Research Methodology

Lecture 1 and 2 for course RES5701 - E1 and E2 slot

1. Research Methodology
Dr. I. Manjubala
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2. Lecture 1 and 2 Introduction and Foundation of Research
•
Meaning, Objectives, Motivation, Utility for resear ch. Concept
of theory, empiricism, deductive and inductive theo ry.
Characteristics of scientific method –Understanding the
language of research.
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3. Research
-
Defined and
Described “Research is the systematic approach to obtaining an d
confirming new and reliable knowledge”
–
Systematic and orderly (following a series of steps )
–
Purpose is newknowledge, which must be reliable
This is a general definition which applies to all d isciplines
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4. Definitions
•
Research comprises defining and redefining
problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested
solutions;collecting,organisingandevaluatingdata;
makingdeductionsandreachingconclusions;andat
last carefully testing the conclusions to determine
whethertheyfittheformulatinghypothesis.(Clifford
Woody)
•
Research is, thus, an original contribution to the
existing stock of knowledge making for its
advancement.
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5. •
It is the persuit of truth with the help of study,
observation,comparisonandexperiment.
•
Itisthesearchforknowledgethroughobjectiveand systematicmethod of finding solution to a problem is research. The systematic approach concerning
generalisation and the formulation of a theory is
alsoresearch.
•
This concept of truth is outside of the productive
realmofthinkingbyresearchers
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6. Research is not Accidental discovery :
1.
Accidental discovery may occur in structured
research process
2.
Usually takes the form of a phenomenon not
previously noticed
3.
May lead to a structured research process to
verify or understand the observation
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7. Research is not … cont.
Data Collection
•
an intermediate step to gain reliable knowledge
•
collecting reliable data is part of the research
process
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8. Research is not … Searching out published research results in librari es (or the internet)
•
This is an important early step of research
•
The research process always includes synthesis and
analysis
•
But, just reviewing of literature is not research
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9. Research is…
1.
Searchingforexplanationofevents,phenomena,relationshipsand causes
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What,howandwhythingsoccur
•
Arethereinteractions?
2.
Aprocess
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Plannedandmanaged–tomakeinformationgeneratedcredible
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Theprocessiscreative
•
Itiscircular–alwaysleadstomorequestions
3. All well designed and conducted research has pote ntial
application.
•
Failure to see applications can be due to:
•
Users not trained or experienced in the specialized methods of
economic research and reasoning
•
Researchers often do not provide adequate interpret ations and
guidance on applications of the research
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10. Public good
•
Public research is a public good •
May be more rigorous and objective because it is
subject to more scrutiny
•
Private research may also be rigorous •
But research on a company’s product may be
questioned as biased.
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11. Objectives of Research
The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden
and which has not been discovered as yet.
Research objectives can be of following broad groupings:
1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into it ( exploratory or formulativeresearch studies);
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or a group (as 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).
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12. Motivation for Research
What makes people to undertake research? This is a question
of fundamental importance.
1. Desire to get a research degree along with its
consequential benefits;
2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unso lved
problems, i.e., concern over practical problems initi ates
research;
3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some cre ative work;
4. Desire to be of service to society;
5. Desire to get respectability.
Others: Directives of government, employment conditi ons,
curiosity about new things, social thinking and awak ening,
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13. Classification of Research
•
Before classification, we must first definetypes of
research
•
Different criteria are used to classify research ty pes
(All of these are somewhat arbitrary and artificial )
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14. Deductive vs Inductive
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Deductive Reasoning
Thinking proceeds from general assumption to
specific application
GENERAL ®SPECIFIC
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Example: –Every mammal has lungs. All rabbits are
mammals. Therefore, every rabbit has lungs.
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Inductive Reasoning
Conclusions about events (general) are based on
information generated through many individual and
direct observations (specific).
SPECIFIC ®GENERAL
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Example: –Every rabbit that has been observed has l ungs.
Therefore, every rabbit has lungs.
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15. 15

16. Theory vs. Hypothesis
Hypothesis
–A belief or prediction of the final outcome of the
research
–A concrete, specific statement about the relationsh ips
between phenomena
–Based on deductive reasoning
Theory
–A belief or assumption about how things relate to each
other
–A theory establishes a cause-and-effect relationsh ip
between variables with a purpose of explaining and
predicting phenomena
–Based on inductive reasoning
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17. Empiricism
• Acquiring information and facts through the
observation of our world
Pragmatic observations
–Developing theory through experience and
observation
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18. Research approaches • Quantitative approach
-Inferential
-Experimental
-Simulation
• Qualitative approach
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19. Inferential approach • To form a data base from which to infer character istics or
relationships of population
• Usually means survey research where a sample of
population is studied to determine its characterist ics
Experimental research
• Some variables are manipulated to observe their e ffect on
other variables
• Much greater control over the research environmen t
Simulation approach
• Involves construction of an artificial environmen t within
which relevant information and data can be generate d
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20. Qualitative approach • Subjective assessment of,
-Attitudes
-Opinions
-Behaviour
• Not subjected to rigorous quantitative analysis
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21. 21

