Essentials of Doctoral

Research
Prof. Dr. Lewlyn L. Raj Rodrigues,
B.E. (Mech.), MBA (HRM & Q), M.Tech. (Prodn. Engg.), Ph.D. (System Dynamics), FWBI (Australia)
HOD, Department of Humanities & Management,
Former Professor, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering,
Former Additional Registrar, Manipal University, Dubai Campus,
MANIPAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Manipal
rodrigusr@gmail.com/ l.rodrigues@manipal.edu

Outline
1.
2.
3.
4.

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What is Research?
Classification of Research
Steps in Research
Importance of Hypothesis in
Research

1. What is Research?
Search for facts
Answers to questions
Solutions to problems
Purposive investigation
Organized inquiry
Correction of the misconceived facts
Seeking to find explanations to unexplained
phenomenon to clarify doubtful facts.
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2. Classification of Research
According to Intent
Pure Research Research for the sake of knowledge e.g. Einsteins
theory of relativity, Newtons Laws
Applied Research Putting theory to test
Exploratory Research Generating new ideas, discovering variables,
and then, seeking relationships between these variables.
Descriptive Study Fact finding and interpretation
Diagnostic Study Finding what is happening, why it is happening
and
what can be done about it
Evaluation Studies Assess or appraise the quality and quantity of
an
activity and find attributes for success
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2. Classification of Research

According to Methods of Study

Experimental Research Studying the effect of select variables by
keeping other variables constant or controlled e.g. studying the effect of
cutting speed on a specific metal using a particular machine and a tool.
Analytical Study Deals with analysis on quantitative data e.g.
testing
a hypotheses statistically. In the above cited example, a hypothesis that
a particular tool produces better results than the other in the specified
situation can be tested using statistical analysis.
Historical Research Study of past records/information and
development of a system based on trend.
Survey Fact finding kind of study to investigate cause and effect
relationship and making scientific predictions, forecast etc.

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3. Steps in
Research

Analyse the Data and Report

the Findings
Data Collection
Obtain Ethics Approval

Identify Where, When and Who Data Will Come from

10

Choose Data Collection

Instruments/Methods
Determine Data Types

Conduct Literarure Survey

Identify Approach

Determine Area Of Investigation

Start With The Broad Notion Of Discipline And Of 6
The Paradigm You See As Suiting The Research

3. Steps in
Research
Pragmatic

Positivist or
Postpositivist

Step 1:
Start With the Broad Notion
Transformative
of Discipline and of the
Paradigm you See as Suiting
The Research

Interpretivist/
Constructivist
7

3. Steps in
Research

Step 2:
Determine Area of Investigation

3. Steps in
Research

Step 3:
Identify Approach

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For Example: Historical,

Descriptive, Feminist,
Developmental, Case study,
Field Study, Correlation,
Casual Comparative,
Experimental, Quasi
Experimental, Action

3. Steps in
Research
Step 4: Conduct
Literarure Review

Define the research terms

Review the most advanced research
studies
Identify the RESEARCH GAP
Problem Statement and Research Question or Issue
10

3. Steps in
Research
Step 5: Determine
Data Types

Quantitative
Qualitative
Mixture of Qualitative and
Quantitative
11

3. Steps in
Research
Surveys

Observations

Tests

Step 6:
Choose Data Collection
Instruments/Methods
Focus
Groups

Documents
Analysis

Interviews

Experiments

12

3. Steps in
Research

Step 7:
Identify Where,
When and Who
Data Will
Come from

Developing
timeline

Determining
who will
collect data

Develop or
identify data
collection tools

Trailing data
collection tools

13

Refining data
collection tools

3. Steps in
Research

Step 8:
Obtain Ethics
Approval

Type determined by the

type of research

Where the data are

coming from

14

3. Steps in
Research
Storage &
Management

Coding &
Displaying

Step 9:
Data Collection

Organising &
Sorting

15

3. Steps in
Research
Step 10:
Analyze the data

Thematic
Analysis

Statistics

Data
analysis may
lead to
further data
collection

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4. Importance of Hypothesis in Research

