Research is a process of finding facts and using what is already known which will lead to ideas.
Collecting information from a range of sources such as books, journals and the internet. Making experiments or talking to people and the analysis of this information is another method. Research is finding out by asking the questions 'How?', 'Why?' and 'What if?'.
The following show proof of creative practice during researching:
- Knowledge: The Learner remembers or recognises information.
- Analysis: The Learner separates information into essential parts.
- Comprehension: The Learner presents information into a different form, format or media.
- Application: The Learner solves problems by using appropriate knowledge and concepts.
- Evaluation: The Learner makes quantitative and qualitative judgements relating to established criteria
- Synthesis: The Learner solves problems by combining information through original and creative ideas.
"Process is more important than outcome. When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we've already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we're going, but we will know we want to be there." - An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth - Bruce Mau design In. 2006
"Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought."
- Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Types of research:
- Primary Research: developed and collected for a specific end use. Involves the collection of data that does not yet exist.
- Secondary Research: data that has already been collected, not for the purpose of the current study. Analysis of research that has been collected at an earlier time.
- Quantitative Research: uses facts figures and measurements. Produces data ready for analysis. Creates numerical data, or data that can be converted into numbers. The process of gathering and analysing measurable data. It relies on statistical analysis.
- Qualitative Research: tries to understand people's beliefs, experiences, attitudes, behaviour and interactions. Creates non-numerical data. Interviews, focus groups, documentary analysis and participant observation are used to gain Qualitative Research. It's information that is not statistical, rather gives an idea about perceptions or views.
