GKA2043 RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY
-Understanding Knowledge and Research
-What is Research? Research in
Perspectives
-Foundation for Good Research

Different Sources of Knowledge

Can be categorised and obtained

from various way of knowing.
Several categories:
i) intuitive knowledge
ii) authoritative knowledge
iii) logical knowledge

intuitive knowledge

An approach in acquiring knowledge

that is not based on reasoning or
inferring.
Sometimes based on feelings.
Takes the form such as belief, faith,
intuition and etc.

authoritative knowledge

Based on information received from

people, books, a supreme being etc.
Its strength depends on the strength
of these sources.
Can also originate from persons or
sources that are highly respected.
Like a sacred text (Quran or Bible)final and cannot be challenged.

logical knowledge

Is arrived by reasoning from point A

(which generally accepted) to point B
(the new knowledge). This approach
of acquiring knowledge is based on
statement which says, if I have
experienced it, then it valid and
true.

Research Ontology, Epistimology

and Methodology

Every science has its own ontology,

epistomology and methodology.
In social science and humanities
research, this term is the key to how
knowledge that is acquired through
the research process is made
intelligible.

ontology

The domain of ontology as distinct from

formal ontology is related to the focus of a
study.
Each research field has its own ontology.
Where formal ontology inquiry to say
something general about reality, the domain
ontology says something specific about
different area of reality.
In short : ontology to do with our assumptions
about how the world is made up and the
nature of things.

epistemology

Defines how we can know and reason of

reality.
Epistemology is the investigation into the
grounds and nature of knowledge itself.
Focuses on our means for acquiring
knowledge and how we can differentiate
between truth and falsehood.
In short: epistemology to do with our
beliefs about how one might discover
knowledge about the world.

Epistemology addresses the following

questions:
What is knowledge?
How is knowledge acquired?
What do people know?
How do we know what we know?

Ontological and Epistemology

positions provide fundamental
aspects of research as they concern
the philosophical questions of what
counts as reality and how beings
come into being as well as what
constitutes knowledge and how
knowledge comes to be established.

methodology

To do with the tools and techniques of

research.

Guba and Lincoln (1994:108):

The ontological question

What is the form and nature of reality and therefore

what is there that can be known about it?
The epistemological question

What is the nature of the relationship between

the knower or would be knower and what can
be known?
The methodological question
How can the inquirer go about finding out
whatever he/she believes can be known?

What is Research?

a method / way to get an answer to a question

Search for the truth of a matter / question /
problem
In short, RESEARCH:
Is about a process of enquiry and investigation
Is systematic and methodological
Can increase knowledge
Is replicable or can be conducted later from other

researchers
Is when data are interpreted systematically
Is done with a clear purpose, to find things out.

The purpose of research

To generate new knowledge

To add new input for the existing knowledge
To review and synthesize existing knowledge
To investigate some existing situation or problem
To provide solutions to a problem
To explore and analyze more general issue
To construct or create a new procedure or system
To explain a new phenomenon
To forecast the future phenomenon
A combination of any of the above

Types of research

The purpose of the research i.e., the reasons why

you are conducting it.
The process of the research i.e., the way how you
plan to collect and analyze the data
The logic of the research i.e., whether you are
moving from the general to the specific or vise
versa
The outcome of the research i.e., whether you are
trying to solve a particular problem or you are
making a general contribution to knowledge
The level of research i.e., whether you are trying to
have a simple or high degree of research structure

Types of research
Types of research

Basis of classification

Pure, applied and action research

Outcome of the research

Exploratory, descriptive,
analytical or predictive research

Purpose of research

Quantitative, qualitative, multi

approach (triangulation)

Process of the research

Deductive or inductive research

Logic of the research

Nomothetic and ideographic

research

Level of research structure

For more info especially on terms used, please refer to Rusli Ahmad
& Hasbee Usop (2011:25-36)

Foundation for good

research

Good research includes the following

elements:
Clarity of purpose
Relevance
Manageable
Originality
Accuracy
Credibility
Applicability
Objectivity
Ethical
Caution

Characteristic of Good Research

Characteristics What research should look for
Clarity of
purpose

Distinguishes between symptom, the perception

and the research of the problem .

Relevance

Should be able to demonstrate its relevance in

terms of contribution , addressing the real
problem, timeliness and can be justified properly.

Manageable

Provide complete research proposal. Exploratory

procedures are outlined with the constructs
defined. Sample unit is clearly described along
with sampling strategy. Data collection and
procedures are selected and designed.

Originality

Distinguish between genuine contribution and just

artificial attempt to understanding of social
phenomena.

Accuracy

Should provide valid and reliable data using

appropriate methods.

continue
Characteristic

What researchers should look for

Credibility

Should include a full and detailed account of the

methodology and the reason behind it. 4
dimensions of factors need to be taken care:
scope, breadth, depth & objectivity.

Applicability

Impact of findings and conclusions are detailed.

Sufficiently detailed findings are tied to real
problems.

Objectivity

Findings are clearly presented in words, tables,

images or graphs. Findings are logically organized
to facilitate reaching the decision about the
research problem.

Ethical

Safeguards are places to protect study

participants, organizations, clients and
researchers. Recommendations do not exceed the
scope of study. The studys methodology and
limitations reflect researcher restrain and concern
for accuracy.

Caution

Decision-base conclusions are matched with

Conclusion

Good research generates dependable data, being

derived by practices that are conducted professionally,
that can be used reliably for many purposes.
Good research differs from poor research that is
carelessly planned and conducted.
Good research must follow the standard of scientific
methods- the results will be less prone to errors and
will have more confidence in the findings because of
the greater riguor being applied to the design of the
research.
This also increases the replicability and generalizability
of the findings.