Research Methodology Syllabus

1. Introduction
2. Choosing a Research Advisor
3. Literature Review
4. How to read paper PDF
5. How to write a paper PDF

Q-1.
a) What is research? How a Discoverer differs from Inventor?
Research is a systematic process of inquiry that involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of
information to answer specific questions, solve problems, or develop new knowledge. It’s a way to gain a
deeper understanding of a subject or phenomenon, often to uncover facts, test theories, or explore new
ideas. Research can be conducted in a variety of fields, such as science, technology, social sciences, and
humanities. It generally involves:
1. Identifying a problem or question to explore.
2. Reviewing existing literature or knowledge on the topic.
3. Formulating hypotheses or objectives to guide the investigation.
4. Collecting and analyzing data through experiments, surveys, observations, or other methods.
5. Drawing conclusions and making recommendations based on the findings.
6. Publishing results to share knowledge with the wider community.
Discoverer vs. Inventor
While both a discoverer and an inventor contribute to advancing knowledge or technology, their roles and
contributions are quite distinct:
Discoverer:
• A discoverer is someone who uncovers something that already exists in nature but was not
previously known to people. Discoveries often involve identifying natural phenomena, principles,
or processes that were unknown before.
• Examples of discoveries include the discovery of electricity, penicillin (as a naturally occurring
substance), or the theory of evolution.
• The discoverer reveals or makes something visible to the world, but they don't create it — it's
something that was always there but had not yet been understood or identified.
Inventor:
• An inventor is someone who creates something new, typically through innovative thinking and
practical application. Inventors often design new tools, machines, methods, or technologies that
didn’t exist before.
• Examples of inventions include the telephone, the lightbulb, or the airplane.
• The inventor doesn't just reveal something that exists; they make it possible for others to use it,
often introducing a new concept or device that changes how people live, work, or think.
b) Briefly explain the Exploratory, Descriptive and Explanatory Research.
1. Exploratory Research
Purpose: Exploratory research is conducted when there is little or no prior knowledge about a topic or
problem. The goal is to explore and gain basic insights into an area, often laying the groundwork for more
detailed studies later. It helps identify potential issues, variables, or relationships that might require
further research.
Characteristics:
• Focuses on new or under-researched areas.
• Flexible and open-ended in nature.
• Does not aim to provide conclusive results but rather to gather preliminary data. Example: A
researcher exploring the effects of a new technology on education might conduct exploratory
research to understand what aspects of the technology need further study.
2. Descriptive Research
Purpose: Descriptive research is used to describe characteristics of a population, situation, or phenomenon.
It focuses on answering questions like "what," "where," "when," and "how" rather than "why." The objective
is to provide a detailed and accurate picture of the subject being studied.
Characteristics:
• Involves the collection of data that describes the subject in detail.
• Can involve surveys, case studies, or observational methods.
• Does not explain cause and effect but gives insights into patterns and trends. Example: A market
survey to understand the preferences of consumers for a specific product or researching the average
income levels in a particular area.
3. Explanatory Research
Purpose: Explanatory research seeks to explain the causes, effects, or relationships between variables. It
goes beyond describing a phenomenon and aims to answer "why" or "how" something happens. This type
of research is often used to establish cause-and-effect relationships and build theories.
Characteristics:
• Focuses on identifying and explaining causal relationships.
• Often involves experiments or detailed data analysis.
• Aims to provide a deeper understanding and explanation of the phenomena being studied.
Example: A study that examines how exercise impacts mental health or research exploring the
relationship between educational background and career success.
Q-2.
a) Basic Research Methods are different from applied one: Explain with the help of related examples.
Basic Research vs. Applied Research: Explanation with Examples
Basic Research and Applied Research are two primary categories of research methods. They differ in
their objectives, focus, and outcomes.
1. Basic Research (also called Pure or Fundamental Research)
Purpose: The main goal of basic research is to gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles
or phenomena without a specific practical application in mind. It focuses on expanding knowledge and
theories for the sake of curiosity and understanding.
• Objective: To explore, explain, or predict phenomena in the most general sense. Basic research is
about discovering new facts, theories, or patterns that contribute to the broader knowledge base.
• Example:
o A scientist studying the structure of atoms to understand how matter behaves at a
fundamental level, without any immediate intention of applying this knowledge to solve a
specific problem.
 o A psychologist studying human memory to understand how the brain processes and
stores information.
Key Features:
• Focused on generating new knowledge and theories.
• No immediate practical application.
• Often leads to discoveries that can later have practical uses.
2. Applied Research
Purpose: Applied research is designed to solve practical problems using the knowledge and theories gained
from basic research. It focuses on finding solutions to real-world issues, often with immediate or practical
applications.
• Objective: To use existing knowledge to address specific issues, improve processes, or develop
new products. It is more focused on solving problems than understanding underlying principles.
• Example:
o A medical researcher developing a new treatment for a disease, based on an
understanding of the disease gained through basic research.
o A company conducting market research to identify consumer preferences and improve
their products or services.
Key Features:
• Focused on solving practical problems.
• Uses the knowledge generated from basic research.
• Often leads to innovations, products, or services with immediate impact.

b) How will you briefly differentiate between Time series, Cross Sectional and Longitudinal Methods
of Research?
1. Time Series Research
• Definition: Time series research involves collecting data points or observations over a period of
time at regular intervals.
• Purpose: It focuses on analyzing patterns, trends, and changes over time to forecast future values
or understand past behaviors.
• Example: Tracking monthly sales of a company over several years to understand growth trends
or seasonality.
Key Point: Data is collected from one subject (e.g., a company, economy, etc.) at different time points.
2. Cross-Sectional Research
 • Definition: Cross-sectional research involves collecting data at a single point in time from multiple
subjects or groups.
• Purpose: It provides a snapshot of a situation at one specific moment, helping to compare different
variables or groups.
• Example: A survey conducted on different people’s health status at a specific time to compare
different age groups or regions.
Key Point: Data is collected from multiple subjects or groups at one specific time.
3. Longitudinal Research
• Definition: Longitudinal research collects data from the same subjects over an extended period of
time.
• Purpose: It is used to observe changes over time, track development, or study cause-and-effect
relationships.
• Example: A study of children’s cognitive development over several years to observe how their
thinking and learning evolve.
Key Point: Data is collected from the same subjects at multiple time points.

