Interest, Idea and Theories in The Research Process

Chapter 1

Introduction

In the research process schema’s, we can see the complexity of the research process. In this session we will explain why the three dimensions of interest, idea and theories are the most important thing in the research process?

Key words : Research process, Interest, Idea, Theory, The Role of theory, Hypothesis

Chapter 2

Research Process

Research is an attempt to find the truth through a measurable, systematic and logical stage. From a research we produced science that is useful for the benefit of human civilization and encourages the birth of other studies. Research also as the tools to validate a reality that wants to be tested for truth.

Research is a process that people undertake in a systematic way in order to find out things, thereby increasing their knowledge (Saunders 2016). Research is a scientific and rational activity that must be passed through a systematic and logical process.

A research process starts from a problem statement and the definition of the problem that will be the reason for a research is done is to be able to answer questions that have been defined. From that stage then proceed to the process of building hypotheses and theoretical foundations, determining research methods (including data sources), data collection, data interpretation, data analysis and then presentation of research results. This simple model of research is described in the chart below:

Picture 2.1

Source: (Nurhajati, 2022)

In the early stages of the research model as described in a simple model of research above, there are three dimensions that will influence a researcher in determining or choice the problems and defining research problems and Theory-Hypothesis construction.

Picture 2.2

Source: (Nurhajati, 2022)

The Three important dimension are:

1. Interest can be defined as a feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to something or someone (Merriam-Webster, 2021). Interest can be defined as a form of awareness of an individual's attraction or a certain excitement in the individual to an object that encourages an individual to perform something related to that object. An interest is a form of awareness of attraction to something that allows it to be a motive in an action attached to the object of interest. In the general dictionary Indonesian interest is interpreted as the favored attention (tendency of the heart) to a desire (Poerdarminto, 2010). Meanwhile according to the Great Dictionary of Indonesian, interest is the tendency of a high heart towards a passion, a desire that is more than a thing (Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa, 2008).
2. Idea can be defined as a formulated thought or opinion, an entity (such as thought, concept, sensation, or image) actually or potentially present to consciousness (Merriam-Webster, 2021). According to the Great Dictionary of Indonesian (KBBI), the meaning of the word idea is a feeling that completely envelops the mind. Another meaning of an idea is the design arranged in the mind. We can define Idea as the research hypothesis.
3. Theory can be interpreted as a series of assumptions, concepts, constructs, definitions, and proposition to explain a phenomenon systematically by formulating relationships between concepts (Mudjia, 2018). Other definition about theory is summarized by (Abend, 2008) as follow:

• A theory is a logically connected set of general propositions that establishes a connection between two or more variables.
• A theory is an explanation of a specific social phenomenon that identifies a set of causality relevant factors or conditions
• A theory provides insights into the real meaning of social phenomenon by offering an illuminating interpretation and by telling us “what it is all about”
• A theory is an entire worldview, or a way of seeing, interpreting, and understanding events in the world.

Picture 2.3

Source: www.pedia.com

The 3 dimensions mentioned above are the factors that determine the birth of a research. Referring to the three-dimensional definition above:

First, a researcher's interest in something can be a researcher's motive to determine the object of the study. A research object can result from a researcher's condition of interest in the object to be studied. 

For example, a researcher who has an interest in the field of education can give birth to research on education. This can happen because of the source of interest and also the presence of the realities of education which ultimately fosters questions that need to be answered with a study. 

Picture 2.2

Illustration of Education

Source: www.google.com

Second, The Idea. Research ideas are the initial capital in making research proposals. Idea as a formulated thought or opinion, is a research hypothesis in the form of a relationship between propositions that will be tested relationships or attachments. The hypothesis itself has the meaning of a temporary statement or the researcher's presumption of a research problem. (This hypothesis can be true can be wrong, so it must be tested in research). 

For Example: Researcher identify the research object in the education issue related to ethical subjects taught in schools. Researchers hypothesize that ethical lessons positively affect students' learning behavior in school.

Third, theory. The researcher's understanding of a theory helps the researcher in the initial process of research in this case helps to abstract a reality. This theory helps the researcher see and interpret a reality which then forms a hypothesis to be tested. A researcher's ability to understand and master relevant theories in research will assist the researcher in finding the proposing-proposing relationships to be tested. Or it can also be a retesting of a theory. 

For Example: The formation of the above hypothesis will be helped if the researcher has knowledge in the form of theories that can explain and become the basis of hypothesis testing. Social behavior theories, ethical theory, teaching theory and others.

In the research context According to (Sahay & Walsham, 1995), theory has minimum 4 roles:

• First, theory can be used as a means of communication between researchers and practitioners. 
• Second, Theory can also be used as a means of communication between researchers. Theory can have the vocabulary of the city chosen to describe and understand a phenomenon. This vocabulary will be very helpful in communication, both between researchers and practitioners and between researchers.
• Third, theory is useful as a means of accumulating knowledge. Not infrequently when the research is completed, then the 'deadly' question asked is: 'so what? '- have you been snoring? There are at least two areas of contribution attached to research: theoretical and practical contributions. Well, this theoretical contribution is what makes science develop because of the accumulation of many studies that support, complement each other, or even contradict each other.
• Fourth, theory is also a means to gain legitimacy and attention from other disciplines. Science does not develop linearly, but there can be many new disciplines appear along the way. Information systems, for example, is a new discipline that initially occupies the last position in the academic 'food chain'. This discipline initially borrowed more theory from various disciplines, ranging from engineering, organizational studies, sociology, political science, to mathematics. But recent developments show that this discipline has also built reciprocal relationships with many other disciplines. Research in the discipline began to be noticed and cited by other disciplines. It's just an illustration. In the future, it could be that the discipline is also 'lambing' to be more specific, such as the birth of the field of geographical information systems studies, medical informatics, eGovernment, information and communication technology for development (ICT4D).

Chapter 3

Conclusion

Interest, Idea and Theory help researchers in the early stages of research. From starting to determine the object of research, and assisting researchers in finding problems and defining problems. 

References

Abend, G. (2008). The meaning of theory. Sociological Theory volume 26 issue 2, 173-199.

Merriam-Webster. (2021, November 12). Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved from www.merriam-webster.com: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gadge

Mudjia, R. (2018). Antara Konsep, Proposisi,Teori,Variabel, dan Hipotesis dalam Penelitian. Metodologi Penelitian. Malang: Sekolah Pascasarjana Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang.

Nurhajati, L. (2022). Methodogy of Communication Research. Jakarta: LSPR Communication & Business Institute.

Poerdarminto, W. (2010). Kamus Umum Bahasa Indonesia. Jakarta: Balai Pustaka.

Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa, T. P. (2008). Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia. Jakarta: Balai Pustaka.

Sahay, S., & Walsham, G. (1995). Information Technology in Developing Countries: A Need for Theory Building. Information Technology for Development 6(3/4), 111-124.