Research Methodology

Dr. Gangu Naidu Mandala

MA,M.Com, MBA, PhD
Department of Professional Studies
CHRIST (Deemed to be University)
Central Campus, Bengaluru
 Unit – 1
Introduction to Research

10 Hours
Meaning,
Objectives,
Types of research,
significance of research,
research process,
criteria of good research,
Review of Literature,
Identification, selection and Defining research problem.

Senthil Kumar A.
 Research - Meaning

Research is - an endeavour - to discover answers - to intellectual and practical

problems - through the application of scientific method.

“Research is a systematized effort to gain new knowledge”.

-Redman and Mory.

Research is the -systematic process of - collecting and analyzing

information (data) - in order to increase our understanding of the
phenomenon - about which we are concerned or interested.
 Objectives of Research
The purpose of research is to discover answers through the application of
scientific procedures.

The objectives are:

To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it –

Exploratory or Formulative Research.
To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation
or a group – Descriptive Research.
To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is
associated with something else – Diagnostic Research.
To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables – Hypothesis-
Testing Research.
 Characteristics of Research

Research is directed towards the solution of a problem.

Research is based upon observable experience or empirical evidence.
Research demands accurate observation and description.
Research involves gathering new data from primary sources or using existing
data for a new purpose.
Research activities are characterized by carefully designed procedures.
Research requires expertise i.e., skill necessary to carryout investigation,
search the related literature and to understand and analyze the data gathered.
Research is objective and logical – applying every possible test to validate the
data collected and conclusions reached.
Research involves the quest for answers to unsolved problems.
Research requires courage.
Research is characterized by patient and unhurried activity.
Research is carefully recorded and reported.
 SCIENTIFIC METHOD
 ‘Science’ refers to the body of systematic and organised
knowledge which makes use of scientific method to acquire
knowledge in a particular field of enquiry.

 Scientific method is the systematic collection of data (facts) and

their theoretical treatment through proper observation,
experimentation and interpretation.

 Scientific method attempts to achieve a systematic interrelation of

facts by experimentation, observation, and logical arguments from
accepted postulates and a combination of these three in varying
proportions.
 BASIC POSTULATES
IN SCIENTIFIC METHOD

• 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.
• The methodology is made known.
• Aims at formulating scientific theories.
 CRITERIA OF A GOOD RESEARCH

• Purpose clearly defined.

• Research process detailed.
• Research design thoroughly planned.
• High ethical standards applied.
• Limitations frankly revealed.
• Adequate analysis for decision maker’s needs.
• Findings presented unambiguously.
• Conclusions justified.
• Researcher’s experience reflected.
 QUALITIES OF A GOOD RESEARCH

• Systematic
• Logical
• Empirical
• Replicable
• Creative
• Use of multiple methods
 NEED FOR RESEARCH

• Exploration
• Describe
• Diagnose
• Hypothesis
• Inductions and deductions
SCOPE / SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH
• RESEARCH FOR DECISION MAKING
• Throws light on risks and uncertainty
• Identify alternative courses of action
• Helps in economic use of resources
• Helps in project identification
• Solves investment problems
• Solves pricing problems
• Solves allocation problems
• Solves decision making issues in HR
• Solves various operational and planning problems of
business and industry
• Provides the basis for all government policies in our
economic system.

• Helps social scientists in studying social relationships

and in seeking answers to various social problems.

• For students, research means a careerism or a way to

attain a high position in the social structure.

• For professionals in research, it may mean a source

of livelihood.
• For philosophers and thinkers, research means the
outlet for new ideas and insights.

• For literary men and women, research means

development of new styles and creative work.

• For analysts and intellectuals, research means

generalizations of new theories.
 PROBLEMS IN RESEARCH
• Not similar to science
• Uncontrollable variables
• Human tendencies
• Time and money
• Lack of computerization
• Lack of scientific training in the methodology of
research
• Insufficient interaction between university research
departments and business establishments
 PROBLEMS IN RESEARCH
• Lack of confidence on the part of business units to
give information
• Lack of code of conduct
• Difficulty of adequate and timely secretarial assistance
• Poor library management and functioning
• Difficulty of timely availability of published data.
• Ignorance
• Research for the sake of research-limited practical
utility though they may use high sounding business
jargon.
ROLE OF RESEARCH IN DECISION-MAKING

• Decision-making is the process of selecting the best

alternative from the available set of alternatives.

• Management is chiefly concerned with decision-making

and its implementation.

• These decisions should be based on appropriate studies,

evaluations and observations.

• Research provides us with knowledge and skills needed to

solve the problems and to meet the challenges of a fast
paced decision-making environment.
According to Herbert A Simon, decision-making
involves three activities:

• Intelligence Activity - scanning the environment

for identifying conditions necessary for the
decision.

• Designing Activity - identifying, developing and

analyzing the alternative courses of action.

• Choice Activity - choosing the best course of

action from among the alternatives.
 FACTORS THAT AFFECT MANAGERIAL
DECISIONS
• INTERNAL FACTORS – factors present inside an organisation such
as resources, technology, trade unions, cash flow, manpower etc.

• EXTERNAL FACTORS – factors present outside the organisation

such as government policies, political factors, socio-economic
factors, legal framework, geographic and cultural factors etc.

• QUANTITATIVE FACTORS – factors that can be measured in

quantities such as time, resources, cost factors etc.

• QUALITATIVE FACTORS – factors that cannot be measured in

quantities such as organizational cohesiveness, sense of belonging of
employees, risk of technological change etc.

• UNCERTAINITY FACTORS – factors which cannot be predicted.

 TYPES OF RESEARCH
Descriptive vs Analytical Research

• Descriptive Research is a fact finding investigation

which is aimed at describing the characteristics of
individual, situation or a group (or) describing the state of
affairs as it exists at present.

• Analytical Research is primarily concerned with

testing hypothesis and specifying and interpreting
relationships, by analyzing the facts or information
already available.
Applied vs Fundamental Research

• Applied Research or Action Research is carried out to find

solution to a real life problem requiring an action or policy
decision.

• Fundamental Research which is also known as basic or

pure research is undertaken for the sake of knowledge
without any intention to apply it in practice.
• It is undertaken out of intellectual curiosity and is not
necessarily problem-oriented.
Quantitative vs Qualitative 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.
Conceptual vs Empirical Research
• Conceptual Research is generally used by philosophers
and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret
existing ones.

• Empirical Research is a data based research which

depends on experience or observation alone. It is aimed at
coming up with conclusions without due regard for system
and theory.
Some other types of research..
• One-time Research – Research confined to a single time
period.
• Longitudinal Research – Research carried on over several
time periods.
• Diagnostic Research – It is also called clinical research
which aims at identifying the causes of a problem,
frequency with which it occurs and the possible solutions
for it.
• Experimental Research – It is designed to assess the effect
of one particular variable on a phenomenon by keeping the
other variables constant or controlled.
 Some other types of research..

• 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. Hence it is also known as formulative research.

• Historical Research – It is the study of past records and other

information sources, with a view to find the origin and
development of a phenomenon and to discover the trends in the
past, inorder to understand the present and to anticipate the
future.