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Scientific research under the Internet
and the information revolution
Scientific
research plays a major role
in the overall development
process, and in the interest of society, in all scientific, social, productive,
and other fields.
Information
and communication technology applications are used as opportunities for the
researcher to develop scientific research.
Whereas,
the enormous data and information available from the Internet enable the
researcher to create databases and information systems that help him understand
the nature of the research problem, and make a more appropriate research plan to
achieve the research goals.
The
information system means: It is an integrated general framework that includes a set of sub-files that contain
specific and related information, which interact [1] ,together according to a set of foundations, and according to a series of procedures
to provide the researcher with information to help him conduct scientific
research.
research.
On the
role of the Internet in scientific research, there is a main question: How can the Internet be a real opportunity to
achieve a higher value for scientific research and help the researcher ? In
other form, how can we benefit from the huge amount of information available
from the Internet in the service of scientific research ?
The
Internet represents astonishing progress in the means of obtaining, storing and
benefiting from information (the information revolution), in addition to
transferring it from one place to another, no matter how far away (the
communications revolution).
Information
Technology (IT) deals mainly with computers and software. So the low prices of
these devices, especially mobile devices, with respect to living expenses have
made them accessible to all, and this has led to an increase in the volume of
information that can be transferred and stored, and can be obtained immediately,
making it accessible to the researcher during the scientific research.
The advantages of the Internet in
scientific research
The
main goal of scientific research is to search for the truth, whether it agreed
with the researcher’s inclinations or not.
The
research problem is a question (or more) that needs an answer. The researcher's
task is to reach the answer through several methodological steps called
scientific research steps. [2]
One of
the most important advantages of the Internet in the field of scientific
research is that it is possible to obtain information permanently, through the
steps of research.
The
abundance of information represents an opportunity and a challenge at the same
time, and the researcher should strive to benefit from it.
Thus,
it becomes an opportunity to serve scientific research and to reach findings
and recommendations that benefit society and contribute to achieving
development.
The role of the Internet in different
types of research
There
are several types of scientific research for data types:
Quantitative
and qualitative research, primary and secondary research, field and library research.
Qualitative
and quantitative research:
In qualitative researches, they have
electronic tools to collect qualitative data,
which are descriptive data, such as focus groups.
which are descriptive data, such as focus groups.
Focus groups are interactive discussion
groups. It is one of the most important sources of qualitative data, which are descriptive data. Questions are directing to a sample or group of people. Researchers are obtaining data from groups of people, where reactions are Known, or in the form of views and ideas. So, data are descriptive.
While electronic tools such as web
analysis packages are typical tools for collecting quantitative data.
Primary
and secondary research:
The Internet plays an important role in
search in secondary research. In secondary research, researches use web browsers, such as Google
Chrome and search engines, such as Yahoo, and the other main search engines in
the world.
Also, the Internet plays an important role
in primary research. It is based on primary data, which is especially collected
for a specific research problem. Qualitative and quantitative data can be
obtained through specific services, such as the e-mail service.
: Field
and library research
Field
research relies on primary data, i.e. data collected from the field through investigation and observation.
Library research relies on secondary data, that is data previously collected, recorded
and analysed, and it is usually published data.
After
obtaining the primary data through field research, it is statistically processed to convert it into
information. Library researches describe, analyse, and evaluate information obtained from field research. By repacking information, secondary sources make information more accessible.
There is an important point: World Wide Web is only one of a large number of Internet services,
The importance of distinguishing between
information and knowledge
In
order to benefit from this amount of information, a distinction must
be made
between information and knowledge.
Since
ancient times the difference between information and knowledge has been defined.
Knowledge is the next stage of information.
To
distinguish between information and knowledge, the processing of data
statistically There are electronic packages such as SPSS. typical tool for obtaining quantitative data, Researchers use SPSS Statistics to understand
data, analyse trends, forecast plan to validate assumptions, and drive
accurate conclusions.
There are many differences between
Knowledge and Information:
The
Knowledge, They
are as follows:
First:
It must be in a subject that is beneficial to people, and there is a difference
between useful and useless science, and the information obtained is in the service
of scientific research when it is useful to people according to the principle
of priorities and forgotten importance.
Second:
Knowledge means putting information in a knowledge framework, so that
information becomes meaningful and related to a specific context.
Knowledge
is a mixture of information and experience,
and
a link between information and other, between information and each other, so
that people can perceive this interconnection.
[3] ,
and
that information is preserved with an understanding and awareness of the
relationships between them.
There
is an important point in order to benefit from the information through the
Internet, which is the safety of authentication and archiving in safe and
organised ways, according to local and international laws.
There
is no doubt that the information revolution represents opportunities for
scientific research, and one of the advantages of the Internet is that, it is
in the service of all kinds of scientific researches.
Examples
include that the research aims to help, secure the society’s needs of
necessities and needs, without which life will be difficult, achieve rational
exploitation of available natural resources, protect the environment from
pollution, and develop production in terms of quantity and quality…and so on.
Transforming
information into knowledge is the basis for how to benefit from it.
The
word wisdom is a delusion for the believer wherever he finds it, so it is more
worthy of people.
From
here, the information revolution can serve scientific research and enable it to
contribute to the overall development process.
[1] Hussein
Hussein Shehata, Fundamentals of Auditing and Supervision under the Internet Computer, a research published on the Dar
Al-Mashura,
[2] Ibrahim
Al-Bayoumi Ghanem, Curricula and Fundamentals of Analysis in Social Sciences (Cairo: Al-Shorouk International Library,
2008), p. 27 .
[3] Jalal
Amin, What is the truth of the information revolution ?, Al-Bayan website : https://www.albayan.ae/opinions/articles/2017-01-04-1.2815976
Magdy Muhammad Medany
PhD. Business Administration
Consultant Expert in Commercial & Administrative Fields
