¶ … knowledge is so vast that no one really knows everything. One often discovers that what they know about something is not accurate or utterly wrong (Taflinger, 2011).
Research is normally conducted for two main reasons, i.e., to learn the facts around a phenomenon or to collect evidence. When one conducts research to learn about something, it is for their personal gain. The learning process is a continuous one in life. One cannot stop learning. Whatever new information you encounter constitutes some form of learning. It may be the data about your favourite rugby player or the relativity theory. Research, on its part, is a systematic form of learning. It is organized. Research entails a special focus on something to add to your knowledge base. One may peruse through the Scientific American for the latest research news on quantum mechanics or check the sports page for the results of last night's game. All these are research activities (Taflinger, 2011).
One's background knowledge; what has been learnt, is the basis for communication with others around them. People broach what they know in conversations. It is unlikely that one would pursue a conversation about a topic that they know nothing about. However, you will still find some people joining in such conversations anyway. Formal communication involves sharing with others information that has evidence as its basis. If your audience knows a lot more than you do, there is need for research (Taflinger, 2011).
The definition of the term research differs from one field to another. My journey through college keeps filling my knowledge about what I need to be a researcher within my specific area of interest. For instance, engineers with a focus on using scientific ideas to develop machines, designs or processes, conduct their research by use of mathematical models, simulations and a range of other tests to gauge how effectively their designs are. The definition of research...
Sociologists on their part conduct research by use of surveys, observations, interviews and statistical data analysis to improve their knowledge about people and their cultures. In
graphic design, research is conducted by locating reference images for artwork and for running background searches on companies and clients in order to serve them best. Historians, on their part, conduct research by going through materials in archives such as journals, texts, newspapers and letters, and by oral interviews (Driscoll, 2011).
Research transcends what is already documented in libraries and other information resource sources. Finding information from such sources is referred to as secondary research. Indeed, it is research that ends up with such data in libraries and similar places. This paper focuses on primary research. Primary research entails seeking new knowledge that is still unknown. Such research is not found in a
library or other formal information reservoir. Primary research applies principles of the scientific method. This
theory was formulated in the 19th C. by one John Stuart Mill. The application of the content of his book 'The Philosophy of the Scientific Method' varies from field to field. However, the general values are universal. These principles facilitate the process of learning new observable phenomena. It is through the
scientific approach that researchers develop hypothesis and
research questions and consequently gather data for analysis purpose. Such data collection is measurable and replicable in different locations and times. The intention of primary research is to learn new knowledge on phenomena. Such outcome should be one that can be replicated and confirmed by others. It is also meant to eliminate biases in the process of
investigation (Driscoll, 2011).
Research Methods and Approaches
To achieve the survey objective, the research team has aligned…
