I. Introduction
Research has come to be employed in contemporary academic life as a generic term referring to forms of inquiry pursued in all the many disciplines, from the natural sciences to the humanities.[1] Philosophers have been engaged in research throughout the entire history of philosophy, and continue to be so engaged today. They search for information which will lead to the truth. But what is information? Information has been given different meanings by various writers in the general field of information theory.
According to Claude E. Shannon, “The word ‘information’… is likely that at least a number of these will prove sufficiently useful in certain applications to deserve further study and permanent recognition.[2]”
To gain the information need, we shall have to use methods of research. There are lots of methods of philosophical research that will help one to make his search easier. It is hard to search in the field of philosophy. There are lots of topics that can shift from one idea to another. To locate the philosophy that we are looking for, we must use a specific method, a research method.
What is a research method? A research method is a strategy of inquiry which moves from the underlying philosophical assumptions to research design and data collection. The choice of research method influences the way in which the researcher collects data. Specific research methods also imply different skills, assumptions and research practices. This is why many works of today often include a section on the methodology of the researchers. Let us then enumerate some philosophical research methods.
II. Methodology
1. Historical Method
The historical method comprises the techniques and guidelines by which historians use primary sources and other evidence to research and then to write history.[3] The question of the nature, and indeed the possibility, of sound historical method is raised in the philosophy of history, as a question of epistemology…
There are four divisions of history of philosophy namely Ancient, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary. These divisions help the researcher to find about the transitions of thought from one age to another. It also helps the researcher to know who the philosophers are or what the popular topics are on each period.
2. Interview
People of today rarely use this kind of research. It is quite difficult, today, to find a person knowledgeable about philosophy. This is the least reliable method of research. But to enlighten our knowledge of it, let us define interview. What is interview?
“A research interview is a structured social interaction between a researcher and a subject who is identified as a potential source of information, in which the interviewer initiates and controls the exchange to obtain quantifiable and comparable information relevant to an emerging or previously stated hypothesis.[4]”
3. Action Research
There are numerous definitions of action research, however one of the most widely cited is that of Rapoport’s, who defines action research in the following way:
“Action research aims to contribute both to the practical concerns of people in an immediate problematic situation and to the goals of social science by joint collaboration within a mutually acceptable ethical framework.[5]”
This definition makes clear that it is concerned to enlarge the stock of knowledge and it is this aspect of action research that distinguishes it from applied social science. Action research is research that each of us can do on our own practice, that we can do to improve its practice, or that larger organizations or institutions can conduct on themselves, assisted or guided by professional researchers, with the aim of improving their strategies, practices, and knowledge of the environments within which they practice.
5. Grounded Theory
Grounded theory is a research method that seeks to develop theory that is grounded in data systematically gathered and analyzed.[6] It is the most commonly use method. The major difference between grounded theory and other methods is it is specific approach to theory development – grounded theory suggests that there should be a continuous interplay between data collection and analysis.
4. Case study method
A case study is a research strategy, sometimes likened to an experiment, a history, or a simulation, though not linked to any particular type of evidence or method of data collection.[7]
Case study provides a systematic way of looking at events, collecting data, analyzing information, and reporting the results. As a result the researcher may gain a sharpened understanding of why the instance happened as it did, and what might become important to look at more extensively in future research. Usually case studies are employed where the behavior or situation is so rare that other methods, involving larger groups of participants, are not possible.
6. Survey Method
The survey is made from data collected via interviews or questionnaires.[8] A survey is a structured list of questions presented to people. Surveys may be written or oral, face to face or over the phone. It is possible to cheaply survey large numbers of people, but the data quality may be lower than some other methods because people do not always answer questions accurately.
A survey may focus on opinions or factual information depending on its purpose, and many surveys involve administering questions to individuals. When the questions are administered by a researcher, the survey is called a structured interview or a researcher-administered survey. When the questions are administered by the respondent, the survey is referred to as a questionnaire or a self-administered survey.
The weakness or disadvantage of survey is that it only measures the existing phenomenon without inquiring into why it exists. In this method you do not answer questions such as why or how but your main intention is to use the data for solving some problems not formulating new ideas.
