Research

Methodology
BBM V Semester
Unit 1 Lesson 1

INTRODUCTION

What is Research?
Objectives Need of
Research
Characteristics of
Research

Research is:
The systematic process of
collecting and analyzing
information (data) in order to
increase our understanding of
the phenomenon about which
we are concerned or interested.

Definition of Research
The word research is derived from
the Latin word meaning to know. It
is a systematic and a replicable
process which identifies and
defines problems, within specified
boundaries. It employs well
designed method to collect the
data and analyze the results

A voyage

of discovery; A journey; An
attitude; An experience; A careful
critical thinking and enquiry in seeking
facts for principles
An art of scientific investigation
systematic search for pertinent
information on a specific topic
Process of arriving at dependable
solutions to problems through planned
collection, analysis and interpretation of
data

Research
Research

refers to a careful search or

inquiry into any subject matter so that
it may lead to discovery or invention.
Discovery find unexpectedly(be the
first to find place, substance, scientific
phenomenon)
Invention design new devise or
process, creative ability landline to
mobile phone due to need of
communication while we are away or
moving.

Innovation
Innovation

can be in product,
process, promotion, distribution
channel, packaging etc.
It is a marketing strategy.
e.g. Nano car is a low cost car for
low income group people.
Computer to laptop to Ipad

Research

is an activity or scientific
undertaking by means of logical &
systematized methods or techniques to
discover new facts or verify & test old facts,
analyze their sequences, interrelationships,
causal relationship & laws which govern
them.
e.g increase in the price of small cars does
not effect the demand much these days. The
reasons can be the extraneous factors like
increase in purchasing power of the family,
consumers can buy on easy installments, car
is no more luxury it is a necessity etc.
e.g Relationship training and performance
Causal cause and effect smoking causes
lung cancer

WHAT,WHY,HOW,WHEN,
WHERE
Invention
Research
Innovation
Discovery

Discovery

Discovery

Discovery

Discovery

Invention

Invention

Innovation

Innovation

Research is systematic, it follows

certain steps that are logical. These
steps are
Understanding the nature of problem to be
studied and identifying the related area of
knowledge and variables and test
relationships between them
Reviewing literature to understand how others
have approached or dealt with the problem.
Collecting data in an organized and controlled
manner so as to arrive at valid decisions.
Analyzing data appropriate to the problem.
Drawing conclusions and making
generalizations
e.g If the attrition rate in any organisation is high
then the causes have to be found. To avoid

Research is a combination of both

experience & reasoning and must be
regarded as the most successful
approach to the discovery of truth.
An experience is that anything
thrown up comes down. Newtons
gravitational force was found by doing
research.
Out of 24hrs in a day there are
lighted & dark hours throughout the
world, find the reasons

Example
A general

manager of a car producing company was

concerned with the complaints received from the car
users that the car they produce have some problems
with sound at the dash board and the rear passenger
seat after few thousand kilometers of driving.
He obtained information from the company workers to
identify the various factors influencing the problem.
He then formulated the problem and generated
guesses (hypotheses).
He constructed a checklist and obtained requisite
information from a representative sample of cars.
He analyzed the collected data, interpreted the results
in the light of his hypotheses and reached
conclusions

Example
Notice

in the example above that the researcher

went through a sequence of steps which were
in order and thus systematic.
Secondly, the researcher did not just jump at
the conclusions, but used a scientific method
of inquiry in reaching at conclusions.
The two important characteristics of research
are: it is systematic and secondly it follows a
scientific method of enquiry.

