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GENERL ORIENTATION TO RESEARCH
From WikiEducator
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GENERAL ORIENTATION TO RESEARCH
This section helps you to revisit your understanding of research.
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After reading this material and performing the activities, you will be able to
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It is generally thought that research is a highly technical task and hence beyond the reach of a classroom practitioner. Research in its strictest sense may be highly technical. But what is not understood, is that all of us become researchers when we start systematic probing into a given problem. Every classroom teacher is a researcher and every researcher has teacher qualities too. It is the lack of awareness of the process of systematic probing that has kept the teachers and the researchers away from each other. This unit proposes to introduce you to the concept of research and the methodology of systematic probing. From this background you will understand the meaning, scope and methodology of research. You will also know about reflective practices or 'action research' as it is called popularly. |
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WHAT IS RESEARCH? Research is the application of the scientific method in the study of a problem. In this process it leads to the establishment of new knowledge. Systematic probing into a situation/event/problem opens up unseen aspects of the problem under consideration. The researcher applies himself/herself to the problem vigorously and in the most objective fashion in order to arrive at conclusions that have a universal value. Research implies thinking, analyzing, relation finding, testing. It is an intellectual exercise. Research in other words is reflective thinking. “A good research worker works diligently, thinks clearly, studies carefully and extensively, observes minutely, collects data painstakingly, analyses data objectively and concludes scientifically and rationally”. |
What kind of research is needed in a DIET?
- The problem chosen for research should be on the area where research is very much needed or wanted - unexplored areas.
- Research should lend itself for scientific analysis such that generalization/prediction could be made out of the solution reached.
- Research should be of use to the community and enrich the knowledge in that area.
- Research should be relevant and socially significant.
- Research outcomes should be verifiable and authentic.
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What is Educational Research? Research that follows the scientific methods of analysis with respect to problems concerning different aspects of education is educational research. The areas of concern here include curriculum & curriculum treatment, instruction, administration, classroom management, textbooks, evaluation, student qualities, teacher effectiveness and so on. Educational research should be able to provide useful solutions to several concerns in the field of education. |
