In the period from November to December 2019 out of total 97 publications 33 were joint publications. The figures reflects 34.04% publications were joint articles whereas 64 i.e. 66% articles were authored by single writer.
Research is not only fact finding endeavour but research is a comprehensive, creative and continuous process which establishes true connectivity among various phenomena. It also helps us to generate new strategies of knowledge creation and advancement of knowledge that lead us to overcome a problem through rigorous inquiry. As such our common goal is that we must conduct an effective research in pursuit of original research works. Through this study the authors being experienced practitioners of research intend to suggest and share snippets of their thought regarding some important criterion of effective research. Obviously the writers have culled inputs both from primary as well as secondary sources
Let us begin with a positive note to assure the readers that here our humble mission is to engage with students and young scholars of various social science disciplines in order to share our thoughts about what we perceive to be research effectiveness. It is pertinent therefore to add a rider at the outset that our purpose would be to offer preliminary guidance without foregrounding any fixed idea or even our past experience lest it might affect to shape present experience and thereby, might ‘limit the capacity for future experience’ (
Before we delve deeper we must also note that doing a research plan involves a great deal of personal devotion and ingenuity. It is very important that the work produces satisfaction in the mind of the researcher. Unless s/he identifies with the research work already undertaken or to be initiated and feels the work to be meaningful in the sense of value addition to the existing epistemological system, it is likely to lead to a mechanical exercise or in case of too much professional consideration propelling a research work unfortunately it might entail uncalled for rashness resulting in what is known as ‘cutting the corner’. So, time and devotion are often intertwined although the challenge of immersing oneself in social science research leads us to acquaint and reconcile ourselves with a large pool of interconnected subjects creating prima facie a vortex of intriguing and interesting chain.
The question that we set to ourselves is what does effective research mean and why it is essential for research? Before we enter to explore the topic it won’t be out of place to note that any research is valid when its conclusion is logically tenable and properly structured and organized, and research results or finding followed from the design is arrived with methodical and systematic effort that establishes a causal relation or adds to existing knowledge as something new or reaffirmed. It may or may not have policy implications or simply based on a theoretical framework well-elaborated. Therefore, research effectiveness is how systematically the study is conducted and cogently explained, hence going beyond quantitative vis-à-vis qualitative research debate on strategy. Alan Bryman is absolutely correct in his assertion that “Methods are probably much more autonomous than many commentators (particularly those who espouse the epistemological versions of the debate) acknowledge” (
So, often what we do is to point to the tendency to associate particular methods with particular epistemological positions, but we cannot recommend it as ‘a prescriptive view of how a research ought to be done’. In that sense it is difficult and arduous journey to explore the basic criterion and conditions for research effectiveness as guidance for energetic bubbling minds. Still from the point of view of novice initiators we cannot deny the importance of having instrumental support to facilitate learning some tidbits of this interesting but immensely challenging field of social science research universe.
Undoubtedly, research effectiveness is an umbrella term. It has many dimensions or wings, and which is highly dynamic and continuously evolving in terms of ever expanding ideas and notions being added to it by newer experiences in course of doing research work and contributions of the researchers not only from across the world but also from multiple disciplines and trans-disciplinary works, workshops, studies, webinars etc. So, it is quite a thought-provoking discourse in which we take recourse to both ‘objectivity’ or fact as-it-is, that we draw upon and also when we proceed towards interpretation or what we call ‘Hermeneutics’ to make sense out of collected data, not data-collection alone. Obviously, therefore, the entire process of research is an interesting journey from one level of understanding to the next higher one, thus navigating towards greater depth to bring out what we often get in terms of fine-tuned insights to enrich and embellish our research work, making it stand rigorously, distinctly with prolific articulation and execution of the entire plan. So, research effectiveness is a value concept, which does not have any constant or fixed reality. Depending upon the subject or area of study, research effectiveness may depend on collaborative and cooperative exercise or approach amongst a group of researchers, inter-institutional or inter-departmental efforts expended towards cross-fertilization and consultation with other related stakeholders. Actually research effectiveness is integrated and comprehensive process which ensures total quality of the research report. It is only possible when the research work creates an awakening like scientific spirit of enquiry. So, it is training of mind rather than an end-state which keeps on improving and thereby always fosters the quality output of the research process. So, the comprehensiveness of research process is important which denotes both horizontal stretching with comparative dimension as well as vertical depth of study. It depends on the capacity and capability of the researcher, and time, place or situation available to him/her. Thus, we can say research effectiveness is largely perceptive and often it is the function of conscious choice or approach adopted by researchers.
