RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY
VS METHOD
Program- MMS SEM II
Course name- Business Research
Methods
Methodology vs Method
Methodology Method

◦ It is the beginning.
◦ The end of any scientific or
◦ The technique(s)/how to
non-scientific research.
conduct research.
◦ The actual tools/steps taken by
◦ The study about the tools of
research. which you conduct research

◦ Explains the methods by which into a subject or a topic.

the research can be proceeded.
 Methodology vs Method

Methodology Method

◦ Paves the way for research

◦ Involves conducting
methods to be conducted properly.
experiments, tests, surveys.
◦ Involves the learning of the

various techniques that can be ◦ Aims at finding solutions to

used in the conduct of research.
research problems.
◦ Aims at the employment of the

correct procedures to find

solutions to research problems.
Exploratory or
Formulative Research

Exploratory

Exploratory research is preliminary study of an

unfamiliar problem about which the researcher
has little or no knowledge.
 Purpose

◦To generate new ideas

◦To increase the researcher’s familiarity with the

problem

◦To make a precise formulation of the problem

◦To gather information for clarifying concepts

◦To determine whether it is feasible to attempt the

study.
 Descriptive Research

◦ Descriptive study is a fact- finding investigation with

adequate interpretation.

◦ It is the simplest type of research.

◦ It is designed to gather descriptive information and

provides information for formulating more sophisticated
studies.

◦ Data are collected using observation, interview and mail

questionnaire.
 Purpose
◦ It can focus directly on a theoretical point.

◦ It can highlight important methodological aspects

of data collection and interpretation.

◦ Descriptive studies are valuable in providing

facts needed for planning social action programs.

◦ For example, researchers might use a descriptive

methodology to understand the effects of climate
change on the life cycle of a plant or animal.
Diagnostic Study

◦It is directed towards discovering what is

happening, why is it happening and what can
be done about.

◦It aims at identifying the causes of a problem

and the possible solutions for it.
Purpose

◦This study may also be concerned with

discovering and testing whether certain
variables are associated.

◦To determine the frequency with which

something occurs or with which it is associated
with something else.
 Evaluation Studies

◦ It is one type of applied research.

◦ It is made for assessing the effectiveness of social

or economic programs implemented or for assessing
the impact of developmental projects area.

◦ The determination of the results attained by some

activity designed to accomplish some valued goal or
objectives.
Purpose

◦It is directed to assess or appraise the quality

and quantity of an activity and its performance.

◦To specify its attributes and conditions required

for its success.
Action Research

◦Researcher attempts to study action. E.g.

Eradication of Malaria,

◦Action research is a reflective process of

progressive problem solving led by individuals
working with others in teams or as part of a
"community of practice" to improve the way
they address issues and solve problems
Purpose

◦ A baseline survey of the pre-action situation

◦ A feasibility study of the proposed action program

◦ Planning and launching the program

◦ Concurrent evaluation of the program

◦ Making modifications and changes in the program

Experimental Research
◦Experimental research is commonly used in
sciences such as sociology and psychology,
physics, chemistry, biology and medicine.

◦It is a systematic and scientific approach to

research in which the researcher manipulates
one or more variables, and controls and
measures any change in other variables.
Purpose

◦Experiments are conducted to be able to

predict phenomenon.

◦To maintain control over all factors.

◦A blueprint of the procedure that enables the

researcher to test their hypothesis.
Analytical Study

◦Analytical study is a system of procedures and

techniques of analysis applied to quantitative
data.

◦A system of mathematical models or statistical

techniques applicable to numerical data.
Purpose

◦It aims at testing hypothesis and specifying

and interpreting relationship.

◦It concentrates on analyzing data in depth and

examining relationships from various angles by
bringing in as many relevant variables as
possible in the analysis plan.
 Historical Research

◦ The systematic collection and evaluation of data

related to past occurrences in order to describe
causes, effects, and trends of those events that may
help explain present events and anticipate future
events.

◦ Data is often archival-including newspaper clippings,

photographs, etc.- and may include interviews.
 Purpose
◦ To draw explanations and generalizations from the past
trends in order to understand the present and to anticipate
the future.

◦ It enables us to grasp our relationship with the past and to

plan more intelligently for the future.

◦ The past contains the key to the present and the past and
the present influences the future.

◦ It helps us in visualizing the society as a dynamic organism

and its structures and functions as evolving, steadily
growing and undergoing change and transformation.
Survey Research

◦ Survey research is one of the most important areas of

measurement in applied social research. The broad area
of survey research encompasses any measurement
procedures that involve asking questions of respondents.
A "survey" can be anything: a short paper-and-pencil
feedback form to an intensive one-on-one in-depth
interview.
Purpose

◦ It is always conducted in a natural setting.

