Nature and Meaning of Research
In the modern complex world, every society today is faced with serious social, economic, and political problems. These problems need systematic, intelligent, and practical solutions. Problem-solving is a technical process. It requires the accumulation of new knowledge. Research provides the means for accumulating knowledge and wisdom. In other words, research is a systematic effort of gathering analysis and interpretation of problems confronted by humanity. It is a thinking process and scientific method of studying a problem and finding a solution. It is an in-depth analysis based on reflective thinking.
Definitions
Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge. One can also define research as a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. Research is an academic activity, and the term should be used in a technical sense.
William Emory " any organized inquiry designed and carried out to provide information for solving a problem."
Redman and Morry " a systematized effort to gain new knowledge
."
Characteristics of Research
> Research is a systematic and critical investigation into a phenomenon
> It is no mere compilation of facts
> It is objective and logical
> It is based on empirical evidence
> Research is directed towards finding answers to questions and solutions to problems.
> It emphasizes the generalization theories and principles.
Objectives of Research
* to gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it.
* to portray the characteristics of a particular individual situation or a group accurately.
* To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else.
* to test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables.
Motivations in Research
1. Desire to get a research degree along with its benefits.
2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problem.
3. Desire to get intellectual joy from doing some creative work.
4. Desire to be of service to society.
5. Desire to get respectability.
Importance of Research
Research has an important role in guiding social plans. Knowledge of the society and the cultural behavior of the people require proper planning for their good development. Because knowledge and cultural behavior of human beings are interdependent. Reliable knowledge is needed for planning, and this is possible only through research.
* knowledge is a kind of power with which one can face the implication of a particular phenomenon.
* research provides the basis for all government policies in our economic system.
* research helps us in making predictions.
* research is equally important in seeking answers to various social problems.
In addition to this, the significance of research can be understood with the following points.
+ To the students who are to write a Ph.D.: it is careerism.
+ To professionals in research methodology: research means a source of individuals.
+ To philosophers and thinkers, research may mean the outlet for new ideas and insights.
+ To literary man, research means the development of new styles and creative work.
+ To the intellectuals, research mean the generalization of new theories.
Research begins by asking the right questions and choosing an appropriate method to investigate the problem. After collecting answers to your questions, you can analyze the findings or observations to draw reasonable conclusions.
Research is conducted to evaluate the validity of a hypothesis or an interpretive framework: to assemble a body of substantive knowledge and findings, share them in inappropriate manners, and generate questions for further inquiries.
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