peterYou may have noticed that most CALA topics being given by teachers involve some elements of carrying out research.
In this article, you will be guided through the steps that you need to go through in coming up with your research project.
A CALA on a research project will be testing your ability to research, problem-solve, and analyse data, et cetera.
However, be guided by your teacher as the CALA requirements may vary.
1.Problem identification/Topic to research on
What is the problem that you seek to solve?
The good thing about CALA is you will be given a topic to look at for example, problems faced by businesses in your community and possible solutions.
It is important to identify the general portion of the syllabus that is being examined, for example is it business or its environment.
If yes, which area exactly, for example problem faced by Small to Medium Enterprises, in that case read around that topic.
It will help you familiarise yourself with challenges and issues being addressed by that part of the syllabus (a mini literature review).
If you are not given a particular problem, look at your community and look at problems that it might be facing.
The problems must be in line with the subject you are being examined, for example, if it’s a science subject, you might not look at problems faced by an accounting firm unless of course they are service oriented.
2. Formulate Plan and methodology
How do you intend to carry out your research? What is that your research seeks to solve or achieve?
What method are you going to use to collect data?
Which sampling technique are you going to use?
How are you going to get the required sample size (the people who will be part of the research?).
Is it going to be a sample survey or a census?
Answers to these questions will give direction to your research.
Having identified your research problem, the next thing is to ask yourself, what is it that you seek to do or achieve?
Formulating research objectives can help.
Examples of research objectives: to identify Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in my community.
To determine the challenges faced by SMEs.
So from your research objectives, you can come up with research questions, the questions must be addressed to achieve your objectives for example; who are the SMEs operating in my community (what type of businesses are they, sole trader, partnerships or companies, et cetera).
What are some of the challenges they are facing, for example poor demand, competition from imports, et cetera?
What are the possible solutions to these problems, for example Government support, interest free loans, protectionism, et cetera?
The purpose of the research is to help answer these questions.
3. Data Collection
Are you going to use a questionnaire?
If yes, make sure they contain both open ended and close ended questions.
Are you going to carry out interviews?
Are you going to use observation?
Or a combination of these methods.
Whichever method you use; you need to justify why you used that method instead of the other.
The questions that you are going to include in your interview guide to questionnaire must be relevant and they must help you to achieve your research objectives and help you achieve the CALA objectives.
In data collection, are you going to use a tape recorder to record interviews?
Your phone can come in handy as well, take notes as you carry out the interviews.
If you are using a questionnaire, make sure it contains both open-ended questions and close ended questions.
4. Data analysis and interpretation
This is the process of assigning meaning for the collected information and determining the conclusions, significance and implications of the findings.
The steps involved in data analysis are a function of the type of information collected.
However, returning to the purpose of the assessment and the research questions will provide a structure for the organisation of the data and focus for the analysis.
Data interpretation helps in assigning meaning to the processed and analysed data.
It enables you to make informed and meaningful conclusions, implications, infer the significance between the relationships of variables and explain the patterns in the data.
Here your analytical and interpretation skills will be tested.
Statistical variables such as the mode, the mean, median where necessary can be used to give meaning to the data you have gathered.
In simple terms, in this section, you are answering these questions; what does collected data mean?
Any relationships, patterns or trends that can be established from the data collected?
5. Presentation
After data has been collected you now need to present your findings.
Are you going to have a write-up?
Are you presenting in class?
What data presentation method are you going to use, for example pie charts, graphs, tables, et cetera.
This might depend on the type of data that you would have collected, qualitative or quantitative data.
If you are presenting to class make sure you observe all the presentation skills, for example fluency, tone of voice and voice projection, et cetera.
If you are making a write up, make sure your points are clearly spelt out, major heading and subheadings clearly shown.
In short, make your work clear and logical to follow.
6. Conclusion and recommendation
This step might not be required but after presenting your findings, what are your conclusions and recommendation stemming from the research that you would have undertaken.
Recommendations to your school, community, business, government, et cetera.
CALA tips
Where possible use ICT tools to help you with your research.
Take pictures, videos, et cetera.
Closing remarks: In carrying out your CALA, be guided by your teacher.
This article is a general guide. (source: eaglenestacademy.org)
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