Fundamental of Research

There are many ways to perform research but knowing the fundamentals of research is critical to the understanding of the research. In today's society there are many reasons to research and study any one particular thing. For this reason we must understand the fundamentals for this we will begin with understanding the scientific method. The scientific method is defined as principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem (Merriam-Webster, 2011). It can also be defined as the process by which scientists, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an accurate, reliable, consistent and non-arbitrary representation of the world (Wolfs, 2010).

How does the scientific method relate to human services research? Research plays a vital role in the human services field. Utilizing research methods such as the scientific method assists human services professionals in making numerous informed decisions daily. Recognizing that personal and cultural beliefs influence both our perception and our interpretation of the world that we live in, research helps us to gain more understanding of it all. Research is defined as a careful and diligent search investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, a detailed study of a subject in order to discover new information or reach a new understanding (Merriam-Webster, 2012).

There are six steps in the process of scientific inquiry and they are pose a question, develop a hypothesis, design an experiment, collect and interpret data, draw conclusions, and analyze and interpret your results. Each of these steps must be included to support the scientific method because it can give a clear indication and understanding of what the subject might need for help.