Introduction to Research

Methodology
By
Mr. NIJIL RAJ.N
Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science and Information Technology
Younus College of Engineering and Technology
Vadakkevila,kollam-10
E-mail:nijilrajn@yahoo.com
Ph. no:9447800470

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All progress is born of inquiry.

Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for
it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention"

-Hudson Maxim

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Meaning of Research:
Research can be defined as the search for knowledge or
any systematic investigation to establish facts
Research is a systematic, scientific and careful
enquiry
or
examination
to
discover
new
information about something or to establish new
relationship between things, or to expand or verify
existing knowledge for some specified purpose
Research is systematic,controlled,empirical and
critical investigation of hypothetical proposition
about the presumed relation among natural
phenomena. ---kerlinger
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Objectives or Purpose of
research
To gain familiarity with phenomenon or
new insights into it(known
formulative research studies);

as

to achieve
exploratory or

To portray accurately the characteristics of a

particular individual, situations or a group (studies
with this object in view are known as descriptive
research studies);
To determine the frequency with which something
occurs or with which it is associated with something
occurs or with which it is associated with something
else(known as diagnostic research studies);
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To test a hypothesis of a causal
relationship
between

Motivation of Research
o Aspire to get research degree along with career
benefits;
o Aspire to take up the challenge in solving the
unsolved problems;
o Desire to get intellectual joy of doing a creative
work;
o Aspire to do research to serve the society;
o Seek to get recognition and respect;
o Many other;
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Types of Research:

Descriptive and Analytical Research

Applied and Fundamental Research
Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Conceptual and Experimental
(or Empirical)Research

Some other types of research

One time Research.
Longitudinal Research.
Diagnostic Research.
Experimental Research.
Historical Research.
Exploratory Research.
Conclusive Research.
Casual Research.
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Types of Research-cont..
1. Descriptive & Analytical Research
Descriptive Research is a fact finding investigation
which is aimed at describing the characteristics of
individual, situation or a group(or) describing the state
of affairs as it exists at present.
Researcher has no control over the variables.
Report what was happened or what is happening
To discover causes.
Example:- A student of management pursue a research
on customer preference about a product or service.
Frequency of shopping
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Analytical Research is primarily concerned

with testing hypothesis and specifying and
interpreting relationships by analyzing the
facts or information already available.
Example:- Research on a companys

financial performance over long times

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Descriptive vs. Analytical Research

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2.
Applied
&Fundamental
Research
Applied Research or action research is
carried out to find solution to a real problem
requiring an action or policy decision.
Applied or practical projects impact directly
on health ,wealth, or
culture(art,recreation.),or on development
of a method

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Fundamental Research which is also

known as basic or pure research is
undertaken for the sake of knowledge
without any intention to apply it in
practice.
It
is undertaken out of intellectual
curiosity
and
is
not
necessarily
problem-oriented.
Example- relating to natural
phenomenon or relating to pure
mathematics
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3. QuaNtitative
Research

and

QuaLitative

QuaNtitative
Research is employed
for
measuring
the
quantity (Number) or
amount of a particular
phenomena by the use
of statistical analysis

QuaLitative Research
is
a
nonquantitative
type of analysis which is
aimed at findings out the
quality of a particular
phenomenon

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4.
Conceptual
Empirical)Research

and

Experimental

(or

Conceptual Research is generally used by

philosophers and thinkers to develop new
concepts or to reinterpret existing ones
Emperical Research is a data based
research which depends on experience or
observation alone.it is aimed at coming up
with conclusions without due regards for
system and theory.
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Some other types of

research:
One-time Research
Research confined

to a

single time
period.
Longitudinal Research- Research carried on over
several
time periods.
Its a correlation research study that
involves repeated observations of the same item
over long period of time-often many decades.
Longitudinal research studies are often used in
psychology to study developmental trends across the
life span.
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E.g: In medicine the design
is used to uncover

