Location

Daytona Beach, Florida

Description

Research is an important activity in the business and scientific communities as well as in virtually every academic discipline. In all venues, research provides new knowledge that can support problem solving, decision-making, discovery, invention, and conflict resolution. In higher education, learning how to conduct valid research prepares students for their future professional lives, and it certainly enhances the learning process. But valid research is much more than searching, examining and reporting results. The wellproven "scientific method" of research prescribes a specific format for investigation in which a topic area is examined, a problem is identified, a research question is formulated and a hypothetical answer is evaluated. Modern computers and online capabilities greatly enhance the ability of students to conduct research, but the widespread increase in online teaching has also obviously changed teaching and learning methods. Therefore, it makes sense to re-examine current trends in academic research concerning research methodologies, particularly regarding new approaches to the scientific research method. This paper describes a recent small study for which college faculty members provided answers in response to a number of relevant questions that, when analyzed, might indicate trends in the effective use of research as an academic learning tool. The study suggests that a fully-articulated research project would provide valid results that inspire stronger emphasis on research and writing competencies in higher education.

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The Scientific Research Method as a Learning Tool in Higher Education

Daytona Beach, Florida

Research is an important activity in the business and scientific communities as well as in virtually every academic discipline. In all venues, research provides new knowledge that can support problem solving, decision-making, discovery, invention, and conflict resolution. In higher education, learning how to conduct valid research prepares students for their future professional lives, and it certainly enhances the learning process. But valid research is much more than searching, examining and reporting results. The wellproven "scientific method" of research prescribes a specific format for investigation in which a topic area is examined, a problem is identified, a research question is formulated and a hypothetical answer is evaluated. Modern computers and online capabilities greatly enhance the ability of students to conduct research, but the widespread increase in online teaching has also obviously changed teaching and learning methods. Therefore, it makes sense to re-examine current trends in academic research concerning research methodologies, particularly regarding new approaches to the scientific research method. This paper describes a recent small study for which college faculty members provided answers in response to a number of relevant questions that, when analyzed, might indicate trends in the effective use of research as an academic learning tool. The study suggests that a fully-articulated research project would provide valid results that inspire stronger emphasis on research and writing competencies in higher education.