7. Categorization Method
Categorization is the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated and understood.[9] Categorization implies that objects are grouped into categories, usually for some specific purpose. Ideally, a category illuminates a relationship between the subjects and objects of knowledge. There are different ways of approaching categorization.
Categorization can be likening to classification. In a way, philosophy is divided under different classification or what we know as branches like Logic, Ethics, Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Cosmology and so on. In the method, a researcher can easily look for what category is his or her subject matter and can find the different philosophers involved on the topic whatever is their period.
8. Questionnaires Method
Questionnaires offer researchers a quick, easy way to collect a great deal of information.[10] In this method, a researcher can easily access to the subject matter but one weakness of this method is that it reduces variety, creativity, and individuality of responses. It can also cause the researcher like young men to focus not on the subject but more on the questions.
III. Best Method
The best method that I will prefer to use is the Categorization method. Why? It is because in philosophy, most of ideas are divided or categorize according to the field. It is quite simple to look at the ideas if it is divided accordingly to their views. Categorization helps a researcher to look at different philosopher regardless of the period as long as its topic is in accordance with the field or branch.
IV. Conclusion
There are lots of research methods that we can use in philosophy. We need to know what kind of method to use to simplify our job of researching. The methods must be in accordance with the type of research like interview is not for formulating new hypothesis but only for solving problem.
Remember that a method can never be useful if it is used in a different manner. To be an effective researcher, you need to know what kind of method that you must use on the subject matter.
While lots of information maybe available to a researcher, it is important that he selects the best method that will best answer the kind of work he is trying to explore into.
Bibliography
[1] http://www.apa.udel.edu/apa/governance/statements/research.html.%20March%204, 2007
[2] Ibid.
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research.%20February%2025, 2007
[4] Ibid.
[5] Http://www.qual.auckland.ac.nz/. February 26, 2007
[6] Ibid.
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research.%20February%2025, 2007
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/devresearch.htm.%20February%2027, 2007
Research has come to be employed in contemporary academic life as a generic term referring to forms of inquiry pursued in all the many disciplines, from the natural sciences to the humanities.[1] Philosophers have been engaged in research throughout the entire history of philosophy, and continue to be so engaged today. They search for information which will lead to the truth. But what is information? Information has been given different meanings by various writers in the general field of information theory.
According to Claude E. Shannon, “The word ‘information’… is likely that at least a number of these will prove sufficiently useful in certain applications to deserve further study and permanent recognition.[2]”
To gain the information need, we shall have to use methods of research. There are lots of methods of philosophical research that will help one to make his search easier. It is hard to search in the field of philosophy. There are lots of topics that can shift from one idea to another. To locate the philosophy that we are looking for, we must use a specific method, a research method.
What is a research method? A research method is a strategy of inquiry which moves from the underlying philosophical assumptions to research design and data collection. The choice of research method influences the way in which the researcher collects data. Specific research methods also imply different skills, assumptions and research practices. This is why many works of today often include a section on the methodology of the researchers. Let us then enumerate some philosophical research methods.
II. Methodology
1. Historical Method
The historical method comprises the techniques and guidelines by which historians use primary sources and other evidence to research and then to write history.[3] The question of the nature, and indeed the possibility, of sound historical method is raised in the philosophy of history, as a question of epistemology…
There are four divisions of history of philosophy namely Ancient, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary. These divisions help the researcher to find about the transitions of thought from one age to another. It also helps the researcher to know who the philosophers are or what the popular topics are on each period.
2. Interview
People of today rarely use this kind of research. It is quite difficult, today, to find a person knowledgeable about philosophy. This is the least reliable method of research. But to enlighten our knowledge of it, let us define interview. What is interview?
