CARIBBEAN STUDIES

MODULE 3
THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF RESEARCH

Definition of research
Research is a human activity based on intellectual investigation and aimed at discovering, interpreting, and
revising human knowledge on different aspects of the world.
More simply put, research is an organized and systematic way of finding answers to questions. It is organized in
the sense that it is not spontaneous, but planned. It is systematic in the sense that there are clearly established
procedures that are followed:
It is designed to find answers to research question, which itself is the purpose of research.
WAYS OF KNOWING:
Research represents ways of knowing about different phenomena.
1) Knowledge by tradition:
In seeking to find answers to questions, we cannot ignore the value of tradition (the way things were done in the
past). For example many Caribbean people are able to recall the many home-grown remedies given to us by
parents and grandparents to cure a variety of illnesses. The knowledge to make traditional medicines derives
from peoples accumulated experiences and is passed down from generation to generation as part of a culture.
Traditional knowledge can be derived from oral tales, songs, poetry, school peers and the family.
2) Knowledge by authority (the views of leading experts). Persons or institutions considered to be experts or
authorities on the matter are another source of knowledge. For example, we are more likely to trust the views of
a mechanic than a physician if we seek information on an automobile related problem. Likewise if we have a
medical problem, we are more likely to listen to a physician than a mechanic. Knowledge based on authority
may be derived from many sources, ranging from the sports commentators to a religious organization which
uses the Holy Bible or Koran. However overtime, there is a dangerous tendency to lionize the authority figure
than the knowledge itself
3) Commonsense (what seems reasonable)
4) Personal experience (the ability to generalize and predict based on past experience)
5) The scientific approach (systematic collection and analysis of information)
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The scientific method is an orderly process entailing a number of steps:
1) Recognition and definition of a problem
2) Formulation of hypotheses (an explanation for the occurrence of certain behaviours, phenomenon, or events
3) Collection of data .
4) Analysis of data
5) Statement of conclusion regarding confirmation or refutation of hypothesis
Reliability and Validity
The job of a social researcher is to capture reality as truthfully as possible in his or her research. A social
researcher can never truly measure a concept such as social class since it is an abstract concept that may not
be easily quantified. Despite this limitation social researchers attempt to maximize precision and accuracy in
conducting research.
A measurement may be precise but not necessarily accurate. For example, to say that Buju Banton is a West
Indian and Trinidadian is more precise than saying that he is simply West Indian. However, because Buju is
Jamaican and not Trinidadian, the statement that he is West Indian is more accurate. When a researcher refers to
precision and accuracy they are talking about reliability and validity.
Reliability
Reliability is concerned with issues of stability and consistency
It is the extent to which a measuring instrument produces the same result on repeated applications under
similar conditions.
When repeated measures of the same thing give identical or very similar results, the measurement instrument
is said to be reliable. For instance, if a pollster conducted a poll in a particular area on three different occasions
and got the same results each time, we would conclude that the technique he or she used was reliable.

