CONCEPT OF RESEARCH

● To re-search

● To re-examine

● To investigate

● To test

● To enquire
CONCEPT OF RESEARCH contd.
● The concept of research in the Bible
● Deut. 13:12-14 – enquire, search, ask diligent
questions, analyze and conclude
● Jer. 17.10 The Lord search the heart and test the mind
● 1 Thess. 5:21 – Prove all things and hold fast that
which is true
WHAT IS RESEARCH?
● Research is an investigative process of finding reliable
solution to a problem through a systematic selection,
collection, analysis and interpretation of data relating to
the problem
● in order words research is all activities that makes us
discover new knowledge about things around us.
PROCESS OF RESEARCH
● Identifying a problem
● Defining the problem in precise terms in unambiguous
terms
● Stating the problems in form of research questions and
research hypotheses
● Designing the research
● Collecting data
● Analyzing data
PROCESS OF RESEARCH
contd.
● Interpretation of data
● Drawing conclusion
● Making recommendations
PURPOSE OF RESEARCH
● To test what you already know
● To understand the other side of an issue
● To establish reliable guide
● To expand knowledge
● To predict, explain and interpret a behaviour
● To provide solution to a problem
CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH

. Classification by purpose
● i

●ii Classification by method.

●iii Classification based on type of
evidences required and method of
analysis.
Classification by purpose
●
● i. Basic (Pure) research
● ii Applied research.
● iii. Action research
● iv. Evaluation research
● v. Research and Development (R & D
Classification by purpose contd.
● Basic [Pure] Research: This is concern with the
production of result and finding which lead to
development of theory.
● Applied Research: This is conducted for the purpose
of applying or testing theory and evaluate its
usefulness in solving problems. It is concerned with
the usefulness of ideas or theories or practical
situation.
Classification by purpose contd.
● Action Research: is a research that is directed
towards solving specific problem in a local setting .it
is usually taken by a teacher or group of teacher in
school to solving specific problem so that the result
can be generalized.
● Evaluation Research: the results of evaluation
research help in decision making .
Classification by purpose contd.
● Research and Development: This is aimed at
developing and testing product to ensure their
effectiveness.
Classification of Research by Method
● Historical
● Descriptive (survey)
● Correlational
● Experimental
● Casual-comparative (ex-post-facto)
● Historical Research
● This type of research is based on oral evidence records
such as diaries, case history, autobiography, logbook;
Books, Journals, magazines etc are also useful documents.
● Descriptive Research
● It is also called a survey research. This type of research is
based on information, interviews, (oral, written,
structured, unstructured etc), inventories, rating scales,
self report, observation etc. Descriptive research is aim at
fact finding of the present condition or current situation.
● Correlational Research.
● The correlational studies present a research approach
that seeks to explain educational phenomena rather
than mere stating the phenomena.
● Experimental Research
● This type of research involves conducting experiment
for research purpose. The experimental method
involves investigating possible cause and effect
relationship by exposing one or more experimental
groups to a treatment and one or more control groups
not receiving the treatment.
● Causal-Comparative Research
● Causal-comparative and experimental research
represent distinctly different methods, however both
attempt to establish cause-effect relationship, and
both involve group comparison.
CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH BASED ON EVIDENCIES
REQUIRED OR METHOD OR DATA ANALYSIS
● There are three types of research based on evidences
required or method of data analysis. These are:
● i. Qualitative - non computational
● ii. Quantitative - Computational
● iii. Triangulation of multiple perspectives.
IDENTIFYING RESEARCH
PROBLEM
● WHERE DO YOU GET RESEARCH PROBLEM FROM:
● Seminar reports
● Literature review
● Textbooks
● Journal
● internet
● dissertations
● Suggestion for further studies
● Existing Theory
● Replication of studies
CHOOSING A RESEARCH
TOPIC
● A research topic is taken from research problem
● What are the factors that can influence choice of research
topic:
● The researcher’s discipline
● Duration
● Fund availability
● Desire for in-depth knowledge
● Availability of resources
● Income derivable

