RM301-C1: What Is Research?

subjectivity

an integral part of your way of thinking that is 'conditioned' by your educational background, discipline, philosophy, experience, and skills. This is not deliberate, it is the way you understand or interpret something

research

one of the ways of finding answers to your professional and practice questions, and it is characterized by the use of tested procedures and methods and an unbiased and objective attitude in the process of exploration

reliability

the ability of a research instrument to provide similar results when used repeatedly under similar conditions. This indicates accuracy, stability, and predictability of a research instrument

validity

the ability of an instrument to measure what it is designed to measure

pure research

the type of research concerned with the development, examination, verification and refinement of research methods, procedures, techniques and tools that form the body of research methodology

bias

a deliberate attempt to change or highlight something which in reality is not there but you do it because of your vested interest.

evidence-based practice

a service delivery system that is based upon research evidence as to its effectiveness; a service provider's clinical judgment as to its suitability and appropriateness for a client; and a client's preference as to its acceptance

descriptive research/study

a study attempts systematically to describe a situation, problem, phenomenon, service or program, or provides information about, say, the living conditions of a community, or describes attitudes towards an issue

feasibility/pilot study

a study intended to investigate the possibility of undertaking it on a larger scale and to streamline methods and procedures for the main study

exploratory research

a study undertaken with the objective either to explore an area where little is known or to investigate the possibilities of undertaking a particular research study

correlational research/study

a study which is primarily designed to investigate whether or not there is a relationship between two or more variables

explanatory research

a study whose main emphasis is to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two aspects of a situation or phenomenon