RESEARCH THEORIES AND METHODS

Introduction The course in research theories and methods is designed to equip students with knowledge and skills in understanding of scientific perspectives and paradigm shifts from a historical perspective. It aims at equipping students with skills to critically analyze and apply complex theoretical concepts in both qualitative and quantitative scientific research. It provides students with a capacity to use complex qualitative and statistical methods in social research. In this regard, students are provided with adequate knowledge and skills that enable them to formulate and discuss research questions in an independent and creative manner. Once they have acquired knowledge in research theories and methods, students are able to conduct a critical review of earlier research published in scientific journals, articles and reports. To this effect, students need to be critical thinkers by using their reasoning or thoughts and reflection on the role of science, its possibilities and its limitations in explaining social reality. They should therefore question the validity of theoretical research and scientific methods employed in explaining reality, and moreover take their positions in scientific inquiries. Knowledge on Theory and Methods The knowledge I had about theory and methods was so little because I didnt understand how theory and methods can be used to explain, describe and predict social reality. As a social worker, I didnt understand how to relate theory and methods to social work practice. Therefore, I could not critically analyze whether theoretical research and scientific methods would generate accurate knowledge about reality. In short, I didnt have knowledge on how to question the validity and reliability of theory and scientific methods in knowledge acquisition. In this regard, I critically analysed my knowledge on theory and methods, and realized that I needed adequate knowledge on how theory and methods can help me in understanding social reality. However, I understood theory as a set of ideas and assumptions used to explain reality in terms of cause and effect relationship. On the other hand, I understood methods as scientific procedures that are used to generate knowledge concerning reality. Expectations and Thoughts on Theory and Methods The little knowledge I had on theory and methods gave me a lot of expectations and thoughts on how understanding of theory and scientific methods would enhance my research skills and knowledge. To this effect, I expected to achieve a capacity to analyze and apply complex theoretical concepts in qualitative and quantitative scientific studies. I thought this would help me understand how to use complex qualitative and statistical methods in social research. I also
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expected to learn how to critically analyze ethical issues in conducting research with human beings. More so, I had thoughts on how theory and methods would help me gain knowledge and skills that would in turn enable me to critically review earlier research published in scientific journals. Additionally, I had expectations and thoughts on how to use theory and scientific methods in social work. Thus, I expected to acquire knowledge on how to link theory and methods to the field of social work. All in all, I expected to gain insights in the role of science, its possibilities and limitations in answering questions about reality. Reflection on Research Theories and Methods The philosophy of social science has helped me gain an insight in the role of science, its possibilities and limitations in explaining reality (Winch, 2007). In this regard, I am now able to question theory and scientific methods that are employed to investigate social reality. Consequently, nothing should be taken for granted as the truth until its existence is subjected to scientific investigations and prove its existence in reality. In this regard, theory and scientific methods cannot adequately answer all questions about existence of reality in an objective manner. We should therefore investigate and question the validity and reliability of scientific methods and theory in explaining and predicting the existence of human knowledge. This means that we should not only have knowledge of the research process and research methods, but also knowledge of ourselves as researchers and thus be conscious of the choices that we make. Consequently, I have to position myself based on my reasoning and reflection on theory and scientific methods. This is because research with human beings is a complex issue that cannot avoid subjectivity and bias. Thus, this calls for the researchers constructive, critical analysis of all scientific procedures to be taken when conducting research. By and large, scientific investigations and use of theory in generating knowledge require the use of clear language in describing, explaining, predicting and interpretation of social reality. Thus, use of clear language in scientific studies ensures clarity in interpretation and understanding of reality. Moreover, lack of conceptual frameworks or clear definition of concepts in scientific studies makes it difficult for research findings to be interpreted and understood. Additionally, generalization of research findings needs to be questioned and be critically examined to see if findings are representative of social reality. All in all, scientific inquiries should involve reasoning and reflection on theory and scientific methods, and hence justification of research findings in knowledge acquisition.

