For many decades and centuries, research has been done by people with the aim of getting conclusions and findings that would answer many questions that humans have. There are various and different ways through which data and information can be collected by various researchers in order to obtain the answers they are searching for.
Define research and scientific method
Research is termed as the formation of innovative information and the exploit of presented data in a new and imaginative way so as to make innovative theories, methodologies and approaches. This might consist of combination and study of prior examination to the level that directs to innovative and resourceful results.
This explanation of research is reliable taking into account a wide concept of research and investigational progress as containing resourceful work embarked on an organized source in order to add to the data collected as well as information of humankind, society and culture, and the utility of the reserve of information to develop innovative use.
This meaning includes pure and tactical essential research, practical research and tentative development. Practical research is unique examination embarked on to obtain original information but aimed at an exact, realistic intend or purpose (Aron and Coups 2009).
The scientific method is the procedure by which scientists, communally and over time, attempt to create an exact image of the world. Distinguish one intellectual viewpoint manipulating both observations and understanding of likely phenomena (Aron and Coups 2009). We aspire throughout the use of these actions and measures to reduce those controls, when raising a hypothesis. The scientific method tries to reduce the pressure of prejudice or unfairness in the experimenter, when testing an assumption or a hypothesis.
The scientific method has four steps:
- Surveillance and explanation of an occurrence or collection of occurrences;
- Formulation of a theory to give details on the occurrences;
- Utility of the theory to foresee the subsistence of additional occurrence or the outcome of fresh explanation quantitatively;
- Presentation of investigational analysis of the forecasts by a number of self-regulating experimenters and appropriately carried out tests.
Compare and contrast the characteristics of primary and secondary data
Primary source data are a unique way, such as a first-hand description of an occurrence or a job of literature or art, which has not been understood by anyone else. Ordinary forms of primary data are journals, script, biographies, dialogues, verbal communication, tales, poems, performance, and piece music (Creswell 2008).
Secondary sources evaluate and read primary sources, outline upon them to give details on proceedings of the earlier period or discover the sense of mechanism of art. Secondary sources are frequently created well after the proceedings or primary data they refer to, and their writers have a propensity to be more the current scholars or observers than witnesses of what they inscribe on the subject (Creswell 2008). Classic secondary data contain in academic books, articles in journals, and course books.
- Secondary data relay to remote period. Therefore, it is short of suitability and, consequently, it has unacceptable worth. Primary data are more accepting as it illustrates the most recent information.
- Primary data comprise of the utility of instant information in influencing the endurance of the market. The common ways to assemble primary data include assessments, dialogues and focus on sets, which demonstrate that express affiliation among probable clients and businesses. While secondary data are a way to use again and reclaim gathered data as assigned for betterments of the commodity (Creswell, 2008). Both primary data and secondary data are helpful for trades but both are different from each other in a range of features.
- Secondary data are attained rather from a number of additional organizations than from the one immediately involved in up-to-date development. Secondary data are gathered and evaluated by the association to assemble the necessities of research aims. Primary data are built up by the researcher mainly to identify the research aim of the existing development.
- Secondary data, even if it is old, can be the single probable basis of the preferred information on the themes, which cannot contain primary data. The form in which secondary data are collected and distributed cannot contain the precise requirements and exact necessities of the present research study (Creswell, 2008). As a matter a fact, sometimes, all the changes or adjustments to the precise requirements of the researcher might not be enough. Primary data are totally tailor-made, and there are no changes required.
- Secondary data are naturally, quickly and cheaply obtainable. Primary data require some time, and the prices of the data are quite high.
Explain the role of statistics in research
Statistics is the skill of compilation, examination, understanding or enlightenment, and arrangement of information. It has broad handling in the field of research. Data gathering and understanding methods used in research are components of statistics.
It creates utility of descriptive statistics for gathering of information and inferential statistics for sketch conclusions from this position of information (Britt and Jex 2008). The subject matter referred to as research statistics, or statistics is extremely essential in research since that is the strength of research. The numbers provide an uncomplicated initiative of ways one carried out through the research (Di Francia and Toraldo 1981).
Statistics offers a policy for research as to ways to go about the research, either to think about a taster or the entire population, the methods to utilize in data gathering and surveillance, ways to go on the data explanation (Britt & Jex 2008). Statistics will guide one in research for suitable description, summarization, arrangement and understanding of the research consequence for accurate act.
In conclusion, research is a fundamental aspect in the educational sector. With the help of statistics, playing a key role in research, one is assured of a proper research. With the primary and secondary data collecting methods, researchers can be assured of quality and up to date findings.
References
Aron, A., Aron, E. N., & Coups, E. J. (2009). Statistics for Psychology (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Creswell, J. W. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Education, Inc.
Di Francia, & G. Toraldo (1981), The Investigation of the Physical World, Cambridge University Press.
Britt, T. W, & Jex, S. M. (2008). Organizational Psychology: A Scientist-Practitioner Approach (2 ed.). New York: Wiley.