Scribd
Upload
72 views

Research Method Chapter One

This document discusses research methods and provides an introduction to key concepts. It defines research, outlines the characteristics and types of research, and describes the eight step research process. Key points covered include definitions of research, motivations for research, descriptive vs explanatory vs exploratory research, and qualitative vs quantitative research approaches.

Uploaded by

Luel Anberber
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
72 views

Research Method Chapter One

This document discusses research methods and provides an introduction to key concepts. It defines research, outlines the characteristics and types of research, and describes the eight step research process. Key points covered include definitions of research, motivations for research, descriptive vs explanatory vs exploratory research, and qualitative vs quantitative research approaches.

Uploaded by

Luel Anberber
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
You are on page 1/ 21

Chapter One

Introduction to Research Methods

Dr. Buzeye Zegeye


ACT American College
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Meanings of Research

Characteristics of Research
Topics
Type of Research

Research Process
After you studied this session, you are expected to be able ,

To explain what a research is,


To identify the features of a good
research,
Objectives
To differentiate the type of research

To understand the process of


research
*The word research is composed
Definitions
of two syllabuses, re and search.

*A careful, systematic, patient


study and investigation in some
field of knowledge, undertaken
to establish facts or principles.
Research is also defined as a structured inquiry that
Cont’d..
utilizes acceptable scientific methodology to solve
problems and creates new knowledge that is
generally applicable.

Research is also defined as search for knowledge


through objective and systematic methods of
finding solutions to a problem or developing
foundational theories.
Motivation for Research
1.Intellectual satisfaction of doing something innovative and
creative
2.Meaningful and long-lasting contribution towards the
advancement of mankind and society
3.Enjoy the challenges of solving unsolved problems
4.Attain higher level of understanding of fundamental concepts as
well as practical significances
1. Purposive
The manager has started the research with a definite aim or
purpose. The focus is on increasing the commitment of
employees to the organization, an increase in employees
commitment will translate into less turnover, less absenteeism.
Characteristics
of Research 2. Rigorous (relevant)
One must be very careful (scrupulous) in ensuring that the procedures
followed to find answers to questions are relevant, appropriate and
justified.
3. Valid and verifiable
This concept implies that whatever you conclude on the basis of your findings,
it should be correct and can be verified by you and others.

Cont’d…
4. Empirical
This means that any conclusions drawn are based upon hard evidence gathered from
information collected from real life experiences or observations.
5. Critical: The methods employed and procedures used should be critically
scrutinized. The process of investigation must be foolproof and free from any
drawbacks. The researcher should not be biased and judgmental during
performing research. The process adopted and the procedures used must be
able to withstand critical scrutiny.
Cont’d…
6. Controlled
In exploring the causality relation b/n two variables, the study must be set in a way
that minimizes the effects of other factors affecting relationship. In social science
research, however, since controlling is almost impossible, the effect of the other
variable must be quantified rather.
7. Systematic

This implies that the procedures adopted to undertake an


investigation follow a certain logical sequence. Every step should go in
chronological order and cannot be taken in a haphazard way. Some

Cont’d… procedures
8. Logical
must follow others.

This implies that research is guided by the rules of logical


reasoning and the logical process of induction and
deduction
Types of Research

1) The Application of the research study:-Pure Research, Applied Research

2) The objective in undertaking the research:-Descriptive research,


Exploratory Research, Explanatory Research

3) The Type of information Sought:-Qualitative and Quantitative Research


Applied/Action Research

If the research is undertaken to solve problem faced at the work setting,


practical questions demanding a timely solution for policy formulation
and administration is called applied research. E.g. A university professor
may be interested to investigate the factors that contribute to
employees absenteeism. After data gathered from different sources, the
professor may identify inflexible work hours, inadequate training of
employees and low morale as factors
Basic/pure Research

Undertaken to generate a body of knowledge by trying to


comprehend how a certain problems that occur in organization
can be solved.
E.G you may thinking about “why entrepreneurship
students do not become entrepreneurs, where as
medical school students become physician?”
Exploratory Research
It is the preliminary study of an unfamiliar problem, about
which the researcher has little or no knowledge
It is aimed to gain familiarity with the problem, to generate new
ideas or to make a precise formulation of the problem
It is also known as formulative research.
1. Taking well-defined theories and applying them in your area
2. Developing your own theories from a scratch
Descriptive
 Is a fact finding investigation which is aimed at describing
systematically a situation, problems, phenomenon, service or program
or a group or state of affairs as it exists at present.
 The main purpose of such studies is to describe what is prevalent with
respect to the issue/problem under study.
 The researcher has no control over the variables. E.g. Customers
frequency of shopping at Mall.
Explanatory Research
 Attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two
aspects of a situation or phenomenon.
 This type of research attempts to explain, for example, why stressful
living results in heart attacks; why a decline in mortality is
followed by a fertility decline; or how the home environment
affects children’s level of academic achievement.
Qualitative Vs Quantitative Research

Quantitative research is employed for measuring the quantity


or amount of a particular phenomena by the use of statistical
analysis.
Qualitative research is a non-quantitative type of analysis which
is aimed at finding out the quality of a particular phenomenon.
The eight-step model for carrying out research

Step VIII Writing a research


Step VII Processing and displaying data
report

Step VI Collecting
Stepdata
V Writing a research proposal
Step IV Selecting a sample
Step III Constructing an instrument for data collection

Step II Conceptualizing a research design

Step I Formulating a research problem


Reading tips

Sekaran, U. (2009). Research methods for business.

Babin, Z. (2005). BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODES 8th ed.


Things you must know to choose your research
topic/title

• Interest
• Work experience
• Expertise
• The magnitude of the problem
• Data
• relevance
.
Dr. Buzeye Zegeye

You might also like