THE RESEARCH PROCESS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

BY

Saidu Sulaiman
Department of Economics, Saadatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, Kano, Nigeria. E-mail: saisulaiman@yahoo.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Being a paper presented at a one-day seminar organised for the lecturers of the Department of Economics, Saadatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, Kano, Nigeria.

Date: April 19, 2012

Introduction Economics as a social science is replete with issues and challenges requiring investigations as well as small and large scale researches. Like in other social sciences, the research process in Economics is certainly what makes it a science because economic principles and practices are frequently based on findings resulting from the adoption of the problem solving method beginning with a clear statement of the problem at hand. Without research, scholars cannot create new knowledge or expand the frontiers of existing knowledge thereby contributing to the well-being and general development of mankind. It is therefore essential for them to come to terms with the research process, simply defined as the essential, sequential and integrated steps to follow in conducting a research work. This paper provides a concise explanation of the research process in relation to Economics by using a typical research topic, which students of Economics could handle appropriately under the supervision of their lecturers. It shows how requirements for the steps that constitute the research process or the chapters of a research report are met. The following research topic which is related to Economics is used to illustrate this: The Contribution of Markets to the Revenue of Bichi Local Government: A Case Study of Bichi, Badume and Saye Markets Requirements for Chapter One Writing chapter one of a research report is often difficult for many researchers because it essentially contains the map of operation. When the contents of this chapter are added to the literature review and the research methodology usually presented in chapters two and three respectively, you have what is called a research proposal. Once these chapters are approved, what remains is the implementation of the proposal. In relation to the above topic, the requirements for Chapter One include the following: 1.1 Background to the Study: Here something needs to be stated about the study areas i.e Bichi Local Government, Bichi, Badume and Saye communities in terms of their location, history, the people residing in them and the major economic activities that make their markets to prosper. Something also needs to be stated about the markets included in the study such as their locations, sizes and other main features and also about other sources from which Bichi Local Government gets its revenue. 1.2 Problem Statement Problem statement follows the background to the study. Here the need for the conduct of the study is explained in clear terms as this will guide formulation of research objectives, questions and hypotheses as well as the statement of the significance of the study. For the topic stated above, the problem statement could be as follows:

With the absence of research based information on the extent of contribution made by the Bichi, Badume and Saye markets to the total revenue of Bichi Local Government in the last five years 2006-2011, a study is needed to a) determine the categories and volume of revenue contributed by each market to the revenue of the Local Government within the period covered by the study; b) compare the total contributions made by the three markets to the revenue of the Local Government with what it obtained from the Federation Account within the period covered by the study; and c) find out ways of improving the efficacy of revenue collection by the Local Government from the markets. Note that with regard to this research topic, the problem statement does not mean the statement of problems regarding revenue collection in the markets, utilisation of revenues to develop them or the problems faced by buyers and sellers in the markets. 1.3 Objectives of the Study The objectives of conducting the study can then be derived from the problem statement with an addition of to provide recommendations based on the findings of the study as the last objective. The objectives, in relation to the topic chosen could be as follows: a) To determine the types and amount of revenue collected annually by Bichi Local Government from each market from 2006-2011. b) To determine the percentage of the total revenue of Bichi Local Government from 2006-2011 which was contributed by each market annually. c) To determine the percentage of the total revenue of Bichi Local Government from 2006-2011 which was contributed by the three markets annually. d) To compare the size of the total revenue contributed by the three markets to the Local Government with what it obtained from the Federation Account from 20062011. e) To find out ways of improving the efficacy of revenue collection by the Local Government from the markets. f) To provide recommendations based on the findings of the study. 1.4 Research Questions/ Hypotheses A researcher can use research questions only, hypotheses only or a combination of the two depending on the research designs adopted and the nature of the topic. It is always appropriate to use hypotheses, which are assumptions on the effect of a measurable or an observable variable over another variable, with an experimental research design having an experimental and controlled group of research subjects or phenomenon. For the topic being used to explain the research process, the research questions could be as follows: 2

a) What are types of the amount of revenue collected by Bichi Local Government from each market from 2006-2011? b) What amounts of revenue were collected annually by Bichi Local Government from each market from 2006-2011

