Leedy and Ormrod (2014) defined Research “as a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information—data—in order to increase our understanding of a phenomenon about which we are interested or concerned.” Research is sometime as a result of interest or a conscious and deliberate pursue of knowledge to solve a problem, drive innovation, improve efficiency and effectiveness of existing process or operations.
Research helps to produce facts, and theory will assist in prediction facts, both research and theory kind of complements each other with theory summarizing the known facts and attempts to predicts facts while research does identify gap and point to areas …show more content…
The advancement of topics, including emerging topics in science and information technology, has been of interest to technology key stakeholder which include governments, military, companies, scientists and inventors for a long time. The emergent of these topics are as a result of innovations and discoveries based on calls to solve problems or improve on an existing situation. Research related to emerging topics in information technology is both theoretically and practically aligned with the research concepts presented in Leedy and Ormrod (2014) research cycle which is described below.
The researcher begins with a problem—an unanswered question.
The presence of an unanswered question causes speculations. And by asking questions, we strike a spark that ignites a chain reaction leading to the research process. An inquisitive mind is the beginning impetus for research; as one popular tabloid puts it, “Inquiring minds want to know!”
The researcher clearly and specifically articulates the goal of the research …show more content…
Role of Theories in Information Technology Research
Qualitative research approach have two things in common. First, they typically focus on phenomena that are occurring or have previously occurred in natural settings—that is, in the “real world.” And second, they involve capturing and studying the complexity of those phenomena. Qualitative research also encompasses a number of methodologies including the Grounded theory, a research methodology primarily associated with qualitative research. (Chiovitti & Piran, 2003) (Leedy & Ormrod, 2014).
This theory support practitioner undertaking early literature review and thus play a role in information technology research. Information technology research like other scientific research will require a concise, logical and comprehensible literature review. Early literature review in information technology research will enjoy benefits like:
1. Have a cogent rationale for a study, including a justification for a specific research approach (McGhee et al., 2007; Coyne & Cowley,