Module 6: The Importance of Research

Study Implications
The purpose of research is to inform action. Thus, your study should seek to
contextualize its findings within the larger body of research. Research must always be
high quality in order to produce knowledge that is applicable outside of the research
setting with implications that go beyond the group that has participated in the research.
Furthermore, the results of your study should have implications for policy and project
implementation.
One problem that often plagues progress in global health is the slow translation of
research into practice. Oftentimes, a disconnect exists between those who create the
evidence base and those who are positioned to implement the research findings. The
underlying problem is in the way in which the production of evidence is organized
institutionally with highly centralized mechanisms, whereas the application of that
science is highly decentralized. This social distance prevails because scientists are more
oriented to the international audiences of other scientists for which they publish than to
the needs of practitioners, policy makers, or the local public.(1)
Thus, as researchers, it is imperative to take steps to overcome this barrier. Publishing
your study may be one initial step to make your research known to the global community.
Other proactive measures can be taken to encourage the uptake of evidence-based
interventions. For example, you can present your research findings at various venues
such as the Unite for Sight sponsored Global Health and Innovation Conference.
Furthermore, you can send the results of your study to local officials, policy-makers, and
community leaders.
Goals of Research
There are relatively few published studies about eye care in developing countries, and
Unite For Sight encourages all volunteers to consider developing a research study to
contribute important knowledge to the eye care community on a global scale. Pursuing a
research project will be a challenging and rewarding experience, and this opportunity
enables you to pursue an in-depth original study about a topic of interest.
Well-conducted research is vital to the success of global heath endeavors. Not only does
research form the foundation of program development and policies all over the world, but
it can also be translated into effective global health programs. Research draws its power
from the fact that it is empirical: rather than merely theorizing about what might be
effective or what could work, researchers go out into the field and design studies that give
policymakers hard data on which they can base their decisions. Furthermore, good
research produces results that are examinable by peers, methodologies that can be
replicated, and knowledge that can be applied to real-world situations. Researchers work
as a team to enhance our knowledge of how to best address the worlds problems.

The Iterative Process of Research

Ultimately, the key to a successful research project lies in iteration: the process of
returning again and again to the research questions, methods, and data, which leads to
new ideas, revisions and improvements. It is easy to think of research as a step-by-step
1,2,3 process, but it is important to be fluid and open to change. Oftentimes, by
discussing the research project with advisers and peers one will find that new research
questions need to be added, variables need to be omitted, and other changes made. As a
proposed study is examined and reexamined from different perspectives, it may begin to
transform and take a different shape. This is to be expected and is a component of a good
research study. In addition, it is important to examine study methods and data from
different viewpoints to ensure a comprehensive approach to the research question. In
conclusion, there is no one formula for developing a successful research study, but it is
important to realize that the research process is cyclical and iterative.
http://www.uniteforsight.org/research-methodology/module6

Importance of Research Studies

Importance of Research Studies: Research studies these days are gaining an
unprecedented focus and attention. A researchable area in any academic discipline is an
area that has an ample scope to be explored. If the scope in itself poses some potential
problems that need to be answered, a research methodology offers solutions for dealing
with them effectively. The very path one traverses in search of authentic solutions to a
specific academic problem constitutes what we call research. This research question
posed by the researcher and the methodology that he adopts to get solutions is the most
valuable part of the research work.
The significant problems involved in research
While pursuing research there could be many significant problems that a researcher might
probably need to overcome. One of the most important of the research problems is the
validity of the research question itself. There could be implementation problems owing
to this kind of objection. In simpler words there could be time lag between the framing of
the proposal and implementation of the actual research work.
Why is Research Important: Research is important because it gives direction to deal with
a specific problem. Whether the problem is thoroughly solved or not is not the forte of the
research work. Accumulating amicable and all the possible solutions hypothetically are in
itself considered a commendable achievement. There are many types of researches that
are carried out
Governmental researches
Educational/Institutional researches
Independent researches