c) What is the percentage of the total revenue of Bichi Local Government from 2006-2011 which was contributed by each market annually? d) What is the percentage of the total revenue of Bichi Local Government from 2006-2011 which was contributed by the three markets annually? e) How does the size of the total revenue contributed by the three markets to the Local Government compare with what it obtained from the Federation Account from 2006-2011? f) Which ways could be used to improve the efficacy of revenue collection by the Local Government from the markets? Note that these questions need to agree with the problem statement and the objectives of the study, in fact they could be derived from the latter. 1.5 Significance of the Study This is the importance of the study or the benefits it will provide after the completion and production (and sometimes publication) of the report. A researcher is expected to explain the significance of the study in terms of filling knowledge gaps in the field of study, in calling attention of relevant authorities and policy makers directly linked with the subject matter or issue covered by the study. In relation to the topic used to explain the research process, the significance of the study could also include the provision of ways by which efficacy of revenue collection by the Local Government from the markets could be improved. The findings of the study could provide buyers and sellers in the markets and the host communities with justifiable information to be used in advocacy efforts for the proper utilisation of the revenue generated from them. 1.6 Delimitation of the Study (Scope of Coverage) Under this section, a researcher is required to build a fence around his/her topic by explaining the length, breadth and depth of the subject matter or issue dealt with in the study. The period to be covered by the study is part of the scope of coverage. One of the advantages of doing this is that the researcher will have a definite focus which could be maintained throughout the research process, from problem statement to conclusion and recommendations. Another advantage is that the researcher could defend the inclusion or non-inclusion of certain aspects of the topic in the research. For the topic we have been using, the scope of coverage could be confined to the types and amounts of revenue collected by the staff of Bichi Local Government on the designated market days for Bichi, Badume and Saye markets from January 2006 to December 2011. 3

Any other form of revenue collected by the Local Government from the study areas or collected by other governmental and non-governmental bodies is not part of the study. Similarly revenue from federation account is confined to what the Local Government collected as grant from the Federal Government of Nigeria from 2006-2011. 1.7 Limitation of the Study This is the shortcoming associated with the adoption of particular research methodologies and techniques as well as reasons for not choosing other methodologies and techniques. For any research one is conducting, the design, sampling technique, data collection method, statistical tools of analysis, etc, could have certain shortcomings but one could not afford to use better methodologies and techniques due to time factor, financial constraints, the nature of the research subjects, etc. With illiterate research subjects, for instance, one has to rely on interviews which limit the use of a large sample sizes in gathering data instead of using questionnaires which allow the use of large sample sizes. Stating the limitations of your study does not mean you are giving up yourself to your assessors and critics; it is rather an indication that you have a mastery of the research process. I.8 Definition of Terms In this section, which comes last in Chapter One, one is expected to give operational definitions of some important terms that appear in the topic, problem statement, objectives, findings or any part of the research report. An operational definition of these terms refers to their special meaning in the context of the research report, not their ordinary or dictionary definitions. In relation to the topic used to explain the research process, the terms that require operational definition include contribution, market, revenue, federation account and efficacy of revenue collection. Their operational definitions are as follows: Contribution: addition made to revenue collected by Bichi Local from markets included in the study to its total revenue for the years 2006-2011. Market: Chosen places where buyers and sellers of goods and services meet on designated days of the week (e.g. Sundays and Wednesday for Badume market and Fridays for Bichi market) to transact business. Revenue from Federation Account: this refers to what Bichi Local Government collected as grant from the Federal Government of Nigeria from 2006-2011. Efficacy of revenue of collection: the effectiveness and efficiency with which revenue is collected from the markets included in the study. You can see that you cannot get any of these definitions from any dictionary. It is the researcher that will decide on what each term means in the research report so that readers and will understand it very well. 4

Requirements for Chapter Two: Literature Review Literature in the context of a research report refers to what has been written about a research topic. In this chapter a researcher is expected to critically review the literature related to his/her research topic. To review the work of other people means to re-evaluate it or have another look at it. The review should beyond copying or summarising what other people have written. One can criticise or show appreciation on definitions, introductions, organisation of report, depth of analysis, clarity of expressions, etc from what other people have written. As for reports for researches conducted by other people one can re-evaluate them in relation to the problem statement, research questions or hypotheses formulated, scope of the studies, methodologies and sampling techniques adopted, the findings, generalisations made, conclusions reached, recommendations given, etc. Sources of literatures include research reports in form of dissertations and thesis submitted to institutions of learning, publications of research institutes, journal articles, documentaries, newspapers and magazines, the Internet, etc. It is advisable to review current literature, and necessary to acknowledge all authors whose works have been cited by simply stating their surnames and years of publication wherever their ideas, views, findings, definitions, etc, appear in the literature review. Direct words used by authors whose works are being reviewed should not be reproduced unless when they are being quoted, in this case words quoted must be put between the opening and closing inverted commas. Long quotations need be to be presented in the form of indented paragraphs. The literature review can come under sections based on the areas that need to feature in the review. Sections with the headings Types of Market Revenue, Revenue Collection Methods, Sources of Revenues for Local Governments, can form part of the literature review for the topic, The Contribution of Markets to the Revenue of Bichi Local Government: A Case Study of Bichi, Badume and Saye Markets. Requirements for Chapter Three: Research Methodology In this chapter one is required to explain the research design adopted for the study. The choice of design should be determined by the nature of the topic and availability of time and other resources. The sampling technique, the method to be used in collecting data (e.g. interview, questionnaire, observation, focus group discussion )and statistical tools to be used in analysing the data or testing hypotheses all need to be stated in this chapter. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, measures of central tendencies and dispersion are more appropriate with research questions while inferential statistics should be used to test hypothesis. Problems encountered during the process of data collection can also be stated in this chapter.

Requirements for Chapter Four: Data Presentation and Analysis This is where primary or secondary data collected to answer the research questions or test hypotheses is presented in the most suitable form. The presentation could take the form narration in words, tables, charts, diagrams, plates, etc. All tables, charts, diagrams and plates need to be appropriately labelled and sequentially numbered (e.g. Table 4.1 Types of Market Revenue Collected; Table 4.2 Revenue Generated from 2006 -2011). The presented data could be meaningless to readers of a research report unless analysed and used to answer the research questions or hypotheses already stated in Chapter One. Answers to the research questions or results from the test of hypotheses constitute the findings of the study. A section is usually created in this chapter for discussing the findings of the study. Requirements for Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations 5.1 Summary The summary should contain what has been stated in chapters 1-4 in brief. It could include the problem statement, objectives of the study, areas or issues dealt with under the literature review, research methodology adopted and the main findings of the study. 5.2 Conclusion The conclusion should reflect the main findings of the research, that is, the answers to the research questions or results from the test of hypotheses. In relation the topic we have been using, it could be stated, for example, that: From the findings of the study it could be concluded that fees collected from traders, drivers of commercial vehicles and service providers had been the main categories of revenues collected by Bichi Local Government from Bichi, Badume and Saye markets in 2006-2011. Secondly, the total revenue contributed by the three markets to the revenue of the Local Government from 2006-2011 had reached an average of thirty (30) percent per annum, meaning that the markets had contributed almost one-third of what it had obtained from the Federation Account during the period under review. 5.3 Recommendations Recommendations should be based on the findings of the study. Issues that are unrelated to the findings should not be included among the recommendations. If, for instance, it has been discovered that the efficacy with which Bichi Local Government had collected revenue from one of the markets leaves much to be desired, a recommendation should be given on how to address the problem. Similarly if it was discovered that the level of contribution made by the three markets to the revenue of the Local Government was low due to fraud by its staff or some resistance from traders in the markets, appropriate measures should be recommended to reverse the trend. 6

Other Matters The contents and sequential arrangement of the preliminary pages of a research report, the citation and reference styles recommended by the department to which the report is submitted for assessment, do vary. One is expected to abide by what is recommended by his/her department. Typing, spelling and grammatical errors need to be checked thoroughly and corrected before producing the final coy of search report. One may seek the help of a friend or employ the services of qualified persons to proofread the report. Conclusion Research work is a trust put in the hands of a researcher from which humanity will benefit if properly kept, or misled if misappropriated. The quality of a research work largely depends of ones understanding of the research process. No matter what is spent on a study in terms of money and time, its outcome could be poor if the research process is not fully understood and adhered to, while the contents of the study report could turn out to be a bunch of lies or at best half truth.

Further Readings Adamu, Yusuf M; Mohammed, Habu and Dandago, Kabiru I. (2006) Eds. Readings in Social Science Research. (Kano: Adamu Joji Publishers). Babbie, Earl (1986) 4th Ed. The Practice of Social Research (California: Wadsworth Publishing Company). Bailey, Kenneth D. (1994) 4th Ed. Methods of Social Research (New York: The Free Press). Sing, Kumar Y. (2006) Fundamental of Research and Methodology and Statistics. (New Delhi: New Age International Publishers). Ojikutu, R.K. (1992) Statistics: Problems and Solutions (Lagos: Malthouse Press Ltd.) Sulaiman, Saidu (1998) Researchers Companion (Kano: Samarib Publishers). Sulaiman, Saidu and Kani, Sunusi M. (2004) Introduction to Statistics for Economics and Business (Kano: Samarib Publishers).