Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Abstract
Research is common phenomenon to investigate the resolution of existing problems
and generate the new dimension of knowledge in all sectors. It aims to contribute to
the advancement of knowledge and wisdom which is undertaken with its certain
system and procedures. Regarding the issue of research, this article aims to explain
briefly what research is, its significance, and its purposes. It then mentions about
the types of research and its methods, processes, and qualities briefly.
Key words: Research, researcher, research methods, methodology, research process.
scientific in its nature with certain explanation for them. It goes beyond these simple
methodological process. descriptions of explanations. It finds out the truth
which is hidden and which has been
Research is common in the academic field of
contemporary time which is incorporated as a undiscovered. Each research has its own specific
compulsory course at master’s level in the most proposes. Some general objectives of research
of the universities of world including Nepal for are given below as mentioned by Kothari and
graduation of the students. It is macro activity Garg (2014, p. 2):
consisting of a lot of micro activities (Bhattrai, i) To gain familiarity with a phenomenon
2009, p. 21). The micro activities like or to achieve new insights into it (studies
formulating a research problem, conceptualizing with this object in view are termed as
a research design, constructing tool(s) for data exploratory or formulative research
collection, selecting a sample, writing a research studies);
proposal are accomplished in the former phase ii) To portray accurately the characteristics
whereas activities like collecting data, processing of a particular individual, situation or
data, writing, and re-writing a research report a group (studies with this object in view
are completed in the later phase (Kumar, 2006. are known as descriptive research
p. 19). In the beginning of the research activity, studies);
the researcher should formulate research iii) To determine the frequency with which
topic/problem/question identifying an area of something occurs or with which it is
interest. Then other activities related to the associated with something else (studies
research start with its certain framework like with this object in view are known as
literature review, hypothesis, research design, diagnostic research studies);
sample design, data collection, execution of the iv) To test a hypothesis of a causal
project, analysis of data, hypothesis-testing, relationship between variables (such
generalization, and interpretation and preparation studies are known as hypothesis-testing
of the thesis or presentation of the results. research studies).
Objectives of research Beside these objectives of the research, it
Basically the purpose of research is to discover expands the horizons of knowledge and finds
answers to questions through the application of out the reality about the social phenomenon and
scientific procedures. Pant (2009) views the social facts. It also attempts to acquire scientific
purpose of research is ‘to find out about a knowledge about the social phenomenon and
particular subject that has significance for the social facts and studies the social values, beliefs,
researcher’ (p.10).The researcher undertakes traditions, and events etc.
research to discover a new subject or to verify
Significance of research
the existing one. The basic purpose of research
is to generate new knowledge. The other Research promotes the logical habits of thinking.
purposes of research are to explore the reality, It makes the people critical, rational, and logical
to describe the phenomenon under investigation, about the existing event and issue. The role of
to study the phenomena, and provide an research is applied in several fields: economics,
business, government, education, health etc. It knowledge which is used to build a theory,
provides the basis to build policies and systems develop policies, support decision-making and
in different areas. It has its special significance solve problems. These new horizons of
to solve various operational and planning knowledge obtained by research are useful to
problems of business and industry. It formulates analyze and verify the existing phenomena of
the efficient policies and programme to assist society. Regarding these issues, the research can
the existing situation of infrastructures; be divided into following categories:
education, health, transport, water supply, and
i. Descriptive and analytical research:
industry, etc. It is also significant to study the
social relationship and solve the various social Descriptive research describes the state of affairs
problems of the society. Research can be as it exists at present. It includes surveys and
significant to the different people distinctly as fact-finding enquiries of different kinds. The
mentioned in the following points: researcher only reports what has happened or
what is happening but he has no control over
i. To those students who are to write a
the variables. On the other hand in analytical
master’s or Ph D thesis, research may
research, the researcher has to use facts or
mean a careerism or a way to attain a
information which are already available, and
high position in the social structure;
analyze these to make a critical evaluation of
ii. To professionals in research
the material.
methodology, research may mean a
source of livelihood; ii. Applied and fundamental research:
iii. To philosophers and thinkers, research Applied research is conducted in response to a
may mean the outlet for new ideas and specific problem, which requires a solution. The
insights; major purpose of applied research is to answer
iv. To literary men and women, research practical and useful question about policies,
may mean the development of new style programs, projects, procedures, or organizations
and creative work; and (Pant, 2009. p.6). The basic purpose of applied
v. To analysts and intellectuals, research research is to find a solution for an immediate
may mean the development of new problem facing by existing structure. It is
theories. concerned with knowledge that has immediate
Thus, research is the fountain of knowledge for applications. Fundamental research is mainly
the sake of knowledge and an important source concerned with generalizations and with the
of providing guidelines for solving the problems formulation of a theory. It is undertaken for the
of different fields of society, government and sole purpose of adding to our knowledge that is
business as well. fundamental and generalizable. It is called pure
or basic research. The research works of
Types of research professors, scholars, and other researchers
The research is undertaken to solve the currently devoted to generate new knowledge in particular
existing problems in the work setting and to areas of their interest can be called fundamental
generate new knowledge in a particular area. research (Pant, 2009, p.7). It is not applied to
It also contributes in the building process of a find the solution of immediate problem but to
taken in a specified sequence in work setting, and to build up new theory, with
accordance with the well defined set its certain research process. There are different
of rules. steps in research: sensing a problem, problem
identification, theoretical framework, hypothesis
ii. Logical: It implies that research is
formulation, research design, data collection,
guided by the rules of logical reasoning
data analysis, and refinement of theory. A good
and the logical process of induction and
research has certain characteristics: systematic,
deduction are of great value in carrying
empirical, logical, replicable and purposive.
out research. Logical reasoning makes
These qualities are should be fulfilled for a
research more meaningful in the
scientific research. The types of research
context of decision making.
methodology depend on the context,
iii. Empirical: It implies that research is assumptions, paradigms and perspectives to
related basically to one or more aspects study a phenomenon. It provides systematic and
of a real situation and deals with scientific and orderly work plan to complete the
concrete data that provides a basis for research. There are certain techniques and
external validity to research results. methods too to accomplish the job of good
iv. Replicable: This feature allows research. Thus research is creative and strategic
research results to be verified by process with its certain framework to search the
replicating the study and thereby new dimension of knowledge and solve the
building a sound basis for decisions current problems.
(Kothari & Grant 2014, p. 19).
About the author
v. Purposive: Research must have a Mr. Bist is a Lecturer of English at
focus or a specific purpose. It is Department of English, Mid-Western
essential for the effective and University. He is an MA in English and
meaningful research. Research B.Ed. in Englsih Education from Tribhuvan
without purpose leads the study University, Nepal. He is Assistant- Secretary
nowhere (Pant, 2009, p. 17). The of NELTA, Surkhet. His keen interests include
purpose of research influences the literary creations and research in literature
activities of researcher. and ELT. He has also published a number of
articles in newspapers and research journals
Conclusion about current affairs, literature and literary
Research is a systematic and organized effort to criticisms.
investigate a specific problem that needs a
solution. Research is not only undertaken to
References
solve the existing problem of but also contribute Bhattarai, A. (2009). The first activity in
to the formation of knowledge. Thus it is a research. Journal of NELTA. Vol.14: 21-
knowledge building process. It can be 25.
undertaken to fulfill different purposes. Basically Bist, R. B. (2014). Writing a research proposal:
research is undertaken to generate new A general guideline. Journal of NELTA.
knowledge, to solve the existing problems in the Vol.1:1-6.