RESEARCH THEORIES AND METHODS

My Position on Theory and Methods: Based on the ideas of Winch (2007), I am now convinced and believe that theory and methods are ways of knowledge-acquisition concerning reality. This is because new discoveries about reality can only be established through theoretical research and scientific methods. However, this should be supported by reasoning and reflection on how theory and method can help in generating knowledge about reality. My understanding now is that theory and scientific methods (both qualitative and quantitative methods) should be questioned in terms of how ethical issues, analysis, research designs are employed in investigating social reality. More so, I believe theory and methods should be subjected to theoretical and empirical tests since they cannot exhaustive in their knowledge acquisition. Thus, mixed methods in knowledge acquisition should be applied and further research be conducted in establishing the existence of social reality. All in all, the two methods of acquiring knowledge, namely social science and natural science should be subjected to empirical research to establish their objectivity in scientific investigation of reality. However, in social sciences, you cannot be completely objective in scientific investigations but rather be subjective. This is because social sciences study human behaviour which is complex. Thus, it is difficult to avoid personal judgment and bias in understanding social reality. Knowledge acquired on Research Theories and Methods Research theories and methods have helped me gain adequate knowledge and skills in conducting theoretical and empirical research in order to generate knowledge about social reality. This has broadened my understanding of how theory and scientific methods should be used to generate knowledge. Moreover, I have gained knowledge on how research should be critically analysed to check if it is scientifically done by looking at the link between research questions and theories, methods of data collection and analysis. Thus, I have learnt and understood that even if theory and methods are ways of generating knowledge, they should never be taken for granted as truth in knowledge acquisition but rather be subjected to theoretical and empirical research. More so, I have learned that analysis of data starts at the time you are coming up with research questions. Thus, analysis is part of the whole research process, and should include theoretical perspectives or conceptual frameworks. To this effect, I have learnt that our reasoning and reflection on new discoveries made by scientific methods through observations and experimental research should act as a platform to question the validity and reliability of scientific knowledge.
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Knowledge on Qualitative Methods Exposure to qualitative research methods has helped me know how to prepare and conduct interviews. This knowledge on interviews has given me the ability to use probing skills in interviewing. More so, I have known how to use different types of interviews that include structured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews. I have learnt and understood that there is no common procedure for research interviews but an interview investigation can be outlined in seven method stages: Thematizing, designing the study so it addresses the research questions, the interview itself, transcribing, analyzing, verification and reporting (Kvale, 2009; Gilbert, 2008). Additionally, I have learnt how to code data and come up with themes from qualitative data. This has in turn enabled me to know how to analyze qualitative research data using thematic content analysis. All in all, I have learnt that the research interview is characterized by a methodological awareness of question forms, a focus on the dynamics of interaction between interviewer and interviewee, and also a critical attention to what is said. By and large, I have gained adequate knowledge and known that qualitative data and quantitative data methods can use different methods of data analysis, sampling methods and language in interpretation of research findings. However, researchers can use mixed methods depending on the scope of research. Knowledge on Quantitative Methods Exposure to quantitative research methods has provided me with adequate knowledge on quantitative data analysis using SPSS (Greasley, 2008; Afifi, 2004). More so, I have gained the capacity to do data analysis using different types of variables (categorical and continuous variables). Thus, I am able to recode variables and use univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses. Initially, I didnt know that categorical variables can only be used with cross tabulations, and continuous variables in correlation, while a combination of continuous and categorical variables in comparing means. I thus ended up cross tabulating continuous variables and used categorical variables in correlation. On the other hand, I have learnt that regression (simple, binary logistic, multiple linear and logistic regressions) are used to predict relationships between variables. All in all, quantitative research methods have provided me with knowledge on how to do univariate, bivariate and multivariate data analyses and statistical tests using SPSS. In quantitative research methods, you can only generalize findings and do statistical tests when you have a sample frame and randomly selected the subjects. However, when you have no sample frame, you can use convenient sample (total population). In quantitative research, I also

