Educational research refers to systematic investigation of significant problems in teaching and learning inside and outside of schools. It aims to develop a science of behavior in educational situations to provide knowledge to help educators achieve their goals through effective methods. Some key characteristics of educational research include that it develops general principles and theories, takes an interdisciplinary approach, employs deductive reasoning, and strives to improve education. However, educational research is not as exact as research in physical sciences due to studying dynamic human behavior and social phenomena that are difficult to measure.

1. Characteristics of Educational Research
Research:
Research commonly refers to a search for knowledge. It is a scientific and systematic
investigation for some pertinent information on a specific phenomena or problem with
the aim to solve that problem.
Definitions of Research
R. Rusk. “Research is a point of view, an attitude of inquiry or a frame of mind ." It asks
questions which have hitherto not been asked. It seeks to answer them by following a
fairly definite procedure. It is not a mere theorizing. It is an attempt to elicit facts and to
face them once they have been assembled.
2. James Harvey Robinson. "Research is a diligent search which enjoys the high flavor
or primitive hunting."
3. I.V. Redman and A.V.H. Mory."Research is a systematic effort to gain new
knowledge".
4. The advanced Learner,s Dictionary of Current English lays down the meaning of
research as"a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in
any branch of knowledge ."
Educational Research
Educational research in common parlance refers to a systematic attempt to define and
investigate significant problems involved in teaching and learning in and outside the
school and at various school systems.
1. J.W.Best. " Educational Research is that activity which is directed towards
development of a science of behavior in educational situations. The ultimate aim of such
a science is to provide knowledge that will permit the educator to achieve his goals by
the most effective methods."
2.W.M Traverse. " Educational Research is the activity which is directed towards the
development of science of behavior in educational situation."
Characteristics of Educational Research
The characteristics of educational research are part of its nature. According to Gary
Anderson ( 1998 ), there are ten characteristics of educational research.

2. 1. A sound philosophical basis.
In the application of scientific methods to education, it invokes a sound philosophy by
developing new knowledge or data from primary source.
2.
One of the most important characteristic of educational research is as it develops
general principles of a theory or law.
3. An inter-disciplinary approach
Educational Research is not a mere description of elementary and isolated facts of
nature, it must be related to the study of complex relationships of various facts. It
requires an inter -disciplinary approach.
4. Employs deductive reasoning process.
In the nature and functions of educational research , Eric Hylla writes that science of
mind commonly uses methods of description, explanation, interpretation, sympathetic
understanding-methods which are mainly speculative and deductive in character and
which rarely furnish results that can be subjected to measurement or mathematical
procedures.
5. A desire to things better.
Stephen M.Corey writes, Better educational means better development or formulation of
instructional aims , better motivation of pupils, better teaching methods, better
evaluation and better supervision and administration-these are "activities or
"operations."
6. Not as exact as research in physical science.
No scientific investigations of human behavior have resulted in the findings of individual
completely similar in structure or behavior. Educational research mainly studies social
phenomenon or something happens caused by human characteristics which is dynamic
in nature and often difficult or impossible to measure. This fact stands in way of making
educational research an exact science.
7. Not the field of the specialist only.
It is not a field of specialist only. Research carried out in the day-to-day work of the
school, should be concerned directly with the problems of the school such as child
development, classroom management, teacher-pupil relationships, interaction with the
community, curriculum matters, teaching techniques and many others. Thus action
research may be done by a classroom teacher or and educational administrator.

3. 8. Not a mechanical process.
It is not a purely mechanical approach. Symonds concludes that research is not
something that can be carried out as by machine. Thus educational research can never
be made a mechanical process.
9. Based on subjectivity and intangibility of social phenomena
Educational research based on subjectivity behavior Lundberg has pointed out that the
physical phenomena may be known directly through sense, whereas social phenomena
may be known directly through words and dynamic behavior representing such
phenomena as tradition, custom, attitude, values .
10. Cannot be dealt through empirical method
Educational research is to some extent a qualitative concept, therefore cannot be dealt
through empirical methods and techniques. According to lundberg, "Exact science tends
to become increasingly quantitative in its units, measures and terminology while most of
the matter of social science is qualitative and does not form quantitative statement.