 Objectives of Course

 Course Goals
 Concept of Research
 Objectives of Research
 Types of Research
 Research Methods
 Research Process
 Objectives
To learn

 Basic and advanced concepts and skills in designing and

implementing different types of research methods in sciences

 Method of acquisition, processing, analysis and interpretation of data

 Techniques to write, execute, implement and report a research project

 Course Goals

 To clarify and refine research topic and questions;

 To write a literature review;

 To choose a set of procedures to carry out research;

 To create a viable work plan with achievable goals; and

 To produce a high-quality research article/proposal/project.

PUBLICATIONS
 Research

Research = Re + Search

‘Re’ means again and again and

‘Search’ means to find out something

Search again & again & again………..

Something new not same

 Research Concepts
• Systematic effort to gain new knowledge

• Art of scientific investigation

• An original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge

• Quest for knowledge

• A movement from the known to the unknown

 Research Concepts

• Pursuit of truth (what is right & what is wrong?)

• Gathering information to answer questions

• A voyage of discovery

• Better solution to the problem / technology

• The search for knowledge through objective and

systematic method of finding solution to a problem is research

• To discover new facts

• To discover answers to questions through the application of

scientific procedures

• To find out truth which is hidden and which has not been
discovered yet

• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new

insights into it

•
• To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular

individual, situation or a group

• To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables

• To determine the frequency with which something occurs or

with which it is associated with

 Motivation in research
 Desire to get a research degree

 Desire to solve the unsolved problems

 Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work

 Desire to be of service to society

 Desire to get respectability / recognition

 Compulsory for job

Characteristics of a valuable Research

 Relevant

Accurate

 Precise

 Reliable

 Timely
 Innovative

 Complete

 Reduces uncertainty

 Facilitate in decision making

 Increase your knowledge

Attributes of a research scholar
• Self-confidence • Intelligence
• Dedication • Passion for knowledge
• Concentration • Questioning attitude
• Analytical mind • Spirit of enquiry
• Scientific discipline • Insight
• Global outlook • Precision and accuracy
• Innovative approach • Resilience to withstand temporary
setbacks
• Originality
• Patience
• Flexibility
• Social skills
• Keen observation
• Presentation skills
• Punctuality
• Writing skills
• Regularity
 Descriptive vs. Analytical

 Applied vs. Fundamental

 Quantitative vs. Qualitative

AND………………..
Descriptive vs. Analytical Research

Descriptive Research Analytical Research

Describe the characteristics of a Utilizes critical thinking to find out

population or a phenomenon. facts (analysis is involved)
Descriptive vs. Analytical Research
Descriptive Research
DR addresses the present state;
includes surveys and fact-finding
enquiries
DR does not answer questions
about how/when/why the
characteristics occurred.
What is frequency of shopping,
what is preferences of people
Environmental problem (melting of
glaciers, climate changes)
Analytical Research
Use of facts or information already
available, to make a critical
evaluation of the material.
Answer questions about
how/when/why the characteristics
occurred
Why is sale less
How to increase sale
Environmental problem (why
glaciers are melting, why Climate
is changing)
Basic vs. Applied Research

Basic Research Applied Research

Pure, fundamental research Practical application of fundamental

research

Understanding of the basic aspects Interpretation of results relies upon

of phenomena basic research

Discovery of new knowledge Transfer of new results to a

product

Lays the foundation for the Discover a solution for some

solution of problems practical problem

Basic Applied
 Basic Research Applied Research

How energy is produced from Use of petrol in automobiles

hydrocarbons / petrol?

Causes of a disease Formulation of drugs for that

disease
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research

Quantitative Research Qualitative Research

Answer questions about data Answer questions about nature of

that can be measured phenomena
Based on the measurement of
Generally non-numerical data
quantity or amount

Numerical, measurable data Interpretive and descriptive

10%

30%
15%

20%
25%
Quantitative Research Qualitative Research

How many Human behavior

Dimension of a room Color, shape, feel, taste
Height
Intelligence
Weighs
Hardworking
TYPES OF RESEARCH

Research type may also varies with:

• The purpose of research (diagnostic, characterization)

• The time required to accomplish research (short, long)

• The environment in which research is done (Lab, field,

clinical, aquatic, atmospheric)

• The basis of some other similar factor (in-situ ex-situ)

TYPES OF RESEARCH

A long-term field-scale analysis and spatial distribution of

soil pollution by industrial pollutants near industrial areas in
relation with soil physico-chemical properties

Articles may belong to > 1, 2, 3…. Types of

Research Studies
Methodology: The term methodology refers to the overall
approaches & perspectives to the research process as a whole
and is concerned with the following main issues:
 Why you collected certain data
 What data you collected
 Where you collected it
 How you collected it
 How you analyzed it

Method: The method of research provides the tools and

techniques by which the research problem is attacked
SCIENTIFIC METHOD

A tool to solve problems and determine answers to

questions in a logical format.

It provides step-by-step, general directions to help us

work through problems.

It provides ways of obtaining, organising and analysing

data
Research methods may be related to:

 1. Collection of data

 2. Statistical techniques for analyzing the data

 3. Evaluating the accuracy of the obtained results

  Research process consists of series of actions or steps
necessary to effectively carry out research and the desired
sequencing of these steps.

Review concepts
and theories
Define Formulate Design Collect Analyze Interpret
research hypotheses research data data and report
problem
Review previous
research finding
 We shall take a
closer look at these
steps and the
terminology you
will need to
understand before
you start a science
project.
• Develop a question or problem that can be solved
through experimentation.

• This is usually a question that you are trying to

answer or problem that you are trying to solve.

• Try to narrow it down and be very specific

 Gather data about your question. -
Books
Journals
Magazines
Reports
Experts
Internet
Your Past Experiences
The hypothesis is a statement that can be tested.
Predict a possible answer to the problem or question

an educated guess
a prediction based on data
 Develop and follow a procedure.

 This is broken into 2 parts, materials and procedure.

 Materials is a list of equipment that you will need for the

experiment.

 Procedure is a list of instructions that you need

to follow for the experiment.
 Collection of information and data from the
experiment.

 It may be charts, graphs, or written work.

 This is WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!

 Include a statement that accepts or rejects the hypothesis.

 Conclusions are based on DATA (facts)

 Statistics may be used to evaluate data.

 If a hypothesis is proven to be true over and over it may be called a

law or principle.

 If a hypothesis seems to be true but is unable to be directly tested, it

becomes a theory.

 Theories and laws may have to be replaced

as new evidence becomes available.
 Research Methodology, methods and techniques, second revised edition. C.R. Kothari,
New Age International (P) limited, Publishers; 2004.
 Research Methodology, second edition , a step by step guide for beginners, Ranjit
Kumar, Dorling Kindersley (India) Pvt. Ltd ., 2005.
 Handbook of qualitative research ; Denzin, N.K., and Lincoln, Y.S., Thousand Oaks:
Sage;2000
 Scientific presentation. Awan, J.A Unitech Communication, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 2003
 Social research methods. 2nd edition; Bryman , A., Oxford University Press; 2001
 The foundations of social research: meaning and perspective in the research process;
Crotty , M., Sage Publication ; 1998