Imagine life without adequate information, which means inadequate scope for acquiring enough knowledge. Definitely, life without adequate information is difficult. Not all of us might feel a lacking of adequate information, but there are many who dying of their thirst for information and knowledge, and face many challenges in gaining access to such information and knowledge. These people are innovators and are the ones who are likely to invent new technologies, but before an idea can become an invention it must undergo validity by conducting a process called Research.
What is research
Research basically is the process of systematically investigating an existing or new knowledge. The systematic process of research is carried out in relation to its scientific method of analysis. People conduct research as a Scientific Process in order to determine or describe an existing situation; for instance, to describe a population, compare two conditions, determine existence, evaluate or compare effectiveness, and to predict the value of a certain characteristic.
An individual researcher should focus on the characteristics of research in order to achieve an accurate result. It should emphasize the development of generalizations, principles or theories. The information gathered should be based upon observable experience, and data ideally gathered from a primary source should be carefully recorded and reported.
Descriptive Research
There are 2 types of research. First, is Descriptive or Statistical Research. A Statistical Research gives characteristics and data of a population or certain phenomenon that is investigated. This type of research cannot be used to form a casual relationship where a single variable affects the other. Thus, descriptive research has a small necessity for internal validity.
Experimental Research
The second type is Experimental research. It carries out a procedure of trial and error with the goal to verify, falsify or establish the validity of a hypothesis. A particular experiment can differ in its goal and scale, but it usually depends on repeatable procedures and rational examination of the results.
Can perfection exist in research
The thirst of man to acquire further knowledge is unquenchable to the extent that they are willing to undergo the complicated steps of the research process. Not only are they willing to perform these research procedures, but they are also keen in achieving perfection in their quest. But, is a perfect research even possible?
As there is no such thing as perfection, research itself can never be perfect. As previously stated, experimental research undergoes series of trial and error. If Thomas Edison did not undergo trial and error, there would have been no incandescent bulbs. Error is always a parcel to achieve success. We learn from our errors, and for every erroneous step, a window of improvement opens.
Constraints of research
In every research there are limitations, which can either produce Type 1 or Type 2 Error. Limitations may not affect the results, but a single research cannot be considered a “broad-spectrum”. One very common limitation is finances. In this world, where money matters the most, innovations are sometimes ignored or rejected due to lack of finances. I, for one, who lives in a 3rd world country where we experience innovations going to waste, grieve.
Innovations are rejected not only because of lack of finances but also because of greed and selfishness of 1st world countries, wherein they would not allow new innovations to interfere with their “profit”. An example of this is an invention of a car which could utilize water instead of oil, because countries rich in oil would not permit these innovations to happen.
Culture, beliefs and traditions can also hamper the progress of research. For instance, there are group of people especially the conservative Catholics, who don’t believe in the artificial method of contraception such as pills. Even though, using pills is 99-100% effective, the number of people who use it as contraceptive is less than 70%. They rest of them stick to their traditional and religious belief.
Though research itself can never be perfect but removing these constraints can really help us achieve nearly perfect research. If such influences and constraints could be removed from conducting research, the world would have seen much more flourishing and mind-blowing innovation already.