PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 - The Research Process - EP.3 (Research Simplified)

Summary

In this informative episode of 'Research Simplify,' the host, Micah, narrates a personal story to emphasize the importance of following instructions in research. The video outlines seven essential steps in the research process: identifying the research problem, finding related literature, planning the research design, gathering data, analyzing data, formulating conclusions or insights, and defining a new problem. Micah stresses the significance of each step to ensure a relevant, innovative, and reliable study, and to avoid wasted effort.

Takeaways

• 📚 The importance of following instructions: A personal story about a quiz mistake highlights the need for careful reading to avoid wasting effort in research.
• 🔍 Identifying the research problem: The first step in research is to clearly define the problem you aim to solve or improve upon.
• 💡 Considering interests, funds, abilities, and time: These factors are crucial when formulating a research problem to ensure feasibility and success.
• 📘 Finding related literature: Reviewing existing studies is essential for understanding the current state of the topic and ensuring the research is innovative and relevant.
• 🧠 Expanding knowledge through literature: Gaining a deeper understanding of the topic helps in writing a more reliable and fact-based research paper.
• 📊 Planning the research design: The methodology should be tailored to the nature of the research, whether qualitative or quantitative.
• 📋 Gathering data: The type of research dictates the kind of questions asked, with quantitative research using closed-ended questions and qualitative research using open-ended ones.
• 📊 Analyzing data: Quantitative research relies on statistical tools, while qualitative research involves thematic analysis to find patterns and themes.
• 📝 Formulating conclusions or insights: The final step in research involves discussing the findings and answering the research questions based on the data analysis.
• 🔄 The cyclical nature of research: Research often ends with defining a new problem, suggesting a cycle of continuous exploration and learning.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the third episode of the 'Research Simplify' series?

The main theme of the third episode is the research process, emphasizing the importance of following instructions and the steps involved in conducting research.

What personal anecdote does the speaker share to illustrate the importance of reading instructions carefully?

The speaker shares an anecdote from their elementary school days when they prepared for a quiz on basic math operations but failed to read the instructions properly, leading to them performing multiplication instead of subtraction.

Why did the speaker's classmates laugh and murmur during the quiz?

The speaker's classmates laughed and murmured because they had finished the quiz quickly, while the speaker was still working on it due to not following the instructions correctly.

What lesson did the speaker's parents teach them after the quiz incident?

The speaker's parents taught them that even if all the answers were correct in terms of multiplication, they were wrong for the quiz that required subtraction, highlighting the importance of following instructions.

What are the four considerations mentioned for identifying a research problem?

The four considerations are interest in the topic, availability of funds, the researcher's ability, and the time given to complete the study.

Why is it important to find related literature when conducting research?

Finding related literature is important to understand the current status of the topic, ensure the research question is relevant and innovative, and to build upon existing knowledge and facts.

What is the significance of planning a research design in the methodology phase?

Planning a research design is crucial as it outlines the approach and methods to be used in the study, which can vary depending on whether the research is qualitative or quantitative.

What types of questions are used in quantitative research for data gathering?

In quantitative research, close-ended questions with specific answers such as yes or no, true or false, agree or disagree, or on a scale of one to five are used.

How does qualitative research differ in terms of data gathering compared to quantitative research?

Qualitative research uses open-ended questions that require explanations and are more appropriate for finding themes and gaining deeper insights from the participants.

What are the two types of analysis mentioned for quantitative and qualitative research respectively?

Quantitative research uses statistical tools or treatments for data analysis, while qualitative research employs thematic analysis to find themes from the answers.

What is the final step in the research process as described in the script?

The final step is defining a new problem, which is part of the cyclical nature of research, and also includes making recommendations for further studies.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Importance of Following Instructions in Research

In this paragraph, the speaker shares a personal anecdote from elementary school about a quiz that went awry due to not following instructions. The story serves as a metaphor for the research process, emphasizing the importance of starting with the right problem and following instructions carefully. The speaker outlines the first step in research: identifying the research problem, which should be the central focus. They highlight the need to consider personal interest, available funds, researcher ability, and the time frame for the study. This sets the foundation for a successful research endeavor, avoiding wasted effort and ensuring relevance and innovation.

05:01

🔍 Conducting Research: From Literature Review to Defining New Problems

This paragraph delves into the subsequent steps of the research process after identifying the problem. It underscores the significance of reviewing related literature to ensure the research question is both innovative and relevant, and to enhance one's understanding of the topic. The speaker then discusses planning the research design, which is contingent on the nature of the research—qualitative or quantitative. Data collection methods differ accordingly, with quantitative research using close-ended questions and qualitative research employing open-ended ones. The paragraph also touches on data analysis techniques, with statistical tools for quantitative research and thematic analysis for qualitative research. Finally, it concludes with formulating conclusions or new insights and defining a new problem, highlighting the cyclical nature of research and the importance of recommendations for future studies.

