ASSIGNMENT NO.

1
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

SUBMITTED BY

ANJU RANI

REG. NO. 1311004

Q.1: Define research. Name different types of research and what are all the population

Parameters?

Ans: Research: The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and has

not been discovered yet. It is the original contribution to existing stock of knowledge

for its advancement. According to Clifford woody- Defining and redefining problem,

formulating hypothesis, collecting organising and evaluation data, making deductions

and reaching conclusion, testing the conclusion to determine whether they fit the

formulated hypothesis or not. Research is mainly finding solution to a problem.

Different types of research: important types of research are as follow

(I) Descriptive vs Analytical:

Descriptive Analytical
This includes survey and facts finding Researcher uses available information
Enquiry. analyze it and make critical evaluation.
Expost facto i.e no control over
Variables, researcher only report
which are causes and what are the
main problems.

(II) Applied vs Fundamental:

Applied Fundamental
This type of research is in action and This is basic research to find knowledge.
deals With finding solution of Example- To study human behavior.
some practical problem.
Example- To find solution for a
problem faced by industry.

(III) Quantative vs Qualitative:

Quantative Qualitative
Applicable to phenomenons that can Applicable to phenomenon related to quality.
Be expressed in terms of quantity & Example- To study features of good
amount. behavior.
(IV) Conceptual vs Empirical:

Conceptual Empirical
Used by philosophers and thinkers Depends on experience or observation
to develop new concepts & is i.e experimental results
related to theory. Data based approach from which
conclusion can be verified.
i.e proves or disproves the hypothesis
using experiment.

(V) Other types of Research: other types of research depends on purpose, time
required to complete research, environment in which research is carried out.
(a) One time or longitudinal research: this type depends on the time i.e whether
the research is confined to single time period or carried over several time
Periods.
(b) field setting or laboratory research: this depends upon the environment where
research is carried out i.e in field or in laboratory.
(c) Clinical or diagnostic research: clinical method deals with case study method &
diagnostic method deals with indepth approach.
(d) Exploratory or formalized: exploratory research deals with development of
hypothesis whereas formalized approach deals with testing of hypothesis.
(e) Historical research: it deals with study of fast events & related documents.
(f) Conclusion oriented or decision oriented: for conclusion oriented research,
the researcher is free to prepare concept by picking a problem but for decision
oriented approach researcher is not free to modify research.

Population and its parameters:

population parameters are also termed as population characteristics. They are
expressions summarizing various aspects of entire population.
means, medians, proportions and totals may be classified as descriptive
parameters, while there are parameters measuring relationship, such as
differences is descriptive parameters, correlation and regression coefficient.
there are terms such as parameter value, error etc. are terms used in
parameter estimation.
(I) Mean: the mean is the mean value of measurement of interest in population.
 (II) Standard deviation: it is the measure of deviation of measurement in
population.
(III) Median: it is value of middle term of series when it is arranged in ascending or
descending order of magnitude
Median(M)= value of ((n+1)/2)th term.
(IV) Mode: it is most commonly or frequently occurring value around which there
Is maximum concentration. Mode is useful in study of popular term population
Parameter is basis of market research, political polling, desease prevalence
Survey etc.

Q.2: Explain the scope of research in detail.

Ans: Research makes program possible. It promotes the logical habits of scientific thinking

and organization.

(I) Economy: Today the scope of research is greatly increased in field of economy.
Different business and government has focused attention on use of research in
Solving operational problems. Research is the basis for our economic system.
(II) In govt. policies: Through research alternative policies can be examined to find
Consequences of three alternatives.
 Research helps in taking decisions by policy makers.
 Research is necessary to allocate nation’s resources.
 It is necessary to collect information on economic and social structure
of nation.
 It mainly used to investigate economic structure.
 It is used for diagnosis of events taking place.
 It is used for prediction of future development.
(III) For solving problems of business & industry: following researches are needed
to take business decisions
Market research: it investigates market for purchasing, production & sales.
Motivational research: it is concerned with motivations underlying consumer
behaviour.
Operational research: it uses mathematical, logical and analytical technique
to solve business problems.
 All these help in business & industry to take decisions.
 Research finds demand, market factors and future demand to adjust
Supply schedule.
  To make business budgets to account profit & loss and to estimate sales
& for efficient production and investment programmes.
(IV) For social scientists to study social problems & to find their solution: research is
used to solve problems of human relations & to find the knowledge i.e research
is important for studing social relationship.
(V) Research is used by those studentswho are doing masters or Ph.D degree thesis.
(VI) For professionals in research methodology, research is a source of livelihood.
(VII) To philosophers and thinkers, research provides new ideas.
(VIII) It develops new styles and creative work.
(IX) It provides new theories

Thus research is fountain of knowledge and is important source of providing Guidelines

for solving different business, government and social problems. It Enables to understand in
a field in better way.

Q.3: What is SPSS? Explain its uses in research.

Ans: SPSS is acronym of statistical package for the social science. SPSS is one of the most

Popular statistical packages which can perform highly complex data manipulation &

Analysis with simple instructions. It is designed for both interactive and non

Interactive uses:

 SPSS is a comprehensive system for analyzing data. SPSS can take

data from almost any type of file and use them to generate tabulated
reports, charts and plots of distribution and trends, descriptive statistics
and complex statistical analysis.
 SPSS has scores of statistical and mathematical function scores,
statistical procedures and a very flexible data handling capability.
 It can read data in almost any format (e.g numeric, alphanumeric,
Binary, dollar, date, time, formats) and version 6 onwards can read
Files created using spread sheet/data base software. It also has excellent
data manipulation utilities.

Important functions of SPSS:

 Data transformation, data examination, reliability tests, correlation,

T-tests, ANOVA, MANOVA, Regression factor analysis, discriminant
analysis, cluster analysis, multi dimensional scaling, non-parametric
analysis etc.
  SPSS is very easy to learn through online help.
 SPSS provides online documentation.
 SPSS release 6.0 and higher are considered one of the leading software
applications. The integration of graphics module to the base is the most
powerful.

Q.4: Mention the different types of report, particularly pointing out of the difference

between a technical report and a popular report.

Ans: After collecting and analyzing the data the researcher has to accomplish the

task of report writing. This has to be done very carefully to give meaningful

research conclusion. The result of a research investigation can be presented in the

form of a report. The report is of following types:

(a) A technical report

(b) A popular report
(c) An article
(d) A nonograph
(e) Oral presentation
(A) Technical report: a technical report is used when a full written report is required for
public dissenuination. In technical report the main emphasis are:
 The method employed.
 Assumptions made in the course of study.
 The detailed presentation of finding including their limitation and supporting
data.

A general outline of a technical report is as under:

(I) Summary of results: A brief review of main findings just in two or three
pages.
(II) Nature of study: Description of general objective of study, formulation of
problem in operational terms, the working hypothesis, type of analysis &
data required etc.
(III) Methods employed: specific methods used in the study and their limitations.
e.g in sampling studies we should give details of sample design i.e sample
size, sample selection etc.
(IV) Data: discussions of data collected, their sources, characteristics and
limitations. If secondry data are used their stability. In case of survey the
 manner in which data is collected should be described.
(V) Analysis of data & presentation of findings: The analysis of data &
presentation of findings in the form of charts & tables.
(VI) Conclusion: A detailed summary of findings & policy implications drawn from
the result be explained.
(VII) Bibliography: Bibliography of various sources consulted be prepared and
attached.
(VIII) Technical appendices: Appendices be given for all technical matters relating
to questionnaire, mathematical derevations elaboration etc.
(IX) Index: index must be prepared and given at the end. Order of above may be
Varying.
(B) Popular report: the popular report is one which gives on simplicity and
attractiveness. The simplication should be sought through clear writing,
minimization of technical, mathematical, charts and tables, Attractive layout with
large print, many subheadings are features. In such report emphasis is given on
practical aspects and policy implication. This type of report gives emphasis on
simplicity avoiding technical details.
A general outline of a Popular report is as under:
(I) The findings and other implications: main emphasis in this report is on
finding of practical interests and implications of these findings.
(II) Recommendations for action: Recommendations for action on the basis of
findings of study is made in this section.
(III) Objectives of the study: Review of how problem arises along with specific
objective of projects under study.
(IV) Methods employed: Brief description of methods & techniques used,
including review of data.
(V) Results: results of study are presented in clear & non technical terms with
liberal use of charts, diagrams etc.
(VI) Technical appendices: information on methods used is presented in
appendices.

Q.5: Describe the different steps involved in a research.

Ans: Research process consists of series of closely related steps necessary to effectively

carryout research.

Step I

Formulating the research problem: This task is of greatest importance & researcher
find out that on which problem he want to work. while formulating research problem

research must understand the problem thoroughly & reshape the problem into

meaningful terms.

 For this the problem must be discussed with collegues and experts & all the
Available titerative must be examined & then problem must be reshaped.
 Data to be collected, relations to be developed, techniques to be used must
also be made clear while formulating the problem.

Step II

Literature survey: After formulating problem synopsis of topic must be written

down after undertaking the literature survey. for this academic journals,

conference proceeding govt. reports, books etc. must be referred.

Step III

Development of working hypothesis: Hypothesis is tentative assumption made

Which shows how tests must be conducted. Hypothesis guide the researcher &

keep him on right track. It sharpens the thinking. Hypothesis can be developed by

discussing with colleguess & experts, examining the data & record available,

review of similar studies & by personal investigation.

Step IV(a)

Preparing the research design: Research design is a conceptual structure within

which research would be conducted. This provides maximum information with

minimum efforts, time & money

 Research design

experimental non experimental

Informal Formal

(without or with control) (randomized, block, latin 2 etc.)

Step IV(b)

Determining the sample design: we select few items from universe for study,

The items so selected are called sample.& the way of selecting a sample is called

Sample design.

Samples

Probability samples non Probability samples

each event has known probability each event has not known probability

of being Selected e.g simple e.g convenience sampling judgement,

random Sampling, systematic quota sampling.

sampling, stratified , cluster &

area sampling.

Step V(a)

Collecting the data: Data in hand is inadequate therefore it is necessary to collect

appropriate data. Primary data can be collected by experiments or survey. By doing

experiments quantative data can be collected to prove hypothesis but in survey data

can be collected by own observation, through personal interviews, through

telephonic interviews or through schedules & making questionnaires.

Step V(b)

Execution of project: execution of project must be done in systematic manner &

In time.

Step VI(a)

Analysis of data: after the collection of data this data is analysed by classifying the

raw data into some purposeful categories. Then coding, tabulation & editing of

data is done. Different relations are studied to find the conclusion using various

statistical measures.

Step VI(b)

Hypothesis testing: after analysing data, researcher test the hypothesis which was

formulated using various tests i.e chi-square test, T-test, F-test, to find weather

facts support the hypothesis or not & result is accepting or rejecting.

Step VII(a)

Generalization & interpretation: generalization is to build a theory to reach the

result. Exploring his findings on the basis of some theory is called interpretation.

Step VII(b)

Preparation of report: the last step is to present your findings in the form of

report. Layout of report contains preliminary pages, main text & end matter.

report should be concise & only calculated. Also the required data must be

provided.