Part 1: Understanding the Research Process and Getting Started

I. What is Research: Definition¹

A careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or problem using

scientific methods. According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie, “Research is a
systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon. Research
involves inductive and deductive methods.”

Inductive research methods are used to analyze an observed event. Deductive

methods are used to verify the observed event. Inductive approaches are associated with
qualitative research and deductive methods are more commonly associated with quantitative
research.

a. Research is conducted with a purpose to understand:

 What do organizations or businesses really want to find out?

 What are the processes that need to be followed to chase the idea?

 What are the arguments that need to be built around a concept?

 What is the evidence that will be required for people to believe in the idea or concept?

b. Characteristics of research

 A systematic approach must be followed for accurate data. Rules and procedures are an
integral part of the process that set the objective. Researchers need to practice ethics
and a code of conduct while making observations or drawing conclusions.

 Research is based on logical reasoning and involves both inductive and deductive
methods.

 The data or knowledge that is derived is in real time from actual observations in natural
settings.

 There is an in-depth analysis of all data collected so that there are no anomalies
associated with it.

 Research creates a path for generating new questions. Existing data helps create more
opportunities for research.

 Research is analytical in nature. It makes use of all the available data so that there is no
ambiguity in inference.
 Accuracy is one of the most important aspects of research. The information that is
obtained should be accurate and true to its nature. For example, laboratories provide a
controlled environment to collect data. Accuracy is measured in the instruments used,
the calibrations of instruments or tools, and the final result of the experiment.

c. What are the types of research?

Following are the types of research methods:

c.1. Basic research: A basic research definition is data collected to enhance

knowledge. The main motivation is knowledge expansion. It is a non-commercial
research that doesn’t facilitate in creating or inventing anything. For example: an
experiment to determine a simple fact.

c.2. Applied research: Applied research focuses on analyzing and solving

real-life problems. This type refers to the study that helps solve practical problems
using scientific methods. Studies play an important role in solving issues that impact
the overall well-being of humans. For example: finding a specific cure for a disease.

c.3. Problem oriented research: As the name suggests, problem-oriented

research is conducted to understand the exact nature of a problem to find out
relevant solutions. The term “problem” refers to multiple choices or issues when
analyzing a situation.

For example, revenue of a car company has decreased by 12% in the last
year. The following could be the probable causes: there is no optimum
production, poor quality of a product, no advertising, or economic conditions.

c.4. Problem solving research: This type of research is conducted by

companies to understand and resolve their own problems. The problem-solving
method uses applied research to find solutions to the existing problems.

c.5. Qualitative research: Qualitative research is a process that is about

inquiry. It helps create in-depth understanding of problems or issues in their
natural settings. This is a non-statistical method.

Qualitative research is heavily dependent on the experience of the

researchers and the questions used to probe the sample. The sample size is
usually restricted to 6-10 people. Open-ended questions are asked in a manner
that encourages answers that lead to another question or group of questions.
The purpose of asking open-ended questions is to gather as much information as
possible from the sample.
 c.6. Quantitative research: Qualitative research is a structured way of
collecting data and analyzing it to draw conclusions. Unlike qualitative methods,
this method uses a computational and statistical process to collect and analyze
data. Quantitative data is all about numbers.

Quantitative research involves a larger population — more people means

more data. With more data to analyze, you can obtain more accurate results. This
method uses close-ended questions because the researchers are typically looking
to gather statistical data.

Online surveys, questionnaires, and polls are preferable data collection

tools used in quantitative research. There are various methods of deploying
surveys or questionnaires.

d. What Is the Purpose of Research?

There are three purposes of research:

d.1. Exploratory: As the name suggests, exploratory research is conducted to

explore a group of questions. The answers and analytics may not offer a final
conclusion to the perceived problem. It is conducted to handle new problem
areas which haven’t been explored before. This exploratory process lays the
foundation for more conclusive research and data collection.

d.2. Descriptive: Descriptive research focuses on expanding knowledge on

current issues through a process of data collection. Descriptive studies are used
to describe the behavior of a sample population. In a descriptive study, only one
variable is required to conduct the study. The three main purposes of descriptive
research are describing, explaining, and validating the findings. For example, a
study conducted to know if top-level management leaders in the 21st century
possess the moral right to receive a huge sum of money from the company
profit.

d.3. Explanatory: Explanatory research or causal research is conducted to

understand the impact of certain changes in existing standard procedures.
Conducting experiments is the most popular form of casual research. For
example, a study conducted to understand the effect of rebranding on customer
loyalty.
II. Research Design and Research Method²

Definition:

 Research design is a plan to answer your research question.

 Research method is a strategy used to implement that plan.

 Research design and methods are different but closely related, because good
research design ensures that the data you obtain will help you answer your
research question more effectively.

a. Which research method should I choose?

