A research project is composed of various characteristics that make it whole. Without them, the research project lacks credence. Put differently, before you can term a work a research project, it must have some underlying features. These features answers to the questions – what, where, why, how, which, when and who. Not all questions may be answered at once but the majority needs to be responded to. SO what exactly are these features?…
A research project is composed of various characteristics that make it whole. Without them, the research project lacks credence. Put differently, before you can term a work a research project, it must have some underlying features. These features answers to the questions – what, where, why, how, which, when and who. Not all questions may be answered at once but the majority needs to be responded to. So what exactly are these features? Purposive and Objective – Research Problem Before starting any research project, there must be a central problem that the work seeks to find a solution to. This problem serves the purpose of undergoing the research project in the first place. Take for instance, if a research project topic writes – ‘The Business Operations of Okrika Market, a case study of Second Hand Clothing in Ilorin, Kwara State. ‘ That insinuates that the research problem may be the lack of complete knowledge of how the traders and buyers of Second Hand Clothes conduct the act of buying and selling in Okrika Market locations in Ilorin – which this project seeks to explain in details. Verifiable – Methodology In line with the problem, the next important feature of a research project is that it must attempt to solve the problem by developing generalizations, principles and theories, which, when applied in other similar situations in the future, could produce the same results. That is, the methods employed to arrive at the results/findings should be reproduceable and yield same results under varying circumstances elsewhere. With our example, the method adopted maybe that of diachronic or synchronic. That is, telling of past stories behind the market or showing of the operations of the market in recent times. Systematic – Ordered Work Systematic – Ordered Work A research project has to be systematic enough in such a way that it follows a laid down process or list of steps. This makes it much more easier for another subsequent researcher to carry out the same or similar research and still arrive at the same or similar conclusions or findings. Looking at our example, to systematically work on the project topic, the work could be divided into introduction, body and conclusion where the introduction gives brief review of the idea behind okrika market, the various markets around Nigeria as a whole and the history behind the development of the market. The body of the work may center on the main business dealings of customers and traders in the markets plus the various societal, economic and even political impacts of such markets in the metropolitan area of Ilorin, Kwara State. While the conclusion may talk about the findings from the research like when the Marley opens, how lucrative the business is and who can start it up, where it strives best and how it can be developed more by the government of the state. Empirical – Contain Data As much as a research project tackles a problem, it has to be as empirical as possible, through the collection of relevant data for the project. Without a detailed group of data that is used in carrying out the research work, such work, if still done, will lead to an inconclusive outcome. For instance, you will agree with me that the selected project topic of Okrika market operations in Ilorin can’t be complete if the researcher do not go out to the field (the various markets in this case), discuss or question the buyers and sellers of the market and get first class information about how the trade is operated.Clarity and Accuracy There is nothing more distracting and confusing than having information that a research project do not need or lead to. In every research, there is always a main point of discussion, hence a researcher should endeavor to stick to that point and not divert from the mainframe issue. Conducting a research on Okrika market will render information on Canada immigration useless since there is no correlation between the topics. Also, a research project must be clear of any biased opinion about a concept of notion. You are to describe what goes on in a case study for instance that of Okrika markets than to prescribe what happens there. Lastly, the language used in describing such phenomenon must be clear and concise, there is no scholastic reward for being ambiguous, or unnecessarily vague. Hence, you should try as much as possible to make your write-up clear and simple for the next reader to grasp without much hard effort. Patience and Unhurried Activity Carrying out a research requires the researcher to calm down and attempt to easily and slowly dive into the topic of discussion with the informants in a cool and entertaining manner. You can be swift but not in a rush. Try to look at the non-salient points of view and insinuation of the people, apparatus or specimen of research. There is mostly always things to learn that are not uttered or even shown to the naked eyes or rushing mind. Thus, poking from gestures, facial expressions, bodily structures of informants ad specimens is another way to carry out research. In behavioral research, this is very crucial. You study more of the characters, behaviors and comportments of such individuals or things and write down your observations.Analytical and Critical Doing a research in the first place shows that an in depth knowledge of the project topic is lacking. Hence, it is imperative for a researcher to try as much as possible to dive deep or even deeper if previously done into the depth of the project idea and try to look for non-underlying facts and figures that could lead to expansion of new phenomena in that aspect of studies.Growth and Development The outcomes/findings of the research project should contribute something new to the growth of knowledge in that field of study. Thus, every research project must help to expand further the present frontiers of knowledge. Previous research on Okrika market operations could have discussed the ones peculiar to Lagos, Aba, Portharcourt, among other places but this one should tell us more on that of Ilorin, kwara. In some situations, that of Ilorin might have been done initially by another researcher, thus, in this new research, there must be a new idea, concept, explanation, viewpoint OR argument that is being introduced, given or discussed that makes this research a worthwhile endeavor. Have any characteristics that I didn’t touch on? Kindly comment on this write-up You can also give a thumbs up by rating this blog article. Do not forget to share with your colleagues as well. Thanks for reading this week’s post. Till next week, stay safe!