Introduction to Research:

Research Means in Search of knowledge. Or Research is an art of scientifc

investigation.
Research is an academic activity & as such term should be used in a technical
sense. Research comprises of defning & redefning problems, formulating
hypothesis & suggesting solutions.
Or we can say collecting, organizing & evaluating the data: making
deductions & reaching conclusion, & carefully the conclusions to determine
whether they ft the formulating hypothesis.
Research is Search for no!ledge
"t is an #rt of Scientifc "nvestigation
#ccording to Redman and $ory, Research is a %Systematized e&ort
to gain ne! kno!ledge'
Research is an original addition to the available kno!ledge, !hich
contributes to its further advancement
"n sum, Research is the search for kno!ledge, using ob(ective and
systematic methods to fnd solution to a problem
Scopes of Research:
Does the research cover a particular Objective of research or researcher?
Does the research cover a particular time period?
Does the study cover a specific geographical area?
If the study involves people, what age group, gender and place of origin are to be
included?
Are all dates of publication to be included?
Is the research going to cover publications from other countries?
Will the research include other languages and scripts? (Language of research)
Are all perspectives to be considered? or e!ample, philosophical, political,
psychological, etc"
Objectives of research:
#o gain familiarity with new insights into a phenomenon
#o accurately portray the characteristics of a particular individual, group, or a situation
#o analy$e the fre%uency with which something occurs
#o e!amine the &ypothesis of a casual relationship between two variables
Research Methods Vs Methodology:
Research Methods are the methods that the researcher adopts for conducting the
research 'tudies
Research Methodology is the way in which research problems are solved systematically"
It is the 'cience of studying how research is conducted 'cientifically
Types of research(
Descriptive
Analytical
Applied
undamental
)uantitative
)ualitative
*onceptual
+mpirical
,ther #ypes
Descriptive Vs Analytical:
In Descriptive -esearch, the -esearcher has to only report what is happening or what has
happened"
In Analytical -esearch, the -esearcher has to use the already available facts or
information, and analyse them to ma.e a critical evaluation of the sub/ect
Applied Vs Fundamental:
An attempt to find solution to an immediate problem encountered by a firm, an Industry,
a business organi$ation, or the 'ociety is .nown as Applied -esearch
0athering .nowledge for .nowledge1s sa.e is 23ure1 or 24asic1 or 2undamental1
-esearch
uantitative Vs ualitative:
)uantitative -esearch involves the measurement of %uantity or amount" (e!( +conomic 5
'tatistical methods)
)ualitative -esearch is concerned with the aspects related to or involving %uality or
6ind"(e!( 7otivational -esearch involving behavioural 'ciences)
!onceptual Vs "mpirical:
#he -esearch related to some abstract idea or theory is .nown as *onceptual -esearch"
(+!( 3hilosophers and #hin.ers using this to developing new concepts)
+mpirical -esearch relies on the observation or e!perience with hardly any regard for
theory and system"
Other #ypes of Research$
,ne8time or Longitudinal -esearch (,n the basis time)
Laboratory -esearch or ield8setting or 'imulational -esearch (,n the basis of
environment)
&istorical -esearch
#he %mportance of &no'ing (o' to conduct Research$
&elps -esearcher to develop disciplined thin.ing
#he -esearcher will confidently evaluate and utili$e the -esearch indings
&elps the -esearch consumer to evaluate -esearch and ma.e rational decisions
#he -esearcher will be e%uipped with .nowledge of different tools to conduct scientific
-esearch
ualities of a Researcher:
Desire for accuracy of observation 5 precision of statement
An alert mind"
7ust practice 9#he art of enduring intellectual hardships:
7a.ing statements cautiously
)ignificance of Research:
According to &udson 7a!im 9All progress is born of in%uiry" Doubt is often better than
overconfidence, for it leads to in%uiry, and in%uiry leads to invention:
Research *rocess:
+, Formulating the Research *roblem
-, ".tensive /iterature )urvey
0, Developing (ypothesis
1, *reparing the Research Design
2, Determining )ample Design
3, !ollecting Data
4, ".ecution of the *roject
5, Analysis of the Data
6, (ypothesis #esting
+7, 8enerali9ation and %nterpretation
++, *reparation of the Report or *resentation of the Results
Research )roblem:
Research Problem is an unanswered uestion that a researcher might
encounter in the conte!t of either a theoretical or practical situation.
*omponents of a Research )roblem:
"here should be an individual or a group who have some di#culty or problem
"here should be some ob$ective to be pursued %& person or an organi'ation
who wants nothing cannot have a problem(
"here should be more than one alternative means available to the
Researcher.
"here should be some doubt in the mind of the Researcher about the choice
of alternative means
*onditions for Research )roblem:
)* an individual or an organi'ation %to whom the problem is attributed(
+*the environment where ) is situated
,*the uncontrolled variables which control +
&- & &. two courses of action
/- & /. two possible outcomes of the said course %0ne outcome should be
what Researcher 1ants(
Research +esign:
2t highlights decisions which include
-. "he 3ame of the Study
.. "he Purpose of the Study
4. "he 5ocation where the study would be conducted
6. "he 3ature of 7ata Reuired
8. 9rom where the reuired 7ata can be collected
:. 1hat time period the study would cover
;. "he "ype of Sample 7esign
<. "he "echniues of 7ata =ollection
>. "he Methods of 7ata &nalysis:
*oncepts Relating to Research +esign:
& magnitude that varies is known as a variable %e!: income? height? weight..(
1hen changes in one variable depend upon the changes in other variable %s(?
it is known as dependent variable %e!: 2f 7emand depends on Price? then
7emand is a dependent variable? price is independent variable(
,-traneous .ariable:
"he independent variables which are not directly related to the purpose of
the study but a@ect the dependent variable are known as A!traneous
Bariables. %e!: Relationship between childrenCs school performance
%dependent variable( and their ParentCs 2ncome %2ndependent Bariable(. 2n this
case 2ntelligence may also inDuence the school performance %A!traneous
Bariable(
/ypes of Research +esign:
,-ploratory Research +esign
"o formulate a Research Problem for an in*depth or more precise investigation
"o discover new ideas and insights
"hree methods considered for such Research 7esign
a( a Survey of related 5iterature
b( e!perience survey
c( analysis of insight*stimulating instances
+escriptive and +iagnostic Research +esign
7escriptive Research 7esign is =oncerned with describing the characteristics of
a particular individual or a group.
7iagnostic Research 7esign is determines the freuency with which a variable
occurs or itCs relationship with other.
/oth 7escriptive & 7iagnostic Research design have common reuirements
0ypothesis1testing Research +esign
"he Researcher tests the Eypothesis of casual relationship between two or more
variables
"hese studies reuire unbiased attitude of the Researcher.
"mportance of Research +esign:
2t facilitates smooth conduct of the various stages of Research.
Makes Research A#cient to yield ma!imum information with minimum e@ort?
time? e!penditure
Plays a crucial role in attaining the reliability of the results obtained.
*haracteristics of a 2ood Research +esign:
9le!ible? Suitable? A#cient and Aconomical
Minimi'es bias and Ma!imi'es Reliability
3o A!perimental Arror
+ields Ma!imum 2nformation