On a crisp evening at 7pm, Infinity Research Consultant welcomed eager attendees to their much-anticipated event, Webinar 1.0. The session, titled “Mastering Research Writing and Data Collection,” was led by none other than Mr. Olabode Balogun, the dynamic project team lead known for his engaging teaching style and wealth of knowledge.
As participants settled into the session, Mr. Balogun began with an enlightening discussion on research writing, a discipline that extends beyond mere words. Unlike other forms of writing, he explained, research writing involves a meticulous process of investigation and analysis. He emphasized its core tenet: presenting facts with precision and accountability.
“Research writing is not just about what you write but about answering the essential questions: Who said it? What year was it said? And concerning who or what?” he remarked, captivating his audience with his passion for the subject.
The Art of Sourcing Materials
Mr. Balogun took a moment to unravel the mystery of sourcing credible research materials. With clarity, he outlined three simple and effective methods:
- Search Engines with Extensions
He demonstrated how adding “.pdf” to a keyword in a browser search could lead to downloadable academic resources.- Steps:
- Go to your browser.
- Type in the keyword followed by “PDF.”
- Click on download.
- Steps:
- Google Scholar
A favorite among researchers, Google Scholar offers a treasure trove of scholarly articles.- Steps:
- Open your browser.
- Search for Google Scholar.
- Enter relevant keywords.
- Steps:
- Academic Databases Like Scopus
- Navigate to scopus.com.
- Enter your keywords and set inclusion and exclusion criteria.
- Download the relevant papers.
With his practical approach, he made even the most daunting tasks seem achievable. Click here to watch this webinar.
The Writer’s Credo
Before delving deeper, Mr. Balogun shared two poignant quotes that resonated with the audience:
- “A good writer is a good reader.”
- “You can only write as much as you have read.”
Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism
As the session progressed, Mr. Balogun tackled the thorny issue of plagiarism. He explained it as the unethical act of using someone else’s words or ideas without proper acknowledgment and categorized it into various types:
- Copying Verbatim: The infamous copy-and-paste habit.
- Paraphrasing Without Attribution: Rewording content without crediting the original author.
- Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previous work without citation.
- Uncredited Quotations: Omitting the source of a quote, such as, “Life is good.”
- Collusion and Ghostwriting: Collaborating improperly or hiring someone to write on your behalf.
To combat plagiarism, he recommended tools such as Turnitin, Grammarly, Quillbot, and Duplichecker, while emphasizing the art of paraphrasing. He provided an example:
Original Text: Nigerian chef Hilda Effiong Bassey recently attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking time (Steven, 2023).
Paraphrased Text: Hilda Effiong Bassey, a Nigerian chef, aimed to set a new record for extended cooking according to Steven (2023).
Methods of Data Collection
Mr. Balogun seamlessly transitioned into discussing methods of data collection. He outlined the primary methods such as surveys, experiments, interviews, observation, and focus groups. He contrasted these with secondary methods, which rely on existing resources like government publications, websites, and reports.
He captivated the audience further by walking them through the process of collecting data using Google Forms:
- Open your browser.
- Log in to your Gmail account.
- Navigate to the Google Apps icon.
- Click on “Forms.”
- Design your survey.
- Share the survey link with your audience.
For those managing larger datasets, tools like JISC were also highlighted.
A Memorable Conclusion
As the session drew to a close, applause erupted in appreciation of Mr. Balogun’s depth of knowledge and his ability to simplify complex concepts. He left the audience with an unforgettable lesson: the importance of diligence, precision, and ethical writing in research.
The success of Webinar 1.0 lay not just in the knowledge imparted but in the inspiration it ignited. Infinity Research Consultant set a high standard, leaving attendees eagerly anticipating the next session.
