PRACTICAL RESEARCH 1 - The Characteristics, Processes, and Ethics of Research

Summary

This instructional video for senior students delves into the core of research, exploring its characteristics, processes, and ethics. It outlines the seven essential traits of good research, the qualities of a researcher, and the seven-step research process, from defining a topic to formulating new insights. The script emphasizes the importance of ethics in research, including informed consent, objectivity, and respect for intellectual property, highlighting the responsibilities of researchers to maintain integrity and contribute to the advancement of knowledge.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Research should be empirical, logical, cyclical, analytical, critical, methodical, and replicable to be considered good.
• 🧠 A good researcher must possess intellectual curiosity, prudence, healthy criticism, intellectual honesty, and creativity.
• 📚 The seven steps of the research process include defining the research problem, finding background information, planning the research design, gathering data, processing and analyzing data, formulating insights and conclusions, and defining new problems based on recommendations.
• 📝 Ethics in research are crucial and include objectivity, integrity, respect for privacy and dignity, accurate presentation of findings, and avoidance of misuse of research role.
• 🙋‍♂️ Informed consent is necessary to protect the rights of research participants, ensuring they are aware of the study's criteria and the voluntary nature of their participation.
• 📉 Honesty in research involves accurately reporting data, results, methods, and procedures without fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation.
• 🔬 Objectivity in research design and data analysis is essential to avoid bias and ensure the validity of findings.
• 🤝 Integrity requires researchers to keep promises, act sincerely, and strive for consistency in thought and action.
• 🌐 Openness in research involves sharing data, results, ideas, tools, and resources, and being receptive to criticism and new ideas.
• 📜 Respect for intellectual property is vital, which includes not using, publishing, or plagiarizing data, methods, or results without permission and giving credit where it's due.
• 🔒 Confidentiality is key in protecting sensitive information such as personal records, trade secrets, and patient records to ensure privacy and trust.

Q & A

What are the seven characteristics of good research according to Maureen Callaghan's 2012 definition?

The seven characteristics of good research are: 1) Empirical, based on direct experience or observation; 2) Logical, based on valid procedures and principles; 3) Cyclical, a process that starts and ends with a problem; 4) Analytical, utilizing proven analytical procedures; 5) Critical, exhibiting careful and precise judgment; 6) Methodical, conducted without bias using systematic methods; 7) Possessing replicability, allowing for the research to be repeated for validation.

What are the intrinsic and acquired qualities a researcher should have?

A researcher should have qualities such as intellectual curiosity, prudence, healthy criticism, intellectual honesty, and intellectual creativity.

What are the seven steps of the research process?

The seven steps are: 1) Define and develop the research problem; 2) Find background information and review literature; 3) Plan the research design and methodology; 4) Gather necessary data; 5) Process and analyze the data; 6) Formulate insights, conclusions, and recommendations; 7) Define new problems based on recommendations.

What factors should be considered when selecting a research problem?

Factors to consider include the researcher's area of interest, availability of funds, and the researcher's ability and training.

Why is it important to review literature when defining a research problem?

Reviewing literature helps to clarify what has been studied, the available research resources, and how useful the previous research is. It can also identify aspects of the problem that remain unsolved.

What is the purpose of research design in the research process?

Research design decides how the research materials will be collected and provides insights into how to conduct research using a particular methodology.

What are some challenges that may arise during data collection?

Challenges may include the research method not suiting the context properly, interviewees being unwilling to participate, and potential bias that could affect the study's results.

How should research findings be reported in a research report?

Research findings should be reported by describing the significance of the study, relating it to previous research, and discussing unanswered questions and suggestions for future research.

What are the ethical principles that guide scientific research conduct and dissemination?

Ethical principles include objectivity and integrity, respect for participants' rights, honest reporting, avoidance of bias, and maintaining confidentiality.

What is the importance of informed consent in research involving human subjects?

Informed consent is crucial to protect participants' rights, ensuring they are aware of the study's criteria, schedule, and that their participation is voluntary.

How can research misconduct, such as plagiarism, affect the research community?

Research misconduct can erode trust between researchers and funding agencies, making it more difficult for colleagues to receive grants and damaging the credibility of scientific work.