The purpose of research is:

Description

(fact finding)
Exploration (looking for patterns)
Analysis (explaining why or how)
Prediction (forecasting the
likelihood of particular events)
Problem Solving (improvement of
current practice)

Why research ?
To face

a challenge
To get intellectual joy
To serve the society
by increasing standard of living
showing right path to society in
case of Social and Behavioural
Sciences

Objectives of Research
NEED

Urge for Knowledge

Decision Making
Problem Solving
Increased need for more & better
information in ever changing
environment
Controlling
Innovation
Fact finding

Example
Objective is to get placement after completing
BBM/MBA
The

process is to make your resume, choose your

sector, - service, trading, manufacturing, industry.
Suppose you choose service sector, then which
industry in service banking, insurance, retail,
pharmacy etc.
Then start looking for companies In the industrylocation, vacancy.
Put your resume in these companies. Monster.com,
naukri.com.etc are places for search.
Prepare for test, GD & interview.
Finally get selected more than one option of the
company
Then analysis of selecting the company has to be done
to take the decision.

Need
To

get PhDs, Masters and Bachelors

degree
To provide solutions to complex
problems
To investigate laws of nature
To make new discoveries
To develop new products
To save costs
To improve our life
Human desires

SCOPE / SIGNIFICANCE OF
RESEARCH
RESEARCH FOR DECISION MAKING
Throws light on risks and uncertainty
Identify alternative courses of action
Helps in economic use of resources
Helps in project identification

 Solves investment problems

Solves pricing problems
Solves allocation problems
Solves various operational and
planning problems of business and
industry

 Provides the basis for all government

policies in our economic system.
Helps social scientists in studying
social relationships and in seeking
answers to various social problems.
For students, research means a
career or a way to attain a high
position in the social structure.
For professionals in research, it may
mean a source of livelihood.

 For philosophers and thinkers,

research means the outlet for new
ideas and insights.
For literary men and women,
research means development of
new styles and creative work.
For analysts and intellectuals,
research means generalizations of
new theories.

Where

do I begin?
Research

Research

Characteristics of
Research
1. Research is a scientific programme
2. It emphasizes the development of
generalization principles or theories which
are helpful in predictions e.g shift from
producers market to consumers market.
3.Research is based on observation
4. Research demands accurate investigation
and description
5. Research involves gathering of new data
from primary or secondary sources.

6. researcher should be objective.

Researcher should constantly avoid
personal feelings and preferences
7. Research is carefully recorded and
reported
8. Research is characterized by patience
& unhurried activity..
9.Researcher sometimes requires
courage if the conclusions drawn are
unpopular & bring social disapproval
10.Purpose of research is to serve human
beings & accelerate the rate of progress.

Characteristics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Originates with a question or problem.

Requires clear articulation of a goal.
Follows a specific plan or procedure.
Often divides main problem into sub
problems.
Guided by specific problem, question,
or hypothesis.
Accepts certain critical assumptions.
Requires collection and interpretation
of data.

Characteristics of Research
Research is directed towards the solution of
a problem.
Research is based upon observable
experience or empirical evidence.
Research involves gathering new data from
primary sources or using existing data for a
new purpose.
Research activities are characterized by
carefully designed procedures.

Research

is objective and logical

applying every possible test to validate
the data collected and conclusions
reached.
Research involves the quest for answers
to unsolved problems.
Research requires courage.
Research is characterized by patient
and unhurried activity.
Research is carefully recorded and
reported.

Characteristics of Social
Research
1. S.R. studies the behaviour of
human being as a member of a
society their feelings responses,
attitudes under different
circumstances
2. S.R aims at discovering new facts
& born out to solve mans
problems
3. S.R requires deep knowledge &
minute investigation of the topic
concerned.

4. S.R is scientific undertaking in

which logical and systematized
techniques are used
5. Experimentation is not possible
in S.R as it is a study of social
phenomena. Difficult to control
the group and behavior.
6. In S.R inter-relationship between
variables under study is a must

7. S.R is of dynamic nature,

therefore what was true of
past might not be true of
present e. g Change in the
culture in the organisations
due to incoming of MNC.
8. Water tight compartments
cannot be drawn in S.R and
it is difficult to say whether it
is purely political, economic
or sociological research.

It

is multidimensional as all the

aspects & variables relating to
group under study have to be
taken care of.

Socio-psycho-cultural-political-

economic factors to be
considered

Thank You