Purpose of research

Foundation Steps

8. Purpose of research

By Virginia Cano

Contents

1. Definitions of Research
2. Purposes of research
3. What do I need to remember?
4. Bibliography

1. Definitions of Research

Research is about finding out. It is about searching systematically for solutions to problems. It is about rules to guide your search. It is also about helping you to evaluate the research of others.

The term "research" has several meanings:

Research is a systematic, formal rigorous and precise process employed to gain solutions to problems and/or to discover and interpret new facts and relationships. (Waltz and Bausell, 1981, p.1).

Research is the process of looking for a specific answer to a specific question in an organized objective reliable way (Payton, 1979, p.4)

Research is systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relations among natural phenomena (Kerlinger, 1973, p.1).

2. Purposes of research

The function of research is to either create or test a theory. Research is the instrument used to test whether a theory is good or not. It is the process by which data is gathered to generate a theory or used to test a theory. There are different ways of conducting research. However any method you use will be based on the systematic collection and analysis of data. The emphasis here is on the word systematic.

This means you have to collect your data in an ordered manner, with a purpose in mind, and following certain rules about your mode of collection.

You can become familiar with the basic principles underlying two major types of research: Qualitative Research and Quantitative Research.

3. What do I need to remember?

Definitions of research

What are the purposes of research?

Definitions of Theory

What are theories good for?

Characteristics of Quantitative Methods

Characteristics of Qualitative Methods

4. Bibliography

Homas, G.C. (1964). Bring Men Back in. American Sociological Review 29:809-818.

Kerlinger, F.N. (1973). Foundations of Behavioural Research. New York: Holt, Reinehart and Winston.

Marx, M.H. (1976). Formal Theory. IN Marx H.H. and Goodson, F.E. (editors). Theories in Contemporary
Psychology. New York: MacMillan, pp.234-260.

Payton, O.D. (1979). Research: The Validation of Clinical Practice. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.

Stevens, B.J. (1984). Nursing Theory, Analysis, Application, Evaluation. Boston: Little, Brown.

Waltz, C. and Bausell, R.B. (1981). Nursing Research: design, Statistics and Computer Analysis. Phil.

Babbie, E.(1992) The Practice of Social Research. (chpt 2) Calif. Wadsworth, pgs, 39-65.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/dinobuzz.html

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