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 Diagnostic Research- it is also called clinical

research which aims at identifying the causes of a
problem, frequency with which it occurs and the
possible solutions for it.
E.g. Researches done by doctors on a crucial disease.
Experimental Research- it is designed to assess the
effect of one particular variables on a phenomenon
by keeping the other variables constant or
controlled.
Experimental research is commonly used in sciences
such
as
sociology
and
psychology,physics,chemistry,biology and medicine
etc.
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 Historical Research- It is the study of past

records and other information sources, with a
view to find the origin and development of a
phenomenon and to discover the trends in the
past ,in order to understand the present and
to anticipate the future.
The historical method of research applies to
all fields of study because it encompasses
their:
origins,growth,theories,personalites,crisis,etc
.
Both quantitative and qualitative variables
can be used in the collection of historical
information
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Exploratory
It isResearch:
the preliminary study of an unfamiliar
problem, about which the researcher has
little or no knowledge.
It is aimed to gain familiarity with the
problem ,to generate new ideas or to make a
precise formulation of the problem. Hence it
is also known as formulative research.
Any research starts with a exploratory research thats a basic
step. Descriptive research as the name suggest, is done in
details and is based on the exploratory research
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Conclusive Research
It is more formal and structured than exploratory
research.
The conclusive research is designed to test
specific hypothesis and examine specific
relationship.
Conclusive research is conducted to draw some
conclusion
about
the
problem.it
is
essentialy,structured and quantitative research,
and the output of this research is the input to
Management Information Systems(MIS)
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Casual Research
Casual research explores the effect of one thing on
another and more specifically, the effect of one variable
on another.
The research is used to measure what impact a specific
change will have on existing norms and allows market
researchers to predict hypothetical scenarios upon
which a company can base its business plan.
For example, if a clothing company currently sells blue
denim jeans, casual research can measure the impact of
the company changing the product design to the colour
white.
Following the research ,company bosses will be able to
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decide whether changing the
the jeans to

Significance of Research
Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking and
it promotes the development of logical habits of thinking
and organization.
The role of research in several fields of applied
economics, whether related to business or to the
economy as a whole, has greatly increased in modern
times.
Research provides the basis for nearly all government
policies in our economic system
Research has its special significance in solving various
operational and planning problems of business and
industry.
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Research is equally important
for social scientists in

Research Methods versus Methodology

Method
Depending on the purpose of the research, the approach for conducting the
research is selected. This approach is called research method.
Research methods are the tools, techniques or processes that we
use in our research. These might be, for example, surveys,
interviews, Photo, voice, or participant observation. Methods and
how they are used are shaped by methodology.
PURPOSE

RESEARCH METHOD

1. To determine WHAT WAS

Historical Method

2. To describe WHAT IS

Descriptive Method

3. To identify WHAT WILL BE

Experimental Method

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Methodology(procedure)
Research methodology refers to the steps common to all types of methods of
research
Methodology is the study of how research is done, how we find
out about things, and how knowledge is gained. In other words,
methodology is about the principles that guide our research
practices. Methodology therefore explains why were using
certain methods or tools in our research.

The steps are:

1.

Selection of a problem area

2.

Review of related literature

3.

Defining the researchable problem

4.

Specifying objectives

5.

Specifying Research questions or Hypotheses

6.

Developing the research design

7.

Writing a research proposal

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Steps cont..
8.

Making the administrative and organisational arrangements

9.

Developing the instruments for data collection

10. Pilot test Testing instruments and or research procedures

11. Collecting data
12. Analysing the data
13. Drawing and developing conclusions, implications and recommendations
14. Writing the report
15. Disseminating the report

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QUALITIES OF A COMPETENT
TheRESEARCHER
term Competency refers to the knowledge, skills and attitudes
required for performing a professional work efficiently. In order to
become a competent researcher a person has to possess / acquire the
following qualities:
1.

