Research methodology

CLASS II
 Research: Meaning
• A careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or
problem using scientific methods. According to the American
sociologist Earl Robert Babbie, “Research is a systematic inquiry to
describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon.
Research involves inductive and deductive methods.”
• Inductive research methods are used to analyze an observed event.
Deductive methods are used to verify the observed event. Inductive
approaches are associated with qualitative research and deductive
methods are more commonly associated with quantitative research.
 Research: Nature
• Research is systematic and critical investigation of a phenomena. It
identifies the variables, collects and analyses data on such variables to
find answers to certain crucial questions.
• The major characteristics of any research are
 Objectivity
 Precision
 Design and
 Verifiability.
 Research Purpose-Types of Research

Research can be classified from three perspectives

1. Application of the Research Study

2. Objectives in understanding the Research

3. Inquiry mode employed

 TYPES OF RESEARCH

APPLICATION OBJECTIVE INQUIRY MODE

Pure Descriptive Correlational Qualitative

Research Research Research Research

Applied Explanatory Exploratory Quantitative

Research Research Research Research
From The Perspective of Application Research can
be Classified as

PURE RESEARCH:
Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake. It is also known as ‘Fundamental’ or
‘Basic’ research. Example of pure research includes natural phenomenon or
relating to pure mathematics. Developing a sampling technique that can be
applied to a procedure situation; developing an instrument, say, to measure the
stress level in people; and finding the best way of measuring people’s attitudes.

Application: Pure research is concerned with the development, examination,

verification and refinement of research methods, procedures, techniques and
tools that forms the body of research methodology.
ACCORDING TO BAILEY:
Pure research involves developing and testing theories and
hypotheses that are intellectually challenging to the researcher but
may or may not have practical application at the present time or in
the future. Thus such work often involves the testing of hypotheses
containing very abstract and specialized concepts.
 APPLIED RESEARCH
Research aimed at certain conclusion facing a social or business problem is an example of
applied research. Most of the research in the social sciences is applied. In other words
the research techniques, procedures and methods that form the body of research
methodology are applied to the collection of information about various aspects of a
situation, issue, problem or phenomenon so that information gathered can be used in
other ways- such as for policy formulation, administration and the enhancement of
understanding of a phenomenon. Thus the central aim of applied research is to discover a
solution for some pressing practical problem.

Applied research can help make a decision about the following

• pricing a new product
• where to locate a new retail store
• how many employees to hire
• what to pay employees
REALATION BETWEEN PURE AND APPLIED
RESEARCH
• There is a relationship between these two types of research: pure
research generates new ideas and applied research takes these ideas
to create new inventions. Then, through development, the new
inventions are transformed into commercial products. This is a simple
model to understand the different types of research and the eventual
development of new products.
Research can also be divided as
• Primary research also called field research involves the collection of data that doesn't already exist.
• This method of research is always used as the first technique, this can then lead on to Field research.
Methods of collection primary data
• Observation: Looking at and recording what people do and how they behave. Today, store cameras can
be used to observe consumer behavior
• Experiments: Market researchers can use experimental techniques. e.g. test marketing, blind taste
tests
• Surveys: Involves asking questionnaires to respondents
• Consumer panels: Select a group of consumers that the company regularly surveys to identify changing
attitudes
• Involves asking questionnaires to respondents
Secondary research (also known as desk research) involves
the summary, collation and/or synthesis of existing research
rather than primary research, where data is collected from, for
example, research subjects or experiments.
The term is widely used in market research and in
medical research. The principle methodology in medical
secondary research is the systematic review, commonly using
meta-analytic statistical techniques, although other methods of
synthesis, like realist reviews and meta-narrative.
 From The Perspective of Objectives Research can
Objectives
be Classified as
1. Descriptive Research
Attempts to describe systematically a situation, problem, phenomenon etc.
2. Correlational Research
Establishes the existence of relationship/association/interdependence
between two or more aspects of a situation.
3. Explanatory Research
Attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two aspects
of a situation or phenomenon.
4. Exploratory Research
When study is undertaken with the objective either to explore an area where
little is known or to investigate the possibilities of undertaking a particular
research study.
To understand the characteristic of research design using research
purpose here is a comparative analysis:

Exploratory Research Descriptive Research Explanatory Research

Research approach used Unstructured Structured Highly structured

Research conducted By using research

Asking research questions Asking research questions
through hypotheses.

Early stages of decision Later stages of decision Later stages of decision

When is it conducted?
making making making
Examples Aim Main Theme Types of research
Types of service provided by a agency To describe what is To describe what Descriptive research
Needs of a community prevalent regarding: is prevalent
Sale of a product A group of people
Attitudes of nurses towards death and dying A community
Number of people living in a community A phenomenon
Problems faced by new immigrants A situation
Consumers likes and dislikes with regards to a A program
product An outcome

Impact of a program To establish for explore: To ascertain if Correlation research

Relationship between stressful living and incidence A relationship there is a
of heart attacks An association relationship
Impact of technology on employment An interdependence
Impact of an advertising campaign on sale of a
product

Why does stressful living result in heart attack? To explain: To explain why Explanatory research
Why does technology creates *Why a relationship, the relationship is
unemployment/employment? association or formed
Why do some people use a product while others do interdependence exists
not? *Why a particular event
occurs
From The Perspective of Inquiry Mode Research
Inquiry
can mode as
be Classified
• Structured approach (Quantitative mode)
• Unstructured approach (Qualitative mode)
Choice:
• Aim of Inquiry.
• Exploration, confirmation or quantification
• Use of findings.
• Policy formulation or process understanding
Research Problem
• A research problem is a question that researcher wants to answer or a
problem that a researcher wants to solve. Selection of research
problem depends on several factors such as researcher’s knowledge,
skills, interest, expertise, motivation & creativity with respect to the
subject of inquiry.
• R.S. Woodworth defines problem as ‘a situation for which we have no
ready & successful response by instinct or by previous acquired habit.
We must find out what to do’, i.e. the solution can be found out only
after an investigation.
• In other words, ‘a research problem is an area of concern where there is
a gap in the knowledge base needed for professional practices.
Research Problem Statement
• A Problem Statement is not merely a research problem or purpose of the
study, but it is well-structured formulation of what actually the problem
is, what is not well understood, and what is lacking which is to be
discovered to solve the problem.
• Components of Problem Statement ae
 Relevance of the study
 Title of the study
 Operational Definitions of the variables
 Objectives of the study
 Scope and limitations of the study
• A Problem Statement should fulfill the following
features
 Research problem is clearly, precisely and
concisely articulated
 It clearly states the variables, population, and
research setting under study
 Variables are expressed in measurable terms
 The types of study also may be included in the
statement of the research problem
• For Example: A Descriptive Study on the prevalence of Covid infection
among patients admitted in ICU of selected hospitals of Delhi

• Research study Design: Descriptive

• Variables: Prevalence of Covid Infection
• Population: Patients admitted in ICU
• Research Setting: ICU of selected Hospitals of Delhi
Sources of Research Problem
Formulation of Research Problem