“Research can be defined as the search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, with an open mind, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method.” It may be characterized as “scientific,” “artistic,” “historical,” etc., depending upon the context and nature of the research. Two basic types of research are primary (involving the collection of new data) and secondary (involving the summary or synthesis of existing data). Some main approaches to research include those that are exploratory (“which structures and identifies new problems”), constructive (“which develops solutions to a problem”) and empirical (“which tests the feasibility of a solution using empirical evidence”). Research methods are frequently divided into qualitative methods (involving the “understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior”) and quantitative methods (involving the “systematic empirical investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships”) (Research, 2011).
Once you have determined the nature of the research and associated methods that you intend to use, you may develop a research proposal. A good research proposal will assist you in conducting your research and will establish a foundation for the analysis, interpretation and presentation of your data and results. Additional helpful resources are listed below.
Work Cited
- Research. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2011, from Wikipedia website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research
Scientific Research:
- Definition of Research and Scientific Research (at Experiment-Resources.com): <http://www.experiment-resources.com/definition-of-research.html>
- A Research Guide for Students and Teachers from the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry: <http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.esf.edu/outreach/sciencecorps/documents/ResearchGuide_NSFGK12.pdf&sa=U&ei=C–YUu-eItTmoASok4DgCg&ved=0CCIQFjAB&usg=AFQjCNGoc12jM6DlWNOy3h0YeqWp32G6Sw> [highly recommended]
Research Proposals:
- The Elements of a Proposal (by Frank Pajares, Emory University)
- Writing a Scientific Research Proposal (University of Connecticut Writing Center; PDF available at <www.writingcenter.uconn.edu/pdf/Research_Proposal_Writing.pdf>)
Online Video Resources on Research:
- Google & Wikipedia vs. ProQuest Research Tools (YouTube)
- Research (YouTube)
Online Resources on Qualitative Research:
- Research Methods in the Social Sciences: A Selective Bibliography: <http://library.wichita.edu/socsci/reseabib.htm>
- Techniques to Identify Themes in Qualitative Data: <http://www.analytictech.com/mb870/Readings/ryan-bernard_techniques_to_identify_themes_in.htm>