The researches conducted by the government are carried out by a commission which
comprises specialists and highly experienced personnel in the field. These governmental
researchers conduct massive researches and the funding goes by the government. On the
other hand educational researches are the ones that happen through doctoral programs
offered by the Universities. Institutional researches have become a part and parcel of
multinational organizations. There are committed research and development departments
that are dedicated to the domain. The recruits that are absorbed into R&D of these
institutions are paid a much higher salary in comparison with their peers who work for
other departments. There are many kinds of scholarships and stipends that are offered to
the research scholars.
How is the Research Program Pursued?
Almost all the Universities across the globe have some kind of financial assistance to
offer to their potential research scholars. Independent researchers are offered in the
countries like Germany. However these independent researchers should be in touch with
the supervisor overseeing their work. There are certain scholarships and financial
assistance offered to the independent researchers depending upon the quality of their
research work. There are some popular universities across the globe that do provide
platform to independent research. Independent research however depends on the
authenticity of the research problem and also its intensity. It also depends upon the
research tools and methodology adopted by the research scholar and his/her commitment
to the entire project.
Stanford University , Creighton University , University of Kentucky , Medical
University of the Americas and many more offer platform for aspirants to conduct
independent researches under expert supervision.
The National Center for Biological Sciences offers grants for Independent researchers.
Research programs typically extend to a time period of 3 to 5 years. During this period
the research scholars get a stipend from the University they are researching in. A research
scholar might either carry out post-doctoral research work and keep contributing to the
department that s/he belongs to or opt for teaching as his/her primary profession. A PhD
catapults prospects of employability and of course matters related to salary.
http://scholarship-positions.com/blog/importance-of-research-studies/201209/

Roles and Responsibilities of Research Students

Responsibilities of Research Students
The research student has primary responsibility for the direction and progress of their
research and for the delivery of a thesis of an appropriate standard within the relevant
maximum registration period.
The research student is expected to adopt a professional approach to the research degree
programme, including:

 good timekeeping
observing deadlines
reading and responding to communications from the supervisory team and other
members of the University
taking responsibility for their own skills and career development
The responsibilities of the research student include:
completing initial registration and any subsequent re-registration as required and, in
the case of international research students, complying with all relevant immigration
requirements
making themselves familiar with relevant policies and procedures in particular,
with the Senate Regulations and the Code of Conduct for Research
developing an appropriate research plan that will enable submission of the thesis for
examination within the relevant maximum registration period
managing and sustaining progress in accordance with the agreed research plan,
including the submission to the supervisory team of interim work as required
recognising when they need help and taking the initiative in raising any concerns and
problems as early as possible with the supervisory team or the Postgraduate Tutor
complying with all relevant requirements with respect to intellectual property
making time at the start of the research degree programme to discuss with the
supervisory team the nature of research, the standard of work expected of research
students, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the research student and the
supervisory team
confirming with the supervisory team how supervision will work in practice and
clarifying their own preferences with respect to the type of supervisory guidance
needed and the ways in which this might be provided
maintaining regular contact with the supervisory team and taking the initiative in
agreeing with the supervisory team a mutually acceptable schedule for formal
supervisory meetings
attending formal supervisory meetings as scheduled and making appropriate
arrangements if it is not possible to attend a scheduled supervisory meeting
reflecting on and responding to feedback and guidance provided by the supervisory
team at formal supervisory meetings

 preparing and keeping an agreed written record of each formal supervisory meeting
complying with the Universitys requirements for formal progress reviews
undertaking appropriate skills and career development training
maintaining a record of completed skills and career development activities and
reviewing and revising their training plan as appropriate
providing the supervisory team with a complete final draft of the thesis by a mutually
acceptable date in sufficient time before the required submission date for the
supervisors to read and comment on
reflecting on and responding to feedback and guidance provided by the supervisory
team with regards to the final draft of the thesis
ensuring that the thesis complies with all relevant regulations, including those on
word length, format, and binding
making appropriate preparations for the viva voce examination and attending the
examination as required by the examining team
complying with all thesis final submission requirements submission of one hard
bound copy of the thesis to the Graduate School Office and one electronic copy of
the thesis to the University Library
http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/gradschool/zone/staff/registration/responsibilities

Scope of research

1 - National innovative capacity : modeling, measuring and comparing national

capacities
National innovative capacity is the ability of a country to produce and
commercialise a flow of innovative technology over the long term. It depends on:
1 The strength of a nation's common infrastructure (basic research, education and
training, intellectual property protection, R&D tax policies, venture capital, and so
forth);
2 The cluster-specific innovation environment (one or many clusters involving
particular factor (input) conditions; a local context that encourages investment in
innovation-related activity; vigourous competition among locally based rivals;
sophisticated local customers; presence of capable local suppliers and related
companies).