“A research interview is a structured social interaction between a researcher and a subject who is identified as a potential source of information, in which the interviewer initiates and controls the exchange to obtain quantifiable and comparable information relevant to an emerging or previously stated hypothesis.[4]”
3. Action Research
There are numerous definitions of action research, however one of the most widely cited is that of Rapoport’s, who defines action research in the following way:
“Action research aims to contribute both to the practical concerns of people in an immediate problematic situation and to the goals of social science by joint collaboration within a mutually acceptable ethical framework.[5]”
This definition makes clear that it is concerned to enlarge the stock of knowledge and it is this aspect of action research that distinguishes it from applied social science. Action research is research that each of us can do on our own practice, that we can do to improve its practice, or that larger organizations or institutions can conduct on themselves, assisted or guided by professional researchers, with the aim of improving their strategies, practices, and knowledge of the environments within which they practice.
5. Grounded Theory
Grounded theory is a research method that seeks to develop theory that is grounded in data systematically gathered and analyzed.[6] It is the most commonly use method. The major difference between grounded theory and other methods is it is specific approach to theory development – grounded theory suggests that there should be a continuous interplay between data collection and analysis.
4. Case study method
A case study is a research strategy, sometimes likened to an experiment, a history, or a simulation, though not linked to any particular type of evidence or method of data collection.[7]
Case study provides a systematic way of looking at events, collecting data, analyzing information, and reporting the results. As a result the researcher may gain a sharpened understanding of why the instance happened as it did, and what might become important to look at more extensively in future research. Usually case studies are employed where the behavior or situation is so rare that other methods, involving larger groups of participants, are not possible.
6. Survey Method
The survey is made from data collected via interviews or questionnaires.[8] A survey is a structured list of questions presented to people. Surveys may be written or oral, face to face or over the phone. It is possible to cheaply survey large numbers of people, but the data quality may be lower than some other methods because people do not always answer questions accurately.
A survey may focus on opinions or factual information depending on its purpose, and many surveys involve administering questions to individuals. When the questions are administered by a researcher, the survey is called a structured interview or a researcher-administered survey. When the questions are administered by the respondent, the survey is referred to as a questionnaire or a self-administered survey.
The weakness or disadvantage of survey is that it only measures the existing phenomenon without inquiring into why it exists. In this method you do not answer questions such as why or how but your main intention is to use the data for solving some problems not formulating new ideas.
7. Categorization Method
Categorization is the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated and understood.[9] Categorization implies that objects are grouped into categories, usually for some specific purpose. Ideally, a category illuminates a relationship between the subjects and objects of knowledge. There are different ways of approaching categorization.
Categorization can be likening to classification. In a way, philosophy is divided under different classification or what we know as branches like Logic, Ethics, Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Cosmology and so on. In the method, a researcher can easily look for what category is his or her subject matter and can find the different philosophers involved on the topic whatever is their period.
8. Questionnaires Method
Questionnaires offer researchers a quick, easy way to collect a great deal of information.[10] In this method, a researcher can easily access to the subject matter but one weakness of this method is that it reduces variety, creativity, and individuality of responses. It can also cause the researcher like young men to focus not on the subject but more on the questions.
III. Best Method
The best method that I will prefer to use is the Categorization method. Why? It is because in philosophy, most of ideas are divided or categorize according to the field. It is quite simple to look at the ideas if it is divided accordingly to their views. Categorization helps a researcher to look at different philosopher regardless of the period as long as its topic is in accordance with the field or branch.
IV. Conclusion
There are lots of research methods that we can use in philosophy. We need to know what kind of method to use to simplify our job of researching. The methods must be in accordance with the type of research like interview is not for formulating new hypothesis but only for solving problem.
Remember that a method can never be useful if it is used in a different manner. To be an effective researcher, you need to know what kind of method that you must use on the subject matter.
While lots of information maybe available to a researcher, it is important that he selects the best method that will best answer the kind of work he is trying to explore into.
Bibliography
[1] http://www.apa.udel.edu/apa/governance/statements/research.html.%20March%204, 2007
[2] Ibid.
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research.%20February%2025, 2007
[4] Ibid.
[5] Http://www.qual.auckland.ac.nz/. February 26, 2007
[6] Ibid.
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research.%20February%2025, 2007
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/devresearch.htm.%20February%2027, 2007
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