Research - Meaning & Characteristics - Research Aptitude Notes

Meaning and Concept

According to John W. Best “research is considered to be the more formal, systematic intensive process of carrying on the scientific method of analyses. It involves a more systematic structure of investigation, usually resulting in some sort of formal record of procedure and a report of results or conclusions”. The meaning of research is totally confined inside the word RESEARCH. If we analyze letter by letter, we will get

R : Rational way of thinking
E : Expert and exhaustive
S : Search for solution
E : Exactness
A : Analytical analyses of adequate data
R : Relationships of facts
C : Careful recording, critical observation and constructive attitude
H : Honesty

Definition of Research 

• Redman and Mory define research as a "Systematic effort to gain new knowledge.
• According to Webster, "Research is a studious inquiry or examination, critical and exhaustive investigation or experimentation, having its aim for discovery of new facts and their correct interpretation
• .According to J W Best, "Research is considered to be the more formal, systematic, intensive process of carrying on the scientific methods of analysis. It involves a more systematic structure of investigation, usually resulting in some sort of formal record of procedures and report of results or conclusions." 
• According to John Creswell, "Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyse information to increase our understanding of a topic or an issue." 
• According to Morley, "Research is a process of arriving at dependable solutions to problems through the planned and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data."

Objectives of Research

Objectives are the goals that researchers aim to achieve in their studies. They communicate what the researcher intends to accomplish through their research work.

Categories of Research Objectives

• Theoretical Objectives: These objectives lead to the development of new theories and fundamental knowledge by investigating the relationship between different variables. 
• Factual Objectives: These objectives involve studies focused on discovering new facts.
• Application Objectives: These objectives propose applying existing theories to new situations.
• Variable Objectives: These objectives are philosophical in nature, where the end result is based on philosophy. 
• Practical Objectives: These objectives are classified as developmental research, and functional research is conducted to achieve them. 

Research objectives represent the outcomes that researchers seek to attain by the end of their research study. While each research study has its unique purpose, research objectives vary based on the desired achievements.

Characteristics of Research

1. Objectivity

• It means research is free of biases, prejudices and subjectivity.
• Researchers usually take utmost precautions that results are not affected by their own presence, behaviour and attitude.

The following Approaches can be adopted to ensure objectivity during research process:

• Keeping complete records of observations and data analyses in a form that other researchers can understand and evaluate.
• Using uniform, consistent procedures in all phases of data collection.
• Avoiding bias: Bias from external influences, personal beliefs, observers perspectives and human expectations can distort all data.

2. Credibility

• It is the use of best source of information and the best procedures in the research.
• The excessive reliance on secondary data when the option of primary data is available entails the risk of reducing the credibility of the research.

3. Generalizability

• It refers to the degree to which research findings can be applied to a large population.
• The sample considered is the representative of the whole population so the findings should also be applicable to the whole population.

4. Validity

• Validity is based on accuracy of research. Higher accuracy tends to high validity.
• The extent to which a test or study measures what it is supposed to measure.
• Validity generally stands for accuracy of procedures, research instruments, tests, etc.
• Without validity, research goes in the wrong direction.

There are two types of validity.
(i) Internal Validity

• If the effect of the dependent variable is only due to the independent variable(s) then internal validity is achieved.
• Internal validity is the extent to which you can be confident that a cause-and-effect relationship established in a study cannot be explained by other factors.
• Truth in the study
• Internal validity is called as credibility.

(ii) External Validity

•  It refers to the extent to which research findings study can be applied (generalized) to other situations, groups or events.
• Truth in real world
• External validity is called as Generalization.

5. Reliability

• The Degree to which research an investigation produces consistent and stable results.
• If any research produces similar results each time, then it is undertaken with similar population in the given context and with similar procedures, it is said to be a reliable research.

6. Systematic

• Research should be follow a sequence of steps.
• Systematic approach should be follow to undertake any research work

7. Accuracy

• Accuracy measures whether the research tools have been selected in the best possible manner and research procedures suit the research problem or not.
• Research findings are accurate by choosing best data collection tools, research processes, best appropriate sample.

8. Cyclical

• Research is a cyclical process because it starts with a problem and ends with a problem.

9. Empirical

• It is based on real-life experiences, direct experiences or observation by the researcher.
• It implies that research is related basically to one or more aspects of a real situation.

10. Logical

• A good research is logical, implies that research is guided by the rules of logical reasoning.
• Induction and deduction are of great value in research, which have been discussed under types of research.

11. Replicable

• If we receives same results with different condition, different method, then our research is replicable.
• The results of the research to be verified by replicating the study and thereby building a sound basis for decisions.