3 The quality of linkages (relationship between the common innovation

infrastructure and industrial clusters).
This research strand aims at building innovation indexes and measuring various
dimensions of national innovation capacities. For instance:
4 Strategic capacity: it deals with the ability to mobilise and concentrate resources
under some centralised decision making processes to achieve a critical scientific or
technological objective.
5 Revolutionary capacities: it deals with the ability to shift resources out of areas of
lower and into areas of higher productivity and greater yield. This is a capacity to
manage transitions. The difficulty is that such a capacity involves various dimensions
which can be conflicting (see Mowery and Simoe, 2001).
6 [TOP]
2 - Designing efficient incentive systems for invention and innovation: intellectual
property rights, prizes, public subsidies
One central problem in the economics of knowledge is the design of incentive
systems that both reward inventors/knowledge producers and encourage
dissemination of their output. Several scholars have described the two regimes that
allocate resources for the creation of new knowledge: one is the system of granting
intellectual property rights, as exemplified by modern patent and copyright systems,
the other is the open science regime, as often found in the realm of pure scientific
research and sometimes in the realm of commercial technological innovation, often
in infant industries.
A large range of issues have to be addressed to elucidate the problem of designing
efficient incentive systems:
7 What is the best solution in case of particular kind of new technologies
(genomics, software, data bases)?
8 What is the nature of the tension that arises when the two systems come up
against each other?
9 How designing proper incentive systems to encourage research and innovation in
areas of high social return and low private profitability (orphan drugs, malaria and
other tropical diseases)?
10 In what condition a prize-based reward system provides a more efficient solution
than granting intellectual property rights?
11 Is there an economic case for granting intellectual property rights in the domain of
research tools, instruments, basic knowledge?
12 [TOP]
3 - Research in EPFL labs: new economics of science
CEMI will be at the forefront of the College to develop and undertake research in
the field of "economics of science" with EPFL as the main case. In this perspective,
several topics are obvious:

13 Assessing the impact of organizational practice on the productivity of university

technology transfer offices
14 Measuring the social value of basic research and the local spillovers (regional
impact). Accounting for the effects associated with mobility
15 Scale, scope and spillovers: the determinants of research productivity in several
fields
16 Exploring the role of patents in knowledge transfer from EPFL
17 Exploring the effect of the patenting of research tools and biomedical innovation:
transfer opportunities and social costs
18 Access policy for large scale research instrument, data bases.
All these topics should give rise to research design (research question, data
collection, analysis) in close collaboration with the other EPFL Schools (life
science, basic science, computer science, engineering science) in order to benefit
from the great opportunity to be located in an Institute of Technology. These
projects will be designed in close collaboration with Jan-Anders Manson, vicepresident for Innovation and Knowledge Transfer.
19 [TOP]
4 - New R&D methods and the production of reliable knowledge in sectors which
lagged behind
Unequal access to pertinent knowledge bases may well constitute an important
condition underlying perceptible differences in the success with which different
areas of endeavour are pursued within the same society, and the pace at which
productivity advances in different sectors of the economy during a given historical
epoch. Today, it remains astonishing to observe the contrast between fields of
economic activity where improvements in practice are closely reflecting rapid
advances in human knowledge - such as is the case for information technologies,
transportation, and certain areas of medical care (surgery and drug therapy) - and
other areas where the state of knowledge appears to be far more constraining. The
fact is that knowledge is not being developed to the same degree in every sector. A
major policy concern is to understand the factors at the origin of such uneven
development, and to implement a proper strategy in order to fill the gap between
sectors with fast knowledge accumulation processes and those in which these
processes remain weak.
To summarise, rapid and effective creation of know-how is most likely to occur
when the following conditions converge (Nelson, Seminar at CREA, Paris, 2004):
20 Practice in the field needs to be well specified, sustainable, replicable, imitable;
21 There needs to be ability to learn from experience and experiment;
22 The ability to experiment offline, with less expense than that would be involved in
online experimentation, and to gain reliable information relevant to online use, greatly
facilitates progress.
23 A strong body of "scientific" knowledge greatly facilitates effective offline
experimentation, and also quick and reliable evaluation of varying practice online.

