Relationship between Knowledge and Research Assignment Help

What is research?

Research in simple terms can be defined as the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way so as to generate new concepts, methodologies and understandings for various purposes that one would like to use. This could include synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it leads to new and creative outcomes. This overall definition of research is consistent with a broad notion of research and knowledge development (R&D) as comprising of creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications (Donnel. J, 2012).

This definition of research embraces pure and strategic basic research, applied research and experimental development. Applied research can be considered as original investigation undertaken to acquire new knowledge but directed towards a specific, practical aim or objective (including a client-driven purpose).

Since the early days of mankind, ‘knowledge’ is considered as one of the most signiicant factor for human. Information is mainly base on any knowledge and hence knowledge can be defined as more meaningful than information as it includes more awareness, familiarity and understanding of the experience as well as study.

Stoll, L., Fink, D and Earl, L. (2003)  further elaborates the definition and says that Information becomes knowledge when it is shaped, formalized, organized in some context that has a purpose that leads one to understand something about the world. Knowledge is one such factor that cannot be easily attained in a short span of time or unwillingly.  

On the other hand research can simply be defined as the systematic investigation of a particular topic and its overall improved clarification. Every individual in a state of acquiring knowledge, some acquire through learning and some through research. The overall research process is not about how we think, but how we anticipate knowledge.

Research is basically derived from the Latin word meaning “to know”. In simple words research is a system and a process which first identifies and defines the problem within certain circumstances and then through a properly designed method of data collection shows certain results Kothari, C.R. (2004). There are different ways to categories research conducted as academic discipline, data collection methodology, purpose centric.

To carry out any research, a series of question, problems or issues should be listed and then a reason should be identified to know why the answers to these issues are essential. In the process of conducting such research.

It also should specify the research methodology for addressing that particular question, issue or problem. A rationale should be stated for the chosen method of research and a reason that how this selected method is most appropriate to address the questions or issues in the research work Stoll, L., Fink, D and Earl, L. (2003).

Research in general is the thing we do when we want to find something out. It is what we are trained to do in a PhD program. It’s what comes before development and from primary and secondary knowledge that the person already holds.

TYPES OF RESEARCH METHODS:

There are different research designs used by psychologist to ascertain and find out results top certain questions also known as research methods. Many studies in the real life are amalgamation of these methods and researchers use many different methods to reach to a definite result.

EXPERIMENT: Participants are put into different groups and all the groups of people are treated in different ways (independent variable).  Behavior sciences which arise due to different treatments are then measured (dependent variable). As all the groups are treated differently and one group gets a specific treatment and the other doesn’t, usually the first group is called experimental group and others are known as controlled groups Kothari, C.R. (2004).

CORRELATIONAL STUDY: This study is another way of conducting research that investigates the relationship between the two variables. Usually it is a step ahead of experimental research where cause and effect is calculated while in the correlation study it checks the strength of the relation whether in the positive or negative direction.

Along with the above-mentioned ways of conducting research there are various other ways that one can use in order to conduct any research for any purpose.

As far as my area of study is concerned, I am interested in doing a research on what are the causes for dropout of students from schools in US. This area of study is really important as so far in my research I have came across that there are various reasons due to which students in US dropout from schools.  The increasing rates of students who drop out of high school are of much concern not only to the families of the youngsters but also to the entire state as a whole. In order to be able to collect proper and most accurate information, one can only rely on most up to date data. Most of the research will be gathered through secondary data that is already available over the Internet. Other then that, various blogs and online forums will be used in order collect information as more and more students will be encouraged to participate in those forums and blogs and share their opinions and experiences related to the research. With the help of such research, it will help to monitor various things before carrying them out and also will help to discover new things by gathering and looking out for what others would have done.

REFERENCE:

1. Stoll, L., Fink, D and Earl, L. (2003). It’s About learning (and It’s About Time). London: RoutledgeFalmer.
2. Journal of Mixed Methods Research. 2007. Toward a Definition of Mixed Methods Research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1 (2), pp. 7-15. Available at: http://www.coe.unt.edu/sites/default/files/24/59/Johnson,%20Burke%20Mixed%20Methods%20Research.pdf [Accessed: Aug 25, 2013].
3. Kothari, C.R. (2004) Research Methodology; Methods & Techniques. India: New Age Publishers.
4. J, 2012, ‘What is Research’, viewed on 24^th Aug 2013, < http://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/what-is-research/>