RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

By:
Mohammed Ibrahim
@
Mohammed.abdikadir@unibas.ch/fahmi32@hotma
il.com
Out-lines
Ø introduction (definitions)
Ø motives of research
Ø types of research
Ø
What is research methodology?
 Chapter one: Research methodology;
introduction
§ Research Methodology: is the study of conducting
research
§ The word “Research” is composed of two syllables “Re”
and “Search”.
§ “Re” is the prefix meaning ‘Again or over again or a new’
and
§ “Search” is the latter meaning ‘to examine closely and
carefully’ or ‘to test and try’.
•
What is research?
•
INTRODUCTION
What is research?
• Research: is the application of human
intelligence in a systematic manner to a problem
whose solution is not immediately available"
Hertz (1957).
§ Research comprise defining and redefining problems,
formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions;
collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making
deduction and reaching at conclusion 'to determine
whether they fit the formulated hypothesis.
Clifford Woody
§
§ It is a mechanism of collecting, classifying,
analyzing, discussing, summarizing and drawing
valid conclusions about a population based
upon information contained in sample of
measurements from that particular population.

§ It is a scientific and systematic search for

pertinent information on a specific topic.
§
Motivation in doing research
§ Research is not a trouble -free duty rather it is
time consuming, tiresome and expensive
undertaking.
§ Despite these all difficulties many people
especially in academic institutes would like to
carry out research at least once in their life.
Motives
Ø Desire to get Degree
Ø Desire to get respect and promotion
Ø Desire to face a challenge in solving the unsolved
problem
Ø Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work
Ø Directive of government
Ø Employment condition
TYPES OF RESEARCH

Generally research can be classified depends on

i) The basis of the outcome of the research:
Whether the research tries to solve a particular
problem or makes a general contribution to the
knowledge the research can be
A) Fundamental Research (academic or basic or
pure research):
§ Such research is aim at investigating or search for
new principles and laws. It is mainly concerned with
generalization and formulation of a theory.
§ Fundamental research is organized only for the
attainment of knowledge and truth.
§ In general fundamental research is concerned
with the theoretical aspect of science.
§ In other words it studies the laws of nature, with
out or regardless of the immediate application of
its findings.
E.g.
üThe relationship between crime and economic
status
B) Applied research:
§ A research aimed at finding a solution for an
immediate problem facing a society or an
industry (business organization).
§ The results of such research would be used by
either individuals or groups of decision makers
or even by policy makers (government in
general).
§ While pure research discovers principles and
laws, applied research discovers their
application in order to solve some social
problem.
E.g.
üThe improvement of safety in the working place
C. Conceptual research
§ Conceptual research is that related to some abstract
idea(s) or theory.
§ It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to
develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.
D. Empirical research
§ Empirical research relies on experience or observation
alone, often without due regard for system and theory.
§ It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions
which are capable of being verified by observation or
experiment. We can also call it as experimental type of
research.
ii) The basis of the purpose of the Research:

A) Exploratory research(Pilot Survey): also

called preliminary research.

§ Such research is aimed at discovering, identifying

and formulating a research problem and
hypothesis.
§ When there are few or no studies that can be
referred such research is needed.
B) Descriptive Research:
§ The main purpose of such research is description of the
state of nature or affairs as it exists at present.
§ In social and business research, the term ex-post facto
research is used for descriptive research
§ The main characteristic of such research is that the
researcher has no control over the variables; he can only
report what has happened or what is happening.
E.g.
üWhat is the absentee rate in a particular office?
üWhat is the qualification of different groups of
employment?
C. Analytic research
§ Uses facts or information (qualitative/quantitative) already
available, and analyzes them to make a critical
evaluation of the material.

§ Not only describe the characteristics, but also it analyzes

and explains why and how it happened or is happening.
E.g.

üHow can we reduce the numbers of complaints made by

customers?
ü How can we expand the rank of our services?
D. Predictive research
§ Such research goes beyond explaining why and how
things happened. It predicts the possible of happening
similar situation in other places.
§ It tries to explain what is the probability of happening
similar thing in the future.
E.g.
üHow would an increase in inflation rate affect our profit
margin?
iii. On the basis of the process of research:

A). Qualitative research:

§ Such research is applicable for phenomenon that can not

be expressed in terms of quantity. Things related to
quality and kind
E.g.

