Short Assignment: Major elements to consider when conducting research.
Human knowledge is ever-evolving. Changes happen all the time across the globe. So, the information that humans have now might be obsolete in a decade or so. Therefore, research plays a part to keep the body of collective human knowledge up to date and relevant. To conduct research, however, requires many things to consider. Hence this essay will discuss the elements needed to orchestrate productive and fruitful research.
First and foremost, the essential part of any research is to plan the study. Having a plan done for research will make later progress much more manageable (Hayward, 2018; Idler, 2013; Shukairy, n.d.). This initial plan can be done by roughly sketching and jotting down ideas on a piece of paper or by typing it in software like Microsoft Words or Google Docs. A researcher can also put on time limits for each element of the research (Wax, n.d.). For example, the research problem and research questions need to be done in two weeks and followed by a three-week timeframe to focus on mining literature for literature review. Therefore, by creating a research plan, it will improve the management and the organizational aspect of the study.
After having a plan for the research, a researcher has to start looking for the topic of the study. It is suggested that the topic must be in the researcher’s field of interest so that the research is doable and can minimize the tendency of losing focus on the study (Moore, 2009). Losing focus during the progress of completing research can negatively affect the final quality of the paper. The topic must also be relevant and beneficial to the target audience. If a researcher tends to conduct medical-based research, the researcher should be choosing a topic that will contribute new findings or improve existing data in the medical field. A researcher also must be specific to the selected topic. Having a particular issue can narrow down the researcher’s vision and thus, creating much precise research, and it makes the analysis more thorough, too. According to Washington University in St. Louis (n.d.), it can be done by doing a brief background reading on the topic of interest in an encyclopedia, for example. After weighing in the three main criteria of choosing a topic and come out with a specific, exciting and relevant topic, a researcher then can produce the research problem(s) based on the theme picked.
Next, a researcher needs to construct research questions based on the research problem. The research questions must address the intended solution to the research problem. Research questions are helpful to create a focused paper and decrease the probability of the researcher going astray from the topic.
Another crucial element when conducting research is to consider the literature review. The literature review is the most critical part of research as it will determine the reliability of the study and the researcher’s ability to find information. A literature review is not like a background reading like what was mentioned before; it is more thorough and in-depth. Among the vast body of existing knowledge, a researcher must mine their wanted information from past papers and studies (Wax, n.d.). The studies must be relevant to the topic and come from reliable sources like journal articles, academic books, and online databases. A researcher is also advised to avoid taking information from sources that are too old unless necessary. The goal of a literature review is to provide a foundation and background to a researcher’s study like theories and philosophies behind the research. As stated by Neuman in 2014, a cohesive literature review can be done with six approaches, namely context review, historical review, integrative review, methodological review, self-study review or theoretical review. By doing so, a researcher can help to determine the methodology for the research based on the analysis of the literature review (Hayward, 2018). All data gathered by the researcher are suggested to be recorded for more accessible references in the future.
Moving on to the next element to consider, which is the methodology. Firstly, a methodology includes a research design that can vary from qualitative to quantitative or even a mixture of both based on the nature of the selected topic. Then, there is the instrument of the study. This is the part where a researcher tells his or her method of collecting data. For example, if a researcher wants to interview people, passing out surveys or questionnaires, or even observe a particular subject. The third part of the methodology is the respondents or the participants. Here, a sampling technique must be stated by the researcher to get the participant(s). According to Kumar (2019), there are three types of sampling that a researcher can use; random sampling, non-random sampling or ‘mixed’ sampling. All three of these parts of methodology need to be justified with reasons, so the research is comprehensive to the readers and other academicians. A way to explain a researcher’s choice of instrument(s), research design and sampling method(s) is to state their strength (Shukairy, n.d.). Other components that can be considered in planning methodology also includes ethical consideration and the credibility of the instruments (Hayward, 2018).
Lastly, apart from the formal aspects that required for research, there are also some minor things to consider that many of the researchers tend to overlook which include language, format, consultation, and personal setbacks. The linguistic style of research must be short, precise, and academic (Idler, 2013). If there are any jargon words or terms that are related to the researcher’s selected topic, a researcher is encouraged to be mindful when using them. Elaborations might be needed. Then, a researcher must take note of the format used. Depends on the field of study or the publication or even the institution, format styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago can differ (Washington University in St. Louis, n.d.). It is best to use a single format throughout the paper as consistency is always associated with professionalism. If a researcher is not sure about the format, then it is still advisable to consult. Consultation is necessary because the feedbacks and reviews given by peers and instructors are essential for improvement (Moore, 2009). A researcher may also ask local librarians to suggest sources online or printed (Wax, n.d.). Last but not least, failure and setbacks do happen all the time (Moore, 2009). A researcher, therefore, must know how to limit and manage their expectations. Mental health is also required along with physical fitness to finish a research. There are forces that a researcher may not be able to control.
In conclusion, research is an extensive amount of hard work and labour. Nonetheless, a researcher’s job is much appreciated and crucial to the academic world. The significance of research can never be stressed enough. To illustrate its importance in Islam, here is a verse from the Holy Quran: “Say: Produce your proof if you are truthful” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:111). This verse shows that the product of research (proof) is vital to know the truth behind every worldly phenomenon. Henceforth, research is the key to unlock doors to different areas of study in order for humankind to evolve and progress.
References
Hayward, A. (2018, September 16). INFOGRAPHIC: 5 things you must do before and after your research. Editage Insights. https://www.editage.com/insights/5-things-you-must-do-before-and-after-your-research?refer=scroll-to-1-comic_strip&refer-type=infographics
Idler, S. (2013, February 14). 10 key concepts to consider when conducting remote user research. Usabilla by SurveyMonkey. https://usabilla.com/blog/10-key-concepts-to-consider-when-conducting-remote-user-research/
Kumar, R. (2019). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners (5th ed.). SAGE.
Moore, A. (2009, January 14). 5 things to consider in doing research paper. EzineArticles.com. https://ezinearticles.com/?5-Things-to-Consider-in-Doing-Research-Paper&id=1882247
Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th ed.). Pearson Education Limited.
Shukairy, A. (n.d.). 9 Tips to conducting accurate qualitative research. Invesp. https://www.invespcro.com/blog/9-tips-to-conducting-accurate-qualitative-research/
Washington University in St. Louis. (n.d.). The research process. University Libraries. https://libguides.wustl.edu/research
Wax, D. (n.d.). Advice for Students: 10 steps toward better research. Lifehack. https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/advice-for-students-10-steps-toward-better-research.html