Research Methodology Course

COURSE CODE:22PT206

Dr. Seema Tharannum

DSU, Bengaluru
MODULE 1: Introduction to Research methodology

•Definition of research
•Objectives of Research
•Types of Research and design
- Descriptive Vs. Analytical
-Applied Vs. Fundamental
-Quantitative Vs. Qualitative
-Conceptual Vs. Empherical
•Qualities of Good Research
•Issues in research
Meaning of Research
•Research is composed of two syllables:
a prefix re and a verb, search

•The two words form a noun: Research.

•Re - again, a new, over again

•Search - to examine closely and carefully, to test and try,

to probe, to investigate

•Research is an organized and systematic way of finding answers

to questions

Research:
Investigate systematically
Aim of Research
The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is
hidden and which has not been discovered as yet

Objective of Research
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions
through application of scientific procedures

Definition of Research
Scientific and systematic search for pertinent
information on a specific topic

Research:
Inquiry, Discovery,
Find
MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
The possible motives for doing research :

1. Desire to get a research degree along with its

consequential benefits

2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved

problems. i.e., concern over practical problems
initiates research

3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative

work

4. Desire to be of service to society

5. Desire to get respectability

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH
"All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than over-confidence, for it
leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention" - Hudson Maxim

Research is basis for :

Government Policies --- Economy --- Business & Market --- Society --

Government : Research as a tool of economic policy has three

distinct phases of operation:

1.Investigation of economic structure through continual compilation

of facts;

2. Diagnosis of events that are taking place and the analysis of

the forces underlying them; and

3. Prognosis, i.e., the prediction of future developments.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH

Economy
Research provides the basis for nearly all government policies in
our economic system:

• Devise alternative policies and can as well examine the

consequences of each of these alternatives

• Facilitates the decisions of the policy maker

• The plight of cultivators, the problems of big and small

business and industry, working conditions, trade union
activities, the problems of distribution, size and nature of
defense services, the allocation of nation's resources
SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH

Business & Market

Research is a tool solving various operational and planning
problems of business and industry

• Operations research refers to the application of

mathematical, logical and analytical techniques to the
solution of business problems of cost minimization or of
profit maximization

• Motivations underlying the consumer (market) behavior

• Business budging, forecasting, investment plans etc.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH

Society
Research is equally important for social scientists in
studying social relationships and in seeking answers
to various social problems and it can contribute to
practical concerns:

Poverty, unemployment, social order, personal laws,

citizen rights, social relationships, culture, heritage ---
Research is important in our everyday

• Inquire about the right information.

• An attitude to not believe everything easily
• Sharpens the brain and gives it a judicious
vision
• Empowers us with knowledge of new things
• Helps us in the thin line between truth and lie
• Makes good habits of reading, analyzing,
thinking, and learning.
SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH
Other points of significance of RESEARCH

•To student scholars who are to write a master's or Ph.D. thesis,

research may mean a career or a way to attain a high position in
the social structure

•To professionals in research methodology, research may mean a

source of livelihood

•To philosophers and thinkers, research may mean the outlet for
new ideas and insights

•To literary persons, research may mean the development of new

styles and creative work

•To analysts and intellectuals, research may mean the

generalizations of new theories
Benefits of Engaging in Research
•Fostering critical thinking and analytical skills through hands-on
learning.
•Defining academic, career and personal interests.
•Expanding knowledge and understanding of a chosen field
outside of the classroom.
•Developing one-on-one connections with distinguished faculty
in their field.
• Research gives you the latest information.
•Research builds your credibility.
•Research helps you narrow your scope.

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Objectives of Research

1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve

new insights into it (EXPLORATORY OR FORMULATIVE
RESEARCH STUDIES)
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or a group
(DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH STUDIES)
3. To determine the frequency with which something
occurs or with which it is associated with something
else (DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH STUDIES)
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between
variables (HYPOTHESIS - TESTING RESEARCH
STUDIES). 13
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN METHODS AND METHODOLGY

Research Methods Research Methodology

It is the beginning; Ways of gathering Paves the way for research; How to
evidence conduct research properly; in field or an
area of research
The technique(s) of research Involves the learning of the various
techniques that can be used in the conduct
of research
The actual tools/steps taken by which Aims at the employment of the correct
you conduct research into a subject or a procedures to research problems
topic
Explains the methods by which you Involves conducting experiments, tests,
may proceed with your research surveys and the like
The end of any scientific or non- Aims at finding solutions to research
scientific research problems
Importance of knowing Research Methodology