Now the question arises as to what we choose and why. For example, if we try to conduct a survey type of research among the slums in a locality or to find out the real situation of child labour in a city and district market, we have to justify it why we undertake such a work because we cannot defend it by saying that it is our commitment to improve the condition of the reality or our agenda is to bring about social change. In that case as academicians what we can do is to try toup hold the real situation and how the situation under review gets constructed in ‘processual terms’, thereby drawing attention of the policy makers and civil society organizations to help form social awareness. Thus putting the research to the wider social context itself creates ground for problem solving as well as it might create an introspection for negotiation because the issue as revealed by the research does not exist out there as external problem. Rather it unravels how ‘socially constructed’ it is. In that sense, research effectiveness does not only mean that researchers will engage only with empirical reality of the community and its working conditions that often acts as a key to develop in-depth understanding of the real world phenomena (involving the perspective of phenomenology, interactionism, participation etc), but it also incorporates the aspect of research communication and publication with ability to apply acquired findings or theoretical knowledge in practical problem solving.
Researchers might tend to think that ‘quantitative data are more persuasive and hence more likely to gain the support of policy makers’. Whatsoever, it is important for ‘explaining work even to non-experts’ also (
Since in such a society workers are ‘knowledge workers’ it becomes imperative to invest in research while the common goal of research works is to generate/create new strategy for knowledge creation/affirmation. Thus, research is increasingly driving us towards knowledge intensive society in which knowledge explosion due to ‘constant advent of new knowledge and advanced technology’ require us to continuously update our knowledge. In other words, research effectiveness is impossible without getting oneself acquainted and acclimatized with a good number of journals, papers and several other ‘new channels such as conference proceedings, open access archives and internet’ which are expanding and proliferating academic disciplines and also contributing to “the qualitative aspect of the knowledge explosion” “due to escalating disciplinary, interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research, several new disciplines, sub-disciplines and inter-disciplines” (
Although by nature research effectiveness happens to be a qualitative category, and as such it is perceptive and associated with ideographic reasoning put to explore a ‘case’ or some trends/ patterns that differ from others, it seems possible to hit the nails on some common features of research effectiveness which are basic for all of us—teachers, policy makers and administrators. Therefore, we can say research effectiveness is sort of strategic plan which helps us to lead forth or to crack problems with effective research process. Data becomes meaningful when magnitude is added to it. Qualitative analysis adds value to quantitative data. Of course, researcher can use the available SPSS package also for analysis of data. In such case of data analysis and presentation metrics is very important. It creates a new theoretical framework.
