Practical Research

• Quantitative research


  The study of numerical data
• Research


  A scientific investigation of occurrences that involves the collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of facts
• Applied research


  Research undertaken to acquire new knowledge with a specific practical application
• Developmental research


  Decision-oriented research involving the application of the steps of the scientific method
• Basic research


  Research that seeks to discover fundamental truths or principles
• Qualitative research


  A type of educational research in which the researcher relies on the views of participants
• Qualitative research


  Data is reduced to narrative descriptions
• Empirical


  A characteristic of research in which the study is based on direct experience or observation by the researcher
• Cyclical


  A characteristic of research which states that research starts with a problem and ends with a problem
• Logical


  A characteristic of research that states that study is based on valid procedures and principles
• Characteristics of quantitative research

  • Preference for precise hypothesis stated at the outset
  • Willingness to manipulate aspects, situations, or conditions in studying complex phenomena
  • Preference for random techniques for obtaining meaningful samples
  • Data is reduced to numerical scores
• Characteristics of qualitative research

  • Preference for assuming that the reliability of inferences is adequate
  • Preference for expert information (purposive) samples
  • Preference for a narrative summary of results
  • Assessment of validity through crosschecking sources of information (triangulation)
  • Preference for definitions in context or as study progresses
  • Preference for hypotheses that emerge as study develops
• IMRaD


  A structure or format used in writing research articles
• IMRAD format


  The full research format that is the most commonly used format in a scientific article and journal writing and is used widely across most scientific and research fields
• The introduction should explain what the researchers know, and what they are uncertain about
• Research purpose


  The main intent or objective of the study used to address the problem
• Results


  What the researcher found out from the research
• Findings/Results


  The significance of the review of related literature
• Research problem


  A specific educational issue, concern, or controversy addressed in research that narrows the topic
• Research questions narrow the purpose into specific questions that the researcher would like answered or addressed in the study
• The method chapter shows how the researchers arrived at the results
• Research topic

  The broad subject matter addressed by the study