Research Methodology

WHAT IS RESEARCH?
SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE? MOVEMENT FROM KNOWN TO UNKNOWN? SCIENTIFIC & SYSTEMATIC INQUIRY TO A PROBLEM /SEARCH FOR PERTINENT INFORMATION ON A SPECIFIED TOPIC? ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE EXISTING STOCK OF KNOWLEDGE? DEFINING THE PROBLEM FORMULATING A HYPOTHESIS SUGGESTING SOLUTIONS COLLECTING, ORGANISING & ANALYSING DATA MAKING DEDUCTIONS & CONCLUSIONS TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS INTERPRETING THE RESULT WRITING THE RESEARCH REPORT. OBJECTIVE OF RESEARCH to find out answers to the questions through the scientific procedures

PROCESS OF RESEARCH

application of

TYPES OF RESEARCH

EXPLORATIVE to gain familiarity with a phenomenon / to achieve new insights into it DESCRIPTIVE to portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual or a situation etc. (survey method used) ANALYTICAL analysis and critical evaluation of already available facts or information APPLIED (action/solution) / FUNDAMENTAL (basic or pure) QUANTITATIVE (use of variables) / QUALITATIVE (use of attributes) CONCEPTUAL / EMPRICAL (based on observation / experiment) HISTORICAL etc.

PROBLEM FORMULATION Well begun is half done" -- Aristotle, quoting an old proverb.

DIG WHERE YOU STAND

WHERE DO RESEARCH TOPICS COME FROM ?

PRACTICAL PROBLEMS IN YOUR FIELD /AREA OF WORK LITERATURE IN OUR SPECIFIC FIELD PROPOSALS FROM GOVT./COMPANIES etc. CREATION OF OWN MIND IS THE STUDY FEASIBLE? -Trade offs between rigour & practicality (resources, time, and circumstances

REVIEW THE LITERATURE

JUMPING INTO A POOL FROM A HIGH BOARD CAN TAKE ONE TO A GREATER DEPTH
IDENTIFY DIRECTLY RELEVANT, INFORMATIVE, AND RELATED LITERATURE

HYPOTHESIS FORMULATION IDENTIFICATION & SELECTION OF THE VARIABLES DATA COLLECTION Primary, Secondary TOOLS & TECHNIQUES FOR ANALYSIS ANALYSIS
DATA PREPARATION (tabulation) DESCRIBING THE DATA (descriptive stat.) TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS (inferential stat.)

REPORT WRITING SAMPLING METHODS PROBABILITY SAMPLING

SIMPLE/PURE RANDOM SYSTEMATIC (every 9th , 15th ) MULTISTAGE RANDOM (bigger to smaller units e.g. state-district-subdivision-localities) STRATIFIED (heterogeneous to homogenous strata, then random e.g. age, salary etc.) CLUSTER divide into clusters-random selection of cluster/s, then selecting all or a few units ( ideally each cluster a miniature of the population - clusters highly heterogeneous within but difference among clusters to be minimum) PURPOSIVE/JUDGEMENTAL (by choice or design, not by chance) CONVENIENT

NON- PROBABILITY SAMPLING

TYPES OF SURVEY

QUESTIONNAIRE (personal, mail, etc) INTERVIEW (personal, telephone, etc)

ISSUES INVOLVED IN SURVEY

CAN THE POPULATION BE ENUMETRATED? IS THE POPULATION LITERATE ARE THERE LANGUAGE ISSUES? WILL THE POPULATION COOPERATE? CONTENT, WORDING, FORMAT STRUCTURED/UNSTRUCTURED, OPEN ENDED/CLOSED TYPES OF QUESTION, COMPLEXITY, SEQUENCE, LENGTHY/SHORT ADRESSESES?, PHONE NUMBERS?, LIST UPTO DATE? CAN RESPONDANTS BE LOCATED?, ARE THEY BUSY? COSTS, FACILITIES, TIME, PERSONNEL, etc.

QUESTION ISSUES

SAMPLING ISSUES

ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

LAYOUT OF THE RESEARCH REPORT

PRELIMINARY PAGES MAIN TEXT END MATTER

PRELIMINARY PAGES

TITLE DECLARATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES, GRAPHS, & DIAGRAMS etc.

Main Text

INTRODUCTION - it should cover

Methodology Adopted

The problem Objective Scope of the study Review of relevant literature Hypothesis Definitions of the concepts used if any

How was the study carried out How was the data collected Analytical tools used An out line of the study ANALYSIS AND THE RESULTS extending over several chapters presented in logical sequence with supporting data, tables, charts if any CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS - if any Inference Constraints/ limitations Suggestions for further research SUMMARY CUSTOMARY TO CONCLUDE THE RESEARCH REPORT (In brief the research problem, the methodology, and the major findings) Abbreviations if used Annexure / Appendices Bibliography (in proper format) A list of books pertinent to the research including the references consulted Arranged in alphabetical order Books, magazines, newspapers, websites etc. separately (Whatever method is selected must remain consistent)

END MATTER

Degree of Problem Definition

Exploratory Research (Unaware of Problem) Our sales are declining and we dont know why. Would people be interested in our new product idea? Descriptive Research (Aware of Problem) Causal Research (Problem Clearly Defined)

What kind of people are buying Will buyers purchase more of our product? Who buys our our products in a new package? competitors product? Which of two advertising What features do buyers prefer campaigns is more effective? in our product?

Stages of the Research Process

Problem Discovery and Definition Discovery and Definition

Research Design

and so on

Conclusions and Report

Sampling Data Processing and Analysis Data Gathering

Problem Discovery and Definition

Problem discovery
Sampling

Selection of Sample Design

Selection of exploratory research technique

Probability

Non-probability

Secondary (historical) data

Experience survey

Pilot study

Case study

Data Gathering Data Processing and Analysis

Collection of data (fieldwork) Editing and coding data Data processing

Problem definition (statement of research objectives)

Research Design

Selection of basic research method

Conclusions and Report

Experiment
Laboratory Field Interview

Survey
Questionnaire

Observation

Secondary Data Study

Interpretation of findings

Report

The formulation of the problem is often more essential than its solution Albert Einstein