Page 8 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

1 Foundations of Inquiry

UNIT Based Learning

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, the learner will be able to:

◊ realise the importance of keeping an open mind with regard to knowledge
and research

◊ distinguish inquiry from research and the importance of knowledge
from inquiry while focusing on research questions/topics

◊ recognise that formal inquiry is different from informal inquiry in terms
of relevant sources, databases, and citation styles

◊ learn that skills for formal and informal inquiry are different, particularly
discipline-specific conventions and practices

◊ understand the significance of focused research questions in formal
academic inquiry

Background

Albert Einstein once said, “...the important thing is to not stop questioning.
Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when
one contemplates the mysteries of eternity, life, and the marvellous structure of
reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery
every day.” Some people seem to have followed this advice to the letter - they
have been endlessly curious. A few of those people have become prominent sci-
entists, writers, engineers, educators, or artists. But most humans are curious,
and often it is not about transformative issues but about the tittle-tattle in their
lives. In our age of narrowly focused specialisation, the polymath - a person with
wide-ranging knowledge and interests - has become an endangered species. Still,
people with a burning passion for exploration and investigation do exist.

2 SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing