CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 The word “research” derives from the old French word recerchier that meant to ‘search again’
or “examine carefully.”

 Its literal meaning is: To systematic process of collecting and analyzing information (data) in
order to discover of new knowledge or expand and verify of the existing one To do so, it is
required a .. Scientific Method

 The word “research” can be split into two words:

 Re …………..+……………. Search

 The dictionary defines the former as a prefix meaning again, a new or over again and the latter
as a verb, meaning to examine closely and carefully, to test and try, or to probe.

 Together they form a noun describing a careful, systematic, and investigation in some field of
knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles

 The simplest meaning of research is to search for facts, answers to research question and
solution for the problem.
 Scientific Research is a systematic and objective attempt to provide answers to certain
questions. The purpose of scientific research is to discover and develop an organized
body of knowledge.

Meaning of Research
 Research is an Organized and Systematic way of Finding answers to Questions
 Research is Systematic investigation process employed to increase or revise current knowledge
by discovering new facts or verifying old facts.
 Research is a scientific approach of answering a research question, solving a research problem or
generating new knowledge through a systematic and orderly collection, organization, and analysis
of data with an ultimate/final goal of making the findings of research useful in decision making.
 Research has both process and product properties. If the process does not satisfy certain basic
characteristics or the product does not meet certain qualities, then that activity cannot be regarded
as scientific research.
 The research process must meet three characteristics: systemic, guided and intensive.
 The research product must meet three basic characteristics: valid, reliable and generalizable.
 Note: Research is a systemic, guided and intensive investigation for producing knowledge
that is valid, reliable and generalizable.

1
Research Methodology Vs Research Method

Methodology & methods, two terms are often treated as synonyms. Methodology is broader and envelops
methods.

• Research methods are the techniques and tools by which you conduct research into a subject or a
topic
• Research methodology explains and justifies the techniques and tools by which you may proceed
with your research.
• Research methods aim at finding solutions to research problems.
• Research methodology aims at the employment of the correct procedures to arrive at a solution.

Characteristics of Good Research

• Purpose clearly identified.

• Originates with a question or problem
• Research process detailed.
• Researcher’s experience reflected.
• Well planned research design
• High ethical standards applied.
• Accepts certain critical assumptions.
• Limitation frankly revealed.
• Adequate analysis
• Findings/results presented clearly
• Readily understood language
• Conclusions justified.
• Generalizability from a Sample

2
OBJECTIVES OF GOOD RESEARCH

The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures.
The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered as yet.
Though each research study has its own specific purpose, we may think of research objectives as falling
into a number of following broad groupings:

 To overcome or solve the problems occurring in our everyday life

 To generate new knowledge
 To verify and test existing knowledge
 To become expert of a particular field

Thus, research is the fountain of knowledge for the sake of knowledge and an important source of
providing guidelines for solving different business, personal, profession governmental and social
problems. It is a sort of formal training which enables one to understand the new developments in
one’s field in a better way.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD RESEARCH

Good research possesses certain qualities which are as follows:

Good research is systematic: it means that research is structured according to set of rules to follow
certain steps in specified sequence. Systematic research also invites creative thinking, and certainly
avoids use of guessing and intuition for arriving at the conclusion.

Good research is empirical: it implies that any conclusion drawn is based upon hardcore evidence
gathered from information collected from real life experiences and observations. This provides a
basis for external ability to research results.

Good research is valid and verifiable: Research involves precise observation and accurate
description. The researcher selects reliable and valid instruments to be used in the collection of
data and uses some statistical measures for accurate description of the results obtained. Whatever
you conclude on the basis of finding is correct and can be verified by yourself and others.

Good Research is logical: it suggests that research is guided by the rules of reasoning and logical
process of induction (general to specific) and deduction (specific to general) that plays an

3
important role in carrying out research. In fact, logical reasoning makes research feasible and more
meaningful in the context of decision making.

Good research develops theories and principles: which are very helpful in accurate prediction
regarding the variables under study. On the basis of the sample observed and studied, the
researcher makes sound generalizations regarding the whole populations. Thus, research goes
beyond immediate situations, objects or groups being investigated by formulating a generalization
or theory about these factors.

Research is replicable: the designs, procedures and results of scientific research should be
replicable so that any person other than the researcher himself may assess their validity. Thus, one
researcher may use or transit the results obtained by another researcher. Thus, the procedures and
results of the research are replicable as well as transmittable.

Why Research Is Important:

 To Gather Necessary Information/ Fill up information gap.