It’s already said that research effectiveness is an umbrella term. It is associated with planning, training, preparing and executing research. These sub-categories which are mainly integrated elements of scientific inquiry and methodical and upfront approach of researchers also simultaneously encompass aspects like trendy topic, research ethic, inquisitive mind,capacity to use technology and concrete vision to look into future and deep insight regarding life, social world and the changing reality at large. It is our deep realization regarding research effectiveness that it is performance-oriented and to be informed by theoretical underpinnings. In short, it is ‘method-theory relationship’ and effective research cannot move forward without putting theory at the heart of the framework to arrange data. Research effectiveness is based on strong thread of professionalism and research competence and enthusiasm of a researcher. S/he must feel that it is an active process rather than a monotonous, ‘lifeless or dull job, separated off from the real world’ ( Research effectiveness is deeply epistemological because it always puts questions to the accuracy of data and patterns of thought from the standpoint of surmise. In other words, it tries to construct new relations and knowledge-claims based on constantly dynamic process and creative approach. So, the clash with traditional knowledge is always a probability because researchers in the changeable social field tend to take innovative outlook which might alter existing world-view or what may broaden the frame with more space for transformation. Undoubtedly, research effectiveness is about this intellectual sharpness, creative take of an individual researcher or a dedicated team, their efforts for nuanced study. A null hypothesis is, in a sense, the reverse of a research hypothesis. It is, in fact, a no-effect or difference hypothesis or negation hypothesis that tends to refuse or deny what is explicitly indicated in a given research hypothesis ( Research effectiveness does not mean tailor-made for exclusive personalized work because once it is completed its findings must be shared with the members of academic community in the form of monograph or journal article and vital inputs of such research must always be included or incorporated in the policy perspective. So dissemination through publication is an important stage to make the work public and to evoke response. As Julie f. Scott writes, “Audience cannot be forgotten, as the public role of research texts is the crucial one….There are several audiences: institutional (researcher’s university/ researcher’s funder), policy (does research have an applied sense?), populists (does it have a populist agenda?), peers (is there a need for peer recognition), personal (for career development or personal satisfaction) and finally field subjects.” (Marsh 2015: 64-65). Therefore, every research report must be shared and publication to be circulated across the world as widely as possible. It is to be kept in mind that without publication research cannot proceed. Research writing and drafting. Research writing and drafting is an important challenge of any kind of research either in social science or science. Writings must be creative as far as possible but clarity and objectivity in communication are most important. In case of reference writing must follow the convention or protocol of proper citation style. Even most profound ideas can best be put in simple language and in coherent sentences. According to Lester and Lester, ‘when writing the body of the paper, one should classify, compare and analyze the issues. The key elements referred by them in their checklist are analysis, presentation and paragraphs’ ( Research effectiveness is intended to stimulate thought not only among students but amongst enthusiastic members of more generalized audience so that ideas of researchers could provoke dialogue to make things intelligible regarding the relationship of society, state and non-state actors. It is possible when a research is comprehensive and based on collaborative and cooperative approach, thus creating a new synergy between individuals or inter-institutional resources. For example, here we can compare two reputed journals namely the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) and the Perspectives on Public Management and Governance (PPMG) in terms of publication of joint articles.
In the period from November to December 2019 out of total 97 publications 33 were joint publications. The figures reflects 34.04% publications were joint articles whereas 64 i.e. 66% articles were authored by single writer.
The Perspectives on Public Management and Governance (PPMG) is another recognized journal and through extensive survey the researchers finds following data regarding joint publication and single publication. First, the researcher put the data in the tabular form and thereafter the data were put through histogram.
It is clear that out of 24 articles only 04(16%) is by single author while 20 (i.e. 83.33%) articles are joint publication.
According to Lester and Lester, academic citation serves other important purposes like establishing reliability. Even beyond it, cited entry in case of “non-general information” or phrase acts like documentation of borrowed ideas and words which in other words offers “A clear trail for other researchers to follow if they also want to consult the source and simultaneously as information for other researchers who might need to replicate (reproduce) the project” (2015 117). The latter is very important rather than narrowly conceived patent system. In theory, “the patent system is supposed to carefully balance the benefits of intellectual protection with another worthy goal: making access to knowledge more available.” (
Research is nothing but a creative endeavour to gain new knowledge based on sound methodological structure. Research effectiveness is the goal of every researcher. Yet effective research is not the sum total of a few points but it is rather a continuous pursuit of seeking to improve and validate findings based on evidence. Research assumes a social character by virtue of the very ecosystem in which a researcher works. In that sense, every research has a social purpose to fulfill with which it is integrally connected.