RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Introduction to Research

Dr. Dafter Khembo

Introduction to Research
Session Objectives

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

• Define research
• Discuss purposes of research
• Describe the research process
• List methods of research
• Distinguish between dependent and independent variables
• Discuss components of chapter 1 of research proposal
• Discuss procedures to protect human subjects in research
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Overview
• The main purpose of this lesson is to provide an overview of the research
process.
• Many students quiver at the thought of conducting research
• In reality, we all conduct research in our everyday life.
• For example, buying a car involves the research process.
• It involves collecting data to decide between a new or used car, makes
and models, facilities and budget limitations
• Data are collected and analysed to answer the research question: “What
type of car best meets my needs and budget, and where is the best place
to buy it?” This is part of the research process.
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 Introduction to Research

• The term ‘research’ consists of two words: Research: Re+ search ‘Re’
means again and again and ‘search’ means to find out something
• Burn (1994, p. 2) views research as “a systematic investigation to find
answers to a problem”.
• Kerlinger (1986) describes research as a “systematic, controlled, empirical
and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions, facts, the answer to
a question, or the resolution of a problem”.
• Research may be defined as systematic exploration/investigation/enquiry
for gaining knowledge and attaining new facts and verifying the existing
knowledge (Singh, 2010).
These definitions of research highlight research as an investigation to
solve the problem or creation of new knowledge which is systematic and
scientific in its nature with certain methodological process. 4
 Why Conduct Research?
• To generate information that helps give answers to the research problem.
• The information generated serves two main purposes:
• For knowledge: Contributing to knowledge and enhancing our understanding of
issues
• For empowerment: Providing solutions to our problems

The main objective of research in any field is to increase knowledge and to

discover answer to question through the application of scientific procedures
and systematic methods.

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 The purpose of research

• Review existing knowledge;

• Investigate existing situations or problems;
• Generate new knowledge;
• To get academic certificates with consequential benefits appertaining to
them
This is not an exhaustive list of factors motivating people to undertake
research studies.

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The Research Process
• Research process consists of a number of closely related activities.
• These activities overlap continuously rather than following a strictly
prescribed sequence.
• The various steps involved in a research process are not mutually
exclusive, nor are they separate and distinct.
• They do not necessarily follow each other in any specific order and
the researcher has to be constantly anticipating at each step in the
research process the requirements of the subsequent steps.

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Generalised summary of the research
process
• Research idea
• Your research may start as a general idea
• Identify and formulate the research topic or problem
• Select, narrow and formulate the topic or problem to be studied and conduct preliminary literature search.
• Literature search and review
• Read around the subject to help clarify your research topic, questions, and methods. Critically review literature to compare your
research with what has already been done, and to give context. This stage interacts with other stages.
• Research objectives, questions, and hypotheses
• Formulate research questions that identify the phenomenon to be studied.
• Define clear questions and/or hypotheses.
• Research approach, design, and strategy
• Select a research approach and design (A framework / blueprint / guide /plan for conducting the research) that will make it possible to
answer research questions and plan the overall research strategy.
• Identify the data you want to record and from whom/where you are going to collect it (sampling).
• Data collection:
• Data can be collected from both primary and secondary sources
• Data analysis
• In order for data to be useful, you must analyze it.
• Analysis of the raw data is very essential to arrive at the conclusion
• Interpretation and report writing
• The researcher relates the evidence collected to the research question(s), draws conclusions about the question(s) or hypotheses, and
acknowledges limitations of the research. 8
 The Research Process (2)

Literature Theory

Research Problem Questions Hypotheses

area

Design

Context E
m
p
Data i
Collection r
i
c
Pre-empirical Stage a
l
Data Analysis
S
t
a
g
e
Test
Interpretation and Hypotheses
report writing

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 Research Design Continuum
Research Design

Analytical Research Experimental Research

Descriptive Research Pre-designs

Reviews
Quasi-designs
Philosophical Case Study Survey

Historical True-designs
Cross-Sectional
Meta-Analyses
Longitudinal
Statistical-
Correlational designs

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 Analytical Research
• Reviews
• A critical account of present understanding
• A meta-analysis is a quantitative method of review
• Historical Research
• Accessing both primary (e.g. witnesses) or secondary (e.g. literature) sources
to document past events
• Philosophical Research
• Organising existing evidence into a comprehensive theoretical model

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Descriptive Research
• Case Study
• Accrual of detailed information from an individual

• Survey
• Cross-sectional: Status of a various groups at a given
point in time
• Longitudinal: Status of a given group at various points
in time
• Correlational: Relationships between variables

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 Experimental Research
• Experimental research involves a direct assessment of how
one variable influences another
• This allows the establishment of causality
• All extraneous variables must be held constant while a
single variable is manipulated and the effect measured

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 Types of Variables
• Variables: are properties or characteristics of some event, object or
person that can take different values or amounts. It can be measured or
manipulated.
• Dependent Variable = The variable is the ‘effect’ and should only vary in
response to IV. Also known as criterion variable.
• Independent Variable = can be manipulated or allowed to vary. Also
known as predictor variable. This variable is the cause

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Components of Chapter 1 of Research
Proposal
• Chapter 1 of research proposal is an introductory section that
• States the research problem, beginning with description of the background
and significance of the problem. A research problem is significant if its
solution contributes to existing knowledge, practice, research or theory
• Explains how the proposed study is grounded in the research literature
• Suggests its potential contribution to knowledge and/or practice
• Lists the research hypothesis, questions or objectives that the study is
designed to address
• In short, the introductory section of the proposal should convince the
reader that the study is worth doing

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Research Problem Elements
• A research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be
improved, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly
literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need for meaningful
understanding and deliberate investigation.
• Background of the problem: Statement of the general problem area within which
the research project falls, or statement of issues towards which the study is directed
• Statement of the problem: Specifies the variables, relationship between the
variables and the target population.
• Hypothesis, research questions or objectives:
• Significance: How will the study contribute to existing knowledge, practice or
theory?

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Ethics in Research
• Research ethics concerns the responsibility of researchers to be
honest and respectful to all individuals who are affected by their
research studies or their reports of the studies’ results.
• Individuals should consent to participate in studies and those who cannot
give their consent, such as children, people with diminished abilities, and
prisoners, need to be protected.
• Cause no harm to the participants, minimize risks, and maximize possible
benefits.
• Fairness in procedures for selecting participants.

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 Procedures to Protect Study Participants

1. Selection of participants. Choose on random basis (if sampling is done

to avoid hurt feelings)
2. Informed consent. Participants need to know what to expect and that
they can drop out at any time.
3. Privacy and confidentiality. Participants need to know who has access
to their data. If confidentiality is needed, there are three options:
• Anonymous responses
• Third party identification
• Codes

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Conclusion
• Research is a systematic and organized effort to investigate a specific
problem that needs a solution.
• Research is not only undertaken to solve the existing problem, but
also contribute to the formation of knowledge. Thus it is a knowledge
building process.
• Research ethics demands researchers to be honest and respectful to
all individuals who are affected by their research studies

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