Research comprises "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humans, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications" (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).
From the very beginning of human civilisation, research has been given utmost importance. We cannot imagine today's technology-based modern world without the contribution of research. In the academic arena, involvement with research works is given priority when it comes to both post-graduate level students and teachers.
However, the purpose of research can be a complicated issue as it cuts across different subjects and disciplines. Research always develops critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, self-confidence, and intellectual independence.
Despite many obstacles prevalent at the universities of Bangladesh, academics and graduate students are engaged in various research works. But most of the young researchers face some challenges before starting their research jobs. "How can an appropriate methodology be chosen for conducting a research work? Is it possible for me to become a researcher? Who is going to fund my research works?"
These are very common queries that face a beginner. Another problem in Bangladesh is the lack of suitable guidebooks written in Bangla language. In this regard, the book 'Gobeshonay Hatekhari' is a timely initiative taken by the author Dr. Ragib Hasan.
The book is divided into several chapters. In the first chapter, the author focuses on the definition, importance and principles of research. The second chapter discusses a vital issue - research in the context of Bangladesh. It portrays a gloomy picture of our country's situation that is found in the academic research field.
Time to devote oneself fully to research is difficult to find because people who teach at the university level usually have to engage themselves in many other important jobs. Access to journals, either through internet or the print medium, is limited.
The high cost of subscriptions for journals keeps them beyond the reach of the budgets of both individual professionals and university libraries. There are limited resources in supporting research projects because funds are scarce.
In the subsequent chapters of the book, the author gradually discusses the methodology of research --- the fundamentals of data collection and analysis skills that researchers need for their first project, as well as developing a good understanding of the research process as a whole.
It covers both quantitative and qualitative methods, and contains lots of real-life examples from the author's own research. The writer also discusses the techniques required for searching, reading and reviewing the literature, basics of data analysis and research ethics.
Apart from the practical research techniques, Dr. Ragib Hasan provides a basic explanation of methodological issues such as research planning, the quantitative/qualitative debate and the wider social role of research, linking these to real-world issues and examples, and the actual task of researching and writing a research report.
The author discusses how funds can be obtained from various sources to finance the research works. He draws our attention to some positive qualities and practices essential to become a good researcher.
Compassion, patience, honesty, punctuality, perseverance and dedication should be the core values of a researcher. The author concludes the book by giving a home task for the novice researchers which will help them begin their research works.
Dr. Ragib Hasan was educated at the BUET in Bangladesh, and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in the USA. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, where he leads the 'Secure and Trustworthy Computing Lab (SECRETLab)'. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at John Hopkins University.
Dr. Ragib Hasan has made a great contribution to creating the Bengali Wikipedia. He is also the founder of Shikkhok.com - an award-winning free education platform in Bangla language, and the coordinator of the 'BanglaBraille' project, aimed at creating educational material for visually impaired children in South Asia.
Written in a lucid language, the book in review is specifically designed for Master's and Doctoral students. It is also useful for both academics and independent researchers.
The writer is an independent researcher.
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Gobeshonay Hatekhari
by Ragib Hasan
Published by Mamun Or Rashid, Adarsha, 176 Fakirerpool, Dhaka-1000
First published in February, 2015
ISBN: 978-984-8875-88-9, pages 91
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