Open mindedness (Receptive to new ideas and willingness to change beliefs

when new evidence is available)

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Passion for facts (A desire for accurate knowledge)

Keen observing power
Confidence in procedures for seeking knowledge
Objective outlook
Belief in cause and effect relationship
Cautiousness in making statements
Intellectual Honesty
Patience and perseverance
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It is RESEARCH, because
You can never have enough of it.
There is no closure.
THE JOY IS IN THE JOURNEY, AND NOT THE
DESTINATION
SIMPLY PLOD ON AND ON AND ON AND
AND ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

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Whats the
difference between
ignorance and
indifference?

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 I dont know (Ignorance)

I dont care
(Indifference)

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WHY AM I A RESEARCHER?

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Some Responses:
1. Must for a career.
2. Seeking recognition in a peer community.
3. So many others are doing it.
4. Quest for knowledge.
5. Dont know, but Ive drifted into it.
6. Nothing else to do.
7. The process is fun and exciting.
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The Gurus Role

Enabling the sishya to:
1. Learn to learn
2. Develop value systems
3. Observe,
understand,
model,
represent
and
share
the
personality of the Guru
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A FRAMEWORK FOR DECISION MAKING

The Levels of Necessity

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Types of Problems and Solutions

Solutions or
Answers

Problems or
Questions

OLD

NEW

NEW

Applied
Experimental

Exploratory

OLD

Copy or
Reinventing
the wheel

Innovative

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS contd..

Categories of objectives:
Description (What?)
Explanation /understanding
(Why?)
Change (How?)

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS contd..

What questions require a descriptive
answer;
they
are
directed
towards
discovering
and
describing
the
characteristics of and patterns in some
thing.

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS contd

Why questions ask for either the causes of, or

the reasons for, the existence of characteristics

or regularities in a particular phenomenon.
They are directed towards understanding or

explaining the relationship between events.

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS contd..

How questions are concerned with

bringing about change, with practical
outcomes and intervention

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PROBLEM AREA AND

RESEARCHABLE PROBLEM
Problem Area: A problem area represents a
general problem, which is broad in scope and
too complex to study in one small research
project.
Example: Assessment of Skill proficiencies of
Engineering college students
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PROBLEM AREA AND

RESEARCHABLE PROBLEM (Contd)
Researchable Problem: A researchable problem is
one, which is workable. The term workable indicates
that the defined problem is sufficiently delimited to be
practical and that it can be stated with sufficient
precision so as to permit its solution by gathering
relevant evidence.
Example: Development of teacher rating for the evaluation of the skills of
students in the final year of the Degree course in Chemical Engineering.
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PROBLEM AREA

Delimiting
the problem
Review of the
Literature

Researchable Problem

Objectives of the Research

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PROBLEM AREA AND

RESEARCHABLE PROBLEM (Contd)
A researchable problem can be identified by
delimiting the chosen problem area. Review
of Literature will help us to do this.
Delimitation: Refers to the conscious narrowing down of the
scope of the research study.
Limitation: Refers to some failure on the part of the investigator
in carrying out his research work due to practical difficulties
faced.
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SOURCES OF A
RESEARCHABLE PROBLEM
Primary Sources:

1.

Community Problems and issues faced by the local

community / State / Region / Nation

2.

Observations made in the Shop floor / Functional units of an

organisation

3.

Consultation with colleagues

4.

Consultation with specialists

5.

Conferences and Seminars

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SOURCES OF A
RESEARCHABLE PROBLEM (Contd)
Secondary Sources:

(i) Documentary Sources Survey of Literature

(ii) Research already completed
(as well as inconclusive research)
(iii) Reflection (Reflective thinking by the researcher)

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CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION

OF RESEARCHABLE PROBLEM
1.

Relevance / usefulness

2.

Significance / importance (Priority)

3.

The status of research already done in that particular field

4.

Risks & Costs (Feasibility)

5.

Availability of data

6.

Facilities available

7.

Guidance services available

8.

Necessary competence on the part of the research worker

9.

Time available
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REVIEW OF
RELATED LITERATURE

Literature Survey: Why

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