RESEARCH THEORIES AND METHODS

gained knowledge on how to prepare questionnaires using variables. This knowledge has broadened my research skills in quantitative research methods. Knowledge on Research Ethics I have gained knowledge on how research ethics should guide researchers in the formulation of questions and conduct of research. I have believed and understood that ethical issues should be part of the research process (Gilbert, 2008). However, it is practically difficult for researchers to follow research ethics. Thus, violation of research ethics results in ethical dilemmas which can be difficult to deal with. Exposure to theory and methods has also given me insights into power relations in research process. Knowledge on Databases I have acquired new knowledge on how to access books, journals and articles from the library databases. With this new knowledge on literature searches, I am able to search for books, journals and articles in the field of social work and its related fields. To this effect, I now have adequate knowledge on literature searches. This is the skill which I didnt possess before I did research theories and methods. Possible Consequences of Research Theories and Methods on Future Studies, Career and Personal Development As a student who is expected to prepare a degree report in partial fulfillment of masters programme, I have gained adequate knowledge on research theories and scientific methods that will enable me to do my thesis. Thus, the knowledge on theory and methods has greatly improved my understanding of theoretical and empirical research. I am therefore able to conduct a critical review of earlier research published in scientific journals, articles and reports. My critical review of scientific journals, articles and reports to ascertain whether methodologies employed in scientific inquiry followed a less bias and systematic set of procedures, will provide a good platform for me to do literature review as I prepare my thesis. More so, knowledge and understanding of scientific perspectives and paradigms have given me the ability to assess the validity of research findings, as well as critically analyze if ethical issues were considered in conducting research. As masters student and prospective PhD student, I have achieved great capacity to critically discuss, analyze, and apply complex theoretical concepts concerning both qualitative and quantitative scientific studies. In this regard, I have acquired capacity to select, understand, and use complex qualitative and statistical methods in

RESEARCH THEORIES AND METHODS

social research. As a student, I am therefore able to formulate and discuss research questions in an independent and creative manner. Social work relies on theory and scientific methods to generate knowledge about human behavior and social problems. In this regard, knowledge on theory and methods has given me the ability to apply complex theoretical concepts concerning both qualitative and quantitative research methods to generate knowledge about social problems. As a social worker, I have acquired great capacity to use complex qualitative and statistical methods in social research to find solutions to problems that affect people. I am therefore able to formulate research questions and conduct research in social work practice, and link research to policy development. As a tutor at the University of Zambia under the Department of Social Development Studies, I will use the knowledge and skills acquired to promote social work research in Zambia. All in all, research theories and methods will help me in training social work students in research theories and methods. As an individual who is interested in research, the course in research theories and methods has equipped me with knowledge and skills, and moreover given me the capacity to prepare research proposals and conduct research tasks for institutions and organizations at local and international levels. I also have gained knowledge of the research process and research methods, and understood my strengths and weaknesses as a researcher. Being a social scientist, I have gained knowledge on how to critically review and analyze scientific journals, articles and reports. This has provided a good platform for me to contribute to scientific research. This has in turn given me the ability to position myself in relation to other researchers. Conclusion Researchers should always employ theoretical research and scientific methods to investigate the existence of social reality. However, theory and scientific methods that are employed to acquire knowledge on existence of social reality should always be questioned. To this effect, nothing should be taken for granted as the truth until its existence is subjected to scientific investigations. Thus, researchers should form different opinions about what exists or does not exist, and thus be able to take positions based on their reasoning and reflection on theory and scientific methods. By and large, in social research, generalization of research findings should only be done when subjects under investigation are randomly drawn from population.

References
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Afifi, Abdelmonem/Clark, Virginia A/May, Susanne (2004): Computer-Aided Multivariate Analysis. Chapman & Hall/CRC. 512 p. Gilbert, Nigel (2008): Researching Social Life. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 549 p. Greasley, Pete (2008): Quantitative Data Analysis Using SPSS: An Introduction for Health and Social Sciences. Berkshire: Open University Press. 138 p. Kvale, Steinar (2008): Interviews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing. Los Angeles: Sage 354 p. Winch, Peter (2007): The Idea of a Social Science and Its Relation to Philosophy. London: Routledge. 136 p.