Research Methods Report: Analysis of Academic Research and Writing

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of academic research and writing, focusing on various research methods and their applications. The report begins with an introduction to academic research, defining its purpose and outlining the structure of the document. Part 1 delves into different research designs, including descriptive, correlation, comparative, and experimental designs, drawing examples from a textbook and a journal article. It examines the types of data, the methods used for data collection, and the ethical considerations involved in research, such as maintaining participant confidentiality and avoiding plagiarism. Part 2 presents a reflective outline, discussing what the author learned from the module, why the learning is important, and how it is useful for their areas of interest. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings, emphasizing the significance of research methods in understanding and analyzing data. The references section lists the books and journals used in the report.

Academic research
and writing

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART 1............................................................................................................................................3
One research item from the text book provided..........................................................................3
Two other research item from the journal article........................................................................4
PART 2............................................................................................................................................5
Reflective outline.........................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Academic Research is defined as a “Systematic investigation into a problem or situation,
where the intention is to identify facts and/or opinions that will assist in solving the problem or
dealing with the situation. The main purpose of this type of research is to analyse and interpret
knowledge related to subject matter. It helps in solving problem and finding ultimate solution for
it. Present report will lay emphasis on one research item and the reflection about interesting facts
in it. It will also provide the details about the learning that has been derived from the module.
PART 1
One research item from the text book provided
There are various types of research design that are being used in order to complete the
number of research projects. It includes historical, descriptive, correlation, comparative,
experimental, simulation. These designs were really useful for the development in studies.
Descriptive design can be considered as the way through which the data has been collected with
the help of observation. It is based on qualitative study. It has been analysed that mainly this type
of research design has been used in the research project in which numerical values are not being
used (Creswell and Poth, 2016). One more interesting fact about this type of research design that
information related to subject matter can be collected from the questionnaires, visual records and
interview process. The other type of research design also provides the interesting fact that
research may be based on casual factor such as dependent and independent variable.
It has also been analysed that the correlation from the two factor which has been designed
can be positive or even can be negative. One of the most important facts related to comparative
design is that the design is being used to compare the past facts and also the parallel facts. It
assists the researchers in reaching out the end results. The research design is basically useful for
collecting the data and also analysing and interpreting them. In comparative research analogy is
also been used in order to find out the results that has been derived from the collection of data
(Leavy, 2017). There is also one another type of research design that includes experimental
research. This assists in isolating and controlling the every relevant condition that has been
associated in observing the effects when the conditions are being manipulated. It has also been
analysed that choosing the type of research design for the project depends upon the interest of
researchers. It provides that information that can assist researchers in analysing and interpreting

the data and information. It is really necessary for them to select appropriate research design so
that knowledge related to subject matter can be increased. It will also be helpful for them in
achieving the set goals and objectives. The research design provided the framework for the
gathering of information and it even assists in doing the appropriate analysis of data.
Two other research item from the journal article
Article: Clarification of research design, research methods, and research methodology: A
guide for public administration researchers and practitioners
There are various types of research methods which has been explained in the article. These
methods have assisted researchers in collecting, gathering and analysis of data. It includes the
following:
Secondary data: It has been analysed from the article that all researchers requires secondary
data, in order to get the answer of questions which has been raised by researchers. In this type the
information is basically been collected with the help of journal articles, blogs of company,
newspapers, annual report (Lindlof and Taylor, 2017). It is basically the published data. This
type of data is really easy for the researchers to collect. It assists them in finding out the solutions
of the problems that has been faced by researchers. In this existing resources can be used by
scholars when they are been involved in doing certain type of research. The main advantage of
making use of secondary data is that, this has been provided by team of experts often with large
budgets and extensive use of resources. The disadvantage of using secondary data is that an
individual do not have get an idea about how to be involved in doing research. In this researcher
might not also found answers to questions which they are exactly looking upon.
Research ethics: It has been analysed that researchers needs to be involved in following
ethical code of conduct when they are working with humans. It has been analysed that they must
make sure that no data needs to be collected while hampering belief, value and thought process
of any participant (Bell, Bryman and Harley, 2018). They must make sure that data is been
collected by them by following proper guidelines. Researchers must ensure that data is been
collected by them honestly and also by following the integrity. If not done ethically than it can
raise ethical issues. Researchers also must not be involved in doing offence which is engaging in
doing plagiarism. This means that they should not be involved in copying any other individuals
work. This can be considered as serious offense and is not ethically right. Participants also must
be treated by taking into account due ethical consideration. Information can only be derived by

participants when they agree to it. No information must be collected by researchers, if there is
not participants consent. This can be considered as unethical.
PART 2
Reflective outline
Introduction
Report has the main purpose of increasing knowledge related to all type of research
methods. Its main objective was to find solutions of problems that have been faced by
researchers. Various methods of research have been discussed in text book and also in journal
article. All these have helped me in increasing my knowledge related to the research method and
how they are useful in analyzing the facts and figures related to subject matter.
Learnt from the module
I have learnt about various aspects related to research methods, designs and data collection
method while going through the text book provided and also by analyzing the journal article.
My peer has supported me in doing research on this topic and then I was been able to know
about this. I also analyzed my strength and weakness during the time of group exercise. I came
across that my research skills was poor as my senior and peer helped me in enhancing my
knowledge related to the subject matter. This has helped me in increasing my abilities and skills
so that my group project can be completed on time.
Learning important
Learning related to method of data collection, research design and ethics has really been
important for me. This has assisted me on knowing about the facts and figures related to subject
matter. This has also helped me in increasing my knowledge related to subject. This knowledge
will assist me in being a better researcher. It will help me in improvising my knowledge related
to academic writing. I have also come across the facts and figures that are been required to
analyze and evaluate the main reason behind of collecting data.
Useful to me and area of interest
The knowledge of all these research methods is really important for me, as this will help me
in collecting better data related to subject matter. It will help me in collecting high quality of
data. I will also be able to collect the data ethically. During the project, I have also developed
others skills such as team working. This has assisted me in increasing my bond and relationship
with my team members (Coolican, 2017). I have also analyzed that my problem solving skills is

low. During the time of project I took help form peer so that the issues faced by me during the
time of study. They have also provided me with support so that the problems cannot be faced by
me in future. I have been able to increase my skills and abilities by taking the assistance of peer.
I have also analyzed during the group work project that my decision making skills was really
low. I was unable to solve problems and also take effective decisions on basis of it.
Conclusion
It has assisted in gaining knowledge about the various research methods. It has also assisted
in increasing knowledge related to subject matter. It has also assisted me in increasing my
efficiency during group work project.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been summarised that there are various method of data
collection such as primary and secondary. Secondary data has been described in report and has
been taken from journal articles. It has been analysed that secondary data is published data and
has been collected from sources which are only been made. This data is really easy to collect and
reliable. It has also been analysed that researchers must be engaged in following ethics while
collecting data from the participants. They have been engaged in taking consent from
participants before gathering data.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Creswell, J.W. and Poth, C.N., 2016. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among
five approaches. Sage publications.
Leavy, P., 2017. Research design: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and
community-based participatory research approaches. Guilford Publications.
Bell, E., Bryman, A. and Harley, B., 2018. Business research methods. Oxford university press.
Lindlof, T.R. and Taylor, B.C., 2017. Qualitative communication research methods. Sage
publications.
Coolican, H., 2017. Research methods and statistics in psychology. Psychology Press.

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