What is research? - Macmillan Caribbean

Contents 

Preface 4 

CHAPTER 1 – Research and research vocabulary 5 

CHAPTER 2 – Choosing and writing a research topic 10 

CHAPTER 3 – Research design, methods and strategies 14 

CHAPTER 4 – Sampling and sample selection 20 

CHAPTER 5 – Data collection instruments 24 

CHAPTER 6 – Presenting, reporting and analysing findings 31 

CHAPTER 7 – Putting an SBA project together 39 

CHAPTER 8 – Review test for private candidates 43 

CHAPTER 9 – Glossary of research terms you should know 50 

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Preface 

This handbook provides guidance for students doing School Based Assessment (SBA) 

projects in social studies, geography, principles of business and other CSEC subjects 

and for private candidates preparing for CXC examinations, Alternative Papers. 

In addition, teachers and students pursuing undergraduate study programmes at 

tertiary institutions in the region and persons interested in the acquisition of basic 

research skills and methodologies would find this book helpful. 

Some guidelines for school candidates doing research projects for CSEC 

examinations: 

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Select a problem to investigate and write it in question form 

Select suitable methods to collect data 

Write out the exact questions that you would ask on questionnaires or in 

interviews; seek the assistance of your teacher 

Select a sample from a particular locality, school or group; state the 

characteristics of the sample chosen and the method used to select the sample 

Present and display data using tables, graphs, maps, photographs, diagrams and 

text 

Interpret and explain the data you have displayed 

State what the data mean in relation to the problem being investigated 

Write out what you have found from investigating the problem 

Write out recommendations based on the findings and state how you would 

implement these recommendations 

The questions on the Alternative Paper (Paper 03/2) for private and non-school 

candidates test their ability to: 

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Choose a topic and state the problem in the form of a question 

Select appropriate methods of investigation 

Design instruments to collect data 

Describe procedures to collect data and for the selection of samples 

Present and display data in several forms 

Explain the data presented in these forms of display 

Interpret the data in terms of the topic chosen and the problem stated 

State findings from the information presented in case studies 

Make recommendations based on findings and suggest ways to implement these 

recommendations 


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CHAPTER 1 

Research and research vocabulary 

Learning objectives 

At the end of this chapter you should be able to: 

■ Define research 

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Recognize the importance of research 

Know the purpose of research 

Be familiar with some research vocabulary 

What is research 

Research may be defined as a systematic way of searching for, finding and gathering 

knowledge. It may be regarded as a systematic way of asking questions. Some sources 

see research as a systematic method of inquiry and others regard it as a systematic 

and scientific way of investigating and studying a phenomenon. 

Research has some special vocabulary. Once this vocabulary is understood, research 

will seem less complex and bewildering. If research were never done, a lot of the 

things we do, say, use and enjoy would be done merely through guesswork and 

speculation. 

The systematic and scientific approach minimizes biases in research. In this 

regard research depends on the scientific method to collect evidence, to present 

data, to analyse findings, to give explanations and to make recommendations and 

predictions. 

Why research uses the scientific method 

Science helps to provide accurate answers to questions and is therefore attractive to 

researchers. Some of the main features of the scientific approach are: 

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It follows general rules that help us to understand our world 

It collects objective evidence that helps to reduce bias and speculation 

It makes verifiable statements that are specific and accurate 

It shares ideas so that the wheel is not reinvented 

It is productive since it makes discoveries, adds to knowledge and encourages 

progress 

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RESEARCH AND RESEARCH VOCABULARY 

Why it is important to know about research 

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To read and do research; to get the most up-to-date information; to draw 

conclusions; and to examine what is known about a particular problem 

To evaluate research; to get recent and first-hand information 

To be a better thinker by looking for objective information and by developing 

the ability to judge and interpret information 

To be literate in research; to recognize and understand the scientific approaches 

used in research in order to make an informed decision 

To protect us from information that is not from authentic sources 

To distinguish which information is useful and which is dangerous and 

worthless 

To be more marketable in this information age and to access future employment 

opportunities and careers 

The purpose of research 

As indicated earlier, research is an important way to provide answers to questions 

and to gain new knowledge about our world. Authorities agree that research helps to 

provide new information on and about social and other human issues. It contributes 

to the pool of existing knowledge and it informs the general public about trends 

and developments in many areas of life and living. One of the purposes of research 

therefore is to inform. 

Research also helps to find ways to control undesirable activities and unwanted 

attitudes and behaviours. This control may be in the form of therapy, persuasion, 

legislation or education. 

As the human race interacts, it is important for a society to assess and evaluate the 

actions, feelings, thoughts, influences, behaviours, perceptions and quality of life of 

its members. By so doing, planners and policy makers can be more proactive and are 

able to take actions to prevent and to avoid negativity. In this way another purpose 

of research is to predict. 

Apart from to inform, to control and to predict, research is also seen as a way to 

describe and to explain social issues and human problems. 

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Basic research vocabulary and terminology 

Research uses a special vocabulary. There are key terms and concepts that have a 

special meaning, connotation and understanding to researchers. This section defines 

basic terms and concepts found and used in research. The following research terms 

should be part of your vocabulary. Other important research terms and language 

will be introduced in other sections of this handbook. 


