KARACHI, Nov 3: With the passage of time our approach towards qualitative research should be changed using the latest techniques and methodologies.

This was stated by the vice-chancellor of the University of Karachi, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, who was presiding over the inaugural session of theInternational Multidiscipline Quality Research Conference at the KU campus on Friday.

He thanked the local and foreign scholars, researchers and other guests for sharing their knowledge and experience likely to stimulate researchers and academicians' views in various fields of social sciences.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Pirzada said that in order to meet the challenges of the 21st century, scholars and researchers of the developing countries must work hand in hand with other nations of the world.

He emphasised that research questions should guide towards choices applicable to research methods. The KU vice-chancellor appreciated the thought-provoking presentation by Dr Adrian Holiday, the keynote speaker, from Christchurch University, United Kingdom and urged upon researchers to face realities and meet the challenges of the modern times.

Dr Pirzada invited the researchers of the developing countries to address various issues concerning qualitative research. The academician acknowledged the collaboration of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and applauded Dr Shamsuddin, dean of the Arts faculty for holding such an event addressing important human issues and expressed hope that these efforts would continue in the future on a regular basis so that the outcome of qualitative research was put to human advantage in the developing countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Akhlaq Ahmed, pro-vice-chancellor related the need of qualitative research essential for the sake of improvement in human society in multifarious spheres of research.He told that the University of Karachi recognised the value of qualitative research and hence training programmes had been introduced in the academic, research and even non-teaching departments. Dr Ahmed mentioned that the KU had established a qualitative research cell in 2005 in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

In his welcome address, Dr Shamsuddin referred to objective of the conference as achieving excellence in research methodologies by sharing valuable knowledge and experiences in the conference.

He pointed out that the most valuable part of qualitative research was application of the research findings and termed this process having five stages i.e. purpose, process, data application, analysis and communication of findings. He further said that we had to understand the sociology and anthropology of our people so as to succeed in the field of qualitative research.

Sharing his experience, in the keynote address of the conference, Dr Adrian Holiday stated that visiting library some years back he found out the number of research titles to be around 200. In his presentation, Dr. Holiday referred to research work of some of his students who had to be very specific in their studies and observations. After some initial hardships, they started studying ignored realities and after some time the 'unexpected began to emerge'.He assigned much importance to the word 'describing' facts. He termed qualitative research as a scientific, systematic process wherein variables were to be controlled and researchers should continue to be a part of this process.

Dr Fouzia Shamim, organising secretary of the conference also presented her view on the subject. She urged that new methods of research were of great importance for appropriate development of human efforts in various fields of sciences.

The inaugural session was attended by a large number of scholars, researchers, teachers and students from various academic and research institutions of the country.-—PPI