Seminar on Early Steps in the Quest to Conduct Quality and Meaningful Research

A Seminar was held at the DSS Conference Hall, QAU, on the topic “Early Steps in the Quest to Conduct Quality and Meaningful Research” on 23 October 2025. The event featured Lawrence H. Gerstein as the guest speaker. Professor Gerstein is the Distinguished Professor at Ball State University and Director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. His research centres on cross-cultural psychology, social justice, and nonviolence, and he co-edits the Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology.

Professor Gerstein discussed research methodology and its various approaches, emphasizing the importance of aligning one’s research idea with passion, vision, and relevance to the job market. He highlighted that research requires both curiosity and dedication to generate meaningful and impactful outcomes.

The lecture explored the critical connection between theory, methods, and statistics, stressing that an inappropriate methodology can lead to incorrect findings and flawed analysis. To enhance the validity of a theory, Professor Gerstein recommended building on prior research, conducting multiple studies, and employing diverse, interdisciplinary methodologies.

He elaborated on both qualitative and quantitative research methods, explaining the formulation of research questions and hypotheses, noting that hypotheses can be either directional or non-directional.

The session was moderated by Dr. Saira Aquil, who facilitated an engaging and thought-provoking discussion. The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session, during which participants asked questions about research design and methodology.

Written by: Jugnoo Aijaz (PhD Student)