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Research Methodology
ENV4103
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Outlines of Lecture
Definition and Scope
 Method and Methodology
 Goals of Research
 Areas of Research
 Typology of Research
 Criteria of a good research
 Research Environment
 Environmental Science Research
 Characteristics of Research
The word ‘Research’ originates from the Old French
word rechercher that meant to ‘search again’. It
implicitly assumes that the earlier search was not
exhaustive and complete and hence repeated search is
called for.
In practice, the term ‘research’ refers to a scientific
process of generating an unexplored horizon of
knowledge, aiming at discovering facts, solving a
problem and reaching a decision.
Definition: Research is a scientific approach of
answering a research question, solving a problem or
generating new knowledge through a systematic and
orderly collection, organization, and analysis of
information with an ultimate goal of making the
research useful in decision-making.
There are two major branches of research. These are : i.
Basic research or fundamental research or exploratory research
or pure research, and ii. Applied research or non-fundamental
research or problem-oriented research.
Basic research is concerned with exploration of new avenues
of knowledge. This research directs towards finding
information that has broad base application and adding
knowledge to the already existing organized scientific
knowledge.
Some of the examples of basic research are formulation of a
theory, generalization of human behaviour, knowing the
causes of infecting tree species, identifying a new pollutant,
uncovering the pathway of how a pollutant sustains in the
atmosphere, developing a method to test water quality
parameters etc.
Applied research seeks practical solution to well-defined and
immediate problems faced by a society, an industry, a business
organization etc. The central aim of applied research is to
discover solution for a practical problem. Experimenting a
species trial to choose the best species to be planted in a certain
area, examining how a pollution tax impacts the emission rate
of the pollutant, examining the efficacy of locally available
materials in disinfecting drinking water, identifying the factors
affecting a student’s choice of a discipline for undergraduate or
graduate studies are some examples of applied research.
Research may also be classified based on the domain of
research being addressed. Thus, there are scientific, literary,
theoretical, linguistic and market researches.
Scientific research relies on the application of the
scientific method, a harnessing of curiosity. This
research provides scientific information and
theories for the explanation of the nature and the
properties of the world around us. In addition,
scientific research makes practical application
possible.
Research may also be carried out in historical
perspective. Such research is known as historical
research. Historical research is embodied in the
historical method. The historical method comprise
the techniques and guidelines by which historians
use historical sources and other evidences to
research and then to write history.
Research is although done for many different purposes in
many different ways, broader objectives of research are:
i. To provide truth, which is hidden and has not been
discovered yet;
ii. To seek explanation of known event or observation;
iii. To prove or disprove the hypothesis about an object or
phenomenon;
iv. To uncover a new information, and
v. To provide a practical solution to an existing problem.
The product of research is information, which can be
categorized as discovery and invention.
Discovery refers to the identification of an object or order,
which has not been known before. Discovery indicates chance
of getting something which has existence, but unknown.
An invention is the product which has never been formed
under natural conditions. Researchers explore naturally
occurring patterns to produce such products. Thus, inventions
are the results of applied research.
Scientific research in any field of inquiry involves three basic
operations:
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Report writing
Data collection refers to observing, measuring and recording data or
information.
Data analysis refers to arranging and organizing the collected data so
that we may be able to find out what their significance is and
generalize about them.
Report writing is the final outcome of the study. Its purpose is to
convey information contained in it to the readers or audience.
Methods and Methodology
Research method means the research techniques or tools used

for conducting research irrespective of whether the research
belongs to physical or social sciences or to any other disciplines.
Research methodology is a way to study the various steps that
are generally adopted by a researcher in studying his research
problems systematically along with the logic, assumptions and
rationale behind them.
Distinction between research method and methodology
Research Method Research Methodology
1. Research methods are the 1. Research methodology explains and

techniques and tools by which research justifies the techniques and tools by
into a subject or a topic will be which somebody may proceed with his
conducted. research.
2. Research methods involve the tasks 2. Research methodology involves the