WORDINGS OF RESEARCH TOPIC

A research topic should be:
• Appropriate
• Descriptive
• Simple and unambiguous
● It must be short and straight forward
● It must be large enough to cover the subject matter
● Word limit per title 14-20
● Ensure that each word is needed
● Avoid work wasters e.g. studies on
● Investigation on
● Analysis of etc.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A
GOOD RESEARCH TOPIC
●It must be researchable i.e. problem
that can be investigated through
collection of data
●It must have 2 or more interacting
variables
●It must be an area of interest
WHAT IS A VARIABLE?
● Any quality or quantity in which the researcher is
interested and which varies in the course of the research
e.g interest, skill, knowledge etc.
TYPES OF VARIABLES
The most frequent variable encounter in research are:
● Independent
● dependent.
TYPES OF VARIABLE
● Independent variable – is also called manipulative or
treatment variable.
• it determine the nature or the occurrence of another
variable
• It is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher
• It presume to cause, influence or affect the outcome.
● Dependent Variable: is also called outcome variable
● It is a variable that the independent variable is presumed
to affect.
● It is a variable that changes, appear or disappear as
researcher changes, remove or introduces the independent
variable.
● Extraneous Variable
● is a secondary independent variable, that is, other
independent variables or factor that may affect the
outcome of a research if not controlled. Eg. Moderator
variable.
● Intervening Variable: cannot be manipulated or studied
directly because their effect cannot be measured or
manipulated.
EXAMPLES
● Academic Procastination, Overconfidence and
Parental Unrealistic Expectations as correlates of
Academic Rebelliousness
● Relationship between gender and academic
achievement of education students
INTRODUCTION - Background to
the Study
● This part provides reader with background
information for the research
● It establishes the issue or concern leading to the
research
● It must create reader’s interest in the topic
● It establishes the problem that lead to the study.
● Suggested part of introduction
● The research Problem
● Studies that have addressed the problem
● Deficiencies in the studies
● The importance of the study
● Statement of the problem
● Objectives of the study
● Research questions and
● Research hypotheses
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING
INTRODUCTION
● The opening sentence must be able to stimulate the
reader

● As a general rule in quantitative research do not start

with a quotation

● Avoid using idiomatic expression e.g The lecture

method remain a “Sacred Cow”
● Consider numeric information

● Clearly identify the research problem

● Indicate why the problem is important citing references
that justify the need to study the problem
● Narrow the focus to specific questions to be answered or
hypothesis to be tested.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
● The research objectives are stated after the statement
of the problem.
● It helps to transform the research problem into a
testable form, indicating clearly in specific terms what
the researcher intends to achieve.
● Languages use – to examine, to determine, to assess,
to find, etc
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
● Research questions are interrogative statements or
question that the researcher seeks to answer.
● Characteristics of a research question are:
● It must be clearly stated i.e. it must not make different
meaning to different people.
● It should determine the type of data to be collected how and
were to collect the data from
● It should provide focus and direction to the major issues in
the study.
Characteristics of a research
question are contd.
● The question should be large enough to cover all the major
variables in the study.
● EXAMPLE:
● Effect of information utilization on the academic
performance of university students.
Example of Research Question
● How does information utilization affect the academic
performance of the university students?
● Will information utilization affect the academic
performance of male and female university students?
or
● Will there be any significance difference in how
information utilization affect the academic
performance of male and female university students?
RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
● Research hypothesis is a formal affirmative statement
predicting a single research outcome.
● i.e. it predict the likely relationship between independent
variable and dependent variable.
● Also suggest or guess answers to the research questions
before the study is embarked upon
RH
● Hypothesis can be formulated in 2 forms: Null and
alternative.
● Null hypothesis is stated in a negative form. Ho is use to
represent null hypothesis.
● It is a non-directional hypothesis. It is non-directional
because it does not indicate a favourable or negative
expectation of the findings.
● Alternative hypothesis stated in positive form.
● This is a directional hypothesis and H1 is use to represent
alternative hypothesis.
● It specifies the relationship between variables.