üHow do students feel about the new autamation services

in Jigjiga university?
B) Quantitative research
§
§ Such research is concerned with quantitative
phenomenon. It is based on the measurement of
quantity or amount.
§ It is applicable for phenomenon that can be expressed in
term of quantity.
iv. On the basis of the environment of research

A) Field research

§ It is a research carried out in the field.

§ Such research is common in social science, agricultural
science, history and archeology
A) Laboratory research
•
§ It is a research carried out in the laboratory.
§ These are commonly experimental researches.
§ Such researches are common in medical science and
agriculture
C) Simulation research
•
§ Such research uses models to represent the real world.
§ Simulation is common in physical science, economics and
mathematics.
V. On the basis of the time of research
A) One -time research
§ It is a research limited to a single time period

B) Longitudinal research (on-going research)

§
§ Is a research carried out over several time periods.
Common objectives of research
§ Any research activity is designed to discover and answer
to questions through the application of scientific
procedure.
§ It is an activity aimed at to find out the truth which is
hidden and which has not been discovered yet or to
verify or reject that the existing phenomenon (theory,
principle or law) accepted as true.
§ Though each research study has its own specific
objectives, any research has got the following common
(general) objectives.
General objectives
Ø To generate new knowledge, principle and scientific law
Ø To review and synthesize existing knowledge. That is, to
verify the validity of the previous work.
Ø To investigate some existing situation or problem
Ø To explain new phenomenon
Ø To examine the cause of the problem
Ø To examine the nature of the problem
Ø To provide solution to a problem
Ø To construct or create a new procedure and new system
Ø Combination of anyone of the above
Research and Scientific method
§ Research and scientific method, are closely related.
§ The researcher is not interested in particular results;
rather he is interested in the repeatability and validity
of results and their application to more complicated and
general solutions.
Common steps in scientific methods to all researches

