Research Method
Research Method
Research Method
Ans:
Meaning Of Research:
Research in simple terms refers to search for knowledge. It is a scientific and systematic
search for information on a particular topic or issue. It is also known as the art of scientific
investigation. Several social scientists have defined research in different ways.
Objectives Of Research
The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and has not yet been
discovered. Although every research study has its own specific objectives, the research
objectives may be broadly grouped as follows:
1. To gain familiarity with new insights into a phenomenon (i.e., formulative research
studies);
2. To accurately portray the characteristics of a particular individual, group, or a situation
(i.e., descriptive research studies);
3. To analyse the frequency with which something occurs (i.e., diagnostic research studies);
and
4. To examine the hypothesis of a causal relationship between two variables (i.e., hypothesis-
testing research studies).
Research Approaches:
There are two main approaches to research:
1. Quantitative approach :The quantitative approach involves the collection of
quantitative data. This approach further includes experimental, inferential, and
simulation approaches to research.
2. Qualitative approach: The qualitative approach uses the method of subjective
assessment of opinions, behaviour and attitudes.
Types Of Research:
Research Process:
Research process consists of a series of steps or actions required for effectively
conducting research. The following are the steps that provide useful procedural
guidelines regarding the conduct of research:
Several methods are used to determine how participants will be allocated to experimental
conditions. Ideally, your participants represent the target group you're investigating, which is done
by taking a sample of participants. They represent your target group, which avoids bias and
increases generalisability.
They can be assigned in multiple ways:
Random assignment - participants are randomly allocated into experimental conditions.
Selective assignment- sometimes, due to inclusion/exclusion criteria, it is not possible to
randomly assign participants to groups.
Control groups and treatment groups -participants with the illness associated with the
treatment are usually allocated to treatment groups, and people who do not would be
allocated to the control group. This can also be randomly allocated.
Eg: Research investigating patients with depression is randomly assigned to a control group (no
intervention) or the treatment group (cognitive-behavioural therapy for 12 weeks).
Research Hypothesis:
When a prediction or a hypothesized relationship is tested by adopting scientific methods, it
is known as research hypothesis. The research hypothesis is a predictive statement which
relates to a dependent variable and an independent variable.
i. “Students who take tuitions perform better than the others who do not receive tuitions” or,
ii. “The female students perform as well as the male students”.
Characteristics of Hypothesis:
A hypothesis should have the following characteristic features:-
i. A hypothesis must be precise and clear.
ii. A hypothesis must be capable of being put to test.
iii. A hypothesis must state relationship between two variables, in the case of relational
hypotheses.
iv. A hypothesis must be specific and limited in scope.
v. A hypothesis must be stated in the simplest language, so as to make it understood by
all concerned.
vi. A hypothesis must be consistent and derived from the most known facts.
Research is a scentific and systematic search for various information about a specific topic.
It is a systematized effort to gain knowledge.
Introduction -A research problem is a question that a researcher want to answer or a problem that a
researcher want to solve.