Session III

Types of Research- A synthesis Concept, construct and variables

Types of Research
Researchers categorize research activities in several

types:

Conceptual (Theoretical) & Empirical Research, Exploratory research, Experimental Research, Applied & Fundamental Research,

Qualitative & Quantitative Research,

Types of Research( Contd)

Descriptive & analytical Research, Action Research, Evaluation Research, Survey Research, Field investigation, Post facto Research, Historical Research, Ethnographic Research, Case studies etc

THE DISTINCTION RELATES BROADLY TO THE MODUS OPERANDI RATHER THAN TYPE

Authors have attempted a synthesis on Types of Research. The research activities could broadly be classifies in to three categories with respect to applicability. Viz; Disciplinary research, Subject Matter Research and Problem Solving Research

DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
Research activities designed to improve a particular discipline/branch of knowledge with a view to develop or improve theories in the discipline. e.g.; a) Improving or restating a theory in physics relating to atoms, or similar restatement of theories in any other discipline. b) In case of social sciences: Improving the techniques of measurement of say GNP, intelligence, brand loyalty etc.

SUBJECT MATTER RESEARCH

Research on a subject/topic of interest to a set of decision makers. It emerges out of a general issue faced by a society/or a group of people at a given time. e.g. Energy and environment problems, the recent downswing of the global economy etc. Such problems might draw attention of researchers from several disciplines. Therefore , a subject matter research could be multidisciplinary.

PROBLEM SOLVING RESERACH

The Research type is problem and person specific e.g. A manager facing a problem of increasing cost of his product. Company facing a problem of declining market share of its product presently. A credit control instrument of the central bank is becoming ineffective. A political party facing unpopularity.

THESE RESEARCH TYPES ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSSIVE

They may have common areas between them and many research efforts mix the three types.
Research on increasing cost may necessitate research in the areas of mechanical and production engineering, economics etc. Environmental problem may involve research the areas such as chemistry, biological sciences and social sciences.

THE MODE OF OPERATION OF THESE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

THE MODES COULD BROADLY BE DIVEDED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES 1.Laboratory Experiments 2. Field experiments 3. Field studies 4. Survey Research 5. Case Studies

1.LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS
Complete control or control to a great extent of extraneous variables not pertinent to the immediate issue of research. Absolute precision and replicability are possible. Such experiments are not possible in social sciences (with exception such as in psychology or educational research). However, laboratory experiments in social sciences are not as exact as in case of the physical sciences.

2. Field Experiment
These are studies in the realistic situation. They are known as research studies with a holistic approach. ( No Ceteris paribus assuimption ) Unlike Laboratory Experiment, these studies are conducted in natural condition with no control or little control over other variables, but the researcher intervenes in one or more variables. Action research is a form of field experiments.

3. Field Studies
Field studies are post facto study aimed at discovering existing behavior/ relations amongst variables. The researcher does not intervene in any variable(s). Expl: Behavior and relationship between various socio-political and socio-economic and market related variables. Social and Anthropological studies. Decisions are taken on the basis of the observed relationships for explanation and prediction.

4. Survey research (A type of field study)

Survey could be a) Census Survey and b) Sample survey. Depends on factors like population size, time available, feasibility etc. Sample surveys are considered to be an important branch of social scientific enquiry to arrive at conclusions about the population using statistical techniques. (On several population characteristics)

Sample surveys could be done through the following methods.

a) Personal interviews with group(s) of individuals. b) Questionnaire canvassing personally or through mail/e-mail c) Telephonic interviews (In short time and for small sample) d) Panel techniques- Delphi Method Necessary condition is to have a representative sample. The basic objective is to have inference about the population (generalization)

What did we discuss till now?

We defined Scientific research Explored the scientific status of social sciences. Hinted at the purpose of research and synthesized types of research The above emphasized/ highlighted
Observing the behavior of the phenomena or variables and discovering relationship between them and theorizing those"

Observation, Theorizing and Mathematical Model building necessitates knowledge on

a) Concept, construct and variables b) Measurement or quantification of variables c) Reliability and validity relating to the measurement of variables and specification of relationships between them.

a) Concept, Construct and Variables

Consider the following: Weight is associated with height High PCI results in high capital formation. Advertising expenditure increases sale volume Increment on women literacy reduces infant mortality. Industrialization leads to urbanization. Increment in the number of women employees in the corporate sector in associated with a boom in the cosmetic industries.

Concept, construct.(contd) Each statement consists of two concepts joined by a relational word/phrases like "associated with "results in", "increases", "reduces", "leads to" . Whenever such relational statements are made the researcher is operating on hypotheses relating to two concepts (or more in case of multiple relationships)

Concept, Construct Contd

A 'concept' expresses an abstraction formed by generalization from particular. E.g. Weight is a concept. This expresses numerous observation of objects which are heavy or light. Similarly, height, industrialization, urbanization, intelligence, preferences, wealth, income, risk evasiveness, loyalty etc are concepts.

Construct as derived from Concept

'Construct' is a concept which is invented or adopted for a specific purpose to use in a scheme or functional form and capable of being measured. E.g. Weight, income, Intelligence, preference, brand loyalty etc when used in a study with specific measurement techniques become a construct for the researcher. Construct may also refer to relationships. Brand Loyalty = f ( Income), Sales =f( Adv Expdr)

Variables
Researchers call the 'construct' as variable when property being measured takes on different values or numerals are assigned to the construct under study. The numbers vary with entities and thus the name 'variable'. Concept, Construct and Variables seem similar but are different in their characteristics which vary in their levels of abstraction and quantification.

Types of Variables
Quantitative and Qualitative Variables. Income,expenditure,weight etc & Economic Status, Brand Preference, Brand Loyalty etc are quantitative & qualitative variables respectively. Dichotomous and Polytomous variables. Variable taking two or more values. Dependent and independent variables. This distinction depends on the uses Manifest and Latent Variables Dummy variables

How to measure Variables ?

Why is it necessary to measure the variables? In empirical analysis the numbers are necessary to highlight relationship. We discussed different types of variables. There is no standard measure to measure all the variables since the technique of measurement may differ with respect to qualitative and quantitative variables. This will be discussed under scale of measurement.