OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH,

UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH AND ITS

GOALS, CRITICAL THINKING
 MEANING OF RESEARCH

• Research is commonly referred as search of knowledge.

• The word “RESAERCH” means a careful investigation or
inquiry specifically through search for new facts in any branch
of knowledge.
• It can also be defined as a scientific and systematic search for
knowledge pertinent information on a specific topic
• Research is an original contribution to the existing stock of
knowledge making for its advancement.
• There are various other explanation of what is meant by
research.
 OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH

• The main objective of a research is to find out the hidden facts

behind a problem.
• In other way it is a scientific procedure done in a defined manner
to discover the underlying phenomenon or character.
• Each research has its of unique purpose and they come under the
broad grouping as given below;
1) To gain familiarity with phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into it. This type of study is known as Exploratory
or Formulative research.
2) To portray accurately the characteristic of a particular
group or situation .This type is known as Descriptive
research.
 3) To determine the frequency in which something is
occurring or with which it is associated. This type is known as
Diagnostic research.
4) To test a hypothesis of a casual relationship between
variables . This type is know as Hypothesis –Testing research.
 TYPES OF RESEARCH

i. DESCRIPTIVE VS ANALYTICAL : The main purpose of

descriptive research is description of state of affairs that is
currently present. In this type researchers have no control over
the variables. The method utilized here is survey method.
ii. APPLIED VS FUNDAMENTAL :Aims at finding a solution
for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial
organization.
iii. QUANTITATIVE VS QUALITATIVE : Quantitative research
is based of measurement of quantity or amount. Qualitative is
base on qualitative phenomenon.
iv. CONCEPTUAL VS EMPIRICAL: Conceptual is based on
some abstract ideas or theories. Whereas empirical rely on
experience or observation .
v. There are various other types of research they are
One time research or Longitudinal research
Field setting research or Laboratory research
Clinical or Diagnostic
Conclusion oriented or Decision oriented
UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH AND ITS GOALS
• The goal of research process is to produce new knowledge or
deepen understanding of a topic .The goals of a scientific
research are :
• DESCRIPTION ,PREDICTION and EXPLANATION
/UNDERSTANDING
• DESCRIPITION : it is the procedure that is used to define,
classify and categorize subjects and their relationship.
Description allows the researchers to describe a single
phenomenon or observation of a single person. In science
description is systematic and precise .
• PREDICTION : in addition to developing description
researchers also make predictions. Predictions are sometimes
made of hypothesis which are testable predictions concerning
the relationship between the variables.
When a variable can be used to predict another variable then we
say that both the variables are correlated. Correlation
coefficient state the degree of relationship between the
variables in terms of both strength and direction of the
relationship.
• EXPLANATION/UNDERSTANDING : The most
important goal of scientific research is explanation . It is done
once the cause or causes of the phenomenon is found out . in
order to find those causes there are three pre-requisities
they are
COVARIATION OF EVENTS
PROPER TIME-ORDER SEQUENCE
ELIMINATION OF PLAUSIBLE
ALTERNATIVE CAUSES
• COVARIATION OF EVENTS :
The variables must correlate. In order to determine the
relationship between the two variables ,it must be determined
if the relationship occur due to chance. Statistical methods are
used to measure and test the existence and strength of
relationship.
• PROPER TIME-ORDER SEQUENCE :
For 1 to cause 2 , 1 must precede 2. the cause must precede the
effect
• ELIMINATION OF PLAUSIBLE ALTERNATIVE CAUSES :
For relationship between A and B to be nonspurious , there must
not be a C that causes both A and B such that the relationship
between A and B vanishes
 CRITICAL THINKING

• Academic research focuses on the creation of new ideas ,

perspectives and arguments .
• This involves asking questions and developing answers
through serious critical thinking and thoughtful reflection.
• Research is not so easy so its completely normal to feel
anxious which is a good sign of critical thinking.
• Critical thinking is used to identify essential mindsets and
contribute to effective decision making .
• It helps to think systematically and considering all aspects
of problem in a wider context.
 GENERATING RESEARCH TOPIC

• One of the most difficult aspects of research is generating a

idea.
• Research idea need to be interesting and workable
• A range of techniques can be used to find a topic and they are
given below.
• TWO WAYS OF THINKING :
o Rational thinking – examining your own interest and strength.
Looking at past project titles.
Discussion with friends and tutors.
Search of literature.
o Creative thinking – keeping a notebook of ideas
Exploring personal preference with past projects.
Map of issues and questions under area of interest .
Brainstorming –problem solving , list issues , problems.
o Substitute –remove some part of the accepted situation ,thing ,
or concept and replace it with something else.
o Combine – join , affiliate, or force together two or more
elements of your subject matter and consider ways that such a
combination might move you towards a solution.
o Adapt/Adjust – change some part of the problem so that it
works where it did not before.
o Modify – consider many of the attribute of the thing which is
being worked on and change them , arbitrarily, if necessary.
Attributes include size , shape and other dimensions.
• Put to other use – modify the intentions of the subject. Think
about why it exists , what it is used for , what it is supposed to
do. Challenge all of these assumptions and suggest new and
unusual purposes.
• Eliminate – arbitrarily remove anyone or all elements of your
subject , simplify, reduce to core functionality.
• Reverse and rearrange – change the direction or orientation .
turn it upside –down , or make it go backward , against the
direction it was intended to go or be used .
FLOW CHART REPRESNTATION FOR
GENERATING RESEARCH TOPIC
 STEPS OF GENERATING RESEARCH IDEAS

1. Do some background reading

2. Start narrowing down your area.
3. Mapping ideas.
4. Refining the ideas.
5. Researching the main ideas through literature review.
6. Taking notes and deciding the topic.
7. Examining originality.
FROM RESEARCH IDEA TO RESEARCH TOPIC

• Once a researcher has identified an overall research idea ,

she/he should begin to narrow the topic down to a particular
aspect of the idea that is realistic and feasible to research.
• One should focus a topic by setting on to a particular research
problem.
• Criteria for selecting research topic ;
Feasible
Interesting
Novel
Ethical
Relevant
 REFERENCES

• https://us.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/up
m-assets/33066_book_item_33066.pdf
• https://www.slideshare.net/achyutrajpandey/
research-idea-generation
• [R.Ganesan]_ Research Methodology _for
_engineers
• Kothari C.R,``RESEARCH METHADOLOGY-
METHOD AND TECHNIQUES’’ ,new age
international (pltd.., New Delhi ,2nd ed..,2004.