Experience with Utilizing Research Information - Assignment Example

Survey a. What is research? Research is the amalgamation of data that has been taken over a period of time. It takes into account the qualitative as well as the quantitative details which are pursued for a particular area of study and hence the results are envisaged only after the research has been completed. Research is a fact finding exercise and it requires extensive planning and allocation of much needed resources on the part of the researching party. Research looks to gain an insight into the needs and wants of the problem question which is indeed being investigated upon. Research leads to analysis of the data that has been collected and now it is made use of for gaining the much needed insight into the problem that was once being found out for the sake of the very research that we know here. Research thus leads to a wholesome advantage over the competing organizations and brands or products which have not had research carried out within the relevant ranks of their working regimes. The research process is somewhat in close coordination with the process of forming opinions since opinions could only be based when there is certain information which has come through the relevant doors and these doors include the basis of research – both primary and secondary that has been done. Without proper research at one’s disposal, forming an opinion is an exercise in futility since there would be absolutely null basis of authenticity for the opinion and hence it also raises questions on the opinions thus formed. b. What is the purpose of research? The purpose of research is to seek for answers that are raised in the wake of different queries and questions. The problems are solved after data is gained with the help of different tools and methodologies which come under the research heading. The purpose of research is to base an understanding that has been gained through time as well as through the collection of a sample which is as close to the target market for which the research is being done, as possible. This will give a wholesome and effective result for basing the opinions and the research results as the sample is a representation of the whole in essence. Therefore research is indeed necessary to be carried out so that different means and ways could be discerned and there is more emphasis on getting data for the problems that arise every now and then within organizations and companies. c. What is good research? Good research is the research that is done on the right sample size making up of the right people at the right time in the right capacity. This is important because if the sample is chosen in a wrong manner, the end result would be one of a wrong one and this would eventually lead to more and more problems in the coming times for the organizations and companies. Good research takes into perspective the right sample size and uses the necessary tools and methodologies which can assist with the overall process of carrying out research, without which there could be no research at all. Good research is a representation of the whole audience through the measurement of the sample size which needs to be selected in a correct manner all said and done. Good research tabulates results which have been collected and does not seem to repeat the very same results every now and then. Also good research always comes from authentic sources which could be verified time and again and hence the credibility factor is an important facet of good research as well. d. What is your understanding of the differences between primary and secondary research? There are two different research methodologies – the primary research and the secondary research, both of which require extensive finding of data and knowledge on the researcher’s part. The primary research methods include sampling through questionnaires, survey methods and one-on-one interviews. The questionnaires could be open ended where there is room for respondents to spell out as much information as needed or these could be close ended where the respondents are tied to certain answers from which they need to choose. These could also be mixed ended – having a combination of open ended and close ended questions and queries. The survey could be through interviews and questionnaires. This is basically a case of quantitative research where quantities and figures could be tabulated rather than quality which is judged through the use of secondary research methods. The secondary research methods include the usage of books, journals, websites, encyclopedia and other related information and knowledge which have already been sorted out and has been documented for pretty much the same purposes. Both primary and secondary researches are used in unison so that the whole process of carrying out research is backed up with solid basis of evidence and proof. e. What is your experience with collecting research information? Collecting research information is not an easy task since this requires a lot of patience and understanding on the part of the researcher. He needs to make sure to the respondents that his research motives are clear and that there are no ambiguities within the very same. Further, the research questions need to be coherent and should have a logical flow all this while. If the first question leads to hostile attitude on the part of the respondent, it is best not to ask the very question and leave it till the respondent gets easy and comfortable with the whole research process. Collecting research information has always proved to be an exercise full of hardships and difficulties because it is very troublesome to get the right sample size and most of the people who come within the sample do not like to give time to the researcher since he/she is of the feeling that this information would serve him/her no purpose and would generally lead to time wasting. Collecting research information within a controlled environment could serve the purpose but there are still some problems with the said approach. f. What is your experience with utilizing research information? The utilization of research information could be manifolds and this brings one to an interesting curve since this research could be collected for either a thesis of a student or for a business purpose where a new product is being test marketed into the market, etc. There are a number of ways in which this research information could actually be used but the most significant manner in which it is utilized is through the research companies who continuously are on the hunt to update their research systems and provide the organizations and different companies with the most up to date and coherent research that could be possibly available. Research information needs to be from a genuine source to serve our purpose because it is very easy to falsify the research activity and make up a research that has no basis at all. In the end, this kind of research would serve no purpose and the data is not of significance at all. All said and done, research information can be utilized at different levels. It is only up to the researcher as to how skillful and creative he can be with its usage. Word Count: 1,213 Read More