THEOROTICAL BACKGROUND OF THE SUBJECT

Meaning- Research is a logical and systematic search for new and useful information on a particular topic. It is an investigation of finding solutions to scientific and social problems through objective and systematic analysis. It is a search for knowledge, that is, a discovery of hidden truths. Here knowledge means information about matters. The information might be collected from different sources like experience, human beings, books, journals, nature, etc. A research can lead to new contributions to the existing knowledge. Only through research is it possible to make progress in a field. Research is done with the help of study, experiment, observation, analysis, comparison and reasoning. Research is in fact ubiquitous.

Definition and concept Definition: research is defined as the process which includes defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing and conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis. . Research comprises of defining and redefining problems of formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions, collecting organizing and evaluating data, making deductions and reaching conclusions and carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulated hypothesis Characteristics of research 1. Research is always directed to solution of a problem 2. Research is always based upon observable evidences without finding facts you cannot do generalization. The value of generalization is not true 3. Research involves accurate observation and description. Only necessary observation shall be noted.

4. Research gives emphasis on development of theories, principles and generalization findings after a particular research can be used to formulate a theory 5. Research is characterized by systematic and logical procedure. To gain solution one need to be systematic and the methods used should be logical. 6. Research is marked by patience, research should have lot of patience and his observation should not be made in hurry 7. Research requires that the research has full expertise on the problem being studied. Researcher should have clear cut idea of what the problem is and how to go about it. Researchers should have full knowledge about it. 8. Research is replicable some other person can do similar type of research 9. A researcher requires the skill of writing a research report. Researcher shall have full knowledge of the report writing

TYPES OF RESEARCH The basic types of Research are as follows 1. Descriptive Research Descriptive research includes survey and fact finding enquiries of different kinds. The major purpose of descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it exists at present. The main characteristics of this method are that the researcher has no control over the variables; he can only report what happened or what is happening. 2. Analytical Research The type of Research in which the researcher has to use facts or information already available, and analyze them to make critical evaluation of the material is known as Analytical Research. 3. Applied Research It aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial or business organization. A Research aimed at certain solutions (say, a solution) facing a concrete social or business problem is an example of Applied Research.

4. Fundamental Research It is a type of Research which is mainly concerned with generalizations and formulating a theory. Research concerning some natural phenomenon or related to pure mathematics are examples of Fundamental Research. Also, research studied, concerning human behavior carried on with a view to make generalizations about human behavior are also examples of this type of Research. 5. Quantitative Research Quantitative Research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount. It is applicable to phenomenon that can be expressed in terms of quality. 6. Qualitative Research It is concerned with the Qualitative phenomenon. Through this type of research we can analyze the various factors which motivate people to behave in a particular manner or which make people like or dislike a particular thing. 7. Conceptual Research Conceptual Research is that related to some abstract idea or theory. It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts to reinterpret existing ones. 8. Empirical Research This type of research relies on experience or observation alone, often without due regard to system and theory. It is data based research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by observations or experiment.

RESEARCH PROCESS

Research process consists of a series of steps or actions required for effectively conducting research. The following are the steps that provide useful procedural guidelines regarding the conduct of research: (1) Formulating the research problem; (2) Extensive literature survey; (3) Developing hypothesis; (4) Preparing the research design; (5) Determining sample design; (6) Collecting data; (7) Execution of the project; (8) Analysis of data; (9) Hypothesis testing; (10) Generalization and interpretation, and (11) Preparation of the report or presentation of the results. In other words, it involves the formal write-up of conclusions. THE RESEARCH PROCESS
REVIEW CONCEPT &THEORIES REVIEW PREVIOUS RESEARCH FINDINGS

DEFINE RESEARCH PROBLEM

FORMULATE HYPOTHESIS

DESIGN RESEARCH

DATA COLLECTION

ANALYSIS OF DATA

INTERPRET & REPORT

RESEARCH PROBLEM A research problem refers to some difficulty which a researcher experiences on the context of the theoretical situation and wants to obtain solution for the same problem statement may be defined as an interrogative statement which expresses the relationship between two or more than two variables hypothesis is a tentative solution given by the researcher for the problem. Hypothesis stated by the researcher may be true or may not be true depending upon the problem.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS Researchers do not carry out work without any aim or expectation. Research is not of doing something and presenting what is done. Every research problem is undertaken aiming at certain outcomes. That is, before starting actual work such as performing an experiment or theoretical calculation or numerical analysis, we expect certain outcomes from the study. The expectations form the hypothesis. Hypotheses are scientifically reasonable predictions. They are often stated in terms of if-then sentences in certain logical forms. A hypothesis should provide what we expect to find in the chosen research problem. In other words, the expected or proposed solutions based on available data and tentative explanations constitute the hypothesis.

Research Design: The most important step after defining the research problem is preparing the design of the research project, which is popularly known as the research design. A research design helps to decide upon issues like what, when, where, how much, by what means etc. with regard to an enquiry or a research study. A research design is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure. Research design is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted; it constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data (Selltiz et al, 1962). Thus, research design provides an outline of what the researcher is going to do in terms of framing the hypothesis, its operational implications and the final data analysis.

