Research Methodology

Prof. Dr. Javed Ahmed Shahani

 Science and the Scientific Method

Science has been defined as “the methodological and systematic

approach to acquisition of new knowledge” (Geoffrey Marcyzk, David
DeMatteo, David Festinger, Essentials of Research Design and Methodology,
John Wiley & Sons, 2005, p. 4)

The scientific method, which has evolved since the 13th century,
concerns the set of tools, techniques and procedures used by basic
and applied researchers to analyze and understand phenomena and
prove or disprove prior conceptions
 The Essence of the Scientific Method

Characteristics of the Scientific Method

Elements of the
Objectivity
Scientific Method
Systematic Analysis
Logical Interpretation of Results

Empirical Approach
Observations
Questions
Hypotheses
Experiments
Basic
General Laws Analysis
Research
Conclusion
Scientific
Method

Replication
Applied Information or
Research Ideas for alternative
Courses of action
 Research Methods

• Research methods may be understood as all those

methods/techniques that are used for conduction of
research
• refer to the methods the researchers use in performing
research operations.
• research methods can be put into the following three
groups:
– Data Collection methods
– statistical techniques to analyze data
– Techniques evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained
 Research Methodology
• Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the
research problem.
• It may be understood as a science of studying how research is
done scientifically.
• The scope of research methodology is wider than that of
research methods.
• When we talk of research methodology we not only talk of the
research methods but also consider the logic behind the
methods we use in the context of our research study and
explain why we are using a particular method or technique and
why we are not using others.
Research Methods
 Research Process

• Research process consists of series of actions or steps

necessary to effectively carry out research and the
desired sequencing of these steps.
Research Process
 Overview of the research process
• Reflective inquiry:
– Problem statement
– Literature review and theoretical framework
– Logical structure
– Objectives
– Research question (the problem) or hypotheses (when
appropriate)
 Overview of the research process
• Procedures
– Research design
– Data collection methods
• Data analysis:
– Gathering, processing, and analyzing data
 Overview of the research process
• Issues of reliability, validity, credibility, confirmation
• Presentation of findings:
– Accepted format for professional publication
– Adequate explanation of procedures and statistics
– Effective use of graphics
– Adequate interpretation and alternatives
– Examples?
 Overview of the research process
• There are other ways to present the components and
steps in scientific research
• Important point is the formal framework
• Distinguishes research from the casual use of the term
• Enables such research to have real value (now and for
unanticipated purposes)
 Research Process

Literature Review Observations Known Problem

Preliminary Experimentation/Survey

Literature Review

Modify Assumptions Analytical Modeling

Publish
Model Verification
Findings/Recommen
dations
System Design
Implementation
System Testing

Commercialization
Using A Topic to Generate Questions
• Research requires a question
– for which no ready answer is available

• What do you want to know about a topic?

• Asking a topic as a question (or series of

related questions) has several advantages.
 Questions require answers
• A topic is hard to cover completely because it
typically encompasses too many related issues

• But a question has an answer, even if it is

ambiguous or controversial
Questions give you a way of evaluating the
evidence
• A clearly stated question helps you
decide which information will be useful

• A broad topic may tempt you to stash

away information that may be helpful,
but you're not sure how
 Where to stop?
• A question also makes it easier to
know when you have enough
information to stop your research
and draft an answer
A clear open-ended question calls for real
research and thinking

• Asking a question with no direct

answer makes research and writing
more meaningful to both you and
your audience
 Valuable
• Assuming that your research may solve
significant problems or expand the knowledge
base of a discipline involves you in more
meaningful activity of community and
scholarship
 Developing a question
• Developing a question from a broad topic can
be done in many ways.

• Two such effective ways are

– brainstorming and
– concept mapping
 brain·storm·ing
• 1. A method of shared problem solving in
which all members of a group spontaneously
contribute ideas
• 2. A similar process undertaken by a person to
solve a problem by rapidly generating a variety
of possible solutions.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language:
Fourth Edition. 2000
 Brainstorming
• Brainstorming is a free-association technique
of spontaneously listing all words, concepts,
ideas, questions, and knowledge about a topic

• After making a lengthy list, sort the ideas into

categories.
 Inventory of questions
• Brainstorming allows you to
– inventory your current awareness of a topic,

– decide what perspectives are most interesting

and/or relevant, and

– decide in which direction to steer your research

 con·cept map·ping
• A process, focused on a topic, in which group
or individual brainstorming produces a visual
graphic that represents how the creator(s)
thinks about a subject, topic, etc.
• It illustrates how knowledge is organized for
the group or individual
 Creating a concept map
• You may create a concept map as a means of
brainstorming; or, following your brainstorm,
you may take the content you have generated
and create your map from it .
 Concept maps
• Concept maps may be
– elaborated or
– simple
• Concept maps are designed to
– help you organize your thinking about a topic
– recognize where you have gaps in your knowledge, and
– help to generate specific questions that may guide your
research
 Brainmapping
• Combining brainstorming and concept
mapping (brainmapping) can be a productive
way to begin your thinking about a topic area
• Try to establish as your goal the drafting of a
“topic definition statement” which outlines
the area you will be researching and about
which you will present your findings
 A topic definition statement

Provide Fact
background for
the issues
Summarize the This paper will examine ….
purpose of your
project and how
you will
accomplish it

Include a "working “Global Warming: Can It Make a Difference?"

title"
Indicate questions Key question: "What impact can global warming have
to be answered on agriculture and the environment?"
Sub-questions: "What statistical results have been
compiled by those who are concerned about global
warming?"
 Yes -No question
• this type of question elicits a "yes" or a "no"
answer
 Inch question
• Also called the "hand" question or "recall“
question

• An inch question requires a one-word answer

and generally little research

• Usually the answer can be found in one source

 Foot question
• Also called the "elbow" question or
"comprehension"

• A foot question requires students to read a

passage, a page or several pages and come up
with an answer to the question using their
own words
 Yard question
• Also called the "arm" question or "synthesis"
question

• A yard question requires students to look for

the answer in a variety of sources, synthesize
that information, and draw their own
conclusions.
 Cause Question:
• Why did this action/event happen?

• What are the causes of an action/event?

 Effect of Relationship Question:
• What effect did

– this action/event have on

– that action/event?
 Comparison Question
• How are two things/events

– similar or

– different?
 Determine All Factors Question
• What are all the factors that affect
something?
 Characterize Processes Question
• How does something happen?

• What processes make something happen?

Determine Successful/Effective Strategies
Question
• What are the best strategies for accomplishing
something?
 Function or Purpose Question
• What is the function or purpose of
something?
 Ways To Achieve Purpose Question
• How can something be done or achieved?
 Identify Types Question
• What are all the different types of something?
 Properties/Characteristics Question
• What are the characteristics of something?
 Stages Question
• What are the stages that something goes
through?
 Structural Question
• How are the parts of something interrelated?