Characteristics of a good Research

What is good research?

Good research is generative and action-oriented, meaning that answering one question often sparks new inquiries and it’s designed to solve real-world problems or inform practical decision-making.

A solid study starts with a clear, well-defined purpose and follows a detailed research process. This includes careful planning of design, sampling, and data collection, and it explicitly addresses ethical considerations such as informed consent and confidentiality.

Research employs scientific methods. Good research is systematic, logical, empirical and also replicable. How-ever, one expects that a good research must satisfy these following criteria:

• Orderly and systematic process: A research can only be considered good if it is conducted in an orderly and systematic way, because this is the most important criterion for a scientific research process
•  Based on current professional issues: Resolving current issues of any discipline is one of the fundamental purposes of any research. Therefore, a good research must be based on the current professional issues, so that a particular discipline can be up to date with solutions to professional concerns
• Begin with clearly defined purposes: A research can only be conducted in an effective manner if it is started with clearly defined purposes. In the absence of clarity about objectives, research may not yield very good results

Emphasize developing, refining and expanding professional knowledge: The main purpose of research is to develop new knowledge or refine the existing professional knowledge. Ever-expanding professional body of knowledge is the most important need of any profession.

Key Characteristics

Therefore, a good research is always directed towards expansion of professional body of knowledge

• Directed towards development or testing theories: Theory development and testing is a systematic process of enquiry in a discipline. Therefore, only a good research can make it possible to develop or test a theory.
• Finding solution of a problem: Finding answer or solution to professional problems is another important purpose of a research. Therefore, a good research is always directed towards finding an answer or solution for the pertinent emerging professional problems.
• Dedicated to develop empirical evidence: Another important purpose of the research is to generate empirical evidence, which can be used to improve the professional practices. Therefore, a good research always strives to develop empirical evidence
• Strive to collect first-hand information/data: A successful research is conducted by the collection of data directly from subjects by different methods like questioning, interviews or observation
• An objective and logical process: Research information collected through subjective means or in haphazard manner will never lead to satisfactory results. Therefore, a good research emphasizes on objective and logical research process
• Generate findings to refine and improve professional practices: A research cannot be considered successfully conducted until and unless it contributes towards refinement and improvement in professional practices as per the need of time.
• Use of appropriate methodology: Selection of a methodology in any research depends on several factors, because each variable and research has unique features. Therefore, a good research always employs the most appropriate and suitable methodology.

• Conducted on representative sample: Generalization of research findings is only possible if the study is conducted on a sample which has characteristics similar to the population of the study. Therefore, a good research is conducted on a representative sample.
• Conducted through appropriate use of methods and tools of data collection: Based on the nature of phenomenon and subjects under study, methods and tools of data collection will be different. Therefore, only the most appropriate and suitable methods and tools of data collection can lead to successfully conducted research. For example, questionnaire cannot be used for illiterate subjects or a performance can only be measured through observation method.

• Use of valid and reliable data collection tools: Evidence generated from a research activity can only be considered valuable if it is generated through valid and reliable research tools. Therefore, a good research always depends on the validity and reliability of research tools.
• Carefully recorded and reported: A research can only be considered good if the research information is care- fully recorded and reported because in the absence of careful recording and reporting, the evidence generated during research may be covert in nature. Therefore, to generate quality empirical evidence, it is essential to carry out recording and reporting very carefully.
• Adequately and appropriately analysed research: A research activity is incomplete and poor until the gathered data are adequately and appropriately analysed using standardized and accepted methods of data analysis.
• Patiently carried out activity: Research cannot be carried out in hurry;it needs lots of time and patience. Therefore, patience and endurance are foundations of good research.
• Researcher’s expertise,interest, motivation and courage: It is largely believed that a good research activity needs expertise, interest, motivation and courage among researchers. In the absence of these attributes among researchers, accomplishment of a good research cannot be imagined. Box 1.1 also presents the qualities of a good researcher.
• Adequately communicated: A research cannot be considered good until the information generated is adequately disseminated to its users. Therefore, a good research activity strives to communicate findings as widely as possible.

REFERENCES

1. Al Maqbali, M. (2024). Introduction to Nursing Research. In: Essential Research for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-78298-5_1
2. Suresh Sharma, Nursing Research & Statistics, 4th Edition – December 27, 2022, Elsevier India Pulblishers, ISBN: 9788131264478
3. Pearson, nursing Research and Statistics, Nursing Research Society of India, 2013 Dorling Kindersley (India) Pvt. Ltd, ISBN 9788131775707
4. Danela Cosejo, RNSpeak, Nursing Research Definition: The Importance and Nurses Roles, Updated : July 20, 2024, https://rnspeak.com/nursing-research-definition/
5. Barría P RM. Use of Research in the Nursing Practice: from Statistical Significance to Clinical Significance. Invest Educ Enferm. 2023 Nov;41(3):e12. doi: 10.17533/udea.iee.v41n3e12. PMID: 38589312; PMCID: PMC10990586.

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