Principles of Research Framework and Methodology: A Critical Assessment

Abstract

Research involves a series of judicious and carefully executed activities
that enable the researcher to know how problems can be solved or at least
considerably minimized. Ergo, it embodies the processes of inquiry, investigation,
examination and experimentation. These processes have to be carried out
systematically, diligently, critically, objectively and logically. The anticipated end
results help the researchers to deal with the problem. The paper dilates on the
proposition that a problem does not necessarily mean that something is seriously
wrong with a current situation that needs to be rectified immediately. A problem
could simply indicate an interest in an issue where finding the right answers might
help to improve an existing situation. Methodology, on the other hand, is driven by
certain ontological and epistemological assumptions, and consists of research
questions or hypotheses, a conceptual approach to a topic, the methods to be used in
the study and consequently the data sources. All of these components are inextricably
linked to one another in a logical manner. The paper canvasses quantitative and
qualitative researches which constitute different approaches to social investigation.
Various studies such as exploratory, descriptive and explanatory are discussed into the
bargain.