PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 - Characteristics of Research - EP.2 (Research Simplified)

Summary

This video script by Maika from 'Research Simplified' outlines the seven key characteristics that distinguish research from other technical writings. Empirical, logical, cyclical, analytical, critical, methodical, and replicable are the traits discussed, each explained with clear examples to emphasize the importance of evidence-based observation, validation, systematic procedures, and unbiased judgment in the research process. The script aims to educate viewers on the cyclical nature of research, which begins and ends with questions, encouraging further exploration and validation by future researchers.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Research is Empirical: It relies on observation using the five senses to gather evidence-based data.
• 🔄 Research is Logical: It must be valid and measure what it intends to measure, ensuring the study's validity.
• 🔁 Research is Cyclical: It starts and ends with a problem, allowing for continuous inquiry and future research.
• 📚 Research is Analytical: It involves breaking down data into parts using proven analytical procedures.
• 🤔 Research is Critical: It requires careful and precise judgment, being objective and non-biased in interpreting results.
• 📈 Research is Methodical: It follows a systematic procedure, often guided by a model thesis for consistency.
• 🔄 Research has Replicability: It should be repeatable with the same design and procedures to achieve valid results.
• 🔬 Observation is Key: The five senses play a crucial role in the empirical nature of research.
• 📐 Use of Analytical Tools: Quantitative research uses statistical tools, while qualitative research identifies themes.
• 🔍 Comparative Analysis: Critical research involves comparing one's study with related literature to ensure validity and reliability.
• 📝 Systematic Methodology: A model thesis serves as a guide for the methodology, emphasizing the importance of a structured approach.

Q & A

What are the seven characteristics of research mentioned in the script?

The seven characteristics of research are empirical, logical, cyclical, analytical, critical, methodical, and replicable.

How does the script define 'empirical' research?

Empirical research is defined as being based on observation using the five senses, ensuring that the data gathered is evidence-based and can be proven again.

Why is the logical characteristic important in research?

The logical characteristic is important because it ensures that the research can be validated by measuring what it intends to measure, which is crucial for the validity of the study.

Can you explain the cyclical nature of research as described in the script?

The cyclical nature of research means that it begins with a problem and ends with another problem, allowing for further questions and potentially future research to continue exploring the topic.

What does it mean for research to be analytical?

Research is analytical if it uses proven analytical procedures in data gathering, which involves breaking down something into its parts to understand it better.

How is critical judgment applied in research?

Critical judgment in research involves being careful and precise in drawing conclusions, being objective and non-biased, and ensuring the validity and reliability of the study by comparing it with related literature.

What is the significance of research being methodical?

Research being methodical signifies that it follows a systematic procedure, which helps in maintaining a structured approach and ensures the study is replicable.

Why is replicability an essential characteristic of research?

Replicability is essential because it ensures that the research design and procedures can be repeated to arrive at valid results, which is a key aspect of scientific validity.

What is the role of a model thesis in conducting research?

A model thesis serves as a guide, especially in the methodology part, by providing a systematic procedure that researchers can follow to ensure their study is methodical and replicable.

How does the script relate the use of a thermometer to the logical aspect of research?

The script uses a thermometer as an example to illustrate that research should measure what it intends to measure, just as a thermometer measures temperature and not weight, ensuring the logical validity of the research tools used.

What are some examples of analytical procedures in research?

Examples of analytical procedures include using statistical tools for quantitative research to examine variables and thematic analysis for qualitative research to identify themes in the data.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Empirical and Logical Foundations of Research

This paragraph introduces the first two characteristics of research: being empirical and logical. Empirical research is grounded in observation using the five senses, ensuring that data is evidence-based and reproducible. Logical research is validated by measuring what it intends to measure, using appropriate tools for the task, and avoiding the use of tools for unintended purposes, which would render the research invalid. The importance of logical validation is emphasized to ensure the study's validity and reliability.

05:00

🔄 Cyclical Nature and Analytical Approach in Research

The paragraph discusses the cyclical nature of research, which begins and ends with a problem, encouraging further inquiry and questions. It also highlights the analytical characteristic of research, which involves breaking down data into its components using proven analytical procedures. The type of analysis depends on the research, with quantitative research identifying variables and qualitative research identifying themes. The use of statistical tools for quantitative analysis and thematic analysis for qualitative research is mentioned, with a note that a separate video will delve deeper into these topics.

