Research Methodology - Book Report/Review Example

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The end or outcome scenarios experienced by individual, groups or organizations are basically dependent on how decision making was carried upon. Prior to making foremost decisions, people wanted to be assured of the success of the outcome as much as possible. This situation is the same in the conduct of research. Initially, multiple viewpoints are deciphered, frameworks are designed, various insights are developed and these undergo several stages of validation, before it can finally bring us to clearer and favorable perspectives - sharp, bias free and with high level precision. Except in unusual cases, the majority of scientific researchers would be of the same mind that their results are only in the region of true. All the same, to make sense of this, philosophers want to assume no special concept like that as "approximate truth." Other philosophers (Davidson, 1990) consider that to articulate that to achieve the truth, is a mistake. Similarly, scientific theories are created to fit the world. Thus, scientists ought not to aim to produce true theories; instead, they should intend to construct theories in which models are symbol or representations of the world. It has been said that, one has to be creative in writing and in research reporting. Being creative does not necessarily mean the ability of a writer or anyone to create in the absence of resources, nevertheless the ability to produce new ideas through modifying, combining, changing, innovating, or reapplying existing ideas. As Albert Einstein once stated, "We can't get to the bottom of problems by using the similar kind of thinking but, we used as soon as we created them". So, this means, creative thinking has been classified as something that we are born in the midst of or naturally but through development or utilization of activities and teaching strategies (Don, et. al. 2008). This paper will review and critique a sample article entitled, "Unemployment down by 1% in capital", which was featured online in Evening Standard Associated Newspaper on 11th of February, 2009. The article is exactly presented below: "Unemployment down by 1% in capital. The number of unemployed people in London has fallen by 1% between October and December, bucking the national trend, which saw unemployment figures, soars across the country. The jobless total in the capital is now 294,000, the data from the Office for National Statistics showed, down from 297,000. Nationwide, unemployment has reached a 10-year high of just under two million as a record number of people were made redundant and job vacancies slumped to a new low. The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the UK has now increased for 12 months in a row, up by 73,800 in January to 1.23 million, the highest total since the summer of 1999. Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: "We know times are tough and we need to continue doing all we can to support people who lose their jobs find another as quickly as possible, preventing the long-term unemployment which has so scarred communities in the past from taking root. The Prime Minister and I are meeting key national employers today (Wednesday) to plan what more we can do to help people back to work and into apprenticeships, including advertising more vacancies through Jobcentre Plus. "Businesses are already helping thousands of people into work through our local employment partnership scheme and today we will be committing to helping a further 200,000 more into jobs over the next year. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "This is another set of dreadful figures, and we fear worse is still to come. Losing your job doesn't just hit your pocket, but can hit self-esteem, affect relationships and harm your health. "This is a national emergency, and Government must bend every sinew to stop job losses and get the jobless back to work."For those who have lost their jobs, better statutory redundancy pay and Jobseeker's Allowance is needed to help them to cope financially on their tragedy (Evening Standard, 2009)". The evaluation process will help to the type of reasoning employed in the article. At first instance, it can easily be distinguished that the arguments presented by the writer essentially applied the rules of inductive reasoning, considering that the content of the introduction revealed a somewhat specific detail of the news and not the general perspective. As what has been learned, inductive reasoning, or induction, presents an argument or reasoning from a particular case prior to arriving at a universal rule. This type of reasoning draws ideas, insights and inferences from observations in order to create pertinent generalizations. The writer presented a generalization which is "there is 1% decrease in the unemployment", as this technique is basically and technically part of inductive reasoning, since it take accounts the specific instances. The introductory part is informing the public that, between October and December, there is a decrease of 1% in the number of jobless people in London area. If based on the national statistics, unemployment continuous to be a trend and this is supported by the fact that, the jobless population has now reached a total of 294,000, lower as compared to the previous data which is 297,000 (Office for National Statistics, 2009). Moreover, by high lighting similarities and differences of numerical figures based on statistics imply that, comparative reasoning was also integrated in this reading article. Comparative reasoning sets in the significance of something by comparing it in opposition to something else. The size of the gap or disparities between the things compared specifies importance. To construct a logical argument, first ascertain the validity of the judgment benchmark. Comparison is a very natural form of judgment as we find it difficult to evaluate something on a stand-alone basis. We want to know if it is better or worse -- but better or worse than what If you can establish the benchmark, then the rest, as they say, is history. Not only is there an assumption that the benchmark item is the right thing to compare against, but the assessment of how much better or worse things are is also assumed to depend on the size of the gap between the item being compared and the benchmark. The subsequent paragraphs continued to present details about the phenomenon, giving support to the initial paragraph: "Nationwide, unemployment has reached a 10-year high of just under two million as a record number of people were made redundant and job vacancies slumped to a new low. The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the UK has now increased for 12 months in a row, up by 73,800 in January to 1.23 million, the highest total since the summer of 1999." (Evening Standard, 2009; par 2-3). In addition, Secretary James Purnell, in charge for the citizens' Work and Pensions said that, there is a need to show continuous support, by helping people find a job as quickly as possible, specially those who lost their jobs because these days, times are indeed tough and long term unemployment will surely scare communities. The above-mentioned facts were right away followed by significant remarks based on deductive reasoning which says, "Businesses are already helping thousands of people into work through our local employment partnership scheme and today we will be committing to helping a further 200,000 more into jobs over the next year." TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "This is another set of dreadful figures, and we fear worse is still to come. Losing your job doesn't just hit your pocket, but can hit self-esteem, affect relationships and harm your