Chapter 1 The Nature and Context of Social Research.pptx

Research

1. Authors Dev Raj Adhikari Dhruba Lal Pandey Research Methodology Asmita Books Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd.

2. The Nature and Context of Social Research Chapter 1

3. a careful investigation or inquiry especially through research for new facts in any branch of knowledge. Concept

4. Features/ Nature of Research Objective: Should give concrete answer not the explanation Controlled: Control over the research environment i.e. variables Generalizability : should be able to apply in population Free from personal biases: should not use the personal thoughts of researcher Systematic: Should follow certain steps while conducting research Reproducible: A researcher should be able to get approximately the same results by using an identical methodology Directed towards solution of a problem Logical: Results are to be proved using logics Replicable: can be copied by the other researchers

5. Types of Research Basic or Fundamental Research: A research method that is used in social science research which helps to contradict, alter or modify any existing theory or theories is known as basic research. Applied or Action Research: A research which is conducted to find out a solution for an immediate problem faced by the society or industry/business organization is known as applied research.

6. Purpose or Role of Research in Management Providing information Identifying problem Formulating strategy Supporting organizational change Helps to control

7. Scientific Research Scientific research is an investigation followed by experimentation, observation and logical arguments from accepted postulates.

8. Features of Scientific Research Rigorous: Use of good theoretical base and a sound methodological design Purposive: Should have specific objective of conducting research Replicability : can be copied Objective: should give answer of the research question in exact form Testability: Relationships are to be tested developing hypotheses Precision: the high degree of exactness of the results.

9. Operational definitions: Every variables are to be defined with measuring factors Generalizability : Results of the results should be applicable in the population Parsimony: Simplicity in design and findings

10. Process of Scientific Research Identification of problem: Realizing a problem Know the real problems Review of literature: previous studies and books are to be revisited Hypothesis formulation: Develop estimated results Research design formulation: Develop overall plan of the research work Sampling design: Develop plan of deciding and selecting sample

11. Collection of data: After taking decision on sample, develop data collection tool and implement it into field and collect data Data analysis and interpretation of findings Reporting and generalization: Develop report and use that research in the population

12. Social Science Research Social science research is the systematic method of discovering the new facts or verifying old facts, their sequences, interrelationship, causal explanations and the natural laws which govern them.

13. Difficulties in Applying Scientific Methods to Social Science Research Complexity of subject matter : Behavioral dimension of people is difficult to understand because it differs Difficult to obtain accurate measurement: behavioral domains can not be measured exactly Misconceived impression of society: In some of the issue of the social aspects are considered negatively Subjectivity of social events: Social activities are explanatory more

14. Emotional tendencies: Behaviour and method of doing work of a person depends on the emotional tendencies. Vested interest of the researcher: Intension of researcher to draw expected results Qualitativeness of social events: Social events are more explanatory Lack of universality of social events: Same social events are understood in different way at different places.

15. Management Research Management research is a systematic activity directed towards investigating managerial or business problems, which may result in or discovery of management tools for problem solving and decision making

16. Types of Management Research   1. Policy research: If a research is conducted to formulate the managerial policy and its implementation is known as policy research. 2. Action research: A research that is conducted to find out the problem, its solution and procedures of implementing solution to solve the problem is known as action research. 3. Evaluation research: A research that is conducted to check whether the organizational works and programs are able to attain the predetermined goal is known as evaluation research.

17. Importance of Research for Decision Making Identify problems: Helps to find out the real problems Diagnosing and assessing problems and opportunities: analyses the problems and assess the opportunities available in the market Selecting course of action: Evaluates and selects the best course of action Implementing a course of action: Suggests derivative plan for the implementation of selected options Evaluating the course of action: Evaluates the performance and provides feedback

18. Ethical Issues in Research 1. Ethics to participants Voluntary participation: no force to participation Informed consent: Taking approval before collecting data The right to be informed: Give information about purpose, use etc The right to be safe: No deception of participants: no hiding of information Assuring privacy of information: Guarantee of secrecy of information Rewarding: can offer small incentive

19. 2. Ethics to the sponsor Competency: Show capability to do assigned work Confidentiality: Maintaining confidentiality of report Quality work: maintain high quality in the process of conducting research No fabrication: No change in data with intention Professional practice: should use correct tools for survey and analysis

20. 3. Ethics to the team members Safety and security: should provide tools that are essential to maintain safety Open relation: should be open to meet research team members Co-operation: should provide every support to a large extent

21. 4. Ethics towards society Be objective: should provide exact result Maintain scientific rigour : should follow the scientific process Report results: should provide full information of research results to the society