22. Basic vs Applied Research
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Basic–to determine or establish fundamental facts a nd relationships within a discipline or field of study .
Ex: Develop theories …
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Applied–undertaken specifically for the purpose of obtaining information to help resolve a particular
problem
•
Finding a solution for an immediate problem / for
pressing practical problem
The distinction between them is in the application
•
Basic has little application to real world policy a nd
management but could be done to guide applied
research
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23. Objective based
•
Descriptive Research – the attempt to determine,
describe,oridentifysomething
•
The intent is often synthesis, which pulls knowledge
orinformationtogether
•Descriptionofstateofaffairsasitexistsatpresent
•Hasnocontrolovervariables
• Can only report what has happened or what is
happening
Analyticalresearch
–theattempttoestablishwhysomethingoccursor
howitcametobe
•
Alldisciplinesgenerallyengageinboth
•Hastousefacts/informationalreadyavailable
•Analysethesetomakecriticalevaluationofmaterial
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24. Conceptual research • Related to abstract ideas / theory
• To develop new concepts / reinterpret existing on es
• That is verified by empirical research
Empirical research
• Data-based research
• Relies on experience / observation alone
• Verified by observation / experiment
• Works to get enough facts to prove / disprove hyp othesis
• Evidence gathered by this is most powerful suppor t
possible for a given hypothesis
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Objective based

25. Quantitative research • Based on measurement of quantity or amount
• Expressed in terms of quantity
Qualitative research
• Concerned with qualitative phenomenon
• Motivation research –an important type
• Example: how people feel or what they think abou t a
particular subject or institution
• To discover underlying motives
• Seek guidance
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26. Other types of research
• Cross-sectional research/1 time -Research is conf ined
to a single time-period
• Longitudinal research -Carried over several-time
periods
• Field-setting/laboratory/simulation -Depends upon
the environment
• Clinical research -case-study method
• Diagnostic research -In depth approaches to reach
basic casual relations
• Historical research -Utilizes historical sources like
documents, remains, etc
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27. Research Methods and Methodology
Research methods
• All those methods/techniques that are used for
conduction of research
• Refer to the methods the researchers use in perfo rming
research operations
• Method used by the researcher
Research methodology
• A systematic way to solve the research problem
• Science of understanding how research is done
• Study varies steps adopted by a researcher
• Researchers should know the relevant method
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28. Methodology Defined & Described
Methodology and Method are often (incorrectly) used
interchangeable
•
Methodology–the study of the general approach to inquiry in a given field
•
Method –the specific techniques, tools or procedure s applied to achieve a given objective –
Research methods in economics include regression
analysis, mathematical analysis, operations researc h,
surveys, data gathering, etc.
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29. Criteria of good research
• Purpose should be clearly defined
• Common concepts to be used
• Explain procedure clearly -for continuity
• Results should be as objective as possible
• Report with frankness
-Acknowledge, procedural flaws
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Limitations of the study
Appropriate statistical test of significance
• Reliable outcome measures
• Justify conclusions with data
• Limitation of data
• Experienced researcher
• Systematic
• Logical
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30. What is the Scientific Method?
The Scientific Method is a process used to find ans wers
to questions about the world around us.
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31. Is there only one Scientific
Method?
•
No! There are several versions of this scientific p rocess
ranging in the number of steps.
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However, all versions begin with a question to be
answered based on observations of the world around us
and provide an organized method for conducting and
analyzing an experiment.
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32. Which version will we use? A 7-step version with the following steps:
1.
Formulate a question.
2.
Research the question.
3.
Form a hypothesis.
4.
Conduct an experiment to test your hypothesis.
5.
Analyze data.
6.
Draw Conclusions.
7.
Communicate results.
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33. Do real scientists use this process?
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It’s important to note that even though many scient ists
do use the idea of the Scientific Method for their daily
work, they do not necessarily use each of the individual steps.
•
Also, a similar version of the Scientific Method ha s
been adopted by businesses all over the country. It
teaches employees and management to diagnose a
problem, think about ways of solving that problem,
then testing those ideas to try and solve the probl em.
It’s the same process but with a twist!
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34. The Research Process
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35. Step 1: Formulate a question
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What do you want to know or explain?
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Use observations you have made to write a
question that addresses the problem or topic you
want to investigate.
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36. Step 2: Research the
question
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This is an important step, especially when you do a n
independent investigation such as a science project .
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Researching your question lets you know if others h ave done
this same experiment before and if so, what their d ata
suggests. If they had a widely accepted conclusion, you may
want to try a different angle with your experiment or test a
different variable.
•
You should also research the scientific concepts as sociated
with the experiment. For example, if you are testin g to see
which paper towel brand is the most absorbent, you should
research absorbency, paper material, and quality co ntrol
testing. This will help answer the “WHY?”
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37. Step 3: Form a hypothesis
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What do you think will happen?
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A hypothesis is your prediction for the outcome
of the experiment.
•
It is based on your observations and should be
testable!
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38. Step 4: Conduct an experiment
to test your hypothesis
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Design a procedure that tests your hypothesis to
see if your prediction is correct.
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Record all of your data and observations and put
them into a table that is neat and organized.
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39. Step 5: Analyze data
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Is your data reliable? Does it make sense?
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Put your data into a chart or graph and look for
any trends.
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40. Step 6: Draw conclusions
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Do your data and observations support your
hypothesis?
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If you cannot make a definite conclusion, you
may need to try the experiment again.
•
This means you may either need to rewrite your
procedure if it was not specific enough; you may
need to change your hypothesis.
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41. Step 7: Communicate results
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Report the results of your experiment to let others
know what you have learned. •
This will be represented as either a lab report, oral
presentation, or Science Fair display board. •
Scientists may want to repeat your procedure to see
if they get the same results as you. They may also
tweak your experiment a little and have a slightly
different focus.
•
Also, your report may lead to a new question which
may lead to another investigation. This of course
brings us right back to the first step again!
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42. Steps in the Scientific Research
Process
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Selecting a topic or population to study
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Reviewing the literature
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Focusing the question
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Matching topic to population
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Designing the study
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Collecting evidence/data
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Analyzing findings
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Interpreting findings
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Informing others of your findings
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