Chapter 1

Research Methodology - Introduction

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Research - Introduction

 Choosing the research topic

 Defining the research problem
 Critical review of the literature
 Research Design
 Various Research Tools
 Thesis Writing
 Research Management
 Research Ethics

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 Research - Introduction

 Creativity
 Open mind
 Curiosity
 Patience
 Persistence
 Positive Attitude
 Discipline and focus

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 Research - Definition

 Formalized method of collecting data to

answer a question or solve a problem

 Theory
 Explanation which unites a large body
of facts
 Relies on testable hypotheses
 Hypothesis/inference
 Premise, supposition
 Used to test or examine theories

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 Research - Definition
Research is a quest for knowledge through diligent
search or investigation or experimentation aimed
at the discovery and interpretation of new
knowledge. (WHO)

Research is an art of scientific investigation.

A systematized effort to gain new knowledge (Redman).

A careful investigation or inquiry specially through

search for new facts in any branch of knowledge
(Advanced learners’ Dictionary)

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 Research - Introduction
The word research derives from French “recherche”.
Its literal meaning is:

To systematic process of collecting and analyzing

information (data) in order to discover of new
knowledge or expand and verify of the existing one
(e.g. theory - law)
To do so, it is required a ..

Scientific Method

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 Research - Scientific Method
Scientific method is the method involves the concepts of :
Objectivity - Acceptability - Inductive Reasoning - Deductive Reasoning

Indicates the attempt to observe things as they are,

objectivity without falsifying observations to accord with some
preconceived world view.

acceptability Acceptability is judged in terms of the degree to which

observations and experimentations can be reproduced.

Reasoning from specific observations and experiments

inductive reasoning to more general hypotheses and theories

Reasoning from theories to account for specific

deductive reasoning experimental results

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 Characteristics of a Good Research

 The most important characteristic of a good

research is that it is testable.

 A second characteristic of the good research is

that your chances for success are increased
when your view of nature approximates reality as
closely as possible. When reality is approximated
there is a good likelihood of success.

“The closer our project comes to approximating

reality, the greater the likelihood of successfully
unlocking some of the secrets of nature.” Smith/Davis

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Characteristics of a Good Research
 Clearly defined purpose
 Detailed process
 Providing procedures used to conduct the study

 Well planned research design

 Results should be as objective as possible

 Maintain high ethical standards

 Being responsible and concerned for the welfare of
the participants

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Characteristics of a Good Research
Developing Research Skills

 Development through –
 Practice
 Self assessment
 Feedback from peers
 Feedback from researchers

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Characteristics of a Good Research
Basic Research Skills Required

 Ability to write technical papers

 To be able to marshal facts into logical order
 To present arguments well, citing theory to clarify
and support assertions
 To acknowledge other views on a subject and put
them into perspective
 To write clearly, tersely and unambiguously
 Ability to unearth reference material from a variety
of sources such as –
 Traditional abstracts of academic papers
 CD-ROM abstracts
 the Internet 11
Characteristics of a Good Research

Basic Research Skills Required

 The ability to design and analyse

questionnaires
 The ability to design and conduct interviews
 The ability to use statistical techniques
 The ability to design experiments to test out
hypotheses

“Quality work is never an accident”.

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 Problems in Good Research
 Uncontrollable variables
 Human tendencies
 Time and money
 Lack of computerization
 Lack of scientific training in the methodology of
research
 Insufficient interaction between university
research departments and business
establishments
 Lack of confidence on the part of business units
to give information
 Lack of code of conduct
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 Problems in Good Research
 Difficulty of adequate and timely secretarial
assistance
 Poor library management and functioning
 Difficulty of timely availability of published data.
 Ignorance
 Research for the sake of research-limited
practical utility though they may use high
sounding business.

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 Characteristics of Good Researchers
 Enthusiastic
 Open-minded
 Common sense
 Ability to assume other roles
 Self-confident
 Creative and inventive
 Effective communicator
 Attentive to details
 Possesses integrity and honesty
 Ethical
 Accepting of valid criticism
 Address real-world issues
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 TYPES OF RESEARCH
 Descriptive vs 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.

Analytical Research is primarily concerned with

testing hypothesis and specifying and interpreting
relationships, by analyzing the facts or information
already available.

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 TYPES OF RESEARCH

 Quantitative vs Qualitative Research

Quantitative Research is employed for
measuring the quantity or amount of a
particular phenomena by the use of statistical
analysis.

Qualitative Research is a non-quantitative type

of analysis which is aimed at finding out the
quality of a particular phenomenon.

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 TYPES OF RESEARCH
Conceptual vs Empirical Research

Conceptual Research is generally used by philosophers

and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret
existing ones.

Empirical Research is a data based research which

depends on experience or observation alone. It is
aimed at coming up with conclusions without due
regard for system and theory.

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 Chapter 2

Choosing the Research Topic

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 Choosing the Research Topic
 Topic selection involves identifying a general
subject, narrowing it and formulating questions.

Identify a general subject

 Instructor or supervisor may specify a broad area of

study, assign a particular topic, provide a list of
possible topics…

 Personal interest & experience: your supervisor’s

major or interest

 Literature review: recently published books or

journals suggest undiscussed questions for research.
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 Choosing the Research Topic
Selection of research topic should be based on

• Magnitude of the problem and its impact

• Urgency of the need for a solution.
• Relevance to the aim of the funding agency.
• Amenability of the problem to investigation.
• Feasibility of the approach.
• Chances of success, etc.

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Choosing the Research Topic - Sources

 Avoid topics which may induce strong reactions;

avoid topics which are overly ambitious
(motivated) and overly challenging
 Importance and interest; manage ability;
availability of resources
 A small piece of an important topic or a small piece
of an area that attract you.