1. Observation: the first or initial step in the scientific

method is a minute and careful observation of the subject
matter of research.
2. Recording: The next step to observation in scientific
method is a careful recording of all information (data)
obtained in the first step ( i.e., observation).
3. Classification: the collected data (information) have to
be classified and organized. This is a serious step.
4.Generalization: is the extension of general laws and
principles on the basis of the pattern exhibited by the
classified material. This general law is known as scientific
law.
5.Verification: the scientific method does not stop only at
the formulation of general law. The general principle must
be also verified. The validity of scientific principles can be
confirmed by examination.
•
6 primary forms of scientific methods
1. Induction: the movement of knowledge from particular
facts to general rule or principle. To make generalization
based on our knowledge from a particular event or
assessment
2. Deduction: a movement in knowledge from a general
rule to a particular case
3. Historical: historical method is a back ward movement
in knowledge to trace the cause of a phenomenon. (e.g.
Darwin theory of evolution).
4. Comparative: analysis and comparison of two
contemporary (coexisting, present) phenomenon. It is
always undertaken in order to discover new facts or
relations. (e.g. Studies of two government or political
system)
5. Structural: a study of what a things, what are its outline
and significant feature is a structural study ( the
composition of a thing). E.g. Anatomy is a structural study.
6. Functional: in contrast to the structural method,
functional method studies the processes and their cause,
that is, how and why of a thing. E.g. physiology
Methods versus Methodology
Research Methodology : is all those approaches and
techniques that are used in conducting a particular
research.
§ Thus, research methodology; refer to the techniques
researchers use in performing research operations.
Research methodology can be put into
three groups
§ The first group includes approaches or techniques of
data collection.
§ The second group consists of those statistical
techniques used to established relationship between
variables.
§ The third group consists of those techniques involved in
evaluating the accuracy of the result obtained.
 Methods
§ Method: is a way to systematically solve the research
problem. Method can be understood as a science of
studying how research is done scientifically.
§ It is necessary for the researcher to know not only the
research methodology and techniques how to conduct
research but also the methods.
§ That is, researcher not only need to know how to develop
certain indices or test, how to calculate the mean, the
mode, the median or the standard deviation or chi-
square or in general how to apply particular research
techniques, but they also need to know which of these
methodology or techniques, are relevant and what would
they mean and indicate the way.
In briefly
Reseacrh methods: are the tools, techniques or process
that we use in our research (e.g. surveys, interviews,
participant observation etc).
Research methodology: is the study of how research is
done, how we found out about things and how knowledge
is gained. In other words, methodology is about the
principles that guide our research practices. Therefore,
methodology explains why we are using certain methods or
tools in our research.
 Research Processes
§ The research processes consist of a number of closely
related activities. These activities (steps) can overlap
continuously rather than following a strictly prescribed
sequence.
§
 Steps in research processes
• Identification and Formulating the research problem
• Extensive literature survey
• Developing working hypothesis
• Preparing the research design
• Determine sample design
• Collecting data
• Execution of the project
• Analysis of the data
• Hypothesis testing
• Generalization and interpretation
• Reporting the result
Chapter two: Defining and Formulation of
the Research Problem and Hypothesis
§ In research processes, the first step happens to be
identifying and properly defining a research problem.
§ The problem identified initially may be stated in broad
general way and then gradually the ambiguity will be
resolved.
 What is a Research problem?
§ A research problem, in general, refers to some difficulty,
which a researcher faces (experiences) in the context of
both a theoretical or practical situation and wants to
obtain a solution for the same.
 Components of the research problem
1. The decision-maker (which can be individual,
organization, etc.,) who has some difficulties or problem.
2. There must be some objective (goal) to be attained
(achieved) at. If one wants nothing then, cannot have a
problem. The objective of the decision-maker provides
motivation to solve the problem.
3. Alternative courses of action: There must be alternative
means to achieve the desired objective.
4. The environment (or context of the problem) to which
the difficulty pertain.
These environmental factors can be;
o Government regulation (exogenous)
o Resource available (natural resource)
o Technology (endogenous)
o Level of education and the like etc (endogenous)
5. A state of doubts as to which course of action is best.
This means that researcher must answer the question
concerning the relative efficiency.
 Defining the Problem
§ Defining the research problem is crucial and very hard
part of a research process. It is crucial because, the
problem identified will provide us with the topic of the
designed research and the objective of the research.
§ It is the most difficult and hard part of the research study
because; there is a cause and effect issue. That is, it is
commonly difficult to distinguish effect of a problem from
the cause of the problem.
§ The researcher should be certain that the problem
identified is a cause but not an effect. There is a
common say in research that “The problem clearly
stated is a problem half solved”.
•
§ A proper definition of research problem will enable the
researcher to find answers to question such as;
Ø What kind of data and information are relevant and
needed to be studied?
Ø What relationship is to be explored among variables are
expected?
Ø What technique has to be used to collect and analyze
data? And so forth
 Techniques involved in defining a problem
§ The research problem should be defined in a systematic
manner. The technique involved in defining a research
problem has a number of steps, which should be under
taken one after another.
i. Statement of problem in a general way: First of all the