Part of the problem in sectors which are lagging behind deals with the limited
ability to conduct experiments. The main research issue here is to analyse the
impact of new experimental methods and design (essentially based on random
assignment), which have the potential to profoundly transform the way reliable
knowledge is produced in these sectors. For instance, one of the most significant
developments in modern medicine has been the randomised controlled trial (RCT),
the significance and use of which grew rapidly after its application to tuberculosis in
the 1940s. Today the RCT is widely treated as the evidential 'gold standard' for
demonstrating 'what works' and what is medical 'best practice'. Education might be
the next sector to be profoundly transformed through the application of RCTs. The
growth of RCTs as an approach in educational research has been pushed forward by
three important factors: computers, statistical techniques (effect sizes and metaanalyses) and demand for accountability in both practice and research. There is,
therefore, a favorable context. The question is whether this new feature can change
and transform the way knowledge is produced and distributed in a sector like
education.
24 [TOP]
5 - New models of innovation: open, distributed systems and the role of users
This project involves the contribution of users in the innovation process not only in
terms of sending market signals (which is normally what users are supposed to do to
help producer-innovators), but also in terms of actively contributing to the
modification of the product.
This project emphasizes, therefore, the functional source of innovation: while an
innovation is considered a manufacturer's innovation when the developer expects to
benefit by selling it, an innovation is a user innovation when the user expects to
benefit by using it.
This research aims at understanding the capabilities and limitations of user
innovation processes, which involve quite often an open and distributed system (in
which innovations may be freely revealed to other users). Its advocates claim that
user innovation, involving freely revealing, is an efficient means of producing
socially desirable innovation and maximizing "spillovers," or knowledge transfer /
leakage. The generation of innovation by users may be a complement or it may
compete with innovations produced by manufacturers. In its role as a complement,
user innovation may extend the diversity of products without endangering market
positions of manufacturers and may help manufacturing firms to mitigate
information asymmetry problems vis--vis future market needs. As a competitor,
user innovation may offer products that better meet user needs.
The model involves two major deviations from the private investment model of
innovation, which assumes that manufacturers innovate in products and processes to
improve their competitive position and that returns to innovation result from
excluding other manufacturers from adopting it. First, users of technologies, rather
than manufacturers, are often the innovators. Second, user-innovators often freely
reveal the proprietary knowledge they have developed at their private expense.

A host of empirical studies, mainly conducted by Eric von Hippel, his research
group at MIT and his colleagues, show that user innovation is an important
economic phenomenon. It constitutes the main source of knowledge in some sectors
or an important contributor in others.
Deepening our understanding of the conditions leading to user innovation and of its
economic impact is, therefore, a relevant issue: (i) for a better assessment both of
intangibles and intellectual capital at the firm level and of innovation capacities at
the national level; and (ii) for a better understanding of some new organizational
forms, such as user communities, which appear to be becoming more relevant in a
knowledge society. Thus our main research questions are the following:
25 What are the different channels through which user innovations influence the
economy and how should manufacturers adapt and respond to user innovations?
26 What kinds of learning processes / dynamic capabilities do user innovations
enable across product / technological generations?
27 What kind of policy issues and challenges pertain to user innovation? Given the
fact that user innovations contribute significantly to productivity growth and national
competitiveness, what kinds of policy should be devised to promote them.
28 [TOP]

6 - Other issues to be developed

The economics of knowledge policy:
While it is relatively easy to provide a long list of policy recommendations which
are of some relevance in the context of the knowledge economy (on patent, ICT,
education), it is far more difficult to develop the welfare economics of knowledge
investment in order to build a framework for addressing policy issues.
Methodology for the optimal allocation of R&D funds to new technologies:
How does the R&D manager maximize the probability of developing a
commercializable technology over a specific period.
http://cemi.epfl.ch/page-30714-en.html

MEANING AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH

Meaning of Research
Research is defined as the scientific investigation of phenomena which includes
collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of facts that lines an individuals
speculation with reality.