 Nonsystematic Sources
 systematic Sources

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 Choosing the Research Topic - Sources
 Nonsystematic Sources
Inspiration
 Ideas that pop into one’s mind from (seemingly)
nowhere. Inspiration usually comes more easily after
one has been working on a particular problem for
some time.
Serendipity – Accidental thought, Coincidence
 Refers to those situations where we look for one
phenomenon but find another.
Everyday Occurrences
 The people and/or situations one encounters daily
provide some of the best possibilities for research.

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 Choosing the Research Topic - Sources

 Systematic Sources

Research ideas from systematic sources are carefully

organized and logically thought out

 Past Research
 A careful survey of the research done in a specific area
will highlight any knowledge gaps or unanswered
questions in that area.

• A failure to replicate a previous finding raises

additional questions that only continued research
will be able to answer.

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 Choosing the Research Topic - Sources

 Systematic Sources
Theory
 The guidance function of a theory provides an endless
panorama of projects for researchers who take the
time and trouble to master the theory and understand
its implications.

Classroom Lectures
 Lectures often include a systematic review of the
relevant literature on a particular topic and as such are
a good source of research ideas.

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 Choosing the Research Topic - Sources
Systematic Sources - Reading the literature
Types of reference works:
1. index – indices or indexes: published quarterly,
monthly, annually or bi-annually; presented
according to the author’s name & subject;
providing the year, place or publication, name,
where and how it can be obtained and the form
in which it was published.
2. Bibliographies: list of related publications and
other materials
3. Collections of abstracts: summaries of journal
articles and other literature.
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 Choosing the Research Topic - Sources
Reading the literature
Types of reference works:

4. Dictionaries:
5. Encyclopedia: give introductory information about
subjects.
6. Yearbooks: present books about specific years in
the past
7. Unpublished papers: conference papers or
manuscripts circulated among colleagues for
discussion. Up-to-date

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 Choosing the Research Topic - Sources
Reading the literature
Types of reference works:

8. Journals: a collection of papers published

regularly as language, journal of linguistics, journal
of pragmatics, applied linguistics.
9. Textbooks: a good introductory survey, explain
concepts more systematically than research
papers do.
10. Research monograph: single author’s theory or
viewpoint about a topic.

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Choosing the Research Topic – Idea Generation

Narrow down the topic

 What is the right size of the topic that is sufficient for

a MSc / PhD thesis?

E.g. Choose an alternating automotive body material

(PhD Thesis) – It involves to study the material in its
mechanical, thermal, physical properties, safety,
Fuel consumption, lifetime, luxury etc..

 A broad topic can not give sufficient direction to

research, and may necessitate superficial
treatment of the subject.

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Choosing the Research Topic – Idea Generation

 A broad topic can not give sufficient direction to

research, and may necessitate superficial
treatment of the subject.

 A narrow topic will yield inadequate information.

 A too technical topic may demand knowledge you

cannot acquire in the time allotted. Machine
translation…

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Choosing the Research Topic - Focusing
Analysis of example

 Acquisition of English vocabulary – too broad

 Who are the learners? Vocabulary in speaking or

writing? How you go about the research?
Interview, questionnaire?

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Choosing the Research Topic - Focusing
Read the literature review and discuss with researchers

 Researching a general topic and deciding the

research focus through literature review.

 If it is motivated by personal experience or

observation, …read to examine whether it is
worth investigating. Read the abstracts of papers
relevant to your topic. (not studied or different
from others in one or more aspects)

 Discuss with your supervisor or your classmates

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Choosing the Research Topic - Focusing
Why examine past research?

 Learn what is already known

 Learn about various variables that have been
evaluated
 Learn what theories have been proposed
 Discover a question you want to investigate
 Decide on replication, replication with extension,
or original research

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Choosing the Research Topic - Focusing
Developing a research question

 Survey the research literature

 Read the actual article, not just the abstract
 What do you really want to know?
 Is your interest relevant to the improvement of the
quality of life for human beings? I.e. what are the
implications of the research findings if the
hypothesis is or is not confirmed?

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Choosing the Research Topic - Focusing
Expansion of a small set of questions

Topic focus

General Q1 General Q2 General Q3

Specific Qs Specific Qs Specific Qs

It is better to answer few questions thoroughly than

many Qs superficially.
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 Choosing the Research Topic
Factors to be considered
Variable
Is a term ascribed to the characteristic being investigated,
and can take any value in a reasonable range. For example,
blood group, blood pressure, age of patients being studied.

Independent variable Dependent variable

The variable which is assumed to The variable which is assumed to

determine the values of the
dependent (response) variable.
For example, blood pressure
could be deemed to respond to
changes in age.
respond to the values of the
independent (explanatory)
variable. For example, blood
pressure could be deemed to
respond to changes in age.

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 Choosing the Research Topic
Factors to be considered

Unit of Analysis

Units of analysis are the persons, things, or events under

study--the entities that we want to say something
about. Frequently, the appropriate units of analysis are
easy to select.

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The Research Puzzle
CORPORATE
INFORMATION

LIBRARY
STUDENTS
REPOSITORIES

HUMAN
RESOURCES FINANCE
RESEARCH

INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY

FUNDING BODIES RESEARCHERS

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The Research Puzzle

BENCHMARKING&
DATA
COMPLIANCE REPORTING ETHICS & SAFETY

RESEARCH
CONTRACTS GRANTS QUALITY
RESEARCH
R&D
INNOVATION
& IP
RESEARCH HIGHER RESEARCH OUTPUTS
DEGREES

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