CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH

Research Methods and Process



Research Methods and Process

Introduction

The grounds for including a research paper, a dissertation or a thesis as a major element of the MSc and BSc subjects is to provide opportunities for the evolvement of the various intellectual skills and abilities of the students. The researches and the research paper obligations accords with the philosophy of education of the MSc or BSc level students. In addition, another important opportunity that the students are provided with is to enable them to accept full responsibility for their studies. The research assignments facilitate their own learning in different subjects enabling them to specify, identify and define their task, selecting an effective approach and define the learning results, findings and outcomes (Bell, 1996, pp.111). The research assignments also encourages both depth and clarity of thoughts and concepts in that the task or project includes in depth analysis of a problem and also development of a sequence of concepts that are sensible and logical sequence. However, all this learning is only possible if the research conducted is in accordance with the basic fundamental principles of a quality research process. In addition, an appropriate research process will also help in achieving a well organized research. Therefore, this paper in Part A will discuss the research that is both appropriate and sophisticated and achieves all the goals mentioned above that a good research would achieve. Part B of the paper will discuss the selection and evaluation of a research topic or subject.

Part A - The Research Process

Before moving towards discussing the process of conducting a research, it is essential that the term is defined explicitly. The definition of the term “research” in the Concise Oxford Dictionary defines is “a careful inquiry or search; or endeavor to discover or collate new or old facts thereby conducting a scientific and logical study of any subject; or course of a critical investigation or inquiry. From all these definition, it can simply be concluded that the term 'research' can be interchangeably used with the terms 'inquiry', 'investigation' or 'study' (Bell, 1996, pp.111). However, still some more aspects are implied: the investigation, inquiry or study has to be conducted in a critical, careful or/and scientific manner. Other experts have also added other attributes to the list of characteristics. It does not, however, really matter which words of combination is chosen, be it critical investigation or systematic inquiry, as long as both the words are clearly kept in mind while conducting a research (Burgess, 2012, pp.48).

Research Process

The step by step sequential execution of conducting a research can be regarded as the Research process. The importance of an effective and appropriate research process in regards to successfully conducting a research has been discussed earlier in the paper. Hence, this section will form a model of one possible and effective research process. The overall research process can be divided into Inception, development, completion and dissemination phase. However, the research can be further sub divided into Selection of research area, Selection of ...