COURSE CONTENT
Unit I : Introduction to Research Methodology.
Unit II : Nature, approach and methods of data
collection in qualitative research.
Unit III : Sampling design.
Unit IV : Defining the Research problem
UNIT V : Research Design 1
UNIT – I
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: AN INTRODUCTION
Meaning of Research
Objectives of Research
Types of Research
Research Approaches
Significance of Research
Research Methods versus Methodology
Research and Scientific Method
Research Process
Criteria of Good Research
Problems Encountered by Researchers
2
Meaning of Research
Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge.
One can also define research as a scientific and systematic search for
pertinent information on a specific topic.
Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, “a careful investigation or inquiry
especially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.”
Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized effort to gain new
knowledge.”
According to Clifford Woody “research comprises defining and redefining
problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting,
organising and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching
conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine
whether they fit the formulating hypothesis”.
3
Objectives of Research
The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden
and which has not been discovered as yet.
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);
To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual,
situation or a group (descriptive research studies)
To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it
is associated with something else (diagnostic research studies)
To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables
(hypothesis-testing research studies).
4
Types of Research
The basic types of research are as follows:
1. Descriptive vs. Analytical:
Descriptive Research, The researcher has to only report what is happening
or what has happened.
Analytical research, on the other hand, the researcher has to use facts or
information already available, and analyze these to make a critical
evaluation of the material.
2. Applied vs. Fundamental:
Applied Research, is an attempt to find solution to an immediate problem
encountered by a firm, an industry, a business or the society.
Fundamental Research, is gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is
called ‘Pure’ or ‘Basic’
5
3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative:
Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount.
It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity.
Qualitative Research is concerned with the aspects related to or involving
quality or kind (motivational research involving behavioral sciences)
4. Conceptual vs. Empirical:
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 the observation or experience with hardly any
regard for theory and system.
6
5. Other Types of Research:
Longitudinal research (on the basis of time)
Laboratory research or field setting or simulation
research on the basis of environment)
Historical research.
Conclusion oriented
7
Research Approaches
1.Quantitative approach: Involves the generation of data in
quantitative form which can be subjected to rigorous quantitative
analysis in a formal and rigid fashion.
This approach can be further sub-classified into inferential,
experimental and simulation approaches to research.
2. Qualitative approach: Such an approach to research generates
results either in non-quantitative form or in the form which are not
subjected to rigorous quantitative analysis.
Generally, the techniques of focus group interviews, projective
techniques and indepth interviews are used.
All these are explained at length in chapters that follow.
8
Significance of Research
• Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and
inquiry leads to invention” is a famous Hudson Maxim in context of
which the significance of research can well be understood.
• Increased amounts of research make progress possible.
• The role of research in several fields of applied economics, whether
related to business or to the economy as a whole, has greatly
increased in modern times.
• Research facilitates the decisions of the policy maker.
The plight of cultivators, the problems of big and small business and
industry, working conditions, trade union activities, the problems of
distribution, even the size and nature of defense services are matters
requiring research.
9
• Research is necessary with regard to the allocation of
nation’s resources.
• Research is necessary in collecting information on the
economic and social structure of the nation.
• These days nearly all governments maintain large staff
of research technicians or experts to carry on this work.
• Research is equally important for social scientists in
studying social relationships and in seeking answers to
various social problems.
10
In addition to what has been stated above, the significance of
research can also be understood keeping in view the following
points:
• To those students who are to write a master’s or Ph.D. thesis, research may
mean a careerism or a way to attain a high position in the social structure;
• To professionals in research methodology, research may mean a source
of livelihood;
• To philosophers and thinkers, research may mean the outlet for new ideas
and insights;
• To literary men and women, research may mean the development of
new styles and creative work;
• To analysts and intellectuals, research may mean the generalizations of
new theories.
11
Research Methods Versus Methodology
Research methods may be understood as all those methods/techniques that
are used for conduction of research. Research methods or techniques*, thus,
refer to the methods the researchers
12
Keeping this in view, research methods can be put into
the following three groups:
• In the first group we include those methods which are concerned
with the collection of data. These methods will be used where the
data already available are not sufficient to arrive at the required
solution;
• The second group consists of those statistical techniques which are
used for establishing relationships between the data and the
unknowns;
• The third group consists of those methods which are used to
evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained.
Research methods falling in the above stated last two groups are
generally taken as the analytical tools of research.
13
Research and Scientific Method
Karl Pearson writes, “The scientific method is one and same in the
branches (of science) and that method is the method of all logically
trained minds …
The scientific method is, thus, based on certain basic postulates
which can be stated as under:
It relies on empirical evidence;
It utilizes relevant concepts;
It is committed to only objective considerations;
It presupposes ethical neutrality,
It results into probabilistic predictions;
Its methodology is made known to all concerned for critical scrutiny
are for use in testing the conclusions through replication;
It aims at formulating scientific theory
14
Research Process
15
Research Process
1.Formulating the research problem;
2. Extensive literature survey;
3. Developing the hypothesis;
4. Preparing the research design;
5. Determining sample design;
6. Collecting the data;
7. Execution of the project;
8. Analysis of data;
9. Hypothesis testing;
10.Generalization and interpretation, and
11. Preparation of the report or presentation of the results,
i.e., formal write-up of conclusions reached. 16
CRITERIA OF GOOD RESEARCH
It is important that it all meet on the common ground of
scientific.
Scientific research to satisfy the following criteria:
The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and
common concepts be used.
The research procedure used should be described in sufficient
detail to permit another researcher to repeat the research for
further advancement, keeping the continuity of what has already
been attained.
The procedural design of the research should be carefully planned
to yield results that are as objective as possible.
The researcher should report with complete frankness, flaws in
procedural design and estimate their effects upon the findings.
17
The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its
significance and the methods of analysis used should be
appropriate. The validity and reliability of the data should be
checked carefully.
Conclusions should be confined to those justified by the data of
the research and limited to those for which the data provide an
adequate basis.
Greater confidence in research is warranted if the researcher is
experienced, has a good reputation in research and is a person of
integrity.
In other words, we can state the qualities of a good research as
under:
Good research is systematic
Good research is logical
Good research is empirical
Good research is replicable 18
Problems Encountered By Researchers
Researchers, particularly those engaged in empirical research, are facing
several problems.
Some of the important problems are as follows:
1. The lack of a scientific training in the methodology of research is a
great impediment for researchers in our country.
2. There is insufficient interaction between the university research
departments on one side and business establishments, government
departments and research institutions on the other side.
3. Most of the business units do not have the confidence that the material
supplied by them to researchers will not be misused and as such they are
often reluctant in supplying the needed information to researchers.
4. Research studies overlapping one another are undertaken quite often
for want of adequate information.
19
5. There does not exist a code of conduct for researchers and inter-
university and inter-department.
6. Researchers face the difficulty of adequate and timely secretarial
assistance, including computer assistance.
7. Library management and functioning is not satisfactory at many
places in tracing out relevant material from them.
8. There is also the problem that many of our libraries are not able to
get copies of old and new Acts/Rules, reports and other government
publications in time.
9. There is also the difficulty of timely availability of published data
from various government and other agencies.
10. The problem of conceptualization and also problems relating to
the process of data collection and related things.
20
