Research

Methodology

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 RESEARCH
“A careful investigation ‘or’ inquiry specially
search for new facts in any branch of
knowledge” (Advanced learner’s Dictionary)

“AN ART OF SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION”

“AN ORGANISED ENQUIRY”

“SEARCH FOR FACTS”

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 The word research is composed of two word ‘Re’
and ‘search’
 ‘Re’ is a prefix meaning again, a new ‘or’ over
again.
 Search is a verb meaning to examine closely and
carefully, to test and try ‘or’ to probe.
 Togather they form a noun describing a careful,
systematic , patient study and investigation in
some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish
facts ‘or’ principles.

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 Research is a structured enquiry that utilizes
acceptable scientific methodology to solve problems
and create new knowledge that is generally
applicable.
 Scientific methods consist of systematic observation,
classification and interpretation of data.

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 RESEARCH
A scientific undertaking, by means of logical and
systematic techniques, aims to
(1) discover new facts or verify and test old
facts,
(2) analyse their sequences, interrelationships
and causal explanations, and
(3) develop new scientific tools, concepts and
theories which would facilitate reliable and valid
study of human behavior”(Young)

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 CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH

 Research is a process of collecting ,analysing and interpreting

information to answer questions. But to qualify as research ,the
process must have certain characteristics.
 It must, as far as possible, be controlled,
rigorous ,systematic ,valid and verifiable , empirical and critical.

 Controlled: In real life there are many factors that affect an

outcome-
 The concept of control implies that, in causality in relation of
two variable (factors),you set up your study in a way that
minimizes the effect of other factors affecting the relationship.

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 Rigorous: You must be honest in ensuring that the
procedure allowed to find answer from question
must be relevant, appropriate and justified.
 Systematic: This implies that procedure adopted to
undertake an investigation follow a certain logical
sequences. The different steps cannot be taken in
a haphazard way. Some procedures must follow
others.
 Valid and verifiable: This concept implies
that whatever you conclude on the basis of
your findings is correct and can be verified
by you and others.
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 Empirical: This means that any conclusion drawn
are based upon hard evidence gathered from
information collected from real life experiences or
observation.
 Critical: The procedures used, and the methods
employed is crucial to a research enquiry. The
process of investigation must be foolproof and free
from drawbacks. The process adopted and the
procedure used must be able to withstand critical
scrutiny.
 Therefore, a process to be called research, it is
necessary that it has the above characteristics.

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 The Research Process
 The research process is similar to undertaking a journey.

 For a research journey there are two important decisions to

make-
1. What you want to find out about.
 Or what research question (problems) you want to find

answers to:
2. How to go about finding their answers.
There are practical steps through which you must pass in your
research journey in order to find answer to your research
questions.
The path to finding answers to your research ‘or’ research
questions constitutes research methodology
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 At each operational step in the research process
you are required to choose from a multiplicity of
methods, procedures and models of research
methodology which will help you to best achieve
your objectives.
 This is where your knowledge base of research
methodology plays a crucial role.

 Steps in research process are given below-

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 The Research Process

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Problem Discovery Problem Selection of
and Definition discovery exploratory research
technique
Sampling

Selection of
exploratory research
technique Probability Nonprobability

Secondary
Experience Pilot Case Collection of
(historical) Data
survey study study data
data Gathering
(fieldwork)

Data
Editing and
Problem definition Processing
coding
(statement of and
Analysis data
research objectives)

Data
Selection of processing
Research Design basic research
method Conclusions
Interpretation
and Report
of
findings
Experiment Survey
Secondary
Laboratory Field Interview Questionnaire Observation
Data Study Report

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 Representation of Research Process in
RESEARCH THESIS/PROJECT REPORT

Formulating the research problem

(Introduction/statement of the
problem/Need of the study)

Developing the research objectives

Extensive Literature Review

Preparing the research design including sample Design

Collection of Data

Analysis of data

Results and Discussion (Interpretation) , Conclusions

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 Representation of Research Process through chapters in
RESEARCH THESIS/PROJECT REPORT

Chapter-1
Introduction

Chapter -2
Review of Literature

Chapter-3
Research Methodology/Material and Methods

Chapter -4
Results and Discussion

Chapter-5
Summary and Conclusion

Recommendations

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 1.Formulating the research problem
 It is the first and most crucial step in the
research process-
 Main function is to decide what you want to
find about,
 The way you formulate a problem
determines almost every steps that follows-
 Sources of research problems:
 Research in social sciences revolves around 4
Ps,
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 People: a group of individuals.

 Problems: examine the existence of certain issues or

problems relating to their lives; to ascertain attitude
of a group of people towards an issue.
 Programme: to evaluate the effectiveness of an
intervention.
 Phenomena: to establish the existence of a
regularity (process).
 In practice most of the research studies are based
upon at least a combination of two Ps,

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 Every research study has two aspects:
 STUDY POPULATION-

1. People: individual, organisation, groups ,

communities
(They provide you the information or you collect the
information about them)
2. Subject area:
Problems- issues, situations,associations,needs,
profiles.
Programmes:contents, structure, outcomes ,attributes,
satisfaction ,consumers, service providers etc.

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 Phenomenon: causes and effect
relationships, the study of a phenomenon it
self.

(Information that you need to collect to find

answers to your research questions)
You can examine the professional field of your
choice in the context of the four Ps in order
to identify anything that looks interesting.

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 The Process of
Problem Definition
Determine unit of
analysis

Understand Determine relevant

background of the variables
problem

Isolate/identify the State research

problem, not the questions and
symptoms objectives

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 Questions in Research
Design
 What types of questions need to be
answered?
 Are descriptive or causal findings
required?
 What is the source of the data?

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 Questions in Research
Design
 Can objective answers be obtained by
asking people?
 How quickly is the information needed?
 How should survey questions be
worded?
 How should experimental manipulations
be made?

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Research Design Considerations
Three design approaches are
 EXPLORATORY

 CAUSAL

 DESCRIPTIVE

In all cases the main concern is:

WHAT IS THE CORRECT DATA TO USE?

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 Exploratory Design

Exploratory design is essentially investigatory. It

usually occurs at the preliminary stages of any
research exercise, especially when a problem is
new. It is used to inform a full research plan.

The approach taken is informal, creative and

driven step by step in an evaluative way. The
design can employ descriptive statistics (basic
level statistics), intuition, hunches, guesses and
judgment.

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 Exploratory Research
Methods
 Secondary Research
 Experience Surveys
 Analysis of Selected Cases
 Group Interviews
 Individual Depth Interviews

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 Causal Design

Causal designs seek to establish

relationships between the CAUSE and
EFFECT of events.

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 Descriptive Design

Descriptive design is the most widely used

approach. It can be used to gauge opinion or
perceptions.

Analyses of data to support such research can

be wide and varied, incorporating descriptive
measures, inference ‘or’ uncountable,
hypotheses and special statistical tests.

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The Project Report Preparation and
Presentation Process

Problem Definition, Approach,

Research Design, and Fieldwork

Data Analysis

Interpretations, Conclusions, and

Recommendations

Report Preparation

Oral Presentation

Reading of the Report by the Client

Research Follow-Up
 THANQ

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