The Most Common yet Tricky Research Question

THERE IS NO HOPE OF DOING PERFECT RESEARCH (GRIFFITH, 1998, P97). DO YOU AGREE?

The world has continued to witness remarkable and outstanding progress in science and technology over the years. This is due to pumping of millions of dollars by varied governments towards research works. Surprisingly countries with better research facilities and outcomes have become superior to countries with low investments in research. Typically the main aim of any research is to either confirm as a way of proof an existing phenomenon or to investigate, test and come up with a new findings or products. As much as there has been continued and persistent research in almost all spheres of human existent, the biggest worry lingering in the minds of researchers all over the world is why there is no hope of doing a perfect research. 

In Wikipedia research is defined as ‘the systematic investigation into existing or new knowledge. It is used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems, support theorems, or develop new theories.’’ In order to effectively concur with Griffith in his conclusion that there is no hope of doing a perfect research (Griffith, 1998, p97), it is imperative that we explore some of the two elements that are constantly associated with research.

• Need for improvement/continued development.

One of the main aims of doing research is to solve new or existing problems. A typical scenario has been witnessed in the development of an HIV/Aids vaccine that has eluded researchers for more than two decades. However, each and every time there has been continued hope in progress towards coming up with the vaccine with new findings and developments. According to an article in Los Angeles Times; July 09,2010 by Thomas H. Maugh II; ‘‘An effective vaccine against the AIDS virus may have moved one step closer to reality, researchers said Thursday. Federal researchers have identified a pair of naturally occurring antibodies that are able to kill more than 90% of all strains of the AIDS virus, a finding they say could lead to the development of new treatments for HIV infections and to the production of the first successful vaccine against the virus.’’ This is a clear indication that there has been unrelenting urge from researchers to try and come up with an effective vaccine. The article goes on to quote Dr. Gary Nabel of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases talking to Reuters; “I am more optimistic about an AIDS vaccine at this point in time than I have been probably in the last 10 years," Dr. Gary Nabel of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told Reuters. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/09/science/la-sci-hiv-antibodies-20100709

• Presence of Errors

There is no research which can be carried out 100% error free. There are chances of presence of errors in the research works. According to WWW Research Methods Tutorial ‘‘when we do research, we can make many errors. Some of them occur often enough to have names. Here are nine common ones Selective observation, Inaccurate observation, Overgeneralization, Made-up information, Ex post facto hypothesizing, Illogical reasoning, Ego involvement in understanding, Premature closure of inquiry, Mystification.’’ ( http://sociology.camden.rutgers.edu/jfm/tutorial/errors.htm ) updated 15th April 2008’’. The presence of such errors in any given piece of research work may effectively constitute and give room for imperfections in the expected outcomes.

Conclusion

With focus to the two factors above, there is a bigger room for justification as to why there is no hope of doing a perfect research and therefore without any reservations I concur with Griffith in his research that there is no hope of doing a perfect research.

Bibliography

‘Research’ Definition. Wikipedia Online Dictionary, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research

‘WWW Research Methods Tutorial’ http://sociology.camden.rutgers.edu/jfm/tutorial/errors.htm

‘A breakthrough in AIDS research’ Los Angeles Times; web July 09,2010 an article by Thomas H. Maugh II;  http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/09/science/la-sci-hiv-antibodies-20100709

‘There is No Hope of Doing Perfect Research’ (Griffith, 1998, p97)