📚 Critical Evaluation and Methodical Process in Research

This paragraph emphasizes the critical aspect of research, which requires careful and precise judgment, objectivity, and non-bias in interpreting results. It also stresses the importance of literature review and comparative analysis to ensure the study's validity and reliability. The methodical characteristic is introduced, where research should follow a systematic procedure, often guided by a model thesis, which outlines the methodology and procedures for data gathering. The paragraph concludes with a promise of a separate video on methodology.

🔄 Replicability and Validity in Research Design

The final paragraph focuses on the last characteristic of research: replicability. It states that a study should be repeatable with the same research design and procedures to yield valid results, serving as a model for other researchers. The importance of replicability for the study's validity is underscored, and the paragraph concludes with a summary of the seven characteristics of research discussed in the script, ending with a sign-off from the presenter.

Keywords

💡Empirical

Empirical research is grounded in observation and data collection using the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. It is essential for ensuring that the findings are evidence-based and can be verified or falsified through repeated observations. In the video, the term 'empirical' is used to emphasize that research relies on tangible observations to produce data that can be proven or disproven.

💡Logical

Logical research is characterized by its validity, meaning it measures what it is intended to measure. The video uses the analogy of a thermometer measuring temperature to illustrate the concept of logical research. It highlights that a study is considered logical if it accurately assesses the intended variables, which is crucial for the validity of research findings.

💡Cyclical

The term 'cyclical' in the context of research refers to the iterative nature of the research process, where it begins and ends with a problem. The video script explains that research is cyclical because it often leads to new questions, inviting further exploration and potentially future studies, thus perpetuating the cycle of inquiry.

💡Analytical

Analytical research involves breaking down complex data into its constituent parts to understand the underlying patterns or structures. The video mentions that in quantitative research, variables are identified, while in qualitative research, themes are the focus. The analytical process is vital for interpreting data and drawing meaningful conclusions.

💡Critical

Critical research demands careful and precise judgment, avoiding subjectivity and bias in interpreting results. The video emphasizes the importance of objectivity and honesty in research findings, as well as the need for comparative analysis with existing literature to ensure the study's validity and reliability.

💡Methodical

Methodical research adheres to a systematic procedure, ensuring a structured approach to data collection and analysis. The video introduces the concept of a 'model thesis' as a guide for following a methodical process in research, which is essential for maintaining consistency and replicability in study outcomes.

💡Replicability

Replicability in research refers to the ability of a study to be repeated, ideally yielding similar valid results. The video script stresses that a research study should serve as a model that can be replicated by other researchers in different settings or with altered variables, which is a testament to its validity.

💡Observation

Observation is a fundamental aspect of empirical research, where data is collected through the senses. The video script explains that observation is the basis for evidence-based data collection, which is essential for the empirical nature of research.

💡Validation

Validation in research is the process of confirming that the study measures what it is intended to measure. The video uses the example of a thermometer to illustrate the concept of validation, emphasizing that a study is valid only if it accurately assesses the intended variables.

💡Thematic Analysis

Thematic analysis is a method used in qualitative research to identify, analyze, and report patterns or themes within data. The video mentions thematic analysis as a part of the analytical process in qualitative research, where themes are identified to interpret and understand the data collected.

💡Model Thesis

A model thesis is a document or study that serves as a guide for conducting research, particularly in the methodology section. The video script suggests using a model thesis to help structure the research process and ensure a methodical approach to data collection and analysis.

Highlights

The seven characteristics that differentiate research from other types of technical writing.

Research is empirical, based on observation using the five senses.

Data in research should be evidence-based and reproducible.

Research is logical and can be validated by measuring what it intends to measure.

The importance of using appropriate tools for measurement in research.

Research is cyclical, beginning and ending with a problem to encourage further inquiry.

The role of future researchers in continuing the cycle of inquiry.

Research is analytical, using proven procedures to break down and examine data.

The difference in analytical approaches between quantitative and qualitative research.

Research is critical, requiring careful and precise judgment to avoid subjectivity.

The necessity of comparing research findings with related literature for validity.

Research is methodical, following a systematic procedure guided by a model thesis.

The importance of a model thesis in structuring the methodology of a research paper.

Research has replicability, meaning it can be repeated to achieve valid results.

The value of a study serving as a model for other researchers to replicate.

The invalidity of research that cannot be replicated.

A summary of the seven characteristics of research for easy understanding.

