Key Elements of Research Design - Essay Example

WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS OF A RESEARCH DESIGN AND WHY ARE THESE IMPORTANT TO THE PRODUCTION OF ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS RESEARCH Introduction A research is an organized inquiry which is aimed at unveiling new knowledge or adding to the existing body of inquiry. A research is a systematic way of looking at a subject and making and inquiry regarding that subject. A research is an important academic activity which unveils new knowledge or adds new dimension of knowledge to the existing one. Geographic research is particularly important in studying the physical phenomenon on the world. They are aimed at producing warranted knowledge through a rigorous academic inquiry. A research will usually involve an organized inquiry in order to justify the claims or in order to prove the hypothesis. In order to effectively carry out the rigorous inquiry, we need to have a proper research design in place which will ensure that there is organized inquiry of this information. A good research design will assist the research to carry out an inquiry in the most organized manner. It will help to collect the most valid data and analyze it in a way that it supports the claims of the research. (Ktichin and Tate, 2005) Key elements of a research design A research design is the most important tool in any research which aids in the data collection procedure. A research design represent the organized manner in which the research will select is samples, collect data and analyze it. Research design is the main engine which drives the research and which determines the validity of the data collected and analyzed. Therefore it is the most important tool that will act as the guideline for carrying out the research process. (Clifford and valentine, 2003) Any research must employ a good research design in order to effectively carry out the data collection process. There are some key elements that are used to assess the effectiveness of the research design. The following are some of the important elements that mark a good research design; (Punch, 2006) It must have a good research problem or question It must be set in a scientific or an intellectual manner It must employ the most appropriate methodology in the data collection, analysis and presentation Data must be well collected, managed and analyzed The findings of the research must be presented and a conclusion made Research Question or problem A research is usually set out in order to carry out a systematic inquiry into a problem. A research does not start from nowhere but it starts from a point. This means that there has to be a problem or an issue that is to be clearly researched or that will be looked into. A research question is important as it determine the overall direction that the research will take. The research question should be framed such that it will lead to the discovery of new knowledge. (Punch, 2006) This means that are research topic must be new and likely to add to the existing body of knowledge. It has to be narrowed down in order to address a specific area. It has to be backed by enough literature which means that there has to be wide research on the topic before deciding to research on it. The research topic must be original and relevant to the subject of stud. In this case it has to be a geographical issue. There should be considerations on the practicability of carrying out a research on the specific topic as far as elements of time, cost, equipment, expertise, and others are concerned. The review of the literature will help you to identify the research gap and identification of the research topic to be carried out. It will also help you to identify the best method that can be used to carry out the research so as not to repeat the failed methods that may have been applied before and to choose the best method that may have been used before. (Parson and Knight, 2005) The nature of the design A research design should be so casual. This means that it must employ scientific means of inquires and follow all the required procedures. In this case it must deviate from the normal means of enquiry in order to validate the results of the study. The research design must conform to the acceptable standards of inquiry as has been set by others. The research has to be organized in the most appropriate manner such that it will obey all the rule of a scientific research. (Punch, 2006) Methodology The research methodology is the most important tools that aid the research to collect data. Methodology is the backbone of the research since it determines the data collection and analysis method. The methodology gives the most appropriate results for the research process and therefore it must be carried out in the most appropriate way. The methodology is therefore the most important part in the research process as it decries the data collection and analysis process which will affect the result of the result. An appropriate methodology has to be employed in the research process. The methodology should also follow all the research ethics. For example human samples should not be exposed to experimental trials. Through the methodology the research will therefore meet the overall requirements of a scientific research. (Walliman, 2004) The methodology must also employ the correct means of data collection procedures. The data collection process will ultimately determine whether the data collection processes will success or not. For example if the research is done on a large human sample, a questionnaire can be considered as the most appropriate method to collected data while for a small sample interview will be suited. For a geographical research the data collection process can involve a simple observation or even the use of experimental samples. The most appropriate data collection process will give the most valid data. The data analyses process must also be the most appropriate. The tiresome work for collecting data that is carried out in the data collection process can be invalidated if unsuitable data analysis process is used. The data analysis process can vary from the use of simple analysis process like the use of means, percentages, standard deviation to the use of complex computer analysis process. (Ktichin and Tate, 2005) For the research to be valid, the process of data collection and analysis must be well managed. If the research decides to use secondary sources for the data collection process, the source used must be valid and correct for the study. There should be a good coordination of the research data collection process. (Punch, 2006) Data presentation and conclusion The research does not end with the data analysis. There has to be systemic presentation of the data and making of conclusion about the whole research. The presentation of the results of the research is important since it helps the researcher to disseminate the information. The data collection process should end up with giving out the findings of the research process. In order to attain the aims of the research the research must given out the important findings from the research process. The aim of the research is to bring to existence a new body of knowledge and therefore there should be a systematic way in which it will give out the findings of the research process. (Rogers and Viles, 2003) The conclusion is important as it gives the research a chance to make their recommendation of the research. In the conclusion the researchers does not only give the overall summary of the finding but they also recommend the direction of the future research process according to what they have found in the research. The research can make recommendations on the further changes that can be made in the methodology and the general approach to the research question. (Ktichin and Tate, 2005) Reference: Clifford, N. & valentine, G. (2003): Key Methods in Geography. London: Sage Ktichin, R. & Tate, N. (2005): Conducting Research into human Geography. Harlow: Prentice Hall Parson, T. & Knight, P. (2005): How to do you dissertation in Geography related Disciplines. Cheltenham: Nelson Thones Punch, K. (2006): Developing effective research proposal. London: Sage Reardon, D. (2006): Doing your undergraduate project. London: Sage Rogers, A. & Viles, H. (2003): The student's companion to geography. Blackwell: Oxford Walliman, N. (2004): Your undergraduate dissertation. London: Sage Read More