Chapter 1

Introduction to
Research
 Background
 Definition research
Research as a scientific and systematic search for
pertinent information on a specific topic.
i.e. research is an art of scientific investigation
Research comprises
 Defining and redefining problems
 Formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions
 Collecting, organizing and evaluating data
 Making deductions and reaching conclusions.
 Background cont’
 OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
– The purpose of research is to discover answers to
questions through the application of scientific
procedures.
 MOTIVATION In RESEARCH
– To solve a problem
– To get intellectual joy
– To serve society
– To face a challenge
– To get degree
– To get respectability
 Background cont’
Purpose of research
 To increase standard of living in case of Science
and technology
 To show the right path of the society in case of
Social and behavioral sciences
 Terms Used
• Research Techniques
– Behavior and instruments used in research operations
– Example: Scales , recording techniques, content analysis, moving
average , longitudinal/cross sectional collection of data, etc
• Research Method
– Behavior and instruments used in selecting and consulting techniques ( a
range of approaches used to gather data)
– Examples: Observation , questionnaire, interview, analysis of records, case
study ,etc
– Methods are more general than techniques.
• Methods &techniques are used in performing research operations i.e.
– Collection of data
– Statistical processing & analysis (test)
– To evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained
• Note : Research techniques and research methods are almost
interchangeably used .
 Research Methodology
 A science of study how research is done scientifically
 A way to systematically solve the research problem
by logically adopting various steps
 Methodology helps to understand not only the
products of scientific inquiry but the process itself
 Aims to describe and analyze methods , throw
light on their limitations and resources ,clarify
their presuppositions and
consequences ,relating their potentials to the
twilight zone at the frontier of the knowledge.
Benefits of research Methodology
1.Advancement of wealth of human knowledge
2. Provides tools to look at the things in life objectively.
3. Develops a critical and scientific attitude , disciplined thinking
or a bent of mind ‘ to observe objectively (scientific deduction
& inductive thinks )
4. Provides chance to study subject in depth : Enable us to make
intellectual decisions
5. As consumer of research output helps to include the ability to
evaluate and use results of carrier research with reasonable
confidence and take rational decisions .
6. Doing research is the best way of to learn and think critically.
 Benefits of research cont’
• Other benefits of research includes
– Enables critical evaluation of literature
– Develops special interest & skills
– Helps to understand attitude of others
– Creates awareness of special needs of research
process.
– Facilitates reference and information service
 Types of Research
1. Basic vs. Applied research
– The distinction between basic and applied research
is largely by the focus of their applications.
– This distinction comes from basic science vs.
applied science. Example: physics and engineering.
– Basic research focuses on determining or
establishing the basic or fundamental relationships
within a discipline without paying attention to any
practical applications to the real world.
– In contrast, applied research is usually conducted
to solve a particular and concrete problem.
 Types of Research
2. Descriptive vs. Analytical: Descriptive research
includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different
kinds.
– Major purpose is description and It is widely used in social
science and business areas
Main characteristic
 The researcher has no control over the variables; i.e.
He/she can only report what has happened or what is
happening. For example, frequency of shopping,
preferences of people, or similar data.
• Research methodology: Survey type of all kinds,
including comparative and correlation methods.
 Types of Research
2. Descriptive vs. Analytical
 In analytical research, on the other hand, the
researcher has to use facts or information already
available, and analyze these to make a critical
evaluation of the material.
 Descriptive research attempts to determine,
describe, or identify what is, while analytical
research attempts to establish why it is that way
or how it came to be.
 Types of research Cont’
3.Quantitative vs. Qualitative:
 Quantitative research is based on the measurement of
quantity or amount.
 It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in
terms of quantity.
 Qualitative research, on the other hand, is concerned with
qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or
involving quality or kind.
• Example:
– Why people think or do certain things
– Attitude or opinion research
Note: Qualitative research is specially important in the behavioral
sciences where the aim is to discover the underlying motives of
human behavior.
 Types of research Cont’
4. Conceptual vs. Empirical
 Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or
theory.
 It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop
new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.
 Empirical(experimental) research relies on experience or
observation alone, often without due regard for system and
theory
It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions which
are capable of being verified by observation or experiment.
Hypothesis Facts/data Prove/disprove
• Such research is thus characterized by the experimenter’s control over the
variables under study and his deliberate manipulation of one of them to study
its effects.
• Evidence gathered through experiments or empirical studies is today
considered to be the most powerful support possible for a given hypothesis
 Research Approaches

Two basic approaches

1. Quantitative approach
– It involves the generation of data in quantitative form which
can be subjected to rigorous quantitative analysis in a formal
and rigid fashion and has two parts
 Inferential : The purpose of inferential approach to research is to form a
database from which to infer characteristics or relationships
of population.
 This usually means survey research where a sample of population is
studied (questioned or observed) to determine its characteristics, and
it is then inferred that the population has the same characteristics .
 Experimental approach: in this case some variables are manipulated to
observe their effect on other variables.
 Simulation approach involves the construction of an artificial
environment within which relevant information and data can be
generated.
 Research Approaches cont’

2.Qualitative approach to research

 It is concerned with subjective assessment of
attitudes, opinions and behavior.
 Research in such a situation is a function of
researcher’s insights and impressions.
 Such an approach to research generates
results either in non-quantitative form or in
the form which are not subjected to rigorous
quantitative analysis.
 THE RESEARCH PROCESS

• The research process is similar to undertaking a journey. For

a research journey there are two important decisions to
make:
1. What you want to find out about or what research questions
(problems) you want to find answers to;
2. How to go about finding their answers.
• The path to finding answers to your research questions
constitutes 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.
 THE RESEARCH PROCESS

• In 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
 Explain why we are using a particular method or
technique
 why we are not using others so that research results
are capable of being evaluated either by the researcher
himself or by others.
 Research Process cont’
Steps in Research Process:
1. Formulating the Research Problem
2. Extensive Literature Review
3. Developing the objectives
4. Preparing the Research Design including Sample Design
5. Collecting the Data
6. Analysis of Data
7. Generalization and Interpretation
8. Preparation of the Report or Presentation of Results-
Formal write ups of conclusions reached.
 Research Process cont’
Step1. Formulating the research problem:
 It is the first and most crucial step in the research process
 Main function is to decide what you want to find out about.
 The way you formulate a problem determines almost every
step that follows.
Every research study has two aspects:
1. