LC 1

• RESEARCH AS A CREATIVE AND STRATEGIC THINKING PROCESS
• The main types of research

  • Basic research
  • Applied research
• Basic research


  Original investigation that provides new insights that can later be used in applied research
• Applied research


  Investigates well known principles, hypotheses, theories and solves real-life problems
• Research paradigms


  • Positivism
  • Post-positivism
• Positivism


  The production of knowledge through rigorous scientific investigation, makes assumptions about the world and nature of research, assumes researchers are trained specialists who produce new knowledge not contingent on their beliefs/biases, uses deductive, hypothesis driven, reliable and reproducible methods, findings are quantitative, statistically significant and generalizable
• Post-positivism


  Questions the heart of scientific research, views the world as ambiguous and variable with multiple realities, research is intuitive, holistic and the researcher is participatory and collaborative, uses inductive methods, findings are idiographic, focus on social knowledge and contributions to change (qualitative)
• Research is like a journey that requires planning, forethought, commitment and persistence
• Learning styles


  • Visual
  • Auditory
  • Kinaesthetic
• Visual learners


  Gather data through sight, prefer pictures, detailed notes, observation
• Auditory learners


  Gather data through hearing, learn through verbal input-listening, talking, reading aloud, prefer interviews
• Kinaesthetic learners


  Gather data through moving, doing and touching, may find it hard reading, prefer to engage in action
• Kolb's learning styles


  • Assimilator (Theorist)
  • Conveger (Pragmatist)
  • Accommodator (Activists)
  • Diverger (Reflector)
• Assimilator (Theorist)


  Uses abstract conceptualization and reflective observation, enjoys creating theoretical models and abstract concepts, not interested in practical application of knowledge
• Conveger (Pragmatist)


  Abstract conceptualisation and active experimentation, enjoys practical application of ideas, tends to work with objectivity, prefers to deal with things than people
• Accommodator (Activists)


  Uses concrete experience and active experimentation, enjoys doing and can adapt readily to new circumstances, solves problems intuitively and relies on others for information
• Diverger (Reflector)


  Uses reflective observation and concrete experience, generally have excellent imagination, often interested in the lives and emotions of others, have broad cultural interests
• Motivation for learning


  • Surface learners
  • Deep learners
  • Strategic learners
• Surface learners


  Interested in 'facts', often rely on memory and do not enjoy conceptualization, theorizing, or making connections, may be more comfortable dealing with statistical tests rather than theory building
• Deep learners


  Enjoy the search for meaning, good at linking learning to experience and integrating new knowledge with prior studies, generally look at problem situations holistically and can be eclectic in their methodologies
• Strategic learners


  Pursue learning in order to achieve defined goals, the independent and rigorous nature of research can often leave the strategist with a crisis of motivation, need to make sure research questions can engage a real and sustainable interest
• Research is a process that needs to be actively managed
• Research questions can be designed so that they are open and exploratory
• Research questions can, and often do, change, shift, and evolve during the early stages of a project

  
• What is a well defined question?

  • Define the topic
  • Define the nature of the research endeavour
  • Define the questions you are interested in
  • Indicate whether you foresee a relationship between concepts you are exploring
• Defining your topic


  • Curiosity
  • Creativity
  • Practicalities
• Finding an angle


  • Personal experiences
  • Theory
  • An observation
  • Contemporary/timely issues
  • Gaps in the literature
• Research is a process that generates as many questions as it answers, it takes you in unexpected directions and is determined to undermine your best laid plans
• Hypothesis


  Logical conjecture (hunch or educated guess) about the nature of relationships between two or more variables expressed in the form of a testable statement