• The knowledge provides path, good training to the new

research worker and enables him/her to do better research

• It helps to develop disciplined thinking or a 'bent of mind' to

observe the field objectively

• Helpful in various fields such as government or business

administration, community and society to solve social concerns

• Enables us to make intelligent decisions concerning

problems in practical life at different points of time

• Helps the consumer of research results to evaluate them and

enables him to take rational decisions
Research Methodology
Answers the following questions:

• Why a research study has been undertaken? (AIM)

• How the problem has been defined (PROBLEM STATEMENT)

• In what way and how the hypothesis was formulated (HYPOTHESIS)

• What& how data have been collected? (Sample, sampling & MATERIAL)

• What particular method has been adopted and why particular technique of
analyzing data has been used (Experiments, METHOD)

• What observations were made and how findings were inferred? (RESULTS)

• How data can be interpreted to bring out latent findings/facts

(DISCUSSION)

• How to generalize, invent the principles & theories? (Outcome, CONCLUSION)

TYPES OF RESEARCH
 TYPES OF RESEARCH

Purpose Proces Outcome

s
Exploratory Predictive

Descriptive Analytical

Qualitative Quantitative Applied Action

Basic or Pure
 COMMON TYPES OF RESEARCH

1. DESCRIPTIVE vs. ANALYTICAL RESEARCH

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH ANALYTICAL RESEARCH
Description of the state of affairs as Use facts or information already available,
it exists at present (Expostfacto and analyze these to make a critical
Research) The researcher has no evaluation of the material.
control over the variables – he/she Focuses on why an occurrence has
can only report what has happened, happened? Causes-Effects
or what is happening. Method: Evaluation and comparison are
Survey methods of all kinds, the central features; Are questions best
including comparative and answered?
correlational methods – Purpose is to compare, analyze and
summarize & report evaluate something
Eg: Frequency of shopping, Eg.: Measures of risk factors for CORONA
preferences of people Disease
Social science, business surveys… Epidemiological research
 Descriptive Research
Describes the characteristics of the population or
phenomenon studied.

Methodology focuses on the “what” of the research than

the “why” of the research subject

EXAMPLE:
Comparing Student Performance: A school wants to compare the
performance of school students in English and Mathematics.

Objective-1: To classify students who are more proficient in mathematics

will be encouraged to go into STEM

Objective-2: Institutions may also use this data to identify weak students
points and work on ways to assist them.
Descriptive Research – 3 Methods

1. Observational
2. Case-Study
3. Survey
 Descriptive Research Methods
1. Observational Method 2. Case-Study Method
Researchers make use of It is a detailed study of a specific
both quantitative and subject, such as a person, group,
qualitative observations. place, event, organization, or
phenomenon.
The observational method is
Case studies are commonly used
the most effective method to in social, educational, clinical,
conduct this research and business research.

Ice cream quantity: Number of Roseto Vs Nazareth & Bangor

sold cones /day (Entity In the 1960s the town of Roseto,
associated with a numeric value Pennsylvania had extremely low
such as age, shape, weight, rates of CHD compared to the US
volume, scale, etc.) average.

•Family ties
Ice cream quality: Strawberry, •Traditional and cohesive family &
Vanilla, Chocolate, Nutty….. community relationships.
•Strongly knit Italian American
families - did everything right, lived
right and longer.
 Descriptive Research Methods
3. Survey Research: Aims to accurately and systematically describe a
population, situation or phenomenon. It can answer what, where, when & how
questions but not why questions.

They are a popular market research tool to collect feedback from respondents.

Questions: Right survey questions; Balanced mix of questions;

Can be conducted online or offline

Other Examples for Survey

• The 15th Indian

Census which was
conducted on 1st April
2010 by Government of
India.

• Various Polls at
the time of Elections.
 Descriptive Research Methods

Questionnaire is usually a paper & pencil tool in

Which various type of questions are asked to respondent by the
researcher .

Results are simply dependent up on what people say,

do, believe, like, dislike etc.
It is most frequently used in this type of research.
 Descriptive Research Methods

Personal Interview
 It is same as the questionnaire but all the questioning
is done orally instead of writing.
 In this case response rate is higher than questionnaire
but sample which is used is smaller than questionnaire.
 Easier to explain questions.
 It is very time consuming & expensive.