Concepts Relating to Research Design: Some of the important concepts relating to Research Design are discussed below:

1. Dependent and Independent Variables: A magnitude that varies is known as a variable. The concept may assume different quantitative values like height, weight, income etc. Qualitative variables are not quantifiable in the strictest sense of the term. However, the qualitative phenomena may also be quantified in terms of the presence or absence of the attribute(s) considered. The phenomena that assume different values quantitatively even in decimal points are known as continuous variables. But all variables need not be continuous. Values that can be expressed only in integer values are called non-continuous variables. In statistical terms, they are also known as discrete variables. For example, age is a continuous variable, whereas the number of children is a non-continuous variable. When changes in one variable depend upon the changes in other variable or variables, it is known as a dependent or endogenous variable, and the variables that cause the changes in the dependent variable are known as the independent or explanatory or exogenous variables. For example, if demand depends upon price, then demand is a dependent variable, while price is the independent variable. And, if more variables determine demand, like income and price of the substitute commodity, then demand also depends upon them in addition to the price of original commodity. In other words, demand is a dependent variable which is determined by the independent variables like price of the original commodity, income and price of substitutes.

2 Extraneous Variables: The independent variables which are not directly related to the purpose of the study but affect the dependent variable are known as extraneous variables. For instance, assume that a researcher wants to test the hypothesis that there is a relationship between childrens school performance and their self-concepts, in which case the latter is an independent variable and the former, a dependent variable. In this context, intelligence may also influence the school performance. However, since it is not directly related to the purpose of the study undertaken by the researcher, it would be known as an extraneous variable. The influence caused by the extraneous variable(s) on the dependent variable is technically called the experimental error.
6

Therefore, a research study should always be framed in such a manner that the influence of extraneous variables on the dependent variable/s is completely controlled, and the influence of independent variable/s is clearly evident.

SAMPLING When a few items are selected form the universe for study purposes or research purpose, the item so selected constitutes what is technically know as a sample. The researcher must decide the way of selecting a sample or what is popularly known as sampling. In other words, a sample design is a definite plan determined before any data is actually collected for obtaining a sample from a given population. Sampling is broadly divided into two categories1. Probability sampling It is also known as Random Sampling. Under this sampling, every item of the universe has an equal chance of getting selected or included in the sample. The results obtained from probability or random sampling can be assured in terms of probability, i.e. we can measure the errors of estimation or significance of results obtained from a random sample, and this infact brings the superiority of random sampling over deliberate sampling. There are types in Probability sampling, they are as follows Simple Random Sampling- It is one in which each element in the population has an equal probability of getting into the sample and all choices are independent of each other. Stratified Sampling- In this type of sampling the population is divided into several sub populations that are individually more homogeneous than the total population (known as strata) and then we select items from each stratum to constitute a sample. Area Sampling-where the primary sampling unit represents a cluster of units based on a geographical area, are distinguished as area sampling. If clusters

happen to be some geographical subdivision that type of cluster sapling is known as area sampling. Cluster Sampling-In cluster sampling the total population is divided into a number of relatively small sub divisions which are themselves clusters of still smaller units and them some of these clusters are randomly selected for inclusion in the overall sample.

2. Non Probability Sampling Non Probability Sampling Procedure is that sampling procedure which does not afford any basis for estimating the probability that each item in the population has of being included in the sample. In this type of sampling, items for the sample are deliberately selected by the researcher. Under Non probability sampling the organizers of the inquiry purposively choose the particular units of the universe for constituting a sample on the basis that the small mass that they so select out of a huge one will be typical or representative of the whole. There are types in Non Probability Sampling, they are as follows Quota Sampling In this type, the investigator recognizes the different stratas of population and from each stratum; he selects the number of individuals purposefully. Judgmental Sampling In judgmental sampling, the investigator on the basis of his impression makes a judgment regarding the sample that is to be taken as the population and hand picks them. Accidental Sampling- In this type of sampling, the investigator selects the persons in the population according to his convenience. He does not include people with specific traits but he is mainly guided by economy and convenience. Systematic Sampling It may be defined as drawing or selecting every nth person from a determined list of elements or individuals. Snowball Sampling It is defined as having all the persons in a group or organization identify their friends who in turn identify their friends and associates

until the researcher observes that the group of friendship converges into some type of definite social pattern.

DATA COLLECTION Data collection is a task which is done after the research problem is defined and the research design has been chalked out. After sample size has been selected and the actual sample is selected, data is collected from them. The process of finding data relevant to the research problem and will help to reach significant conclusion is called data collection.

Data collection is of two types:1. Primary data are those which are collected for the first time and fresh, and thus happens to be original in character. This is basically the method of collecting first hand information directly from the respondents for the research especially in case of surveys and descriptive research. The methods of collecting primary data are Observation method Interview method Questionnaires Schedules Other methods include warranty cards, pantry audits, content analysis etc. 2. Secondary data are those which have already been collected by someone else and have already been through the statistical process. It is basically data which is already available and thus the researcher is not confronted by the problems faced with the collection of primary data. Secondary data maybe in the form of published or unpublished data. It can be collected through publications of the Government, technical and trade journals, books, magazines, papers, public records, historical documents, unpublished autobiographies, letters, diaries etc.

OBJECTIVES OF THE REPORT This report has been prepared as a Market Research on Spectacles and Lenses. The objectives of this report are as follows1. To do comparison of the use of spectacles and lenses. 2. To see the factors affecting the use or either spectacles or lenses. 3. To determine the use of brands. 4. To get acquainted with the customers preferences 5. To see if the people were satisfied with the price, variety and other factors. 6. To identify the factors having the maximum impact on the choice of the customers. 7. To know the differentiating factor of Spectacles and Lenses according to the customer 8. To find conclusions to the project.

10

PROJECT DESIGN This project is a Market Research on Spectacles and Lenses. The products spectacles and lenses are compared on various factors related to it in this market research. The details of the Project design are as follows The sample size of this research was 30. The sampling method used was Probability Sampling type- Stratified Random Sampling. The type of Data collected was Primary Data. The data was collected through Questionnaires. In the Questionnaire, there were 15 questions. The statistical tools used in this research are tables, bar graphs, pie charts etc.

11