CHAPTER ONEWHAT IS RESEARCH REPORT WRITING
i. NURSYAMILA BINTI SULAIMAN 0952141ii. NURUL FARAH AIN BINTI MOHD FADZIL 0962139iii. QUZAITUL IZZATI BINTI HISHAM 0952108iv. HAYATUL HUSNA BINTI HASSAN 0952114v. FARAH AINAA BINTI ABD.LATIFF 0952112
DEFINITION
• Research includes any gathering of data, information and facts for the advancement of knowledge.
Implying that the process :
Is being undertaken within a framework of a set of philosophies.
Use
Is designed to be unbiased and objective.
Have been tested for their ‘realibility’ and ‘validaty’!!
i) Procedures
ii) Methods
iii) Techniques
reliability
Quality of a measurement procedure
validity
Ensures correct procedures have been applied in finding answers for the questions.
Unbiased and objective
i) Have taken each stepii) Drawn each conclusion to the best of your
conclusion without your own vested interest.
The paradigms in research
• Your philosophical orientation may stem from one of the two paradigms in research.
1)Positivism2)Naturalism
• How the natural sciences approach the physical world,
i.e. combining mainly deductive logic with empirical and predominantly quantitative methods in order to seek generally applying regularities.
Positivism
Predominantly : mostly or mainlyEmpirical : based on experience
• Assumes only the existence of a social world external to the researcher which can be accessed through the sense and research.
Naturalism
A process for collecting ,
analysing and interpreting
information to answer questions
.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
1. Controlled
2. Rigorous
3. Systematic
4. Valid and verifiable
5. Empirical
6. Critical
1. Controlled
In research process, we find out about the “cause and effect
relationships” . And it is important to be able to link the effects with the
causes and vice versa.
2. Rigorous (be careful)
Must be extremely careful in ensuring that the procedures followed to find
answers to the questions are ;
i- relevantii-appropiateIii-justified
3. Systematic
The procedures adopted to undertake
an investigation folllow a certain
logical sequence.
4. Valid and verifiable
Whatever you conclude on the basis of
your findings is correct and can be
verified by you and others.
5. Empirical
Means that , any conclusions drawn
are based upon hard evidence
gathered from information collected
from real life experiences or
observation.
6. Critical
Critical scrutiny of the procedures used and the methods employed, is crucial
to a research inquiry .
The process of investigation must be foolproof and free from any
drawbacks.
HOW TO CONDUCT A RESEARCH??
An Eight-step Model
Formulating a research problem
Conceptualizing a research design
Constructing an instrument for data
collection
Selecting a sample
Writing a research proposal
Collecting data
Processing data
Writing a research
report
• Formulating a research problem is the most important step in research process.
• The more specific and clear you are the better.
• It is equally important to identify any gaps in your knowledge of relevant input such as statistic, required for analysis.
• It is the use of scientific methods.• A research design should include:
The study design perse & the logistical arrangements
The measurements procedures & the sampling
strategy
The frame of analysis
The time frame
• Anything that becomes a means of collecting information for you research is called a ‘research tools’ or ‘research instrument’.
• For example :Observation formInterview schedulesQuestionnaires
• The accuracy of your estimates largely depends upon the way you select your sample.
• The basic objective of any sampling design:
To minimize within the
limitations of cost
To minimize the gap
between the values
obtained from your sample
To minimize those
prevalent in the population
• Research proposal should contain:
A statement of the objectives of the study
A list hypothesis ,if
you are testing any
The study design you are proposing to
use
The setting for your study
The research tools you are planning to
use
Information on sample size &
sampling design
Information on data processing
procedures
An outline of proposed
chapters for the report
The study problems & limitations
The proposed
time frame
• After all the steps, next collect the data from which you will draw inferences & conclusion for your study.
• For example:Commence interviewsMail out a questionnaire
• The way you analyze the information you collected largely depends upon 2 things:
The type of information
The way you want to write your
report
The way to analyze the information
• This report inform the world of what you have done, what have you discovered, what conclusions you have drawn for your finding.
• Your report should be written in a academic style(APA style), be divided into difference chapters based upon the main themes of your study.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
TYPES OF RESEARCH
QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE
QUALITATIVE
• Purpose of the study is to describe a :
• Situation information is gathered• Phenomenon through the use of • Problem/event variables measured
(nominal/ordinal)• aims at understanding. It answers primarily to
‘how?’ –questions.
• Examples :
Description of an observed situation.The historical enumeration of events.An account of the different opinions people have
about an issue.A description of the living conditions of the
community
QUANTITATIVE• You want to quantify :
• the variation in a phenomenon, situation, problem/issue
• If the analysis is geared to ascertain the magnitude of the variation.
