S4:
Advanced Composition and Introduction to
Research
Prof. Cherif TEIMI
Faculty of Languages, Literature and Arts,
Kenitra
Google classroom code: 6g2a7y7
What is Research?
Research is a structured academic enterprise that
follows a scientific methodology.
Research is a systematic enquiry to finding answers
to questions. It is a plan of activity that is
purposeful and is likely to contribute to the
advancement of knowledge.
Research is critical and self-critical: the data are
expected to be collected and analyzed critically,
and the study is open to criticism.
Definition of research
• In the broadest sense of the word, the definition of
research includes any gathering of data, information and
facts for the advancement of knowledge.
• It refers to all the efforts directed toward increased
knowledge of natural phenomena and environment
and toward the solution of problems in all fields of
science.
• From an academic perspective, it is a systematic
investigation to establish facts or principles or to
collect information on a subject of interest. Every
study has to be documented in such a way that
another individual can conduct the same study
again. This is referred to as replicating the study.
1. Steps of Research Process
1- The first step in the process is to identify a
problem or develop a research question.
The research problem may be something the
researchers in the field identify as a problem, some
knowledge or information that serves as the focus of
the study.
2- Now that the problem has been identified, the
researcher must learn more about the
topic under investigation. To do this, the researcher
must review the literature related to the
research problem.
This step provides foundational knowledge about the
problem area. The review of literature also educates
the researcher about what studies have been conducted
in the past, how these studies were conducted, and the
conclusions in the problem area.
3- Many times, the initial problem identified in the
first step of the process is too large or broad in scope.
In step 3 of the process, the researcher clarifies the
problem and narrows the scope of the study.
This can only be done after the literature has been
[Link] knowledge gained through the review of
literature guides the researcher in clarifying and
narrowing the research project.
4- Terms and concepts are words or phrases used
in the purpose statement of the study or the
description of the study. These items need to be
specifically defined as they apply to the study.
Terms or concepts often have different definitions
depending on who is reading the study. To minimize
confusion about what the terms and phrases mean, the
researcher must specifically define them for the study.
… By defining the terms or concepts
more narrowly, the scope of the study is more
manageable for the researcher, making it easier
to collect the necessary data for the study. This
also makes the concepts more understandable to
the reader.
5- The research problem and the purpose of the study
assist the researcher in identifying the group to
involve in the study. In research terms, the group
to involve in the study is always called the
population. For example, if a researcher wants to
examine a specific group of people
in the community, the study could examine a specific
age group, males or females, people living
in a specific geographic area, or a specific ethnic
group. Literally thousands of options are available to
the researcher to specifically identify the group to
study.
6- The plan for the study is referred to as the
instrumentation plan. The instrumentation
plan serves as the road map for the entire study,
specifying who will participate in the study;
how, when, and where data will be collected;
and the content of the program.
The instrumentation plan is composed of a number of
decisions that need to be made before beginning the study.
These decisions are made to determine
what data are needed to answer the research questions,
how to gather the data,
when to gather the data,
where to gather the data, and
how to analyze the data.
These decisions must be made as part of the instrumentation plan
for the study. They help guide the progress of the study to the
ultimate goal of gathering data and formulating conclusions to
answer the research question.
7- Once the instrumentation plan is completed, the
actual study begins with the collection of data.
The collection of data is a critical step in providing
the information needed to answer the research
question. Every study includes the collection of
some type of data— whether it is from the literature
or from subjects—to answer the research question.
Data can be collected in the form of words on a
survey, with a questionnaire, through
observations, or from the literature.
8- All the time, effort, and resources dedicated to
steps 1 through 7 of the research process culminate in
this final step.
The researcher finally has data to analyze so that
the research question can be answered.
In the instrumentation plan, the researcher specified
how the data will be analyzed. The researcher now
analyzes the data according to the plan. The results of
this analysis are then reviewed and summarized in a
manner directly related to the research questions.
2-Practical Steps of Doing Research
a- Choosing a research topic ( or research question –
with hypotheses).
b- Preparing a working bibliography (collecting
material and data needed).
c- Reviewing previous literature and taking relevant
notes (writing down main relevant points, ideas, etc.).
d- Preparing an outline – designing your research
plan.
e- Formulating a thesis (writing down the key
idea/topic around which your research revolves).
f. Writing the research paper (monograph, memoir,
dissertation, or an article) to answer the research
questions and test the hypotheses, through analysis of
data (results/findings) obtained from analysis of study
corpus (which must be defined at an earlier stage) and
commentary on findings.
g- Proofreading the research paper (to check the
consistency between the research question, the
hypotheses, the corpus data and its analysis, the
findings of data and their analysis; language,
coherence, organization, layout, and whole structure
of the paper).
h- Submitting the paper and meeting the deadlines.
3- Sources of Research Ideas and the Need
for Material and Knowing the Field
a- Where do research ideas come from?
Curiosity and surprise: the basis of inquiry,
always accompanied with tolerence and open-
mindedness about the answers (though you are
not totally with).
Interest in the research topic (not in the results
desired to be achieved; do not pre-empt the
findings of your research, and be prepared to be
surprised by them. One should have his/her
expected results as much as possible, but he/she
should not seek to conduct research to achieve a
set of results he/she only desires, while data
analysis and research methodology adopted take
him/her to different set of findings).
b- How to use curiosity effectively?
Think imaginatively about the kind of questions that
could be asked in your area of interest.
Try not to be constrained by previous work in your
field, either in terms of questions or methods.
Think about the types of answers that particular
questions can produce but keep an open mind about
what your findings might be.
4- The Role of the Literature: Knowing
the Field
Research should not take place in a
vacuum (reference to previous literature,
empirical work, theoretical ideas, and
recent policy and practice), if not, research
risks to be repetitive, irrelevant or of little
value.
Previous literature: we build on it as it is a valuable
source of ideas and useful guide to important
questions to care while dealing with previous
literature:
1- Should I start by reviewing the literature or start
with a research question?
2- Where do I start reading and when should I stop
reading?
3- To what extent should I be influenced by previous
findings and theories?
Good Luck!
