Sunday 27 July 2014

Research should start by determining the research issue rather than the choice of research method

A lot of the postgraduate students that I met were focusing on the choice of research method rather that one research issue (unsolved problem) that is worth solving within a preset time frame. 

Postgraduate students should have determined the research issue in the domain of study first, formulating the hypotheses (quantitative approach) or hypothetical propositions (qualitative approach) based on initial literature review, before choosing a research method or a combination of several methods that they believe can answer the research question. 

For doctoral research student, this process may take 3 to 9 months, in which the students would establish an epistemological paradigm that affords the creation of new knowledge--an essential element that qualifies the award of PhD or DPhil. 

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