for new methods and instruments.
⚫ Mostly performed and consumed by academics.
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Use of Research
2 Applied Research
⚫ Addresses a specific concern.
⚫ Usually sponsored by some agency or organization.
⚫ Specific to one situation, and its use by others often leads to
misinterpretation.
⚫ May be heavily influenced by its sponsors.
⚫ Mostly performed by govt. officials, think tanks, educational
institutions, private agencies, etc.
⚫ Mostly consumed by practitioners (lawyers, social workers,
teachers, etc).
⚫ Results may be used by several people outside of the
researcher.
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Research Topic
⚫ Research topic starts with an idea
⚫ Student should identify a research idea that catches his/her
interest
⚫ The question then is where do ideas come from?
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Research Topic
Sources of Research Ideas
✔ Personal experiences - challenging acceptable ideas
- review of existing practice.
✔ Previous research – research gaps
✔ Current social and policy issues – increasing rate of inflation.
✔ Related literature (theory) - theory serves as a source of
prediction and hypotheses.
✔ Deductions from theory
✔ Practical situations
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Research Topic…
Sources of Research Ideas
⚫ Keep abreast of daily events by listening to or watching the
news
⚫ Listen to other people’s opinions, but concentrate on your
own thoughts on what they believe
⚫ Read more especially semi-scientific literature.
⚫ Listen critically to others. What are people talking about?
What is happening? What are the current issues?
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Research Topic…
Sources of Research Ideas
The supervisor as a source:
⚫ A good supervisor is a scholar/researcher.
⚫ Has ideas on research topics that he/she has come across or
think about.
⚫ Can tell you where to start searching or reading.
⚫ Student as part of ongoing research programmes.
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Research Topic…
⚫ Research start by selecting research topic/ or problem.
⚫ Greatest challenge to any student.
⚫ The question is .” How do you decide on a research topic or
generate ideas suitable for research?” (check previous slides).
⚫ NB: (1) Final decision must be yours/researcher-
something you are enthusiastic about.
(2) Your research output is a lifetime product; so it
must interests you both today and tomorrow.
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Research Topic…
What motivates one to choose a certain topic?
⚫ To pursue postgraduate studies is important
✔ i.e. what do you want to be in the future?
⚫ A career in research or academia.
✔ Need a topic that will increase your exposure to particular field
of study, your knowledge of research methods and procedures
and the theoretical literature in a specific area.
⚫ To improve career options.
✔ (marketability, skills and knowledge) require students to choose
a subject that is of more relevance and value. E.g. directly
related to immediate working situation.
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Formulation of a Research Topic
⚫ Refers to an area of further investigation to the researcher. e.g.
Banking, public finance, Human resources, Finance, strategic
planning, marketing, etc.
Examples of topics;
❖ The role of good governance in local government finance.
❖ Housing crisis in Beitbridge as mortgage finance collapses.
❖ Challenges and opportunities in financing dairy new farmers
❖ Strategies for recapitalization of firms in Bulawayo.
▪ Research topics are shaped by the researcher basing also on the
statement of the problem.
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Rules in Choosing the Research Topic
⚫ Select a topic that is relevant to your own short-term and
medium career prospects.
⚫ Select a topic that you find intellectually stimulating and will
interest you for a number of years.
⚫ Select a topic that is researchable (complete it with the
available resources, time and at a level of scholarship that is
scientifically acceptable). Check time, money, information,
etc.
⚫ Avoid being too broad and ambitious.
⚫ Select a topic that you find interesting and worthwhile.
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Rules in Choosing a Topic
Further Considerations in Choosing a Topic
● A topic must be unique/sexy.
● Idea is to bring new insight to a situation.
● Topic must be related to the statement of the
problem/relevant to it.
● The topic should be brief but descriptive enough.
● Make sure that it is specific enough to tell the reader what
your study is all about
● Not addressing a felt need – it should be a real need.
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Guiding Questions in Choosing a Topic
⚫ Is there an existing problem that I can investigate in this study?
⚫ Will a solution to this problem make a real contribution to the
academic discourse?
⚫ If the problem is relevant to my work is it important enough to
contribute to the academic discourse in a wider context?
⚫ Can the topic be dealt with meaningfully within my field of study?
⚫ Does the topic provide me with a substantial intellectual challenge?