Factors Contributing to unreliability of a test

1. Familiarity with the particular test
2. Fatigue
3. Stress.
4. Physical conditions of the room in which the test is given
5. Fluctuation of human memory
6. Amount of practice or experience by the test taken of the specific skill being measured.
7. Specific knowledge that has been gained outside of experience being evaluated by the test.
A test that is overly sensitive to the above items is not reliable.
Validity
The extent to which a measuring instrument measures what it purports to measure.
The truthfulness or accuracy of a measure.
Validity determines whether the research truly measures that which it was intended to measure or how truthful
the research results are.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
The research topic (also called the research question, problem, or purpose) provides focus and structure for the
remaining steps in the scientific method.
The first step in selecting a research topic is to identify a general subject area that is related to your area of
expertise and is of particular interest to you. Having an area of interest will help you to maintain focus during
the period of conducting the research.
Problem Identification and Definition
Most important phase of the Research Process since a problem well defined is a problem half solved.
This tells you the primary objective of the study - what will be clarified at the end of the research
Identifying a problem
a Researcher must discover and define a specific topic\problem from a broad and general problem area.
This specific topic is the Research Problem
Characteristics of Research Problem
1) It should ask about a relationship between two or more variables.
2) It should be clearly/unambiguously stated (precise and concise)
3) It can be stated as a question or as a statement, indicating the primary objective of the study.
4) It should be testable by empirical methods - should be possible to collect data to answer the questions(s)
asked.
Types of Research Problem
Descriptive seeks answer to the question, What is?
Difference comparative analysis - Is there a difference?.
Relationship explore the degree to which two or more conditions relate.
Causation cause and effect
IDENTIFYING A SUITABLE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Interest - should be of interest to you
Social Problem - The problem should be significant have social impact; should not be trivial and should focus
of the creation of new knowledge
Manageable- consider the time you have to complete the work and the depth to which the problem can be
addressed
Possible should be able to obtain the information, get the cooperation of individuals and institutions
Useful - Should be able to draw conclusions and offer solutions relating to the problem
Identifying the research problem
identify a question within the problem area which requires an answer
a need which requires a resolution
A gap in knowledge or a need to know more about a subject
Sources of research topics
The five main sources of research topics are:
1) Theories
2) Personal experience
3) Previous studies that can be replicated
4) Professional electronic mailing lists
5) Library searches

Theories
The most meaningful problems are generally derived from theories. A theory is an organized body of concepts,
generalizations and principles that can be investigated. E.g. theories of learning, theories of crime.
Personal experience
Issues for research can arise when we participate in class discussion, read articles in local newspaper or interact
with others.
Studies that can be replicated
Previously published studies can be replicated using different subjects to retest its hypothesis. No single study,
regardless of its focus provides the certainty needed to assume that the same results will result on each occasion.
Library searches
Students can immerse themselves in the library and read extensively on their area of interest until a topic
emerges.
Characteristics of a good research topic
> A good research topic must be researchable. A researchable topic is one that can be investigated through
collecting and analyzing data. Philosophical and ethical issues should be avoided.
> Topic should be interesting so that it can hold your interest throughout the duration of the research process.
> It should have theoretical or practical significance. In other words it should contribute in one way or another
to the improvement or understanding of society.
> The research process should be ethical. This means that the research must not potentially harm the research
participants. Harm encompasses not only physical, but also emotional danger.
> The topic should be manageable. Choosing a research topic in an area in which you have expertise is not
sufficient. You must choose a topic you can investigate adequately, given your current level of research skill,
resources, and the time you can commit to carrying out the research.
THE HYPOTHESIS
The term hypothesis is a researchers prediction of the research findings, a statement of the researchers
expectations about the relations among variables or concepts in the research topic. Many research papers
contain a number of variables and it is not uncommon to have more than one hypothesis.
The researcher does not set out to prove a hypothesis but rather collects data that either support or do not
support it. The use of clear wording helps the researcher to minimize personal bias. Since words and concepts
have different meanings to each of us, the meaning that is particular to a piece of research is critical to establish.
This helps to avoid ambiguity.
The stage of hypothesis formulation is critical to the researcher process. Any unclear assumptions set the pace
for the research leading to inaccurate, erroneous and unacceptable findings.
Examples
In a study focused on the relation between anxiety and math achievement, the hypothesis may be that anxiety
and math achievement are negatively correlated such that students who are highly anxious will also have low
math achievement, and students with higher math achievement will have low anxiety.
Thus based on this example, the hypotheses could be:
Anxiety causes poor performance on math tests.
OR
Low anxiety leads to high achievement on math test.
Hypothesis formulation is not difficult if the following steps are followed. First the concepts of concern must be
clearly stated. The next step is a decision as to which of them you wish to cause, lead to, affect, be associated
with, be related to, or influence the other.