 To find answer the question so far unexplained: it helps with problem-solving

 Improving Standard of Living for a Safer Life

 It allows us to disprove lies and support truths.

 Provides the basis for all government policies

 Research expands your knowledge base

 Research gives you the latest information

 Research builds your credibility: You can speak with confidence about what you know is
accurate.

4
Problems Encountered by Researchers

 Time and money

 Lack of computerization

 Lack of scientific training in the methodology of research.

 Difficulty in deciding the topic for research

 Lack of availability or access to literature needed.

 Lack of confidence to take up a new study especially explorative study.

 Individual barriers like lack of familiarity and experience with research methods

 Unavailability of permission to do research in specific centers.

Types of Research

Research cane be classified by method or by purpose; and there are different types of research
depending on whether research has been classified by purpose or by method. However, ideally, it
is classification by purpose that results in the type of research. Classification by method produces
designs of research. The classification by purpose produces five main types of research: basic,
applied, participatory action research (PAR), research and development (R & D), and operations
research (OP). Some authors have however argued that there are only two types of research: basic
and applied, and that the rest are just but modifications of these two types. Really, the jury is out
there.

1. According to Process

A. Descriptive: Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding investigations of different kinds.
The major purpose of descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it exists at present. The
main characteristic of this method is that the researcher has no control over the variables; he can only report
what has happened or what is happening. It can answer what, where, when and how questions, but NOT
why questions.

5
B. Analytical: In analytical research, the researcher has to use facts or information already available, and
analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the situation. Analytical research attempts to establish why it
is that way or how it came to be.

2. According to Purpose

A. Applied Research (Action/Evaluation/R&D): Applied research aims at finding a solution for an

immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/business organization. This Research done with the
intention of applying the results of the findings to solve specific problems currently being experienced in a
society or organization. It is a research used in business, medicine, and education in order to find solutions
that may improve health, solve scientific problems or develop new technology.

B. Fundamental /Basic/Pure: Fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalization and

formulations of theories. It is the starting point for the search of new knowledge. It tests theories, studies
relations and efforts to understand phenomena. It is carried out with a view to gaining knowledge for
knowledge's sake, and not for finding immediate solutions to problems. It seeks to discover basic truths or
principles such as: Boyle’s Law, Charles’ Law Archimedes’ Principle, Hooke’s Law and Newton’s Law.

3. According to Type of data

A. Quantitative: Quantitative research is “explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that

are analyzed using mathematically based methods (in particular statistics)

➢ If there are no numbers involved, then it’s not quantitative research.

B. Qualitative: Qualitative research is any which does not involve numbers or numerical data.

• It often involves words or language, but may also use pictures or photographs and observations.

4. According to Content

A. Conceptual research: Conceptual research is defined as a methodology wherein research is conducted

by observing and analyzing already present information on a given topic. Conceptual research doesn't
involve conducting any practical experiments. It is related to abstract concepts or ideas. It is generally used
by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones. Example of a

6
conceptual research is Sir Issac Newton. He observed his surroundings to conceptualize and develop
theories about gravitation and motion.

B. Empirical research: is a data-based research which depends on experience or observation alone. It is

aimed at coming up with conclusions without due regard for system and theory.

5. According to Period

A. One-time (Cross-Sectional) Research – Research confined to a single time period.

B. Longitudinal Research – Research carried on over several time periods. It’s a correlation research
study that involves repeated observations of the same item over long period of time – often many
decades. Longitudinal research studies are often used in psychology to study developmental trends across
the life span.

E.g. : In medicine this design is used to uncover predictors of certain diseases.

6. According to Setting

A. Field: Field research takes place in a natural or real-world setting

B. Laboratory: laboratory research takes place in a controlled and constructed setting.

Some other types of research

A. Historical research describes what was: It is the study of past records and other information sources,
with a view to find the origin and development of a phenomenon and to discover the trends in the past, in
order to understand the present and to anticipate the future.

B. Experimental research describes what will be. It is designed to assess the effect of one particular
variable on a phenomenon by keeping the other variables constant or controlled. The researcher studies
the effects of the variables on each other.

C. Exploratory – the researcher studies the variables related to a specific situation. It is the preliminary
study of an unfamiliar problem, about which the researcher has little or no knowledge. It is aimed to gain
familiarity with the problem, to generate new ideas or to make a precise formulation of the problem. Hence
it is also known as formulative research.

D. Diagnostic Research – It is also called clinical research which aims at identifying the causes of a
problem, frequency with which it occurs and the possible solutions for it.