• aims at (causal) explanation. It answers primarily to why? –questions.
• You want to know “how many” and/or “how often”
• You want to profile a target audience by determining what proportion of the audience has certain behaviors, behavioral intentions, attitudes, knowledge related, and whether specific determinants predict behaviors at a statistically significant level.
• Examples :
How many people have particular problem?How many people hold a particular attitude?
QUICK REVIEW!!
QUALITATIVE
aims at understanding. It answers primarily to
‘how?’ –questions.
Methods include focus groups, in-depth
interviews, and reviews
More subjective: describes a problem or
condition from the point of view of those experiencing it
QUANTITATIVE
aims at (causal) explanation. It answers
primarily to why? –questions.
surveys
More objective: provides observed effects (interpreted by
researchers) of a program on a problem or condition
QUALITATIVE
Data is in the form of words, pictures or objects.
(Text-based)
Can be valid and reliable: largely depends on skill
and rigor of the researcher
QUANTITATIVE
Data is in the form of numbers and statistics.
(Number-based)
Can be valid and reliable: largely depends on the measurement device or
instrument used
ACTION RESEARCH
• DEFINITION• PURPOSES• THE NEED
• WHAT ACTION RESEARCH IS NOT• ACTION RESEARCH CYCLE
• GOLDEN RULES FOR SELECTING A TOPIC
ACTION RESEARCH• The linking of the terms
“action” and “research” highlights the essential features of this method: trying out ideas in practice as a means of increasing knowledge about or improving curriculum, teaching, and learning
(Kemmis & McTaggart, 1988)
PURPOSE OF ACTION RESEARCH
To bring about the development of the
practice of the educators by analysing existing
practice and identifying elements for change
To help educators feel in control of their own
professional situation.
Schoolbased curriculum development, professional
development, systems planning, school
restructuring, and as an evaluative tool.
To enhance educators development through the
fostering of their capability as knowledge makers, rather than simply as
knowledge users
THE NEED FOR ACTION RESEARCHTo develop a deeper
understanding of classroom practice as basis for change
An alternative to teachers who have been encouraged to look to
others, rather than to themselves and their students,
for ways to help students improve their quality of learning
For educator to better understand the aspect of his/her teaching that is of
interests or concerns
Done by teachers to study the weakness in their own
teaching in order to improve it
WHAT ACTION RESEARCH IS NOT• It is not the usual things teachers do
when they think about their teaching. Action Research is systematic and involves collecting evidence on which to base rigorous reflection.
• It is not just problem-solving. It is motivated by a quest to improve and understand the world by changing it and learning how to improve it from the effects of the changes made.
• It is not research on other people. Action Research does not treat people as objects.
• It is not the scientific method applied to teaching. Action Research is not about hypothesis-testing or about using data to come to conclusions. It is concerned with changing situations, not just interpreting them.
ACTION RESEARCH CYCLE: OBSERVE, REFLECT, PLAN AND ACT
•the issue or problem is monitored and described. Useful data is recorded and kept.
Observation phase
•observations are interpreted and shared so that the issue or problem can be better understood.
Reflection phase
•actions are proposed to address the issue or problem
Planning phase
Action phase the plan is implemented and the cycle starts again as outcomes are observed, recorded, and shared
GOLDEN RULES FOR SELECTING A TOPICKeep it
manageable – focus on small
scale.It should be
interesting to you – you may need some perseverance to see the inquiry through!
It should be workable
It is not too disruptive of normal routines. (Important here to think
not just of your own, but others’ that your actions might affect).
• Research is one way of collecting & understanding information and finding answer to your questions.
• The differences between research and other ways is that research you works within a framework of a set of philosophies, use methods that have been tested validity & reliability, attempt to unbiased & objectives.
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES• How to Conduct Research, Retrieved 6 March, 2011,
fromhttp://www.ehow.com/how_2053926_do-research.• Ways to conduct accurate research, Retrieved 6March,2011, from http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com• Action research? Anyone can!, Retrieved 6 March, 2011, from drjj.uitm.edu.my/DRJJ/MATRIC2010/20 Anyone• Themes in Education. Action Research, Retrieved 6 March , 2011, from www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/themes_ad/act research pdf• Quantitative Methods, Retrieved 6 March, 2011, fromhttp://www.orau.gov/cdcynergy/demo/Content/activeinformation/tools/
toolscontent/quantiativemethods.htm• Qualitative versus Quantitative, Retrieved 6 March, 2011, fromhttp://wilderdom.com/research/QualitativeVersusQuantitativeResearch.html• Key concepts in social research, Retrieved 6 March,2011From http://srmo.sagepub.com/view/key-concepts-in-social-research/n36.xml
Let’s do some activities !!!