Consensus Building Using E-Research

Abstract

Research is a quest driven by a specific question that needs an answer. Leedy (1993) in his book, Practical Research: Planning and Design, lists eight characteristics to define research, as follows. 1. Originates with a question or a problem; 2. Requires a clear articulation of a goal; 3. Follows a specific plan of procedure; 4. Usually divides the principal problem into more manageable sub-problems; 5. Is a specific research problem, question, or hypothesis that will guide research; 6. Accepts certain critical assumptions (these assumptions are underlying theories or ideas about how the world works); 7. Requires the collection and interpretation of data in attempting to resolve the problem that initiated the research; and 8. Is, by its nature, cyclical, or more exactly, spiral or helical.