⚫ Does this topic interest me enough to devote much of my time and
precious energy to it?
⚫ Do I have some basic knowledge of the subject matter?
⚫ Have I always been interested in studying this topic but never had
enough time to study it in depth?
⚫ Is sufficient information available on the topic?
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Guiding Questions in Choosing a Topic…
⚫ Has other research been done on the topic and is it freely
available?
⚫ Has too much research been done on the topic or do some
questions in the field remain unanswered?
⚫ Can I approach this topic from a different perspective?
⚫ Is the topic perhaps too comprehensive or too limited?
⚫ Does the topic warrant scientific investigation?
⚫ Is it possible to say something new on the topic?
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Background of the Study
⚫ Is the part of research where in a particular topic is placed.
⚫ Contain the general description, and may include the broader
description of the topic.
⚫ The background of the study is longer than the problem statement
itself.
⚫ It explains the origins of the research topic, drawing on researcher’s
preliminary reading.
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Background of the Study…
• Compares what has been done already in the subject and
the way(s) in which the proposed project differ from earlier
work.
• Highlights major current opinions, debates or
interpretations concerning the subject chosen so as to avoid
duplicating an existing or outdated research.
• Demonstrates that a specific problem has been identified
and to show its relationship to the research.
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Background of the Study…
The background of the study should be:
• Directed specifically to the research topic and must
indicate the carefully documented views of experts;
• Well organized in a systematic fashion, according to topic,
date, perspective, or some other logical means;
• Able to establish the focus of researcher’s own research in
relation to prior scholarship;
• Detailed with relevant examples that illustrate how
researcher’s approach to the subject will clarify it; and
• Normal recommended length is around 3 to 5 pages.
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Problem Statement
What is a Research Problem?
⚫ A set of conditions/scenario needing discussion, a solution, or
information.
⚫ A research problem can be positive or negative.
⚫ Technically: implies the possibility of empirical/practical
investigation, that is, of data collection and analysis.
⚫ An ideal problem statement is around ¾ a page to 1 page.
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Formulating a Problem Statement
⚫ A problem statement consists of three parts: 1) the ideal
situation, 2) the reality, and 3) the consequences.
⚫ Problem statements convince your audience that the problem
is real and worthy a practical investigation/research.
⚫ The strategy of a problem statement is one of creating a
contrast; by situating the ideal scenario next to the situation
as it exists, which show that a problem exists, but also
emphasize the consequences of ignoring or not addressing
the problem.
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Formulating a Problem Statement...
STATEMENT 1 (description of the ideal scenario)
Describe the desired state, or the values that are considered important
and that are relevant to the problem.
(BUT) Connect statements 1 and 2 using a term such as "but," "however,"
“unfortunately," or "in spite of“.
STATEMENT 2 (The reality of the situation)
Describe conditions that prevent the goals discussed in statement 1 from
being achieved at the present moment/time.
STATEMENT 3 (The consequences)
Show how the situation in statement 2 contains little promise of
improvement unless something is done. Emphasize benefits of research as a
possible solution.
RESEARCH
Justify your research by describing the areas of inquiry which are necessary
that will lead to solutions of the problem.
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Example of a Problem Statement
Topic: Challenges in management of state university grants
Ideally, the mission of the Government University Grants Allocation Committee is dedicated
to allocating both university general funds money as well as a portion of the student fees and
welfare support. These funds are made available in order to enhance student life and the
out-of-class experience or improve the educational climate at all state universities
(statement 1). One of the main focuses of the committee is consistency. Unfortunately,
consistency in allocating funds to student organizations requires prior knowledge of previous
allocations and established practices. The current internal rotation system allows committee
members the ability to allocate funds, but in an extremely quick and subjective manner
which compromise consistency (statement 2). Continuing with this current rotation system
prevents consistency and causes decisions to become grossly political, which in turn inhibits
the committee of fully enhancing the out-of-class experience of the students at university
level nation-wide. Developing a more informed rotation system could allow the committee to
still fulfil the mission statement of the committee (statement 3). This study therefore tries
to explore options for a new internal rotation system that would focus on consistency. To do
this, the study will consult with representatives from two other big-ten universities to look at
how students are involved in the allocations decisions. The study will also survey existing
members of committee to find out preferences as well as how long it would take for each
member to familiarize themselves with student organizations (your research).
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