Scientific research is the application of a procedure through methods in order to solve problems related to science and obtain reliable results for the verification and application of knowledge. Through scientific research, the necessary results are achieved to demonstrate scientific advances and applied methods for solving problems. In the development of this post it will be possible to show the importance of this type of research for man, in the same way it will also be possible to visualize the different kinds of scientific research that exist.
Scientific Research Concept
Table of Contents
Scientific research is a process of control, criticism and reflection that works through a method and whose objective is to give a new contribution with regard to data, events and laws in any environment of science.
The scientific research as authors, provides both professionals and students, a theoretical and practical tool to solve problems by applying the scientific method.
Steps to follow for a scientific investigation
Scientific research can be carried out through the following steps:
Formulation of the idea
Creating an idea to research is one of the most important steps in conducting research and consists of identifying the topic to be investigated. These ideas can be gathered from different sources and different levels of knowledge.
The problem must be analyzed according to the needs and solutions raised and according to the schedule of activities according to budget, time and space restrictions.
Identification of important factors
To carry out a successful scientific investigation, it is important to identify the factors that predominate in it, that means that we must determine the causes that describe the problem, those that correlate with it, and those that directly affect it.
Likewise, it is important to identify the sources from which we are obtaining this information, which can be both empirical and theoretical and which are the ones that will help us to elaborate the basis of any alternative that scientific research offers us, be it a developed theory, a section of several theories that complement each other, the generalization of empirical theories, or original ideas that the researcher can relate to the problem.
Information gathering
This is one of the most important steps in the scientific research process, as it consists of searching for the data that will allow the researcher to confirm or refute a hypothesis. It is important to mention that this step does not seek to confirm a theory, but rather to test it, since an improper confirmation in the search for the premises can result in a biased investigation or unreliable results.
Hypothesis testing
At this time the researcher will focus on contrasting, or comparing the information obtained in the data collection with the proposed hypothesis. For this process it is necessary to submit the results to a statistical analysis that allows us to discard the data obtained at random, as well as the factors that were not considered.
This statistical analysis must be carried out using different techniques, such as hypothesis testing, inferential statistics or descriptive statistics. It is important to make use of any of these tools, since it is they that will be in charge of assigning a level of probability to the results and that will allow us to decide if what has been obtained originates from the cause that we think or is the result of some other factor that has not been studied.
I work with the hypothesis
After having obtained the results of the investigation, they will be worked on through arithmetic indices, which can be absolute frequencies, correlation indices, percentages or rates, among others; and these should be shown in graphs or frequency tables, so that they can be drawn in a conclusion.
Reconsideration of the theory
Even when a conclusion is reached through the work of the hypothesis, it is necessary to reconsider it, since the nature of this type of theories is that they can be modified according to the results of future research.
It is important to carry out this process, since the refutation or confirmation of a hypothesis contributes to the construction of the theory being studied, thus contributing directly to science itself.
Formulating new questions
Indeed, by refuting or confirming the hypothesis, the possibilities of formulating new questions that will help to update, improve or replace the results obtained in the conclusions are opened.
Creating the topic conclusion
At this point, the researcher must make a conclusion with all the results obtained, from his point of view where all the research data must be detailed.
Methods and techniques of scientific research
Types of scientific research
The scientific research process can be classified depending on its focus:
According to your goal
This type of research is based on the purpose for which they are carried out, they are:
- Theoretical or pure research
- Applied research
According to your level of depth in the objective
This research can be done in different ways, emphasizing the how and why of things. These types of research are:
- Exploratory investigation
- Descriptive research
- Explanatory
According to the types of data applied
This refers specifically to the types of data used in the investigation, they are:
- Qualitative
- Quantitative
According to the level of manipulation of the variables
There are different types of investigations, depending on the manipulation, its origin may be of a higher or lower level of variables. These types are:
- Experimental research
- Quasi experimental
- Not experimental
Importance of scientific research
Scientific research is important as it contributes to the improvement of studies, allows contact with reality and works as a stimulus in the creative activity of the individual.
As noted above, scientific research is based on a search that is characterized by being systematic, methodical and reflective, in order to obtain knowledge and solve problems both scientific and philosophical, empirical and technical.
Among the examples of scientific research that stood out the most in 2017 was that carried out by researchers from Aristotle University in Greece. In this it was shown that the growth of sea turtles was greater in that year than in previous years, and that their species continues to grow.
Scientific research in Mexico
Several studies have indicated that, due to the lack of human, professional and specialized resources that focus on research, Mexico has presented serious problems in the Science and Technology research system in recent decades.
In 2016, the Director of Conacyt (National Council of Science and Technology), Dr. Enrique Cabrero Mendoza, stated that there were three major challenges, which were: making a greater investment in research, strategically achieving ties with international partners and promote investigative activities in that country, but little was done to achieve the stated objectives.
In 2017, the budget allocated for scientific and technological research was 70,513 million pesos, a figure that when compared with that granted in 2016, was below 9.3%. Despite the fact that the promise made by the Government was that investment in this area would be 1% of gross domestic product, in reality this investment only reached 0.57%.
According to statements by the Mexican researcher, Dimas Jiménez, a graduate of the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico, Mexican scientists are considered among the best in the world but 99% of their work is only reflected on paper and others are executed in other countries.
