Research Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research Methods - Essay Example An effective research process is characterized by detailed basic steps undertaken with caution to prevent errors that can affect the results. The first step is identifying the research problem. The problem is normally the issue being identified by the researcher or a concept that requires more information or clarification (Blankenship 2). Research problems are normally the common issues that affect the community and form the focus of the whole process. The second step involves the review of literature which enables the researcher to learn more about the problem under investigation. Reviewing documented literature about the problem provides the foundational knowledge that shapes the whole process. Literature review informs the researchers on how the earlier studies related to the research topic were conducted and the conclusions earlier formulated. The knowledge attained through literature review guides the researcher when narrowing down the research topic and clarifying the problem. The third step is clarification of the problem whereby the scope is narrowed down from the broad initial topic. The concepts gained through literature review offer guidance on the relevant topic under focus by addressing the stated problem. After clarification of the problem, the researcher should define the terms and concepts applied when describing the study. This helps in minimizing the confusion that may emanate from the readers of the study. This is because the interpretation differs depending on the person reading the project. Definition of terms and concepts should be followed by the definition of the population or group to be involved in the study. The research question and study purpose determine the population. Defining the population enables the researcher to know the population they are supposed to deal with and the target group. Once the population is identified, the plan for the study is developed. This serves as the framework for the entire study. Data is then collect ed among the identified population. Data collection involves surveys, questionnaires and observation of literature (Blankenship 2). The stated steps provide data that undergo analysis to answer the research question. Data is analyzed according to the stated instrumentation plan. Analysis involves breaking down the notes into categories of topic themes and making a decision on how these categories relates to the theme. The researcher identifies the loopholes in the research process and repeats the process to look for any missing information. The information is then synthesized through refining the thesis in relation to the earlier information compiled and read in the literature review. The results are reviewed and summarized according to the research questions. This is occasionally followed by communication or presentation of the results. The research should be communicated in the format required by the professor with proper use of citations to avoid plagiarism. Research process enab les researchers to inform action. The defined steps also negate any loopholes that may result to errors and eventual distortion of the conclusion drawn. Explain the Advantages and Disadvantages of Adopting the Case-Study Research Design. ADVANTAGES Case study is used to build upon the existing theory, formulate a new theory or challenge an existing theory. This provides the foundation for applying solutions to problems or during the description of a phenomenon. Case study is a

Explore how a particular type of deviance is defined, conceptualised, Essay

Explore how a particular type of deviance is defined, conceptualised, interpreted, apprehended and evaluated in 1 or 2 different sports - Essay Example This implies certain transformations on the notions of pain and injury, and ultimately on the notion of deviance. This paper is an exploration on the said transformations as effected by factors such as the agonistic nature of society and the subjection of mixed martial arts to the disciplinary mechanisms of society. Pain and injury stemming from violent behavior in sport is often seen from a negative perspective, that is, physical violence and sport are often seen as exclusive from one another. Boxing is one such sport that has received criticisms for supposedly being unnecessarily violent (Poliakoff, 1987, pp 89-90). It might be argued of course that a degree of violence will always be present in sport because of its competitive nature. However, it can be argued still that the infliction of pain and injury to the opponent is behavior that borders on deviance, in the sense that society in general does not approve of harming one’s competitor, whether it be in business or other, just to promote oneself to a more advantageous position. An excessively violent or aggressive response to conflict is generally disapproved, and hence seen as somewhat deviant. More so in the sporting arena is aggression that inflicts physical and perhaps even mental pain or injury, perceived as disagreeable behavi or. Sport, as conceived in relation to the concepts of play and games, is a social activity that presumably promotes certain ideals. When the Olympic Games were revived in 1896 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, it was with the vision of instilling positive virtues in young men, such as camaraderie, sportsmanship, and excellence. To this day, the idea of Olympism, the view that sports is used to promote values that are held in high regard by society, appears to be dominant, albeit with evident difficulties itself. This is perhaps one of the reasons as well, why violent behavior in sport is often understood as