RESEARCH

RESEARCH METHODS
METHODS
Code
Code 3686
3686

Lecture
Lecture Six
Six

PROF. DR. NOMANA ANJUM

 Unit Six

RESEARCH QUALITY AND PLANNING

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Good Research
6.3 Planning a Research Project
RESEARCH QUALITY AND PLANNING

6.1 Introduction

The research plan gives a principal investigator the

opportunity to discuss proposed research, stating its
importance and how it will be conducted.

The research plan should be written to address the following

questions:
What do you intend to do?
Why is the work important?
What has already been done?
How are you going to do the work?
RESEARCH QUALITY AND PLANNING
6.2 Good Research

What is Good Research?

Good research is the search that has a new

idea is written in simple language and discuss
the rest of the ideas clearly.
RESEARCH QUALITY AND PLANNING
6.2 Good Research
What is Good Research?
Research needs to be assessed on the basis of its
methodology, originality and relevance.

However, it may be noted that even the very original and

highly relevant research becomes very bad if the methodology
followed is quite wrong. Therefore, good research is identified
on the basis of the soundness of the methodology followed in
the research process.

Objectivity is the hallmark of science and research.

Researchers need to be  highly objective in defining the
problem as well as in designing the methodology.
RESEARCH QUALITY AND PLANNING
6.2 Good Research
What is Good Research?

Quality of research most commonly refers to the scientific

process encompassing all aspects of study design; in
particular, it pertains to the judgment regarding the match
between the methods and questions, selection of subjects,
measurement of outcomes, and protection against systematic
bias, nonsystematic bias, and inferential error (Boaz &
Ashby, 2003; Lohr, 2004; Shavelson & Towne, 2002
RESEARCH QUALITY AND PLANNING
6.2 Good Research
What is Good Research?
Frequently mentioned standards for assessing the quality of
research include the following:

•Pose a significant, important question that can be investigated empirically

and that contributes to the knowledge base.
•Test questions that are linked to relevant theory.
•Apply methods that best address the research questions of interest.
•Base research on clear chains of inferential reasoning supported and
justified by a complete coverage of the relevant literature.
•Provide the necessary information to reproduce or replicate the study.
•Ensure the study design, methods, and procedures are sufficiently
transparent and ensure an independent, balanced, and objective
approach to the research.
RESEARCH QUALITY AND PLANNING
6.2 Good Research
What is Good Research?
Frequently mentioned standards for assessing the quality of
research include the following:

•Provide sufficient description of the sample, the intervention, and any

comparison groups.
•Use appropriate and reliable conceptualization and measurement of
variables.
•Evaluate alternative explanations for any findings.
•Assess the possible impact of systematic bias.
•Submit research to a peer-review process.
•Adhere to quality standards for reporting (i.e., clear, cogent, complete).
RESEARCH QUALITY AND PLANNING

6.3 Planning a Research Project

A typical research plan has these required elements:

• Specific Aims (Goals, outcomes, Strategy)

• Research Strategy (significance, Innovation, approach)
• Resources (Equipment, scientific environment, human
resource etc.)

• Biographical Sketch (Expertise of Principal researcher)

• Research Support (Earlier research experience)
• Preliminary Studies ( Available data in support of
research)
• Time Frame ( Time framework with proposed activities)
Discussion