Kwame Nkrumah University of

Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

SCI 352:
Research Design and
Communication
 Write your expectation for the course on
the provided?

Complete this take in 2 minutes

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Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students would be able

to:
 Understand the concept and characteristics of research,
explain the rationale for conducting research

 Distinguish the types and approaches to research

associated with solving a contemporary societal
problem

 Demonstrate the steps in conducting scientific research

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Course Learning Outcomes

 Demonstrate the steps in conducting scientific research

 Identify a research problem

 Critically examine the problem

 Generate research objectives

 Design research in alignment with the objectives

 Conduct research study either by survey or experiment

 Collect, manage, analyze and interpret data

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Course Learning Outcomes

 Communicate scientific research effectively in a

professional environment through different forms

 Critique scientific publications

 Discuss ethical issues encountered in conducting

research and understand the art of patenting an
invention

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Course Learning Outcomes

 Restate the concept and importance of proposal writing

and develop a research proposal

 Know the importance of referencing, the different

referencing styles and how to use at least one
referencing style and software

 format used in KNUST (College of Science)

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 Requirements for the Course

• Attendance • Assessments

– will be taken at each – Group/ Individual

lesson Assignments &
Presentations
– Absenteeism is NOT an – Unannounced quizzes
acceptable excuse for – One project/term
incomplete assignments paper
– Journal Club

Interactive and interesting class

NO ONE is permitted to be ‘laid-back’
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 Learning Materials

– Dawson, C. (2007). A Practical guide to research

methods: A user-friendly manual for mastering research
techniques and projects 3rd edition. How to Books
Limited, Oxford, UK.

– Singh, Y.K. (2006). Fundamentals of research

methodology and statistics. New Age International (P)
Limited Publishers, New Delhi, India.

– Kothari, C.R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods

and techniques 2nd edition. New Age International (P)
Limited Publishers, New Delhi, India.

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 Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

SESSION I
CONCEPT AND
CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH

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 Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, students will be able to:

• Understand the concept of research

• Understand the rationale for conducting

research

• Explain the characteristics research

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 Defining research

• … is a search for knowledge in any branch of

knowledge

“Research is creating new knowledge.”

… Neil Armstrong

• … is a process of investigation or inquiry

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 The Concept of Research

• It's not just a trip to the library

– to pick up a stack of materials, or
– picking the first five hits from a computer search

• It is a journey from the known to unknown

Research is a hunt for the truth !

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A Thinking Outside of the Box
Activity

The Nine Dots

Challenge
 Instruction

Link all 9 dots using four straight lines or fewer,

without lifting the pen and without tracing the same
line more than once

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A Thinking Outside of the Box Activity
 Group Activity
1. Why is research important?
2. What are the characteristics of research?

PROCESS
• Identify facilitator / someone to take notes
• Agree who will report out
• Take 10 minutes to discuss
• Be prepared to make a 2 minute report
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 Why is research important?
• Mankind
– Know the truth (a way to prove lies and to support
truths)
– Increase awareness
– An aid to business success
– Make right choices (e.g. career)
– Means to find, gauge and seize opportunities
– Up to date technology
– Helps understand society and culture

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 Why is research important?
• Students
– Enhances knowledge
– Clarifies confusion
– Have proper understanding of a subject
– Learn about methods and issues
– Understand and appreciate published work
– Understand the rationale and origin of study
– Know area of interest
– Create a balance between the collaborative and
individual work
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 Why is research important?
• Education
– Leads to great observations
– Results in predications, theories and many principles
– Improving practices
– Develops new understanding related to learning,
teaching etc.
– Helps in initiating action and decision making
– Brings consistency and motivates others
– A seed to love reading, writing, analyzing and sharing
valuable information
– Nourishment and exercise for the mind
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 Characteristics of Research
• originates with an observation, question or problem
• has a purpose – it aims to solve problems by investigating it
and providing actionable evidence
• is guided by the specific research problem, question, or
hypothesis
• the hypothesis should be testable
• requires a specific plan and procedure
• requires the collection and interpretation of data in
attempting to resolve the problem that initiated the research
• the findings should be reproducible
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 Characteristics of Research …

• Research is, by its nature, cyclical; or more

exactly, helical

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 Research in Science
• It is an original contribution to the existing
stock of knowledge making for its
advancement

• It is the pursuit of truth with the help of

– Study
– Observation
– Comparison
– Experiment
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 Scientific Research

