ME 5151 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND IPR

RESEARCH
• A search for knowledge
• A movement from the known to the unknown
• A voyage of discovery
• Objective and systematic method of finding solution to a

problem
• Inquisitiveness (curiosity) is the mother of all knowledge
and the method, which man employs for obtaining the
knowledge of whatever the unknown, can be termed as
research
 Research Problem
• Factors to consider to determine that a problem is
researchable or not.
• The problem existing in the locality or country but no
known solution to the problem.
• The solution can be answered by using statistical
methods and techniques.
• There are probable solutions but they are not yet
tested.
• The occurrence of phenomena requires scientific
investigation to arrive at precise solution.
• Serious needs/problems of the people where it
demands research.
 MEANING OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

Research problem refers to the systematic method

consisting of
• Enunciating the problem,
• Formulating a hypothesis,
• Collecting the facts or data,
• Analyzing the facts and
• Reaching certain conclusions either in the form of
solutions(s) towards the concerned problem or in
certain generalisations for some theoretical
formulation
 Criteria of a Good Research Problem
Interesting.
• An interesting research problem attracts the attention of the researcher and other
people to conduct the research project even without incentive or research grant at all.
Innovative
• Through replicability in conducting research is allowed, it is advisable that a research
problem is something novel, original, and unique to attract the attention of the people
and contribute to the economic development of the country.
 Cost-effective
• A good research problem should be economical and effective in solving the needs and
problems of the society; it should also augment socioeconomic and health conditions
of the people and many others.
 Relevant to the needs and problems of the people
• Researchers must keep in mind that they conduct research not for the personal
aggrandizement but to solve the needs and problems of the people.
Relevant to government’s thrusts
• A research problem must respond to the government’s thrusts.
• Measurable and time-bound.
 Characteristics of a Good Research Problem
• Specific - The problem should be specifically
tested.
• Measurable - It is easy to measure by using
research instruments, apparatus or equipment.
• Achievable - The data are achievable using correct
statistical tools to arrive at precise results.
• Realistic - Real results are attained because they
are gathered scientifically and not manipulated or
maneuvered.
•  Time bound - Time frame is required in every
activity because the shorter completion of the
activity, the better.
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

• In general purpose of research is to discover answers

to questions through the application of scientific
procedures
• Main aim of research is to find out the truth which is
hidden and which has not been discovered as yet
Based on objectives, researches fall into broad groupings
• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve
new insights into it (exploratory or formulative
research studies)
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

• To portray accurately the characteristics of a

particular individual, situation or a group
(Descriptive research studies)
• To determine the frequency with which something
occurs or with which it is associated with something
else (diagnostic research studies)
• To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between
variables (hypothesis testing research studies)
 COLLECTION OF DATA
• The methods of data collection depend upon the
sources of data collection including primary source of
data and secondary source of data.
• For this study to collect primary data, field visit,
interview and for the most usage through
questionnaire and to collect secondary date, websites
and external sources were utilized.
• In this study the both set of methods of data collection
have been utilized in the same emphasis and they have
created valuable information to this research.
Interview

• The initial literature review utilized the interview method to get the real
understanding of the problem
• The problem under the study and hypotheses formulated so that the other step
that was the providing the questionnaire to collect primary data and to test the
hypotheses was facilitated.

Questionnaire

• Questionnaire method was the most important approach through which the
primary data in this study was collected. For this purpose the following steps were
taken place:
• Listing of required information on the basis of pre-determined hypotheses
• Framing questions with suitable scale of measurement
• First draft of questionnaire and pre-testing it
• Final draft of questionnaire
• Distribution of questionnaires in the selected sample
 Secondary Sources of Data
• To collect data through secondary sources of data, some
sources including Internet (web sites) and external sources
were used.
• Secondary data of the above sources were collected for a
minimum of 15 years period (1990-2004).
• To collect secondary data, the most emphasis has given
through library (external sources) and the Internet as
another source of secondary data with the fewer
application were utilized.
• As a limitation of data collection, it was related to other
secondary sources of data namely internal sources such as
audit reports and internal reports with which because of
safety matters in banking system was not facilitated.
 ANALYSIS OF DATA
• In this stage of research, the collected data should be
processed and analysed. The processing stage includes
the editing, coding, classification and tabulation of
collected data that are ready to analyse.
• The analysing stage includes hypotheses testing and
interpretation of findings through statistical tests of
significance to determine the validity in which the
conclusions would be based on.
• In other words analysis of data represents the way of
testing hypotheses and supports the approach of
achievement of findings and so the conclusions of the
research is to be facilitated.
Steps in analysis of data
Processing of data
• The questionnaires after collection must be arranged.
In other words it means that out of all received
questionnaires some of them are useful and others
not and therefore in this step, these received
questionnaires must be edited, coded, classified and
tabulated.
Editing
• The purpose of editing is that careful scrutiny of all
collected questionnaires to produce completeness,
error-free and readability.
Coding
• The purpose of coding is the assigning codes
(numbers) for each category of answers, for example
the code No 1 for the answer less than 25%, the code
No 2 for the answer 26% up to 50% and so on.
Classification
• The purpose of classification is to divide the received
questionnaires on the basis of their groups. For
example in this study the received questionnaire is
divided into three groups including, group one (top
management and executive managers), group two
(auditors and inspectors) and group three (experts).
Tabulation
• The purpose of tabulation is the process of
summarizing data and displaying them in the
appropriate tables that further analysis are to
be facilitated.
Statistics in research
• As mentioned, the statistics in research cover both the processing
data through editing, coding, classification and tabulation and also
analysis of data.
• Generally in every research, the data is collected through sampling
methods and to adopt the process of generalization from sample
to population, the researcher has to use the statistics that includes
descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.
Analysis of data
• This step has vital impact on research process so that the testing of
pre-determined hypotheses would be implemented.
• So far we have collected a mass of data that through the previous
steps has been proceed, however they are unable to generalize any
information.
• In other words whenever the mass of data is collected the
statistics comes into account and it creates the procedures to
support processing of data and also analysis of data.
Statistics
• Descriptive statistics explain the numerical data whereas
inferential statistics is related to test the hypotheses.
Therefore in the following the process and approaches of
analysis of colleted and processed data with definition of vital
terms that would be implemented in chapter six (analysis of
data) are to be presented.
Inferential analysis
• This is concerned to the test of hypotheses. Through
inferential statistics, the validity of data that the conclusions
of research based on could be determined.
• It is also concerned with the estimation of the population
values and the task of interpretation of findings.
• Thus the inferential analysis helps the researcher to test the
hypotheses and to generalize the findings resulted from
sample to the population.
Test of hypotheses
• A hypothesis is a formal question derived from the
formulating problem under the study or a hypothesis
is a proposition that is put to test in research.
• The test of hypothesis is a process to state the
probability of population parameters. A parameter is a
characteristic of a population, against it; a statistic is a
characteristic of a sample. To test the hypothesis, basic
concepts of testing hypothesis are required to explain
as follows:
i) Null hypothesis and Alternative hypothesis
ii) Level of significance
iii) Type error I and II
iv) Chi-square test