Quality Research

This presentation deals with enhancing Quality of Research in Social Sciences. It enlists the problems faced , errors in research and guides on improving Quality of Research.

1. Quality Research Sarang Bhola Associate Professor, KBPIMSR, Satara

2. Agenda Food for Thought Attitude Towards Research… API …are the numbers killing quality research?? Understanding Research Common Queries … Research Contemporary Indicators of Quality Research Process of Research Quality Checks in Research Process Essential Basics Errors in Research Hurdles Ethics in Research.

3. Food for Thought Those who know how to think need no teachers – M.K.Gandhi Are you a copy cat or an originator? Teaching without research is injustice.

4. Attitude Towards Research… Degree Oriented - ( Get , not Earn !!!!) Number Oriented- ( No botheration about Quality !!!!) Research is a continuous process and publications; research qualification is just a milestone in the voyage of research . Output Oriented – useful in providing solutions for the problems cited.

5. API …Are the numbers killing quality research?? Academic Performance Index in India Pay and Publish… Quantitative Approach Mushroom Growth of Journals Availability of On-line Journals In-absentia Paper Presentations Certification Absence of Peer Review No standard Guidelines for Referees of Peer Reviewed Journals.

6. Understanding Research Research is a complete science Probing to depth in methodology determines the value and reliability of research

7. Common Queries … Research What should be the topic/subject for Ph.D. research? Research problem must of your own interest Topic expectations from guide/supervisor Researcher should propose topic and supervisor may have thought on it. Is Hypothesis needed? It is the central cord of research - a lighthouse How many hypotheses should be stated? It depends on number of research questions to work on. How many objectives should be set? Objectives are derived from hypothesis How much review is adequate? It should cover the context of research undertaken How many variables to process? Hypothesis guides number of variables to be processed I want minimum sample size Use statistical tools to determine adequate sample size, random sampling helps reduce errors. Does hypothesis need to be tested? When it is framed need to be tested, it is the end towards research is generally directed. How much time is required to complete research? Research is unending, for getting certification the rules of academic and research bodies are defined. Do we keep our research confidential? Take patent, copyright and then publish. What should be the size of paper/thesis/report/chapters?. Keep it minimal every word written must have meaning and value .

8. Contemporary Indicators of Quality Research Publication in Impact Factor Journals Monograph Publication Case study Development Reference Book Publications Policy Documents. ‘h’ factor ‘i10’ factor.

9. Which journal is carrying your article? (Indexed in Scopus) Number of citations (Citations on Google scholar, Research Gate) Who have cited the paper? (Cited by anonymous scholar values and citations by self, friends need to be excluded) Contemporary Indicators of Quality Research contd . Model building should be the integral part of research in social sciences. Generalization of findings to the population is expected.

10. Research process is a gamut which is interrelated and interdependent Ultimate aim of Research is to provide prescriptions for problems cited and unearthed during research process. Process of Research

11. Quality Checks in Research Process Process Quality Check Problem identification Inductive Method Deductive method Must have appropriate context to research question Hypothesis Features of good hypothesis Inductive – Deductive Supplement Hypothesis Testing Parametric – Non Parametric Qualitative Observations Review Types – Selection of appropriate type of review Presentation of review in the report Review is the gap finding process Defining Objectives Should be in line with research problem and hypothesis.

12. Quality Checks in Research Process . .contd. Process Quality Check Research Design Instrument testing Reliability analysis Physical verification of instruments Sampling Consideration of population Sample size calculations Sampling method Interview Convey the Objectivity – who are you? Purpose you are doing this? Make sample relax Personalized questions at the end of interview Do observe more – read between the lines and note down. Pilot Testing Must Repetitive testing till nullifying errors.

13. Quality Checks in Research Process.. contd. Process Quality Check Data Analysis Designing data analysis scheme Data feeding Put Validation Check Variable Coding – Development of Code Sheet Data validity Outliers pruning Testing of Hypothesis Use of appropriate tool Take into consideration conditions to use the tool. Findings Must be discussed with the findings of earlier research Sufficient discussion is expected Correlate with secondary- concurrent data Prescriptions Addition to Body of Knowledge Practical Implementation of Prescriptions. Model Building Built models- be it flow chart, structural equation models, Statistical models, point scale models etc. Test the model to make it errorless in an effort to generalization.

14. Basic Knowledge Knowledge of Research Methodology Knowledge of Basic Computing Skills (Word – Excel) Knowledge of Language (desirable) Personal Qualities Patience Passion for innovation Learning attitude – knowledge welcome from all sources Analytical thinking Reading between the lines . Essential Basics

15. Ask questions Have clear idea about your research question Dare to request for information Seek answers Look for the answers Sometimes answers are obvious Sometimes you have to hunt for them Ponder over problems Keep on thinking over the problems until you reach a solution. Desirable Attitude

16. Documentation Maintain Bibliography of research work referred. Contents Objectives, findings Research methodology Keywords Publication Details Keep soft copy (if possible).

17. Additives Correct and adequate use of statistical tools Improvise your own research Researcher should be unbiased Researcher should honestly state limitations (this would pave for further studies) Every research is a story in itself You should be known as an authority for the subject of your research. (keep drilling deep into same subject with new problem dimensions)

18. Errors in Research Random Error: Sample selection error Random Misclassification: Wrong classification of sample Bias: Biased researcher or sample Confounding: Role of extraneous variables. Errors IN OUT

19. Hurdles Reliability of sample source list Reliability and usability of secondary data Unavailability of articles for review; paid articles Lack of research culture Sample do not share honestly.

20. Ethics in Research Plagiarism Liberty to samples for participation in research Confidentiality of respondents’ data Reporting should be unbiased.

21. US………. You and Me together… Let’s strive for Quality Research [email protected]  09822124414