Research Method

Research Methodology
 Research Methods are the specific
tools and procedures, processes or
techniques you use to collect the
data or evidence for analysis in
Research order to uncover new information
or create better understanding of
Method a topic
(for example, experiments,
surveys, and statistical tests).
 In general, method used to execute a
research

How to collect valid data to be

analyzed
Research A correct strategy would guarantee
Method the validity of the data and in return
guarantee the efficiency of resource
and time

Consideration : what data need to be

discovered ?
 Validity : is this the correct
tool to measure this ?
Reliability : is this
Validity and measurement give an
Reliability accurate result ?
Consider these while
choosing a method
Data Collection
• Data collection is the process of collecting and measuring
information of selected variables in an established
systematic manner.
• Data collection is important factor of research in all fields of
study
• The systematically collected data enables researcher to
answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes.
• Data collection begins after finalization of research problem
Types of Data
• Primary data
• Collected afresh and for the first time
• Original in character
• Secondary data
• Have already been collected by someone else
• Have already been passed through the statistical process
• might not related to the current research field but
collected this data for some other motive and at different
time in the past
Types of Data
• Advantages of Primary • Disadvantages of Primary
Data: Data:
• Original and pertinent to the • To collect primary data coverage is
subject of the research to achieve restricted in size and for larger coverage a
high accuracy in research more number of researchers are required
• Researcher can get a realistic • The cost of the data collection will increase
view about the topic under with increase in time and efforts of more
consideration fromthe primary people, but the importance of the research
data may drop
• Highly reliable because these are • Primary data collection takes lot of time and
collected by the researcher or
efforts.
concerned and reliable party
• Timely responses may not be received from
some respondents
Types of Data
• Advantages of • Disadvantages of Secondary
Secondary Data: Data:
• The data collected by someone else may not
• Secondary data is economical
be as reliable and as accurate compared with
and faster to access primary data
• It imparts a persuasion to the • Data collected at one location may not be
researcher about direction acceptable for the other location because of
he/she should follow for the inconsistent environmental conditions
selected research topic • As time passes the data becomes obsolete and
• Secondary data adds value antiquated
to the research study by • Collected secondary data may pervert the
preserving time, effort, and results of the research
money • To use secondary data a special care and
permissions are necessary to amend or modify
for use
 The Methods:

1.Literature Analysis
What Are 2.Interview
They? 3.Focus Group
4.Questionnaires /
Survey
5.Observation
6.Experiment
 Suitable if the data available
publicly

Literature Articles from journal or

proceedings
Analysis

Report or white paper from a

company’s research, etc
 Involves presentation of
oral-verbal stimuli and
Interview reply in terms of oral-
verbal responses.
 1.Unstructured

In-depth interview / life

history interview

Interview Interviewee speak freely,

no plot or question list

Question can be raised

based on the conversation
 2. Semi-structured

Question list available,

further elaboration is
possible
Interview
3. Structured

Short answer or multiple

choice only.
Question list is a must
 A group of interviewee from
different background discuss on
a certain topic

Used to view topic from different

point of views
Focus Group
Moderator required to maintain
the event, ensure that every
interviewee actively give opinion
and there are no dominant
interviewee
 Questionnaires

Closed- Open-Ended Combination

ended
- The answer choices are
certain
- No certain answer choices,
respondent can freely state the
- Mostly used to collect fact answer
and past preferences - Mostly used to dig on opinion
- Easy to be processed
 Questionnaires
Advantages Weakness

• Low cost • Low rate of return

• Free from the bias of the interviewer • Slowest of all
• Respondents have adequate time to • bias due to no-response is often
give well thought out answers indeterminate
• Respondents, who are not easily • Can be used only when
approachable, can also be reached respondents are educated and
conveniently cooperating
• Large samples can be used • Difficult to know whether willing
• The results can be made more respondents are truly
dependable and reliable representative
Observation

The Information is
Observe on behavior collected by way
of investigator’s
Useful since people tend to own direct
unaware of their own action observation
without asking
Can be used to observe
user’s behavior
from the
respondent
Type of Observation
1.Uncontrolled observation

Observation takes place in the natural setting

To get a spontaneous picture of life and persons
Has a tendency to supply naturalness and completeness of
behavior
No attempt is made to use precision instruments
Take place in case of exploratory researches
Type of Observation
2. Controlled observation

Observation takes place according to definite pre-arranged

plans, involving experimental procedure
Has a tendency to supply formalized data upon which
generalizations can be built with some degree of assurance
Takes place in various experiments that are carried out in a
laboratory or under controlled conditions
 Experiments

• Focuses on investigating a few variables and the ways in

which these are affected by the experimental conditions.
• Used to verify or falsify a previously formulated hypothesis
• The hypothesis is usually formulated as a causal relationship
• Need to consult the literature on experimental design
Discuss
• Can you categorize which method will produce primary data or secondary
data?
• Discuss the appropriate case to conduct a :
Interview
Questionnaire
Focus Group
Observation
Literature Analysis
Experiment
⇒ based on your own idea for the research you have determined last week
Discuss
• Give an example question for :
Interview
Questionnaire
Focus Group
Observation
Literature Analysis
Experiment