Meaning of Hypothesis
Hypo means tentative or subject to verification.
Thesis means statement about solution to problem.
Theodorson
A hypothesis is a tentative statement asserting a relationship
between certain facts
Black and Champion
a tentative statement about something, the validity of which is
usually unknown
In general
It is a prediction of relationship to be scientifically tested.
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Workshop on Research
Methodology/Lewlyn L.Raj
Rodrigues

17

4. Importance of Hypothesis in Research

Criteria for Hypothesis Formulation

Standards to be met in formulating a hypothesis

It should be empirically testable, whether it is right or wrong
It should be specific and precise
The statement in the hypothesis should not be contradictory
It should specify variables between which the relationship is
to be established
It should describe only one issue.

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Workshop on Research Methodology/ Lewlyn L. Raj Rodrigues

18

4. Importance of Hypothesis in Research

Role of Hypothesis
ory

Ob
se
r

va

tio

Theory Building
Process

Ge Emp
ne
i
ra rica
liz
l
at
ion

Hy
po
th
es

is

Th
e

ns

Source: The Logic of Science in Sociology, AldineAtherton, 1971

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4. Importance of Hypothesis in Research

Writing a Research Hypothesis

Consider the following General Example
Sl.
No.

Hypothesis

Student who receive counselling show greater

performance

Student who receive counselling improve their

performance

Student who receive counselling perform better

than those who are casual about counselling

Student performance depends upon the kind of

counselling they receive

No. of hours of counselling received has an

impact on performance

6
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on Research Methodology/
Lewlyn
ClassWorkshop
of counselling
(A, B,
C,L. Raj
& Rodrigues
D) decides the

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4. Importance of Hypothesis in Research

Writing a Research Hypothesis

Consider the following Hypotheses - Engineering
Sl.
No
.

Hypothesis

Material which receives heat treatment shows greater

performance

Material which receives heat treatment improves its

performance

Material which receives heat treatment shows greater

performance than that of an untreated material

Material performance depends upon the heat treatment it

receives

No. of hours of heat treatment received has an impact on

Workshop
Research
Methodology/ Lewlyn L. Raj Rodrigues
performance
ofonthe
material
21

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4. Importance of Hypothesis in Research

Writing a Research Hypothesis

Sl.
No
.
1

5
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Hypothesis

Student who receive

counselling show greater
performance
Student who receive
counselling improve their
performance
Student who receive
counselling perform better
than those who are casual
about counselling

Emphasis

Type of
Test

Greater performance
(say, CGPA >8.5)

One-sample Ttest

Improvement of
performance (before
and after)

Paired
sample T-test

Comparison between
two categories
(receiving & not
receiving couselling)

(H0: P = 8.5; Ha P>8.5)

Independent
sample
T-test

One way
Counselling may have to ANOVA
be grouped.
Correlation
Student performance
test
Relationship between
depends upon the kind of
counselling and
Chi-square
counselling they receive
performance
test
Workshop on Research
No. of hours of counselling
Methodology/Lewlyn
L.Raj with attributes
We deal
received has an impactRodrigues
on

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References - Research
Methodology
1. Dr Ranjit Kumar, Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners, SAGE, 2005.
2. Geoffrey R. Marczyk, David DeMatteo & David Festinger, Essentials of Research Design and
Methodology, John Wiley & Sons, 2004.
3. John W. Creswel, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches,
SAGE, 2014.
4. Suresh C. Sinha and Anil K. Dhiman, Research Methodology (2 Vols-Set), Vedam Books, 2006.
5. C. R. Kothari, Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, New Age International Publisher,
2008.
6. Donald R Cooper & Pamela S Schindler, Business Research Methods, McGraw Hill
International, 2007.
7. R. Pannershelvam, Research Methodology, Prentice Hall, India, 2006
8. Manfred Max Bergman, Mixed Methods Research, SAGE Books, 2006.
9. Paul S. Gray, John B. Williamson, David A. Karp, John R. Dalphin, The Research Imagination,
Cambridge University press, 2007.
10. Cochrain & Cox, Experimental Designs, II Edn. Wiley Publishers, 2006.
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