 Characteristics of Research
1.
Empirical. Research is based on direct experience or observation by the
researcher.
2.
Logical. Research is based on valid procedures and principles.
3.
Cyclical. Research is a cyclical process because it starts with a problem
and ends with a problem.
4.
Analytical. Research utilizes proven analytical procedures in gathering
the data, whether historical, descriptive, experimental and case study.
5.
Critical. Research exhibits careful and precise judgment.
6.
Methodical. Research is conducted in a methodical manner without bias
using systematic method and procedures.
7.
Replicability. The research design and procedures are replicated or
repeated to enable the researcher to arrive at valid and conclusive results.
Qualities of a Good Researcher
1.
Research-oriented
2.
Efficient
3.
Scientific
4.
Effective
5. Active
6.
Resourceful
7.
Creative
8.
Honest
9.
Economical
10. Religious
Characteristics of the Researcher
1.
Intellectual Curiosity. A researcher undertakes a deep thinking and
inquiry of the things, and situations around him.
2.
Prudence. The researcher is careful to conduct his research study at the
right time and at the right place wisely, efficiently, and economically.
3.
Healthy Criticism. The researcher is always doubtful as to the
truthfulness of the results.
4.
Intellectual Honesty. An intelligent researcher is honest to collect or
gather data or facts in order to arrive at honest results.
5.
Intellectual Creativity A productive and resourceful investigator
always creates new researches.
Values of Research to Man
1.
Research improves the quality of life.
2.
Research improves instruction.
3.
Research improves students achievement.
4.
Research improves teachers competence.
5.
Research satisfies mans needs.
6.
Research reduces the burden of work.
7.
Research has deep-seated psychological aspects.

8.
9.

Research improves the exportation of food products.

Research responds to the economic recovery and austerity measure of
the country.
10. Research trains graduates to become responsive to the economic
development of the country and to compete globally.
Types of Research
1.
Basic Research. This is also called as fundamental research or pure
research. It seeks to discover basic truths or principles.
Examples:

Boyles Law

Charles Law

Archimedes Principle

Hookes Law

Newtons Law
2.
Applied Research. This type of research involves seeking new
applications of scientific knowledge to the solution of a problem, such as a
development of a new system or procedure, new device, or new method in
order to solve the problem.
3.
Developmental Research. This is a decision-oriented research involving
the application of the steps of the scientific method in response to an
immediate need to improve existing practices.
Classification of Research
1.
Library Research. This is done in the library where answers to specific
questions or problems of the study are available.
2.
Field Research. Here, research is conducted in a natural setting.
3.
Laboratory Research. The research is conducted in artificial or
controlled conditions by isolating the study in a thoroughly specified and
equipped area. The purposes are: (1) to test hypotheses derived from
theory, (2) to control variance under research conditions, and (3) to
discover the relations between the dependent and the independent.
THE VARIABLE
Meaning of Variable
A variable is defined as a quantity susceptible of fluctuation or change in value or
magnitude under different conditions.
Types of Variable
1.
Independent Variable. This is the stimulus variable which is chosen by
the researcher to determine the relationship to an observed phenomenon.
2.
Dependent Variable. This is the response variable which is observed and
measured to determine the effect of the independent variable.
3.
Moderator Variable. This is a secondary or special type of independent
variable chosen by the researcher to determine if it changes or modifies

the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

4.
Control Variable. This is the variable that is controlled by the
investigator in which the effects can be neutralized by eliminating or
removing the variable.
5.
Intervening Variable. This is a variable which interferes with the
independent and dependent variables, but its effects can either strengthen
or weaken the independent and dependent variables.
Components of the research process
1.
Problem/ Objectives
2.
Hypotheses
3. Theoretical/ Conceptual Framework
4. Assumptions
5.
Review of Related Literature
6.
Research Design
7.
Data Collection
8.
Data Processing and Statistical Treatment
9. Analysis and Interpretation
10. Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
http://analyst0091.blogspot.com/2011/05/chapter-1-meaning-and-characteristics.html