Output of Research Work

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 513.

Research Methods

The goal of the research process is to produce new knowledge. This process takes three main forms, although the boundaries between them may be obscure. :

· Exploratory research, which structures and identifies new problems

· Constructive research, which develops solutions to a problem

· Empirical research, which tests the feasibility of a solution using empirical evidence

Research can also fall into two distinct types:

· Primary research (collection of data that does not yet exist)

· Secondary research (summary, collation and/or synthesis of existing research)

In social sciences and in some other disciplines, the following two research methods can be applied, depending on the properties of the subject matter and on the objective of the research:

· Qualitative research (understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior)

· Quantitative research (systematic empirical investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships)

Academic publishing describes a system that is necessary in order for academic scholars to peer review the work and make it available for a wider audience. Most academic work is published in journal article or book form. In publishing, STM publishing is an abbreviation for academic publications in science, technology, and medicine.

Most established academic fields have their own journals and other outlets for publications, though many academic journals are somewhat interdisciplinary, and publish works from several distinct fields or subfields. The kinds of publications that are accepted as a contribution to knowledge or research vary greatly: from the print to the electronic format.

Internet research is the practice of using the Internet, especially the World Wide Web, for research. The Internet is widely and readily accessible to hundreds of millions of people in many parts of the world; it can provide practically instant information on most topics. Compared with the Internet, print physically limits access to information. A book has to be identified and then actually obtained. On the Net, the Web can be searched, and as a rule hundreds or thousands of pages can be found within seconds. In addition, email, online discussion forums, and other personal communication facilities (instant messaging, newsgroups, etc.) can provide direct access to experts and other individuals with relevant interests and knowledge.

Most funding for scientific research comes from two major sources: Corporate research and development departments; and government research councils such as the National Institutes of Health in the USA and the Medical Research Council in the UK. These are managed primarily through universities and in some cases through military contractors. Many senior researchers (such as group leaders) spend a significant amount of their time applying for grants for research funds. These grants are necessary not only for researchers to carry out their research, but also as a source of merit.