◦ It seeks responses directly from the respondents.

◦ It can cover a very large population.

◦ A survey may involve an extensive study or an intensive study.

◦ A survey covers a definite geographical area, a city, a district

or a state.
Case Study

◦ A case study is a research methodology common in

social science.

◦ It is based on an in-depth investigation of a single

individual, group, or event to explore causation in order
to find underlying principles
Purpose

◦ To examine limited number of variables

◦ case study methods involve an in-depth, longitudinal

examination of a single instance or event.

◦ It provides a systematic way of looking at events,

collecting data, analyzing information, and reporting the
results
Field research

◦ Field research has traditionally been thought different

from methods of research conducted in a laboratory or
academic setting.

Purpose

◦ The advantages of field research are that people are

closer to real world conditions and design the research in
the best way to discover the particular information
required.
 Quantitative
Methodologies
◦ Quantitative methodologies use statistics to analyze numerical data
gathered by researchers to answer their research questions.

◦ Quantitative methods can be used to answer questions such as:

◦ What are the relationships between two or more variables?

◦ What factors are at play in an environment that might affect the

behavior or development of the organisms in that environment?

◦ Quantitative methods can also be used to test hypotheses by

conducting quasi-experimental studies or designing experiments.
 Quantitative
Methodologies
◦ Correlational research: Correlational research compares
two variables to reach to a conclusion about whether
there is a relationship between the two. One needs to
consider for external variables that could cause an
apparent relationship.

◦ Quasi-experimental/Quasi-comparative: Researchers
attempt to determine what (if any) effect a variable can
have. These studies may have multiple independent
variables (causes) and multiple dependent variables
(effects).
Independent and Dependent
Variables

o In quantitative research, a variable is something (an

intervention technique, a pharmaceutical, a temperature, etc.)
that changes.
o There are two kinds of variables: independent variables and
dependent variables.
o In the simplest terms, the independent variable is whatever the
researchers are using to attempt to make a change in their
dependent variable.
Example Quantitative
Method
◦ Suppose your qualitative analysis shows that your
customers are looking for social media-based customer
support. In that case, quantitative analysis will help you
see how many of your customers are looking for this
support.

◦ If 10% of your customers are looking for such a service,

you might or might not consider offering this feature. But, if
40% of your regular customers are seeking support via
social media, then it is something you just cannot overlook.
 Example Quantitative
Method
◦ Consider a researcher who conducted a quantitative survey among parents of children

aged 1-8 years to study how many parents are fine with their children using phones. A

total of 150 participated in the survey, where they rated their agreement on a 7-point

scale.

◦ Method: To find the average perspective of parents on giving mobile phones to children,

the researcher finds the average of all 150 collected values

◦ Result: The results of the survey show the following insights:

◦ The average rating was 4.6, indicating a tendency towards agreement regarding giving mobile

phones to children.

◦ 20% of respondents “strongly agreed” (rated 7), 45% “agreed” (rated 6), and 17% “slightly

agreed” (rated 5).

◦ 13% of respondents were “neutral” (rated 4).

◦ Only 5% “slightly disagreed” (rated 3), and 0% “disagreed” or “strongly disagreed.”

◦ We can see from the analyzed data that most parents are more likely to provide their

children with mobile phones in today’s technological world.

o A study conducted in Kerman, Iran, in 2010-2011, wanted to find the
correlation between computer games and behavioral problems in
adolescent boys.
o The study involved 384 male school students with a questionnaire and
Achenbach’s Youth Self-Report (YSR) to assess their behavior problems.
o The YSR evaluates various issues, such as anxiety, depression, social
problems, and more, comprising 10 categories.
o Data collection method: The students filled out the questionnaire form
regarding computer game usage, including how likely they were to play
those games and if they contained any violent content.
o Result: There was a 95% correlation between time spent on computer
games and students’ depression/anxiety, social problems, aggressive
behavior, and more.
o Researchers observed that 17% showed aggressive behaviors, 12% had
depression/anxiety, 9% had rule-breaking problems, and 6.4% had social
issues.
Discussion Activity

◦“Research is much concerned with proper fact

finding, analysis and evaluation”. Do you agree
with this statement? Give reasons in support of
your answer.

◦“ Empirical research in India in particular

creates so many problems for the researchers”.
State the problems that are usually faced by
such researchers.