Research and its types

Research is a careful and detailed study into a specific problem, concern, or issue using the scientific method.

1. Communication Research Methodology- 1 Prepared by Ms Rijitha R MA, M.Phil ( Comm ), SET Assistant Professor, Department of EM

2. Research- Definition According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie , “Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon. Research- RE – Search Research  is a careful and detailed study into a specific problem, concern, or issue using the scientific method.

3. Social science and Scientific research What is Scientific Research? Scientific theory is based on empirical knowledge came out of observational experimentation ( Freitas , 2009). Scientific research is connected with natural sciences like physics, chemistry, etc. In scientific research also, scientists try to generate new knowledge. Here, researcher investigates the phenomenon by using  empirical and measurable techniques . Scientific studies are mostly accurate and they are objective. Scientific research usually starts with a hypothesis and then the variables are tested in order to check whether the hypothesis is true or false. If it is true, then the hypothesis may become a theory and if proved to be false, it may leave out.

4. What is Social Research? Social research is used to investigate the behavior of humans in the social life. Lately, the research methods of social sciences were developed to be more objective and scientific. As mentioned above, social research is either qualitative or quantitative or both. Qualitative approach can be seen in participant observation, communication with research participants, etc. This approach is related to the quality. The quantitative approach relies on statistical data and social phenomenon is analyzed through countable evidence. This is related to the quantity . At present, most social researchers use both these methods in their findings and the research field is stepping towards the objectivity. The most difficult thing related to social research is that sometimes the researcher’s personal feelings may get involved in the findings and the research may be subjective and biased.

5. Types of Research ( i ) Descriptive vs. Analytical (ii)Pure and Applied (iii)Qualitative and Quantitative

6. Descriptive Research and Analytical Research Descriptive research It includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds. • The main characteristic of this method is that the researcher can only report what has happened or what is happening . • Descriptive research attempts to determine, describe, or identify what is. Analytical Research Here, the researcher has to use facts or information already available, and analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the material. • analytical research usually concerns itself with cause effect relationships. It basically find out how actually the entire thing has happened. • analytical research attempts to establish why it is that way or how it came to be

7. Application of Research Research is commonly defined as a systematic investigation with the intent to verify facts and generate updated conclusions.  Regarding its utility, research is divided into two: basic and applied.

8. Pure/ basic Research Basic (fundamental or pure) research is driven by a scientist's curiosity or interest in a scientific question. The main motivation is to expand man's knowledge, not to create or invent something. There is no obvious commercial value to the discoveries that result from basic research

9. Applied Research The purpose of applied research is to know more about a certain real-world problem and take steps to solve it. Most of the social science research are applied research. Here the researcher measures the instrument to find the result Ex: Anxiety disorders during lockdown period or An In-Depth Study on Mani Ratnam cinema's Roja , Bombay and Dil Se 

10. Applied vs. Fundamental: Research can either be applied (or action) research or fundamental (to basic or pure) research. Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/business organisation, whereas fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of a theory. “Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research.”

11. Quantitative and Qualitative: Quantitative data are measures of values or counts and are expressed as numbers. Quantitative data are data about  numeric variables  (e.g. how many; how much; or how often). Qualitative data are measures of 'types' and may be represented by a name, symbol, or a number code. Seeks to answer the question • collects evidence

12. Content Analysis This type of research aims at discovering the underlying motives and desires, using in depth interviews for the purpose. Attitude or opinion research i.e., research designed to find out how people feel or what they think about a particular subject or institution is also qualitative research. • Qualitative research is specially important in the behavioral sciences where the aim is to discover the underlying motives of human behavior .

13. Objectives of Research Descriptive (Describing a Problem or Phenomena) Exploratory (Without any awareness, Which is new) Explanatory (5Ws and 1H, Remedies for a problem) Correlation (Establishing relationship between or with in 2 aspects)

14. Research Problem: -What is to be studied, Significance and Contribution. -A research problem is a specific issue, difficulty, contradiction, or gap in knowledge that you will aim to address in your research . You might look for practical problems aimed at contributing to change, or theoretical problems aimed at expanding knowledge.

15. Consideration in selecting a Research problem Interest Magnitude - accessibility, Knowledge and interest Measurement of Concepts (Indicators) Level of Expertise Relevance's Availability of data (LR) Ethical Issues (source Protection)

16. Pilot test: Pilot  testing is a rehearsal of your  research study , allowing you to  test  your  research  approach with a small number of  test  participants before you conduct your main  study . . The terms  pretest  and  pilot test  are sometimes used interchangeably; however, in recent years  pretest  has taken on the meaning of testing within a survey laboratory, rather than in the field with the general population. Some organizations or survey researchers now refer to pilot tests as  field pretests .  

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