Research Papers in Education as a Medium to Enhance Further Investigation

     According to Sampieri, Collado and Lucio (1998), scientific research is defined as a type of research which is systematic, controlled, empiric, and critical. As a discipline, it needs to be systematic and controlled and should be based on observable issues. Above all, it is critical because it is constantly being objectively judged. Any researcher may have two goals in mind while carrying out this type of investigation: to produce new knowledge or theories – also known as basic investigation – and to solve possible problems – applied investigation. They also state that the application of the research process generates new knowledge, which also promotes new ideas and enquires to further delve into and, it is how different sciences and technologies progress.

     Scientific investigation is a long and careful process which demands undergoing different steps in order to achieve its ultimate product: the research paper, article or report. Afterwards, it has to be disseminated so that others can benefit from the findings, conclusions and discussions that they may have stated according to their preliminary hypothesis. In the old days, authors typically sent preprints, or early drafts of their articles, to friends and colleagues and to interested enquirers. But today, most authors supply lists of their publications on the Web or, indeed, make the publications themselves available on it.

     Junni (2007) remarks that the Internet is an attractive medium for seeking and obtaining information since it is accessible twenty-four hours a day, there is no need to visit a library, information can be obtained relatively quickly and conveniently and sources on the Internet are often more up to date than sources in paper format. In the view of the American Psychological Association (2010), the data a researcher provides will serve either a communication purpose to show that meaning has been discovered and to show or to communicate to others this meaning. This is extremely helpful for researchers in a twofold way: to share the results of their own investigations and to let others use those papers as a source to foster new research. .

     In the specific case of research in the educational field, Lindón Villoria (1998) expresses that in order to investigate, it is essential to correlate the theory with the reality in which that theory is immersed and the product of the research will certainly open new questions about future decisions. All in all, it is in this sense that research papers in education are a medium to express, share and discuss critical points in the educational field.


                                                                                References

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication Manual (6th ed.). Washington, DC.

Hernández Sampieri, R., Fernández Collado, C., & Baptista Lucio, P. (1998). Metodología de la investigación. (2nd ed.). McGraw Hill: México.

Junni, P. (2007). Students seeking information for their Masters’ theses: The effect of the Internet. Retrieved 18 July 2007 from Information Research,  (http://InformationR.net/ir/12-2paper305.html).

Lindón Villoria, A. (1998). De la investigación en ciencias sociales, de las “tesis” y la metodología de la investigación. El Colegio Mexiquense, A. C. 15,1-7. Retrieved May14th 2011 from www.cmq.edu.mx/component/docman/doc.../141-di0150111.html