Perfect Research

There is no hope of doing perfect research (Griffiths, 1998, p97), do you agree? Before attempting to answer this question, it is important to look at the definition and the meaning of research. According to the scholar Cresswell, “research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue”(3). Cambridge online dictionary defines research is “a detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new) understanding”. Based on theoretical framework, research can be either quantitative or qualitative.

It is undeniably that research has become an essential for producing knowledge in numerous fields such as science, technology, design, psychology, education, and so on. Since the purpose of research is for advancement of human knowledge, the perfection of research has been a topic of argument of professionals. From my perspective, I agree that perfect research does not exist.

As the name suggests, research means inquiry of a subject again to probe and attain a new understanding. From this point, it could be argued if perfect research exists, there will be no question and no necessity to carry out further studies in the topic or area that the perfect research has done. In this sense, perfection would be a padlock that prevents any possibility for further examination and scrutiny. Adding new understanding to the existing bank of knowledge would be impossible.

Perfection is a state of being complete and correct in every way without any fault. Research, either quantitative or qualitative, is a human activity that always involves some sort of errors or defects. There are numerous reasons for questioning validity and reliability of qualit...

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