It depends on your research goal. It depends on what subjects (and who) you
want to study. Let's say you are interested in studying what makes people happy, or why
some students are more conscious about recycling on campus. To answer these
questions, you need to make a decision about how to collect your data. Most frequently
used methods include:

 Observation / Participant Observation

 Surveys

 Interviews

 Focus Groups

 Experiments

 Secondary Data Analysis / Archival Study

 Mixed Methods (combination of some of the above)

One particular method could be better suited to your research goal than others,
because the data you collect from different methods will be different in quality and
quantity. For instance, surveys are usually designed to produce relatively short answers,
rather than the extensive responses expected in qualitative interviews.

b. What other factors should I consider when choosing one method over another?
Time for data collection and analysis is something you want to consider. An
observation or interview method, so-called qualitative approach, helps you collect richer
 information, but it takes time. Using a survey helps you collect more data quickly, yet it
may lack details. So, you will need to consider the time you have for research and the
balance between strengths and weaknesses associated with each method (e.g.,
qualitative vs. quantitative)

If you are planning to do research - whether you are doing a student research
project, thesis, or dissertation, you need to use valid approaches and tools to set up your
study, gather your data, and make sense of your findings.

Data collection and data analysis are research methods that can be applied to
many disciplines.

This research methods guide will help you choose a methodology and launch
into your research project. The focus of this guide, however, is on two of the most
popular methods: survey and interviews.

c. Where to Begin

1. Defining a Topic & Developing a Research Question

 Pick a topic that interests you (if you don't have a topic yet).

 Carefully review your assignment to make sure your topic is appropriate and
fits the scope of the assignment (if your topic was assigned to you).

 Identify what you know about your topic and the questions you still have.

 Read more tips from one of your librarians for narrowing a topic.

2. Finding Information Sources & Reviewing the Literature

 Start with general background information: e.g. Google search, newspaper

and magazine articles.

 Look for more specialized information: e.g. Scholarly articles and books via
library databases.

 If needed, look for Library Guides or talk to your librarian (subject specialist).

Read more tips from one of your librarians for searching library resources, selecting
and evaluating sources.

Activities:
Test I. Multiple Choice. Choose the best answer from the given choices. Encircle the letter only.

1. Which of the following is TRUE?

a. Accuracy is not an essential aspect of research.

b. Problem oriented research is conducted to understand and resolve

companies own problems.

c. Research is not based on logical reasoning and involves both inductive

and deductive methods.

d. Research method is the tools or instruments used to accomplish the goals

and attributes of a study

2. If you have a specific idea about what is to be researched you should³

a. Follow the twelve steps of selecting a research problem

b. Formulate research objectives

c. Talk to your supervisor

d. Write a research proposal.

3. The research problem determines³

a. How long the report will be

b. How good your research skills are?

c. What methodology will be used

d. The amount of support you get from your supervisor

4. The study population is information about?³

a. Programme

b. Phenomenon

c. People

d. Problem

5. The formulation a research problem is the most ________part of the research journey
because the quality and relevance of the project entirely depends upon it.³

a. Motivating

b. Important
 c. Repetitive

d. Trivial

6. What helps when developing a research question?³

a. Formulating objectives

b. A big budget

c. Specific guidelines in other books

d. Knowledge of the subject area

7. Developing a researchable question would not involve³

a. Assessing the work involved

b. Bearing in mind your technical expertise in the area of research

c. Considering the time and resources available to you

d. Deciding what statistical software to use

8. A research design should provide detailed information about _______________.

a. The study population

b. The data collection methods

c. Ethical issues

d. All of the above

9. Which of the following attribute is related to quantitative research?

a. Describes themes

b. Explores experiences, meanings, perceptions and feelings

c. Covers multiple issues but assembles required information

d. Explains prevalence, incidence, extent, nature of issue, opinions and

attitudes.

10. Processing and displaying data does not depend on

a. Your computer skills

b. Ethical considerations

c. The type of information

 d. The way you want to communicate the findings

Test II. True or False

Directions: Read the following statements carefully. Decide if each statement is true or
false. Write T on the blank if the statement is true, and F if is false. If the statement is false, re-
write or revise it to make it true.

1. A researcher must have a clear idea with regards to what it is that s/he wants to find out
about and not what s/he thinks s/he must find. ³ (T)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. The formulation of a research problem is the most crucial part of the research journey as
the quantity and vanity of the project entirely depends upon it. ³ (F)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

3. The research design is the research journey that will be followed to find answers to the
research problem. (T)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

4. At the start of each research project a researcher has to decide on what research
question will be answered. (T)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Qualitative research is associated with measurement of variables. (F-unstructured, flexible

and open methodology)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
 6. The main function of the research design is to find why we find answers to our research
question. (F)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Merely quantitative research uses research proposals to conceptualize the process that is
proposed to be undertaken. (F)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

8. A research proposal outlines the research process that is to be undertaken so that the
relevance and appropriateness can be examined by others. (F-validity and
appropriateness)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

9. The proposal should start with the proposed structure of the report. (F- start with an
overview of the main area under study)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

10. The choice between quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approach depends on
the aims of enquiry and the use of findings. (T)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Test V. Essay. Answer the question concisely.

1. Generally, what is the process through which a research topic is identified, and do
I have to be an experienced researcher to select a topic of interest to me?

2. There are different types of research models that one might use; can you give me
a general overview and how they might compare?
 3. I have so many ideas I want to study; how can I decide which one is best?

4. What is the "gold standard" of research methods?

5. In what way is a Research Design similar to that which pertains to Research

Method?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Footnotes:

1. www.questionpro.com/blog/what-is-research/amp/

2. https://guides.lib.vt.edu/researchmethods/design-method#:text=What%20isthe%20the
%20difference%, VIRGINIA TECH

3. https://study.sagepub.com/kumar5e/student-resources/checkpoints-by-chapter/formulating-a-
research-problem/multiple-choice, SAGE Publishing