health." Deduction usually presents a universal or broad case and deduces the theme in to specific instances. It may start with a theory or hypothesis. It is also sometimes referred to as "hypothetico-deduction"'. Deduction is used by experts and writers who take a wide-ranging scientific law and utilize it to a certain case, given that it is assumed law is exact. Deductive reasoning presupposes that the basic law on or after which one may argue is applicable in all circumstances. This can let one take a rule then apply it perhaps, even where it is not meant to be used. The exercise of deductive reasoning frequently is a convincing and 'safe' structure of reasoning"Businesses are already helping thousands of people into work through our local employment partnership scheme except that it is based on the presumed truth of certain rule or law on which it is founded. Deductive conclusions can either be valid or invalid. Although the writer has not articulated the main aims of this material, undeniably the information given is closely data-based, taking into consideration that author and in text citations of sources were indicated. The publication is also very timely. The discussions were able to relate with real-life economic situations not just in the local setting but in the global perspective as well. Another point, hyperlinks that can direct the reader to the original sources or other reliable sources were also observed. Hyperlinks, like the principle of cross referencing aid in assessing the validity of data, at a single click of the mouse, readers can verify other sources of the reports cited. However, few weaknesses were noted from the article and the following are as follows: The author's name and other significant information was not reflected on the article, thus, there is no way for verification of author's credibility. Trustworthy source, evidence of quality control, author's credentials, known or respected authority and organizational support must be evident in any literature; readers must be allowed to verify some good evidence that allows one to trust it (Purdue University, 2008). Obviously, paper arrived at a generalization without presenting well some strong supporting facts and theories associated in the formulated conclusions. Perhaps, presentation of few examples can help make this possible, example, relating strong partnerships among business sectors or government and private industries. Francis Bacon reiterated that, scientists produce scientific laws through observation in a number of phenomena, discovering similarities and arriving on theories and law which explains all things. Good scientific law is exceedingly generalized and may be implemented in many situations to elucidate other incidents. This way, inductive point of views can be made to be further valid and probable by adding together the evidence, even though if this evidence is selectively selected. Thus, trust and integrity are needed better than deductive reasoning. No bibliographic citations were noted too, contact information, listed sources, available corroboration, claims supported, and documentation are not revealed or cited. There must be a source that supplies convincing evidence for the claims, a source one can triangulate (find at least two other or more sources that support it). The writer has not sufficiently suggested some practical ideas on how to concretely address the problem being raised, the closing part which quoted as,"This is a national emergency, and Government must bend every sinew to stop job losses and get the jobless back to work. "For those who have lost their jobs, better statutory redundancy pay and Jobseeker's Allowance is needed to help them to cope financially on their tragedy" may be appreciated by few, but not to those concerns who are in dearth of work. Note that in the previous paragraph, arguments about necessity and possibilities are expressed. This is an example of one form of logic called, Modal logic. Modal logic is one approach in reasoning which describes phenomenon in terms of possibility as well as necessity. It further explore and relates how there intertwine, and whether the explanations are stated in terms of unconditional truth. For essential information needed to be discussed. Thus, use words similar to ought, toucan, may, must, have to. Conversation about necessary things can provide people more potential in point of views as you now contain an analogue connection of alternatives, instead of the black-and-white twofold decision of true or false, correct or incorrect, necessary or unnecessary. Conventional logic is aligned on extension. Modal logic are in adherence to intention, that truth is focused on where you find it, the reality of numerous situations is that it is impracticable to determine precise truth. Starting with the favored side allows you to fill the other person's mind with the key points, such that the second list becomes less easy to absorb. Starting with the disfavored side allows you to make it sound reasonable, and then knock down each of the disfavored arguments with stronger arguments for the contrary case. You can also choose between giving all of one side and all of another or alternating between each side (the latter is good for comparing related for-and-against arguments). Offering arguments both for and against a case makes the arguer seem even-handed, neutral and hence trustworthy. It also takes the wind out of the sails of a counter-argument if you have already discussed the point. Quantity and quality may be confused, and more arguments for one side can make it look like that side is the better choice. Ambler (2007) relates that "one truth" is a nice vision to effort for, toward in theory, however in practice a person may only be able to narrow down to quite a lot of reasonably similar truths. Possible that, it may be imperative to distinguish that there are more than a few truths and to name those truths, except, upon trying to compel a single reliable truth on all parties is pointless at best. It will be a practical approach at the same time recognizes the diminishing rate of come back when it comes to structuring or modeling. Golafshani (2003) added that the use of reliability and validity are not new and ordinary in conducting quantitative research. In fact, establishing reliability and validity are also considered and applied in the qualitative research paradigm. Both the reliability and validity measures are patterned and are rooted in positivist viewpoint and are redefined for the purpose of utilization in a naturalistic approach. Applying the principles of reliability and validity in research are essential since it provide springboard to scrutinize what these two terms signify in the use of quantitative research, qualitative research paradigm and triangulation approach to test the reliability as well as validity. Therefore, validity, reliability, and triangulation are relevant research concepts since they reflect the numerous ways of establishing truth. References Davidson, D. (1990) The structure and content of truth. The Journal of Philosophy, 87 (1990), 279-328. Don, E. W., et. al. (2008) Creative thinking: opening up a world of thought. Techniques , BNet Business Network. Retrieved February 15, 2009, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6388/is_200804/ai_n25556123 Salerno, J. (2008) Truth in data. Retrieved February 15, 2009 from http://www.mises.org/story/205 Standard Business (2009) Unemployment down by 1% in capital. Standard Business. Retrieved February 15, 2009 from http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard- business/article-23639164-etails/Unemployment+down+by+1+in+capital/article.do Scott W. Ambler, S. W. (2007) The one truth above all else. Anti-Pattern Ambysoft Inc. Read More