problem should be stated in a broad general way keeping
with some practical, scientific and intellectual interest. For
that purpose the researcher must immerse him completely
in the subject matter, which he wishes to pose a problem.
§ In social science it is advisable to do some field
observation and / or preliminary survey (pilot survey).
§ Then the researcher can himself/herself state the problem
or can seek guidance of the subject expert.
ii. Understanding the nature of the problem: the next
step is to understand clearly the nature and the origin of the
problem. The best way of understanding the problem is:
ü To discuss with those who first raised the problem in
order to know how the problem originally come in view.
ü To discuss it with those who have a good knowledge of
the problem concerned or similar other problem.
iii. Survey the available literature. All available literature
concerning the problem must be studied and examined
before defining research problem.
§ Generally survey literature will help researcher to know
Ø If there are certain gap in the theory
Ø Whether the existing theory applicable to the problem
and consistent with each other.
Ø Whether the findings of the research do or do not follow
a pattern consistent with the theoretical expectation.
Ø Study on a related problem is also useful for indicating
the type of difficulty that may be encountered in the
present study.
iv. Developing ideas through discussion: Discussion on
a problem produces useful information.
§ Various new ideas can be discovered and developed
through it. The researcher should discuss his problem
with colleagues and others who have enough experience
in the same area. Such practice is called ‘experience
survey”
v. Rephrasing the research problem (reformulation of
the problem):
§ Finally the researcher at this stage should be able to
reformulate the problem that has been stated in broad
and general way in to working proposition.
§ The researcher should narrow and break down the
problem into its components variables and relationship.
§ That is, problem should be expressed as:
a) a relationship between two or more variable
b) the problem should be stated either in question form or
hypothesis form
A) Question form is appropriate mostly when the research
is descriptive in nature.
§ What important is that when a researcher state the
problem in question form the formulated problem should
be free from ambiguity and the relationship among
variables should be clearly expressed
E.g.
Does a relationship exist between income of university
students and score on their exams?
Is there a relationship between employees' age and their
productivity?
Does a relationship exist between the men circumcision
and sensitivity to HIV virus?
 Evaluation of the problem
§ Before the final decision is made on the investigation of
the problem, the feasibility of the problem has to be
tested with regard to personal suitability of the
researcher and social value of the problem.
§ In short, the research problem should be evaluated in
terms of the following criteria.
v Is the problem researchable? (r/nship b/n variables)
v Is the problem new? (should be new)
v Is the problem significant? (fill the gaps)
v Researcher competence: (skills & competence)
v Interest and enthusiasm:
v Financial consideration : (sufficient resources)
v Time requirement: (sufficient time)
v Administrative consideration: (pay all admin. Matters)
B) Hypothesis form is employed when the state of the
existing knowledge and theory permits formulation of
reasonable prediction about the relationship of
variables.
§ The word hypothesis is a compound of two words, “hypo”
and “thesis”. Hypo means, under or below and thesis
means a reasoned theory or rational viewpoint. Thus,
hypothesis would mean a theory, which is not fully
reasoned.
§ Hypotheses are a set of suggested tentative solution
of a research problem, which can be or may not be a
real solution.
§ Research hypothesis differs from research question in
that, hypothesis both indicate the question in
testable form and predict the nature of the answer.
§ Hypothesis proposes a relationship between two or more
variables.
 Establishing a hypothesis should
follow the rules
ü The variables must be clearly specified and measurable
by some techniques we know
ü The relationship between them must be stated precisely.
 Importance of Hypothesis
§ A well-grounded hypothesis provides the following
advantages
Ø Represents specific objective, which determine the
nature of the data needed to test the proposition
Ø Offer basis for selecting the sample, the research
procedure, and the statistical analysis needed.
Ø Keeps the study restricted in scope thereby
preventing it from becoming too broad
Ø Sets a framework for reporting the conclusion of the
study.
 Criteria of usable hypotheses
§ Hypotheses can be useful if and only if they are carefully
formulated. There are several criteria used to evaluate
hypothesis. These criteria include the following;
Ø Hypotheses should be clearly and precisely
formulated
Ø Hypotheses should be formulated in such way that, they
can be tested or verified (should be testable)
Ø Hypothesis should state explicitly the expected
relationship between variables
Ø Hypotheses should be limited in scope. Hypotheses of
global significance are not usable as they are not
specific and simple for testing and drawing conclusions.
Ø Hypotheses should be consistent with the known
facts. In other words hypotheses should be grounded in
a well-established facts, theories or laws.
Ø Hypotheses should be stated as far as possible in
simple terms.
Ø The hypotheses selected should be amendable to
testing with in a reasonable time.
•
 Example of hypothesis
Political participation increases with education

Variable one (independent variable), relationship, variable

two (dependent variable)
 Sources of Research problem
v Professional experience (own experience)
v Inference from theory
v Technological and social changes ( policy issues)
§ The following points may be considered in selecting
a research problem.
Ø A subject that is overdone should not be normally
chosen, for it will be a difficult task to throw any new light
to such a case.
Ø Governmental subjects should not become a choice of
an average researcher.
Ø Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided.
Ø The subject selected for research should be familiar and
feasible so that the related research material or source
of research is within one’s reach.
Home assignment
1. Choose your own title and set research problem and
hypothesis for your tiltle?
2. Write one sentence about the type of research you
selected and why?
THANK YOU