Research is defined as a systematic and scientific process to answer the questions about facts and relationship between facts.
Characteristics of good research:
* Orderly and systematic process: A research can only be considered good if it is conducted in an orderly and systematic way, because this is the most important criterion for a scientific research process.
* Based on current professional issues: Resolving current issues of any discipline is one of the fundamental purposes of any research. Therefore, a good research must be based on the current professional issues, so that a particular discipline can be up-to-date with solutions to professional concerns.
* Begin with clearly defined purposes: A research can only be conducted in effective manner if it is started with clearly defined purposes. However, in absence of clarity about objectives, research may not yield very good results.
* Emphasize to develop, refine, and expand professional knowledge: The main purpose of the research is to develop the new knowledge or refine the existing professional knowledge.
* Directed towards development or testing theories: Theory development and testing is a systematic process of enquiry in a discipline. Therefore, only a good research can make it possible to develop or test a theory.
* Finding solution of problem: Finding answer or solution to professional problems is another important purpose of a research. Therefore, a good research is always directed towards finding an answer or solution for the pertinent emerging professional problems.
* Dedicated to develop empirical evidence: Another important purpose of the research is to generate empirical evidences, which can be used to improve the professional practices.
* Strive to collect first-hand information/data: A successful research is conducted by collection of data directly from subjects by different methods like questioning, interviews, or observation.
* An objective and logical process: Research information collected through subjective means or in haphazard manner will never lead to satisfactory results. Therefore, a good research emphasizes on objective and logical research process.
* Generate findings to refine and improve professional practices: A research cannot be considered successfully conducted until and unless it contributes towards refinement and improvement in professional practices as per the need of time.
* Use of appropriate methodology: Selection of a methodology in any research depends on several factors, because each variable and research has unique features. Therefore, a good research always employs the most appropriate and suitable methodology.
* Conducted on representative sample: Generalization of research findings is only possible if study is conducted on a sample which has characteristics similar to the population of the study.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
1. Qualitative research
Qualitative research is a field of inquiry that crosscuts disciplines and subject matter. It involves an in-depth understanding of human behaviour and the reasons that govern human behaviour. Here, data is collected in descriptive form rather than numerical form and analysed by descriptive coding, indexing, and narrations. Qualitative research involves analysis of data such as words, pictures, or objects.
Qualitative research is concerned with the opinions, experiences, and feelings of individuals producing subjective data.
* Qualitative research describes social phenomena as they occur naturally.
* Understanding of a situation is gained gradually through a holistic perspective.
* Qualitative data are collected through direct interaction with individuals, through one-to-one or group interviews or by observation. Data collection is time consuming.
* The intensive and time-consuming nature of data collection necessitates the use of small samples.
* Criteria used to assess reliability and validity differ from those used in quantitative research.
2. Quantitative research
It is an inquiry into an identified problem, based on testing a theory composed of variables, measured with numbers and analysed using statistical techniques. In this type of research, data is collected in numerical form and analysed by using descriptive or inferential statistics. Quantitative research involves analysis of numerical data. Quantitative research is often an iterative process whereby evidence is evaluated, theories and hypotheses are tested, and technical advances are made. The three major types of quantitative research designs are: experimental, quasi experimental, and nonexperimental research designs. Nonexperimental research is further classified into descriptive, exploratory, and correlational research.