Transcripts

[Music]

what are the characteristics of research

those are quite simple this is momika

and you are still watching

research simplified

makes research different from all the

other types of technical writing

for today we're going to talk about the

seven characteristics

and these are empirical logical

cyclical analytical critical

methodical and repeatability

let's start the first trait is empirical

research is empirical if it is based on

observation

and when you hear the word observation i

want you to think

of your five senses the sense of sight

sense of hearing

sense of smell sense of taste and sense

of touch

it is through observation using our five

senses

that we can say that our data are

evidence-based

and can be proven again research

by nature is empirical because we use

observation in data gathering

the second characteristic is logical

research is logical because it can be

validated

the only way for us to say that a

certain study is valid

is if it measures what it intends to

measure

for example a thermometer a thermometer

intends to measure

the temperature we cannot use a

thermometer to measure

the weight of a person in the same way

that we cannot use a weighing scale

to get the temperature of someone on

that note using

a thermometer to measure the weight of a

person makes our thermometer invalid

but if we're going to use a thermometer

to measure the temperature of someone

then it is valid research therefore

should always be logical

it should have the ability to measure

what it intends to measure

and that of course is based on the topic

or the research problem

again research is logical if it measures

what it intends

to measure the third characteristic that

we have is cyclical

from the word cycle research is cyclical

if it begins with a problem

and ends with a problem now i hear you

why do we have to start with the problem

and still end with a problem

that may sound crazy and such a waste of

time right

but that is really how it goes in

research that is

we begin with our problem and then by

the end of our discussion

of our research once you have found the

answers to the questions that you've

asked

in your statement of the problem that is

when you ask

further questions so that if

ever other researchers find your study

interesting

and they want to continue on looking for

additional knowledge about it

then they may opt to do so that is also

why

future researchers are always included

in the recommendations

again research is cyclical if it begins

with a problem and ends

with another problem the fourth

characteristic

is analytical research is analytical if

it uses

proven analytical procedures in data

gathering

when we say analysis this means breaking

down

of something into its parts for example

i

ask you to analyze an electric fan

what you're going to do is you're going

to break down the electric fan into its

parts

i'm not saying you're going to destroy

the electric fan okay i'm saying you

have to identify its parts

say it's power cord it's plug it's

gears it's motor housing and all these

other parts

through that or by doing so that is when

we can finally say that we've analyzed

that particular electric plan the same

thing goes with research

but when it comes to research the

analysis depends

highly on the kind of research that you

are writing

for example you are writing a

quantitative research

then you're going to identify the

variables whereas if you are writing a

qualitative research

then you're going to identify the themes

in analyzing quantitative research we

use statistical tools and treatments

to examine the data that we've gathered

however

in qualitative research writing we

identify the themes

through the use of thematic analysis

later on we will have

a separate video on these so don't worry

you'll understand

everything about it again research is

analytical if it uses

proven analytical procedures in data

gathering

the next one is critical research is

critical

if it exhibits careful and precise

judgment

in research writing we have to be very

careful when it comes to chomping into

conclusions

always remember to not be subjective

in interpreting the results to always be

objective

or non-biased in doing so let us not

allow our emotions to take over

and strive to be honest in delivering

the results of our study

it is also very important that we look

into the related literature first

and make a comparative analysis between

our study and the studies of others

so that we can be certain that ours is

valid

and reliable again research is critical

if it exhibits careful and precise

judgment

the sixth characteristic is methodical

research is methodical if it follows

a systematic procedure at this point let

me introduce the term

model thesis as i was writing a research

paper

i was advised to look for a model thesis

or something

very similar to my topic this

model thesis is intended to guide me as

i perform my study

and mind you it truly helps especially

in the methodology part

wherein we state the procedures that

we're going to do

in gathering our data research is

methodical because it should always

follow a systematic procedure which of

course depends also on the type of

research that you are writing

we will also be having a separate video

on methodology so keep posting

the last term is replaceability research

has replicability

if the research design and procedures

may be repeated

and still arrive at valid results in the

same way that we used a model thesis

our study should also serve as a model

thesis for odd researchers

that is if they want to conduct the same

study in a different setup

or to change some of the variables our

study should have

replicability for the quality of being

repeated and still arrive

at valid results if it is not replicable

then it is not valid that's it for our

short and simple

discussion for today i hope that you've

learned and understood the seven

characteristics of research

this has been maika thank you and god

[Music]