Keywords

💡Research Process

The 'Research Process' is the systematic approach to conducting research, which is the central theme of the video. It is defined as a series of steps that guide the researcher from identifying a problem to finding solutions and new insights. In the script, the research process is broken down into seven steps, emphasizing the importance of following these steps to avoid wasted effort and to ensure the research is relevant and innovative.

💡Multiplication

'Multiplication' is a basic arithmetic operation, but in the context of the video, it serves as a metaphor for the importance of understanding instructions in research. The speaker recounts a childhood experience where they prepared for a quiz on multiplication but ended up doing the wrong operation due to misreading the instructions, illustrating the consequences of not following the research process correctly.

💡Instructions

'Instructions' in the video refer to the guidelines or directions that must be followed in a task or process. The script uses the multiplication story to highlight the importance of reading and adhering to instructions in research to prevent errors and ensure the research is conducted as intended.

💡Interest

'Interest' in the script is discussed as a critical factor when choosing a research topic. It is defined as the passion or enthusiasm one has for a particular subject, which can make the research process less burdensome and more enjoyable. The video suggests that a researcher's interest in the topic is essential for maintaining motivation throughout the research journey.

💡Funds

'Funds' in the context of the video refer to the financial resources required to conduct research. The script mentions that some research projects necessitate funding and without sufficient financial support, the research may become difficult to carry out. It underscores the practical aspect of research planning, where financial considerations are as important as the research idea itself.

💡Research Problem

A 'Research Problem' is the issue or question that the research aims to address or solve. The script identifies it as the starting point of the research process, emphasizing that the research problem should be clearly defined to guide the entire study and ensure that the research contributes to solving societal issues or improving current solutions.

💡Literature Review

The 'Literature Review' is a critical step in the research process where existing research and studies related to the topic are examined. The script explains that this step is essential for understanding the current state of knowledge on the topic, ensuring that the research is innovative and not duplicating existing work, and for building a foundation of knowledge that informs the research.

💡Methodology

'Methodology' in the video refers to the approach or strategy used to design and conduct the research. It is a key component of the research process that depends on the nature of the research, whether qualitative or quantitative. The script suggests that planning the research design is a separate and detailed task that will be discussed in a different video, indicating its complexity and significance.

💡Data Collection

'Data Collection' is the process of gathering information or data relevant to the research problem. The script differentiates between quantitative research, which uses close-ended questions, and qualitative research, which uses open-ended questions. This step is crucial as the type of data collected will directly influence the analysis and conclusions drawn from the research.

💡Analysis

'Analysis' in the script refers to the examination and interpretation of the data collected during the research. Depending on whether the research is quantitative or qualitative, different tools and methods are used for analysis. The script mentions that the analysis is a critical step that leads to the formulation of conclusions or new insights, which are essential for answering the research questions.

💡Conclusions

'Conclusions' are the final statements or findings of the research, which in the context of the video, are differentiated based on the type of research. For quantitative research, the term 'conclusions' is used, while for qualitative research, the term 'new insights gained' is preferred. The script emphasizes that conclusions are derived from the analysis and are integral to answering the research questions and defining new problems for further study.

💡Recommendations

'Recommendations' in the script refer to suggestions for further research or actions based on the findings of the study. They are part of the final step in the research process, where new problems are defined, and future researchers are guided on potential directions for their work. The script implies that recommendations are a way to contribute to the ongoing cycle of research and knowledge development.

Highlights

Introduction to the research process in the third episode of 'Research Simplify'.

Anecdote about a childhood quiz mistake to emphasize the importance of following instructions in research.

The importance of not starting research without clear instructions to avoid wasted effort.

Step 1: Identifying the research problem as the central focus of the study.

Factors to consider when formulating a research problem: interest, funds, ability, and time.

Step 2: Finding related literature to understand the current status of the topic and ensure research relevance.

The role of literature review in enhancing knowledge and reliability of the research.

Step 3: Planning the research design based on the nature of the research, either qualitative or quantitative.

The necessity of a well-planned methodology for effective data collection and analysis.

Step 4: Gathering data using appropriate questions for quantitative or qualitative research.

The difference in data collection methods between quantitative and qualitative research.

Step 5: Analyzing data using statistical tools for quantitative or thematic analysis for qualitative research.

Importance of data analysis in deriving meaningful insights from research findings.

Step 6: Formulating conclusions or new insights gained from the data analysis.

The distinction between conclusions in quantitative research and new insights in qualitative research.

Step 7: Defining a new problem and suggesting recommendations for further studies.

The cyclical nature of research, beginning and ending with a problem to foster continuous learning.