• It is the systematic method consisting of

– enunciating the problem
– formulating a hypothesis
– collecting the facts or data
– analyzing and interpreting of facts
– reaching certain conclusions
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 Conducting research as a
Student
• is one of the most interesting and often required
feature of any degree course

– Offers you a measure of control and autonomy over

what you learn

– Gives you an opportunity to confirm, clarify, pursue

or discover new aspects of a subject or topic

– Trains you as a junior scientist

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 Characteristics of a Researcher
A good scientist is one who is
– Curious about his world • Observant

– Thinks outside the box • Prudent

– Open-minded and unbiased • Honest

– Skilled

Thus; a research scientist

– Develops the ability to critically analyze problems
– Finds solutions and raise other questions
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 The objectives of Research

• The purpose of research is to discover answers

to questions through the application of scientific
procedures

• Each research study has its own specific

purpose

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 The objectives of Research
• There are 4 general objectives for a research
– To explore a phenomenon or gain new insight into it
(explorative / formulative research)

– To accurately portray the characteristics of a

particular situation or a group (descriptive research)

– To determine the frequency with which something

occurs (diagnostic research)

– To test a hypothesis and/or establish a relationship

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 General objectives of research

1. To explore a phenomenon or gain new insight

into it (explorative / formulative research)

–Review or synthesize existing knowledge

–Explain new phenomenon

–Generate new knowledge

–Construct or create new procedures or systems

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 General objectives of research…
2. To accurately portray the characteristics of a
particular individual, situation or a group
(descriptive research)
– Investigate existing situations or problems

3. To determine the frequency with which something

occurs (diagnostic research)
– Explore and analyze more general issues

4. To test a hypothesis and/or establish a relationship

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General objectives of research…

A research objective could be a combination of

any of the above!

Ultimately, a research objective must provide

solutions to problems

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Opportunities from Research
The outcome of innovative research is an
intellectual property
• Because your product, process or technology
can be
– Patented
– Commercialised
Business incubation exist to nurture your ideas

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 Facts about Research
• Is an academic activity

• A scientific approach
guided by
– a research problem,
question or hypothesis

• Originates with a
question

• It involves a specific
plan and procedure
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 In summary
Research encompasses the following
 Defining and redefining problems

 Formulating hypothesis or suggested solution

 Collecting, organizing, evaluating and

interpreting data

 Making deductions and Reaching conclusions

 Lastly, carefully testing the conclusions

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 Wrap-up
• Empirical • Collection and
– (Direct observation Interpretation of data
and experience)
• Systematic/Methodical
• Clear and concise
• Dynamic and Flexible
• Logical
– (Valid procedures • Replicable (Validity)
and principles in line
with objectives) • Helical

• Analytical/Standardized

Remember: Research must be relevant

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 “There are in fact two things,
science and opinion;
the former produces knowledge,
the latter ignorance.”
- Hippocrates

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 Quiz on Session 1

3/9/2019 38
 Test on Concept and Characteristics of Research

1. Which statement is true

A. A testable hypotheses is turned into a research question
B. A research question is transformed into a testable hypotheses

2. Which of these best describes the process of research

A. It is corkscrew B. It is cyclical
C. It iterates D. It is ellipsoid

3. Your research findings could be negative or positive

depending on ______________
A. The objective B. The question

C. The norm D. The method

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 Test on Concept and Characteristics of Research

4. A researcher should have the following characteristics

except
A. Liberal C. Sceptical
B. Brilliant D. Creative

5. All research must be beneficial to society

A. True B. False

6. The validity and reliability of the data should be

checked occasionally
A. True B. False
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 Test on Concept and Characteristics of Research

7. Which of the following is not an assumption of

scientific research?
A.There are reoccurring patterns in the world
B.Events happen because of preceding cause
C.We can discover solutions to problem of interest
D.Theoretical explanation must agree with common sense
8. Research must always conform to the norm
A. True B. False
9. Scientific discoveries can be patented
A. True B. False

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 Test on Concept and Characteristics of Research

10.The purpose of _________ research is to help in the

process of developing a clear and precise statement of
the problem rather than providing a definite answer.
A. Diagnostic B. Extrapolative
C. Formative D. Descriptive

11. It is important that others know what you assume with

respect to your project
A. True B. False
12. Research is carried out to create wealth
A. True B. False

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 Test on Concept and Characteristics of Research

13. Research is important to students mainly to

A. Know area of interest
B. Bring consistency and motivate others
C. Increase awareness
D. Know the truth
14.Without a valid assumption research cannot proceed
A. True B. False
15.The term research should be used in a technical
sense
A. True B. False 43