Q-3.
a) In the context of advanced research methodology, how do inductive and deductive approaches
differ, and what are the implications of each in research?
Difference Between Inductive and Deductive Approaches in Advanced Research Methodology
In advanced research methodology, inductive and deductive approaches are two distinct ways of reasoning
used to develop and test theories. They differ in their direction of reasoning, focus, and approach to
evidence.
1. Inductive Approach
Definition: The inductive approach starts with specific observations or data and moves toward broader
generalizations or theories. It is often used when there is little existing theory or when researchers want to
generate new theories based on observations.
• Process: In inductive research, data is collected and analyzed first, and from this, patterns, themes,
or theories are developed. The process moves from specific observations to broader
generalizations.
• Purpose: To explore, generate hypotheses, or create new theories based on the data collected.
• Example: A researcher observes how different companies approach marketing strategies and,
through pattern recognition, develops a new theory on effective marketing tactics.
Implications:
• Flexible and open-ended: It allows for the development of new theories, making it ideal for
exploring new or less understood phenomena.
• Risk of bias: Since generalizations are based on specific observations, there may be a risk of
drawing incorrect or overly broad conclusions.
• Qualitative Research: Often associated with qualitative research, where detailed observations and
case studies are key.
2. Deductive Approach
Definition: The deductive approach starts with existing theories or hypotheses and tests them through
data collection. It moves from the general to the specific, using existing knowledge to predict outcomes
or explain phenomena.
• Process: In deductive research, researchers begin with a theory or hypothesis and then design
experiments or studies to test it. Data is collected and analyzed to confirm or reject the hypothesis.
• Purpose: To test, validate, or refute existing theories or hypotheses.
 • Example: A researcher may start with a theory that increased social media usage leads to higher
levels of anxiety and conducts a survey to test whether this theory holds true.
Implications:
• Structured and focused: It provides clear hypotheses to test, which makes it easier to measure and
analyze specific variables.
• Limitations in flexibility: Since it is theory-driven, the deductive approach may miss unanticipated
insights or novel findings.
• Quantitative Research: It is often associated with quantitative research, where hypothesis testing
and statistical analysis are prominent.

Implications of Each Approach in Research

1. Inductive Approach:
o Exploratory Nature: Ideal for new or unexplored topics where theories are not yet
developed.
o Flexibility: It can lead to unexpected insights since it’s not bound by preconceived theories.
o Theoretical Contribution: It is often used in theory-building research, as it can provide
the foundation for new theories.
o Qualitative Methods: Commonly used in qualitative methods like case studies,
ethnography, or grounded theory.
2. Deductive Approach:
o Theory Testing: It is well-suited for testing existing theories, making it useful in
hypothesis-driven research.
o Clear Structure: Offers a more structured approach, making it easier to replicate studies
and compare results.
o Quantitative Methods: Commonly used in quantitative research, where statistical testing
can confirm or reject hypotheses.
 b) Can you provide examples illustrating the distinct characteristics and application of these two
methodologies in research?
Inductive Approach Example:
Research Topic: Exploring how social media affects teenage behavior
Characteristics:
• Starting Point: The researcher doesn't have a clear hypothesis or theory at the start.
• Data Collection: The researcher collects qualitative data (e.g., interviews, social media content
analysis, or observational studies).
• Process: The researcher begins with a broad observation of how teenagers are using social media
and its impact on their behavior. Through the analysis of collected data, patterns or recurring themes
emerge, leading to the development of a new theory.
Example:
• A researcher might observe how teenagers interact with social media and note their behaviors, like
increased anxiety, changes in self-esteem, or changes in social interactions.
• The researcher doesn’t start with any assumptions about how social media affects teenagers.
Instead, after analyzing data from interviews and observations, they discover patterns suggesting
that social media use may lead to social comparison, which affects their self-esteem.
• The theory that social media-induced social comparison negatively affects teenage self-esteem
emerges from the patterns found in the data.
Application:
• This type of research is common in qualitative studies where researchers aim to discover new
phenomena or generate new theories.
• The grounded theory approach is a common inductive method, where researchers develop a
theory based on the data collected without preconceived notions.
Deductive Approach Example:
Research Topic: Testing the impact of exercise on weight loss
Characteristics:
• Starting Point: The researcher begins with an established theory or hypothesis.
• Data Collection: The researcher tests this hypothesis through controlled experiments or surveys.
• Process: The researcher begins with a theory (e.g., exercise leads to weight loss) and collects data
to test whether the theory is true in a specific context.
Example:
• A researcher might begin with the hypothesis that regular exercise leads to weight loss based on
previous studies or established knowledge. They then design an experiment where a group of
individuals exercises regularly for a set period (e.g., 3 months).
• After the experiment, the researcher analyzes the data (weight measurements before and after) to
confirm or refute the hypothesis. If the participants lose weight as expected, the hypothesis is
supported; if not, it is rejected or revised.
Application:
• This research is common in quantitative studies where the goal is to test a specific hypothesis
using statistical methods.
• The experimental method or survey-based research is a typical approach for deductive studies
where researchers start with a hypothesis and test it through experiments or structured data
collection.