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Variable 

Variables are special types of concepts. In other words a variable is a concept that varies 

and usually takes on two or more meanings. For example, the variable or concept 

‘students’ can mean students at the primary level, secondary level, tertiary level or 

adult learners. In this example ‘students’ takes on several values or is classified into 

different categories. Similarly the variable ‘income’ may take on any monetary value. 

Concepts and variables are the building blocks of theories. 

Theory 

Simply, a theory is an explanation. It is made up of concepts and variables. It predicts 

and explains why a phenomenon occurs. Researchers devise theories and then test 

them indirectly. In effect theories are used to make guesses about the relationship 

between variables. These guesses are called hypotheses. 

Hypothesis 

In every hypothesis there should be two or more variables. This makes a hypothesis 

a guess or a prediction about the nature of the relationship between two or more 

variables. Consider this hypothesis: ‘As indiscipline in schools increases, the quality 

of performance of students in examinations decreases.’ Can you identify some of the 

variables in this hypothesis The variables are indiscipline, schools, performance, 

students and examinations. 

Researchable topic 

To do research we should start with a concern, an idea or a question worth answering. 

Research ideas come mainly from intuition, theory, hypotheses and by searching the 

literature. It is advisable to have a large pool of ideas before deciding on a topic. 

Always evaluate ideas to determine which one is researchable, manageable, viable 

and cost-effective. 

To write and conduct a good investigation or a study is a challenge and responsibility 

for researchers. This requires knowledge and understanding of certain skills and 

method ologies. One skill a researcher should possess is the ability to translate and 

condense a problem into a topic. The topic should not be lengthy and wordy but 

should be written as a statement or as a question using a minimum number of words. 

Most topics should capture the main focus of the study. However, a topic may 

undergo modifications and changes as the study progresses. Finally, a topic should 

contain two or more variables and indicate the focus of the study. Maintaining the 

focus of a study and doing what you indicate you will do in the problem statement 

contribute to the validity of a study. 

Rationale 

Reasons are provided in research for every topic that is chosen. The reasons 

form the basis of the rationale. The rationale may consist of observations, public 

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concerns, newspaper articles, and statements or comments by prominent people 

in society. 

Problem statement 

Another important part of any research is the problem statement. This statement 

indicates the width and breadth of a study. It sets the parameters or boundaries 

within which the researcher confines an investigation. It is really the engine that 

drives the study or investigation. It states in precise language exactly what the 

researcher will do and what is the focus of the study. The problem statement may 

include some words from the topic and is generally introduced by an expression 

such as, ‘In this study …’ or ‘This study …’ or ‘The aim of this study …’ or ‘The 

purpose of this study is …’. 

ACTIVITY 

Consider the topic ‘Crime and criminal activities in community X’. A 

researcher may choose to write a problem statement for this topic as follows: 

‘This study identifies and describes crime and criminal activities in community 

X.’ 

or 

‘In this study, the researcher identifies and describes crime and criminal 

activities in community X.’ 

or 

‘The aim of this study is to identify and describe crime and criminal activities 

in community X.’ 

The words ‘identify’ and ‘describe’ prescribe the limits of the study or 

investigation and state in precise language what the researcher intends to do. 

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Write another problem statement for the topic. 

Write a topic you could investigate for your SBA project. 

Write a rationale and a problem statement for your SBA research topic. 

Research question 

After the problem statement is stated then it is important to write the appropriate 

research questions to make the study manageable and researchable. A research 

question should have the following qualities: 

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It must be in the form of a question 

It must be clear and unambiguous 

It should help to collect data/information as answers 


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It should be testable 

It should ask about the relationship between two or more variables 

It can be direct or implied 

An example of a direct research question for the topic ‘Crime and criminal activities 

in community X’ is: 

‘What crimes and criminal activities are committed in community X’ 

An example of a direct or implicit question for the topic is: 

‘The aim of this study is to determine whether crime and criminal activities are 

experienced by the citizens of community X.’ 

Operational definition of variables 

All variables in the topic, the problem statement and research questions should be 

operationally defined. For example, the terms ‘crime’ and ‘criminal activities’ should be 

defined in a clear, specific and concrete way. That is, you must spell out the mean ing of the 

terms and how you intend to use these terms in your research. In this regard, dictionaries, 

literature search and usage in similar studies are quite useful. By operationally defining 

the variables in a study, the researcher begins to establish validity. 

Terms you should know 

Problem statement – a statement written in a special way that indicates the 

focus of a study 

Rationale – a statement that contains reasons or concerns why it is important 

to investigate the topic 

Researcher – the person conducting a study on a particular phenomenon 

Research – a systematic and scientific investigation of a phenomenon 

Research question – a direct, indirect or implicit question that focuses on a 

specific aspect of the topic 

Check your knowledge 

1 Why is a rationale necessary in research 

2 Write out a topic you wish to study. Write out the problem statement as a 

research question. Next define the variables in the topic or research question. 

3 Why is it important to know about research 

4 What are the purposes of research 

5 Define the following terms: theory, hypothesis, variable, research question. 

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What is research? - Macmillan Caribbean

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