What is E-Research

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. Research: 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 subproblems 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 8. Is, by its nature, cyclical; or more exactly, spiral or helical Anderson and Kanuka (2003) loosely define e-research as research that takes advantage of “the excitement, breadth, and diversity offered by an ever-increasing and sometimes bewildering set of new Net-based tools and techniques” (Anderson & Kanuka, 2003, p. 4).