Module 3 NOTES
Caribbean Studies
[Ms Blades]
Research Research is the systematic process of collecting and analysing information to increase our understanding of the issue under study. It is the function of the researcher to contribute to the understanding of the issue and to communicate that understanding to others. Research involves building on work that has been done before and it is filtered through theoretical frameworks. The purpose of research is to generate new knowledge, solve a problem, or test a theory.
Conceptualising a Research Project in a Systematic Way
1. Identify the problem that impacts on human development;
2. Formulate a research question(s) or a hypothesis on the particular problem;
3. Conduct a literature review. This would inform you about as many aspects of the topic as possible. You can use books, newspaper articles, online sources, etc;
4. Collect the information using one or many data collection strategies, e.g. questionnaire, observation, interview etc;
5. Analyse the information collected;
6. Interpret the data. Discuss fully the findings of your research to previous findings (those discussed in the lit review).
Types of Research
1. Basic – development of theory by discovering broad generalisations;
2. Applied – includes sampling techniques and subsequent inferences about the target population (statistics are explored);
3. Action – focus is on immediate application, not on the development of theory;
4. Descriptive – aims to gather information that illuminates relationships, patterns, and links between various variables, e.g. finding the link between student study skills and course drop-out rates;
5. Explanatory – aims to explain why relationship patterns and links occur, e.g. how could study skills support/improve student retention;
6. Predictive – the purpose is to develop a model which predicts the likely course of events given particular intervening variables;
7. Evaluative – aims to evaluate the impact of something, e.g. a
[Ms Blades]
Research Research is the systematic process of collecting and analysing information to increase our understanding of the issue under study. It is the function of the researcher to contribute to the understanding of the issue and to communicate that understanding to others. Research involves building on work that has been done before and it is filtered through theoretical frameworks. The purpose of research is to generate new knowledge, solve a problem, or test a theory.
Conceptualising a Research Project in a Systematic Way
1. Identify the problem that impacts on human development;
2. Formulate a research question(s) or a hypothesis on the particular problem;
3. Conduct a literature review. This would inform you about as many aspects of the topic as possible. You can use books, newspaper articles, online sources, etc;
4. Collect the information using one or many data collection strategies, e.g. questionnaire, observation, interview etc;
5. Analyse the information collected;
6. Interpret the data. Discuss fully the findings of your research to previous findings (those discussed in the lit review).
Types of Research
1. Basic – development of theory by discovering broad generalisations;
2. Applied – includes sampling techniques and subsequent inferences about the target population (statistics are explored);
3. Action – focus is on immediate application, not on the development of theory;
4. Descriptive – aims to gather information that illuminates relationships, patterns, and links between various variables, e.g. finding the link between student study skills and course drop-out rates;
5. Explanatory – aims to explain why relationship patterns and links occur, e.g. how could study skills support/improve student retention;
6. Predictive – the purpose is to develop a model which predicts the likely course of events given particular intervening variables;
7. Evaluative – aims to evaluate the impact of something, e.g. a