of conducting experiments, tests, learning of various techniques to
surveys and the like utilizing the conduct research and acquiring
knowledge and skills learned through knowledge to perform tests,
research methodology. experiments, surveys and critical
studies.
3. Research methods aims at finding 3. Research methodology aims at the
solutions to research problems. employment of the correct procedures
to arrive at a solution.
4. Research methods are the end of any 4. Research methodology is the
scientific or non-scientific research. beginning of any scientific or non-
scientific research.
Goals of Research
The primary goal or purpose of research in any field of inquiry is
to add to what is known about the phenomenon under investigation
through the application of scientific methods. Though each
research has its own specific goals, yet the following broad goals
of a scientific research may ne enumerated:
• Exploration
• Description
• Causal explanation
• Prediction
Areas of Research
Research may be conducted in many fields of inquiry. The most important
fields of research, among others, are social research, health research, and
business research. Name of these research areas are given below:
• Social Research
• Health Research
• Population Research
• Business Research
• Marketing Research
• Advertising Research
• Agricultural Research
• Biomedical Research
• Clinical Research
• Outcomes Research
• Internet Research
• Archival Research
• Empirical Research
• Legal Research
• Education Research
• Engineering Research
Research environment
Researchers can be pictured as the creator of information. A
researcher would be effective and creative; intellectually honest
through to invent or discover; imaginative, i.e., be able to process
abstract ideas, eager to share experiences with others, and open to
constructive criticism from peers.
A researcher should have very good environment to produce a
fruitful and quality product. A researcher needs a very good
working environment. He or she needs a good residence without
disturbance from anyone, with nice kitchen and toilet facilities. A
researcher should be free from any anxiety and be financially
solvent.
Environmental Science Research
Environmental Science and Pollution Research mainly focuses on local, regional
and international issues related to the impacts of legislation, regulation,
development, and the economy on the state of environment and pollution. In
environmental science research, investigations are made to examine the deviation
of environment from its natural and stable composition, causes and consequences
of the deviations, and possible solutions to the problems. Most of the
environmental problems are created by anthropogenic intervention into the natural
harmony of environment. While some environmental law and policies are vested
to check environmental deterioration, most economic policies favor unscrupulous
development with little or no consideration for environmental stability. Thus, the
study of the impacts of law and policy on environment is quite common and
constitutes the biggest avenue of research in environmental science.
Research methodology and research methods
Research methodology is the systematic way of conducting

research. This includes many steps and techniques termed as
methods. Thus, ‘research methodology’ is a broader term
compared to the term, ‘research method’.
Research methods are techniques and tools to be used in a
research being accomplished. Collection, analysis, and
interpretation of data, calculation of statistical attributes like
mean, correlation co-efficient, confidence interval, formulating
hypothesis etc. are all research methods.
Criteria of a Good Research
A good research is systematic, logical, and capable of addressing
contemporary issues. It should have flawless data collection
procedure, sound and relevant methodology to analyze data,
unbiased and efficient parameters, and acceptable level of
consistency for repeated replications, and sequential scientific
steps. A good research uses common methodology, produces new,
true and important information and follows standard rules in
writing manuscript. A good research also follows a good research
design that makes the research cost effective and easily
executable.
Characteristics of Research
Keeping it in mind that research in any field of inquiry is undertaken to provide
information to support decision-making in its respective area. Some desirable
characteristics of research is given below:
1. The research should focus on priority problems.
2. The research should be systematic. It emphasizes that s researcher should employ
a structured procedure.
3. The research should be logical. Without manipulating ideas logically, the
scientific researcher cannot make much progress in any investigation.
4. The research should be reductive. This means that findings of one researcher
should be made available to other researchers to prevent them from repeating the
same research.
5. The research should be generative. This is one of the valuable characteristics of
research because answering one question leads to generating many other new
questions.
6. The research should be action oriented. In other words, it should be aimed at
reaching a solution leading to the implementation of its findings.
7. The research should follow an integrated multidisciplinary approach, i.e.
research approaches from more than one discipline is needed.
8. The research should be participatory in nature, involving all parties
concerned (from policy makers down to community members) at all stages of
the study.
9. The research must be as much cost-effective as possible.
10. Results of the research should be presented in formats most useful for
administrators, decision makers, business manager or the community
members.

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Research Methodology

Research method means the research techniques or tools used

1. Research methods are the 1. Research methodology explains and

2. Research methods involve the tasks 2. Research methodology involves the

Research methodology is the systematic way of conducting

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