Encouragement to observe the seven steps diligently when conducting research.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi everyone welcome to our third episode

today we're going to talk about the

research process this is my micah and

you're still watching

research simplify

since we're going to talk about the

research process this reminds me of

something

that happened in my past and allow me to

share it with you

this happened when i was in elementary

probably when i was in grade four

or grade five every friday we used to

have

quizzes for all of our subjects i would

really prepare

well and hard for all of the quizzes

because i was kind of a nerd when i was

young

even until now i have that like i'm a

nerd

within but there so

in mathematics our topic for the entire

week

was m multiplication division addition

and subtraction

and out of the four i practiced

for multiplication the most because it

takes so much time right especially if

you have to

multiply a lot of digits so you really

prepared

well and hard for that friday came

and they took the quiz and i was

wondering why my classmates

were done some of them were even

laughing and murmuring to one another

because they were all done and it was

just me still working on the quiz

but i still focused on it i

refused to listen to them i

refused to be bothered by them i just

really focused

and worked hard on the quiz i really

gave it my best

upon checking i realized that

i multiplied items

which should have been subtracted i did

not read the instructions

i really cried my heart out because i

really gave my

all for the quiz and it took me so much

time

and energy and effort to solve those i

think there were four

digits each so i went home and i told my

parents about it

and they were very cool about what

happened they just told me that's okay

all of your answers are correct it's

just that you did not read the

instructions

my answers were correct if

the instructions to multiply

but since it's for subtraction then all

of them were wrong

the same thing applies to research

ladies and gentlemen

even if we give it our best even if we

give

our all into something even if we work

hard

if we're not following the instructions

then all of our efforts will just end in

futility

and that is why our lesson for today is

very

very important you don't want to start

your research

wrong and then end up repeating it all

over again

that is going to take so much time and

energy from you

so pay attention

[Music]

step 1 identify the research problem

of course the research problem should be

the first to come because

this will be the center of your research

again our purpose in writing a research

is to solve

the problems that we have in the society

or to improve the solutions that we have

at the moment therefore in order to

solve something we first have to

identify what we want to solve

in thinking or in coming up with a

research problem there are things that

we have to consider

first is your interest how interested

are you

in the topic you have to be really

interested in it to not make the process

burdensome

the second one is funds there are some

researches

which require funding and if you don't

have enough funds for it

then don't push through with it it's

going to

be so difficult on your part if

you don't have enough funding or if you

do not have enough financial support

that you need for your study but if you

are well-funded then just go

the third consideration is your ability

as the researcher

of course we've undergone trainings and

there are things that we're good at

things that we're not so good at so

consider your ability

and come up with something that you can

really do the last consideration

is the time given for you to finish your

study find something that you can finish

for the particular

time given to you say for a couple of

months

or for a couple of years or for the

entire semester it depends upon your

professor step two is to find related

literature why is it important for us to

find

related literature or studies about our

topic

that is because without looking at the

current status

of our topic it will be difficult for us

to come up

with questions that are relevant to the

society probably we thought of a really

good question but then it turns out that

the solution is existing and so again

it's a waste of time

we want to come up with something that

is innovative

something that is updated and to make

sure that our studies updated

innovative and relevant we have to look

at the related literature

another thing is while we are looking

into these related literature

our knowledge about the topic also grows

and the more that we know about it the

more that we can write about it

using the studies of other people as

well will make our study

more reliable again in writing a

research paper it's a big no-no

for you to just simply put your opinions

without

looking into facts so related literature

is really very important

now that you have a problem and you have

already reviewed the literature related

to your study

it is about time that you plan your

research design

this falls under methodology and we're

going to have a separate video for that

to really discuss everything about

methodology again the methodology

depends highly on the nature of your

research

say you are writing a qualitative

research it's going to be completely

different compared to when you're

writing a quantitative

research still you have to plan your

research design you may base it

on your model pieces or the existing

designs

used by other researchers step four

is to gather your data

if you are writing a quantitative

research then you'll most probably

use close-ended questions questions

with specific answers such as yes or no

true or false agree or disagree

or on a scale of one to five there is a

specific answer

that is for quantitative research if you

are writing a qualitative research then

you will be asking open-ended questions

these are questions that require

explanations yes again we're looking for

themes

and that is why it is more appropriate

for us to ask

open-ended questions in gathering the

data there are a lot of things to

consider

as well we will be talking about the

ethics in our next episodes

after gathering your data it is about

time that you analyze them

in the previous video i've discussed

what analysis

is and how we perform it again when you

are writing quantitative research then

you're going to use

statistical tools or treatments to

analyze the data that you've gathered

whereas if you are writing a qualitative

research

then you're going to use a thematic

analysis or finding the themes

from the answers of your participants

step six after analyzing your data you

may now

formulate your conclusions for

quantitative research we use

the term conclusions but if it is

qualitative then we use

the new insights gained this is when

from the analysis of your data you're

going to discuss

and come up with your answers to your

questions

and the last step you've guessed it

right that is defining a new problem

again research is cyclical so it has to

begin with a problem and still end with

the problem

so the last step is to define a new

problem it is also in this part that

we come up with our recommendations for

further studies for our future

researchers

those are the seven steps that we have

to follow in writing our research paper

make sure to always observe them as you

write your own

thank you very much and god bless

[Music]

[Music]