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Research Methodology-An Introduction

The document provides an introduction to research methodology, defining research as a systematic pursuit of knowledge that contributes to existing knowledge. It outlines various objectives and types of research, including descriptive, analytical, applied, fundamental, quantitative, qualitative, conceptual, and empirical research. Additionally, it discusses different research approaches and emphasizes the significance of research in understanding social relationships and informing government policies.

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6 views

Research Methodology-An Introduction

The document provides an introduction to research methodology, defining research as a systematic pursuit of knowledge that contributes to existing knowledge. It outlines various objectives and types of research, including descriptive, analytical, applied, fundamental, quantitative, qualitative, conceptual, and empirical research. Additionally, it discusses different research approaches and emphasizes the significance of research in understanding social relationships and informing government policies.

Uploaded by

Nirmayee Panda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Research

Methodology:
An Introduction
What is Research? Search for
knowledge

Scientific and
systematic
Inquisitiveness search for
pertinent
information

Research
Art of
Voyage of scientific
discovery investigation

Movement
from the Search for
Known to the new facts
Unknown
Definitions of Research
According to Clifford Woody, Research comprises defining and
redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested
solutions; collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making
deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully
testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the
formulating hypothesis.

D. Steiner and M. Stephenson in the Encyclopedia of


Social Sciences define research as “the manipulation of
things, concepts or symbols for the purpose of generalizing to
extend, correct or verify knowledge, whether that knowledge
aids in construction of theory or in the practice of an art.”
Definitions of Research
Key Takeaways from the definitions;

 Research is, thus, an original contribution to the existing stock of


knowledge making for its advancement
 It is the pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation,
comparison and experiment
 It is an objective search for knowledge which
employs a systematic method of finding a solution
Objectives of Research
Though each research study has its own specific purpose, we may think of research objectives
as falling into a number of following broad groupings:

1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this
object in view are termed as exploratory or formulative research studies)

2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a


group(studies with this object in view are known as descriptive research studies)

3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated
with something else (studies with this object in view are known as diagnostic research
studies)

4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as
hypothesis-testing research studies).
Types of Research
1. Descriptive versus Analytical Research

• Descriptive research includes surveys and fact finding enquiries


whose major purpose is to provide a description of the state of affairs as
it exists at present. In social science of business research, this is also
known as Ex Post Facto Research. Here the researcher has no control
over the variables, he/she can only report what has happened or what is
happeneing i.e.frequency of shopping, preferences of people etc. It
could also include attempts by researchers to discover causes (even
when they cannot control the variables). The methods of research
include survey methods-comparative and correlational methods.

• Analytical research is concerned with the usage of facts or


information already available and is concerned with the analysis of
these facts to make a critical evaluation of the material.
Types of Research
2. Applied (Action) versus Fundamental (Pure) Research

• Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem


facing a society or an industrial/business organization. Research aimed at
certain conclusions (i.e. a solution) to a social or business problem is an example of applied
research. Research to identify social, economic or political trends that may affect a
particular institution, market research or evaluation research are examples of applied
research. Thus, the central aim of applied research is to discover a solution for some
pressing practical problem.

• Fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalizations and


with the formulation of a theory. Research concerning some natural phenomenon
or relating to pure mathematics are examples of fundamental research. Similarly, research
concerning human behaviour carried on with a view to make generalizations about human
behaviour, are also examples of fundamental research. Such research is directed towards
finding information that has a broad base of applications and thus, adds to the already
Types of Research
3. Quantitative versus Qualitative Research

• Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount. It is


applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity. Eg: A study of the
National Income Accounts or GDP/GNP growth rate, Consumer Price Index (CPI).

• Qualitative research is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena


relating to or involving quality or kind. Eg: Motivation Research-aims at discovering the
underlying motives and desires, using in depth interviews for the purpose. Other
examples include- word association tests, sentence completion tests, story completion
tests and similar other projective techniques.
Types of Research
4. Conceptual versus Empirical Research

• Conceptual research is 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.

• 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 and is also known as
experimental research. Such research is characterized by the experimenters control over
the variables under study and his/her deliberate manipulation of one of them to study its
effects. Empirical research is also appropriate when proof is sought that certain variables
affect other variables in some way.
5. Other types of Research

• One-time research/ longitudinal research- In the former case the


research is confined to a single time-period, whereas in the latter case the research is
carried on over several time-periods

• Field-setting research or laboratory research or simulation research- depending on the


environment in which research is conducted.

• Clinical or diagnostic research- case-studies or in-depth approaches which go deep into


the causes of things or events of interest, using very small samples and very deep probing
data gathering devices

• Exploratory or formalized research- exploratory research is concerned with


the development of hypotheses rather than their testing, whereas formalized research
studies are those with substantial structure and with specific hypotheses to be tested
5. Other types of Research

• Historical research utilizes historical sources like documents, remains, etc. to study
events or ideas of the past, including the philosophy of persons and groups at any remote
point of time

• Conclusion-oriented and decision-oriented research- conclusion oriented research gives


the researcher the freedom to pick up a problem, redesign the enquiry as he/she
proceeds and is prepared to conceptualize as he/she wishes. Whereas, decision oriented
research employs a decision maker and the researcher is not free to embark upon
research according to his own inclination. Operations research is an example of decision
oriented research since it is a scientific method of providing executive departments with a
quantitative basis for decisions regarding operations under their control.
Research
Approaches

Quantitative Qualitative

• Inferential • Attitudes
• Experimental • Opinions
• Simulation • Behaviour
Scientific and
Inductive
Enquiry

Planning
Social Problems in
relationships Business and
Industry

Significance of
Research

Government
Research
Policies

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