What is research?

What is know-
ledge, theory, S&T
and R&D? What
are the types of
research?
RESEARCH is a systematic and
exhaustive inquiry, investigation or
experimentation with the aim of
finding new facts (knowledge) in
explaining the problems associated
with our day to day relations with our
environments (social, natural,
political, economics, physical) to
come up with working solutions in
facing them.
It is the crux of human development—
a human product that is generating
more and new products / ideas.
When the logical relationships among
problems, experiences and reasons are
established and arranged systematically
through a series of human interactions with
their social, natural, physical, economics,
etc. environments, this lead to THEORIES.
Therefore, theories are products of
research.
Theories explain "How" and "Why"
something operates as it does. They are
made-up of concepts and principles for ease
of understanding them.
When theories are compiled, related to
or impinged with other theories, they
form the human KNOWLEDGE or
bodies of knowledge.

KNOWLEDGE is a central product of

research, be it academic, formal,
indigenous, local or practical. Be in
different forms, they are reiteratively
treated as both a resource and source
of power and conflict among human
beings. Thus, by looking at the
knowledge interface between local
knowledge against the universal, one
will be able to see the contestations
related to these contexts.
‘Universal’, ‘Western’ or
formal knowledges are those
that are taught in schools
and found written in books,
journals and scientific
magazines.

They are products of

research in ‘generalised
form’ and generally made by
‘experts’, researchers and
academe.
‘Local’, ‘indigenous’, ‘folk’, ‘rural’ or traditional knowledges are socio-
culturally, geographically and politically multi-sited. They differ from culture to
culture, as these are based from the experiences of people within their
geographical, political and social environments. They are also historically
based.

The natives’ knowledges are now the ‘apple of the eyes’ of modern researchers, especially in
Western countries, especially their traditional medicines which are now tapped for new
drugs.
 Building of Building
Human
Social meanings, of Building
experiences,
Actor realities, concepts of know-
encounters &
facts & & ledges
problems
lifeworlds theories

Paradigm in the generation of theories and knowledges.

When these bodies of knowledge are internalised by the human

actor, they become a part of their traditions and practices—culture.
 Knowledge is a product of
research through the
process of logical
reasoning or rationalism. It
can be done in two ways:
Theories
•Deductive reasoning (i.e.,
the process of drawing a
specific conclusion from a
set of premises).

Deduction
Induction

Patterns • Inductive reasoning (i.e.,

Hypotheses
reasoning from the
particular to the general).
The conclusion from
inductive reasoning is
probabilistic (i.e., you make
a statement about what will
Observations/
Data probably happen). The so-
called “problem of
induction” is that the future
might not resemble the
present.
 If SCIENCE is a body of
‘organised knowledge’ that we
use in explaining our day to
day relations with our
environments and the
problems associated with
them (know-why), then it is
also a product of RESEARCH.
When these organised bodies
of knowledge are put into
useful objects, processes and
or outcomes, then TECHNO-
LOGY (know-how) becomes
an outcome of RESEARCH.

The body of knowledge that was generated through

research revolutionises our present development.
If RESEARCH is the continuous
search for knowledge (SCIENCE)
which are put together into
important objects and processes
(TECHNOLOGY), then the act of
putting them together to improve
human lives and his environments
refers to DEVELOPMENT.

Continuous development of
new drugs for HIV virus
(green spheres) through the
application of research.
 •To become research
literate
•To develop critical
thinking
•To generate
knowledge
•To come up with
solutions to a certain
problem
All the things we read and studied today are
products of research and creative minds.
Based on Purpose
Basic / Fundamental /
Theoretical or Pure
Research—done for the
purpose of knowing,
understanding or explaining
natural and social phenomena,
to uncover general principles
and develop a theory to explain
such phenomena without
direct or specific use at once.

Albert Einstein is a famous theoretical

researcher and was a Nobel Prize Winner in
Physics
Basic Research—is regarded as the most academic form of research, since
its principal aim is to make a contribution to knowledge, usually for the
general good, rather than to solve a specific problem for a certain
organisation or situation. This may take the form of the following:
Discovery – where a totally
new or novel idea or
explanation emerges and
may revolutionise
thinking.

Invention – where a new

technique or method is
created.

Reflection –
where an
existing theory,
technique or group of
ideas is re-examined
possibly in a different
organisational or social
context.

Basic or Theoretical research is the

most academic form of research
that generates knowledge.
Based on Purpose
Applied or Practical
Research—done for the
purpose of testing or
applying an existing
principle or theory with
specific purpose of
improving human
condition.

A theory or concept can be

‘recycled’ in coming up with a much
improved product like the vacuum
tube and the microchips of today’s
computer industry.
 An applied research can be
in this forms:
Innovation—done in developing
and coming up with a new,
better or practical product,
process or technique out of
the existing ones. Product
development & packaging
research are part of this.
On-Farm or On-Field Level
Research—done by testing
the theories in the field or
limited area of application
prior to implementation in
large-scale.
Developmental Research—done
by applying the results of
applied or practical research
in a wider scope of analysis
and interpretation prior to
On-farm or field level research is a type of applied mass implementation or
research for mass implementation of outputs. production of outputs or
results.
 Based on Purpose
Evaluation or Assess-
ment Research—
pursues to find out the
worth, merit or quality of
a certain object, program
or project.

It can be needs
assessment, theory
assessment, impact
assessment, efficiency
assessment or
implementation assess-
ment depending in the
Evaluation research is very important for the
proper allocation of resources and funds.
stated purpose.
 Based on Purpose
Orientational Research—
done for the purpose of
advancing an ideological
position.
-upholds the concept that
‘reality cannot be grasped
without the researcher’s
bias’, which is caused by
historical, political,
sociocultural, ethnic or
gender conditions.
-more focus on inequality, dis-
crimination, empowering
and emancipation of the
marginalized groups or
Orientational research is useful to hear the ‘voices’ ideas to eliminate alienation
of the poor and other marginalised groups. and domination.
Based on Purpose
Action Research—based on
the concept that ‘action is
both an outcome and a part of
research’.
-focuses on solving local
problems or immediate
problematic situation for the
practical concerns of the
involved people.
-the researcher is changing what
is being researched during the
process of research, thus the
work cannot be replicated or
tested in other situations. This
prevents general knowledge
being developed and thus it
cannot contribute to theory.
 SCIENCE
Knowledges, Theories

RESEARCH
Basic, Applied,
Problem Developmental, DEVELOPMENT
Orientational,
Action

TECHNOLOGY

Problem, R&D and S&T continuum paradigm.

TUTOR MARKED ACTIVITY
For the integration of all concepts, please do the following activities:
1. Search one published research paper related to your course in
www.google.com (pdf format).
2. In no more than 500 words explain their peculiarities as basic,
orientational, action, applied or assessment research.

Date of submission: January 31, 2019