What are Research Skills? A Guide on How to Improve Your Research Skills

Source: DiscoverPhDs

Introduction

Research is a skill that has to be built and enhanced thereafter. Many individuals indulge in research practices. The research follows a series of steps and has a proper method that one needs to intake in order to find valuable and informative points. 

Starting From Theory

• To evaluate a collation of previous research and locate or develop a model or theory. A theory or model proposes relationships between abstract concepts and allows for generalizations based on individual situations and facts

• If no previous research is identified or is of meagre quality, then defining a research problem or research question is necessarily

Collating The Information And Writing The Research Review

Tips for writing a literature review

1. Arrange notes in a logical order

2. Identify the major themes - these can be used as draft major headings. Sort abstracts, reviewed articles, and notes to fit under the headings. Revise the headings, order, or both, as necessary.

3. Look for relationships among ideas and group them as subtopics. Build a step-by-step, hierarchical list of the points you plan to cover,

4. Avoid long lists of subtopics. Consider combining. Use the outline as a working draft. Revise and edit it as you proceed.

5. Let your outline sit for a few days, then look at it again and see what ideas don't seem to fit, which points need to be expanded, and so on.

No matter how carefully you construct your outline, it will inevitably change.

Keyword Search - Boolean Operators 

Certain keywords can be used while searching for research topics. These include:

• AND - narrows the search

• OR - broadens the search

• NOT - excludes the concept 

Steps In Developing a Research Study

1. Read general background information to gain an overview 

2. Identify useful keywords for the literature search 

3. Conduct a preliminary literature search - literature review will locate relevant research articles that may offer other keywords

4. Refine the topic following an initial literature review 

5. Define the topic as a research question within a conceptual and theoretical framework 

6. Research the literature on the narrowed research question/framework 

7. Formulate testable hypotheses

Locating A Problem To Investigate

• Personal Experience 

• Theory 

• Journal Articles 

• Discussion with colleagues and peers

Deduction

Starts with a theory or hypothesis from which certain other things should logically follow. These implications can be tested and on the basis of the results, the initial theory/hypothesis can be supported or rejected. This process is the deductive process - a top-down strategy, working from the general to the specific.

EXISTING THEORY

HYPOTHESIS

OBSERVATIONS

CONFIRMATION

Classifying Research

1. Inductive research - theory building.

Data collected and patterns in data examined. This aids the development of a theory or model. Usually, qualitative research is within the interpretivist paradigm.

2. Deductive research – theory testing.

A theory provides several predictions (hypotheses) about how things are in the world. We gather data to test hypotheses. Usually quantitative research within a positivist paradigm.

Research Paradigms

• The Positivist paradigm: underlies the scientific quantitative research method

• Interpretivist paradigm (also called Constructivism or Phenomenology): underlies the naturalistic qualitative research method.

Types of Research

Research can be classified as qualitative and quantitative research.

Qualitative	Quantitative
The aim of qualitative analysis is a complete, detailed description.	In the quantitative approach, researchers classify and count features, and construct statistical models in an attempt to explain what is observed.
In the quantitative approach, researchers classify and count features, and construct statistical models in an attempt to explain what is observed. Recommended during earlier phases of research projects.	Recommended during the latter phases of research projects.
Researchers may only know roughly in advance what they are looking for.	The researcher knows clearly in advance what they are investigating.
The design emerges as the study unfolds.	All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected.
The researcher is the data gathering instrument.	The researcher uses questionnaires, attitudes scales, tests, or equipment to collect numerical data.
Data are usually words, pictures (e.g. videos), or objects (artefacts).	Data are always numbers and statistics.
Qualitative data are more 'rich', time-consuming, and less able to be generalized.	Quantitative data are more efficient, and able to test hypotheses but may miss contextual detail.
The researcher tends to become subjectively immersed in the subject matter.	The researcher tends to remain objectively separated from the subject matter.

Conclusion

Research, which is classified as qualitative and quantitative research follows a series of steps. These range from collating information, keyword searching, developing a research study, locating a problem to investigate, and thereafter carrying out the procedure.  

Written by-Srishti Kumar