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There is no hope of doing perfect research In 1998, Griffiths observed that there is no hope in perfect research (97). To understand this, one needs to define the terms research and perfect properly. Put in basic terms, research can be defined as the process of probing or rummaging again while the word perfect means a state with no flaws or errors (Chiwa 14). Griffiths argued that the solutions arrived at in any research are not absolute and are subject to change. In my opinion, Griffiths’ assertion holds water, and I unreservedly agree with him. The most common characteristic of a human being is being perfect in imperfection. Put differently, human beings are not perfect. As such, one wonders how an imperfect person can develop a perfect product. Besides, to draw their conclusions and make recommendations, researchers rely on data collected from respondents. This data may be inaccurate as a result of bias or pure imperfectness of the respondents. To crown this, it is a well known fact that, in a given research, some faults must occur (Okerosi 36). If the researcher cannot have control over these limitations, how can he guarantee a perfect research? Human mind is naturally inquisitive and introspective and, as such, must keep on improving the past. Thus, different people search more on topics that have already been done to come up with new ideas and, subsequently, bring developments. If a research were perfect, it would not need any improvements. For example, people could have settled for typewriters long ago because there would be no opportunity to invent computers if the sole purpose were to type. Moreover, people would be stuck with black and white televisions as well as brick-size cell phones. As a matter of fact, there would be no further inventions since researchers would not be working again and again on the same topic (Chiwa 15). A good example of a research to demonstrate Griffiths’ statement is one that I conducted for my MBA, and whose title was, ‘The Importance of Education and Training in Management'. I collected data through observation, focus group discussions and sampling, analyzed it and confidently concluded that Proper education is indispensable in management. Every manager who is worth his salt has to be well educated and trained to handle the subordinates. Surprisingly, a similar research conducted by Okerosi showed that education was not imperative in management and favored nature over nurture (Okerosi 38). Apart from that, it dawned on me later that some of the senior and most successful managers were school drop-outs. The difference between the two conclusions makes one wonder where the truth stands. However, the discrepancies could be as a result of differences in samples, respondents or even the environment. Different people have diverse views and, needless to say, one area is totally different from the other. Therefore, no research can be assumed to fit in all areas or apply to different people. On the same vein, each day is different and as such, today’s research cannot be relevant tomorrow. Another research that has demonstrated Griffiths’ statement is one that Sir Charles Darwin conducted more than 150 years ago, and which he titled, ‘On the Origin of Species’. Many people have sat in classrooms trying to cram the theory of evolution; I’m not an exception. I have read about evolution of man from apes with more grief than joy. If the theory of evolution is true, why have human beings not evolved to more developed creatures? Does this theory hold any water? There are a number of scholars who have criticized Darwinism, most of them being supporters of creationism. Though Darwin worked hard for twenty years in quest for truth, his conclusions cannot be accepted without doubt and skepticism (Kelly 4). To support Natural selection, Darwin argues that the parts that survive do so because they have not disappeared. This is tautology in the sense that Darwin banks on the fact that there is no humanly

way to disprove it (Kelly 5). Fallacy of absence states that, absence of evidence can not be used as evidence to support a phenomenon in question. Besides, can a research that is not universally acceptable be tagged as perfect? In conclusion, every discovery can get superseded over time. This is because research is an ongoing process that will continue as long as human beings are curious and productive and as such, changes must occur. In light of these facts, any thought of research being perfect is an absurdity and downright hogwash. It is like a dogmatic concept or bright utopian idea that can never be practical.

Works Cited Chiwa, Ronald. “There is no hope of doing perfect research.” Research Ideas. Egerton U, 6 Oct. 2011. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. . Griffiths, M.Educational Research for Social Justice: Getting off the Fence. Buckingham: Open university Press, 1998. Print. Kelly, Thomas. “What Darwin Didn't Know.” Origin of Man. Nairobi U, 20 Feb. 2009. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. . Okerosi, Denis. Effects of Modern Education on Business Management: Study Done in Central Kenya. Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press, 2008. Print.