Research Design Seb

Chapter 1:

Origin of the Word 'Research'

  • The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines research both as a noun and a verb.
  • This word entered the English language from Old or Middle French. In Middle French the verb rechercher means to go about seeking. In Old French the verb recerchier means to search again.
  • The first known use of the word research in the English language was in 1577.

Research As a Noun

  • The Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides three definitions of research that show the different meanings of the word.
  • Careful or diligent search;
    • Studious inquiry or examination; especially: investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revisions of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical applications of such new or revised theories or laws;
    • The collecting of information about a particular subject.

Choosing the Right Definition

  • From our careful review of the dictionary definitions of the word research, we are now better aware of the various uses of the word in the English language and it should be clear that our course will investigate aspects related to the definition #2 of the noun research.
  • research n.
    • studious inquiry or examination;
    • especially: investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revisions of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical applications of such new or revised theories or laws
  • If we look at this definition carefully, it explains the what, how and why of research.

Research As a Verb

  • As a verb, the basic definition of research is:
    • to study (something) carefully: to collect information about or for (something)
  • The full definitions include the transitive verb:
    • To search or investigate exhaustively (e.g. research a problem)
    • To do research for (e.g. research a book)
  • and the intransitive verb
    • To engage in research

Pure Research (AKA Basic or Fundamental Research)

  • If we consider what is being investigated, there are two main types of research: pure and applied.
  • Pure research is mainly concerned with better understanding fundamental concepts. This type of research generates:
    • abstract principles
    • fundamental knowledge
    • scientific theories
    • ideas
    • new fields of study

Applied Research

  • Applied Research uses the results of basic (pure) research to:
    • explain natural phenomena;
    • develop new technologies;
    • solve practical problems, etc.

Misconceptions About Scientific Research

  • Here are a few things that you might be thinking regarding scientific research, although they are not always true:
    • It is only searching/gathering existing knowledge
    • Rearranging/rewording/compiling existing information from one or more other sources can be considered research
    • It is always very complicated
    • It is always theoretical
    • It always require a great deal of resources
    • It is only valuable if it leads to innovation
    • It is only considered successful if it answers the question that triggered it or if it confirms the hypothesis it started with
    • It is only done in higher education institutions
    • Can only be done by scientists or academics
    • It is only done in fields related to exact science or technology

Examples of Research Topics

  • Culture and society: examine the role of curling clubs in rural Canada; collect and examine the facial thickness of various ethnic groups among the Aboriginal peoples; determine the effect of global migration on the cities of the future;
  • Art: determining if/what regional factors are affecting participation in artistic programs;
  • Business: determining how the level of education influences consumer behaviour.
  • Is research applicable to your field of study? What topics are current or would be of interest to you? What are some important issues in your field that would need solving?

Skills for Research Success:

  • to research is to plan, search, create, reflect, etc.
  • Research activities, teams and methods are very diverse and so are the skills which can help achieve success in research:
    • motivation
    • curiosity
    • creativity
    • teamwork
    • leadership
    • strong ethics
    • critical thinking
    • problem-solving
    • thinking outside of the box

Research Publications:

Even if you are not participating in research directly, you benefit from research results and you can also learn about them in research publications. Here are some specific characteristics of such publications:

  • Purpose: disseminating the results of academic research and scholarship.
  • Format: articles, reviews, case studies, reports, methodologies, etc.
  • Audience: students, researchers and academics; anyone interested in scientific research or expanding their knowledge about a specific subject.

In general, research publications will include many of the following components:

  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Introduction / Background
  • Methods
  • Discussion / Results
  • Conclusion
  • References

Information structured in this way helps facilitate the readers' access to all the required information, so they can understand and, if necessary, verify and critique the research activity described by the publication.

You can access research publications from many sources. Here are the main types of research publications you can trust:

  • Open access journals and databases; free to read and download.
  • Among the electronic resources made available by libraries; is free access based on membership and credentials.
  • Directly from the publishers; paid access/download or membership.

These are just some of the sources, though. For instance, there are many articles published by independent authors, less reputable journals or published directly on various websites. Here are some things to consider when assessing the reliability of a research publication:

  • Authors: reputation, belonging to a reputable institution;
  • Publication: scholarly/scientific journal, reputation, methods of selection, reputation of reviewers and editors;
  • Peer-reviewed: research assessed by other scientists and specialists;
  • References: arguments built on reliable previous knowledge;
  • Research methods: transparent, appropriate, reproducible.