Telephone Interview
 Telephone interview have the same structural
characteristics as normal interviewing technique,
except that it is conducted by telephone.
 It is less time consuming with moderate cost.
 It has higher response rate than personal interview.
 It has the risk of “Broken-off” interviews.
 Descriptive Research Methods - ADVANTAGES
Data collection:
•Methods like observational method, case study method, and survey
method.
•All primary data collection methods
•Provides a lot of information.
•Info can be used for future research / develop a hypothesis with
objective/s.

Varied: Gives a holistic understanding of a research topic. The

information is varied, diverse, and thorough.

Natural environment: Allows for the research to be conducted in

the respondent’s natural environment, which ensures that high-quality
and honest data is collected.

Quick to perform and cheap: As the sample size is generally

large in descriptive research, the data collection is quick to conduct and
is inexpensive.
 2. APPLIED Vs. FUNDAMENTAL
APPLIED RESEARCH FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH
Action research Basic or pure research
Aim is at finding a solution for an Mainly concerned with generalizations
immediate problem facing a and with the formulation of a theory
society or an industrial business
Aimed at conclusions
Market research, design, safety, e.g. pure mathematics, theoretical
health, pollution, societal, physics, generalization of human
environmental, industrial,
behavior
pharmaceutical etc.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
3. QUANTITATIVE Vs. QUALITATIVE
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
is concerned with qualitative
phenomenon, i.e., involving quality
or kind

Aim is to discover the underlying

motives of human behavior; Attitude or
opinion research (how people feel or
think about a particular subject or
institution)

Difficult job; should seek guidance from

experimental psychologists.
3. QUANTITATIVE Vs. QUALITATIVE
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
3. QUANTITATIVE Vs. QUALITATIVE
TYPES OF RESEARCH
4. CONCEPTUAL Vs. EMPERICAL
CONCEPTUAL RESEARCH EMPIRICAL RESEARCH
Related to some abstract idea(s) or Relies on experience or observation
theory; generally used by alone, without due regard for system
philosophers and thinkers to-develop and theory. It is data-based research,
new concepts or to re-interpret coming up with conclusions which are
existing ones capable of being verified by observation
or experiment.
Characterized by the experimenter's
control over the variables under
study and his deliberate manipulation of
one of them to study its effects
Evidence gathered through
experiments or empirical studies is
today considered to be the most
powerful support possible for a given
hypothesis
Characteristics of researcher

•An analytical mind.

•The ability to stay calm.
•Intelligence.
•Curiosity.
•Quick thinker.
•Commitment.
•Excellent written and
verbal communication skills.
•Sympathetic.

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Good quality research provides evidence
that is robust, ethical, stands up to scrutiny
and can be used to inform policy making.

It should adhere to principles of

professionalism, transparency, accountability
and auditability.

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 Criteria for Good Research

• The aim to be clearly mentioned, along with the use of

common concepts.

• The procedures to be adequately described, in order

to enable repeat the research by any one, any where.

• The procedural design be carefully planned to obtain

results that are as objective as possible.

• The flaws in the procedural design should be

sincerely reported by the researcher to correctly
estimate their effects upon the findings.
 Criteria for Good Research

• The data analysis to be adequate to reveal its

significance.

• Appropriate statistical methods to be used

during the analysis of data.

• The reliability and validity of the data be

checked carefully.

• The conclusions are confined and limited to

only those data, which are justified and
adequately provided by the research.
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 RESEARCH PROCESS IN FLOW CHART

FF

Review of literature
FF
Review concepts
Define & theories Design research Analyze
Formulate Collect data Interpret &
research (including data( Test
hypotheses (execution) Report
problem Review previous sample design) hypothesis)
III V VII
I res. findings IV VI
F F
II
F

F = feed back (Helps in controlling the sub-system to which it is transmitted

FF = feed forward (Serves the vital function of providing criteria for evaluation
 Developing a research plan
Series of steps, closely related activities, not mutually exclusive,
necessary to effectively carry out research.
The order concerning various steps provides a useful
procedural guideline regarding the research process:

1. Formulating the research problem;

2. Extensive literature survey;
3. Developing the hypothesis;
4. Formulating Research Objectives;
5. Preparing the Research Design;
6. Determining Sample, sampling Sampling Plan;
7. Collecting the data (tools of data collection);
8. Analysis of data;
9. Data interpretation and Generalizations /Conclusions;
10.Preparation of the Research Report.
ISSUES IN ETHICS
Research Integrity

Research Integrity
means conducting research in such a way that
allows others to have confidence and trust in the
methods and the findings of the research. It
relates both to the scientific integrity of
conducted research and to the
professional integrity of researchers.

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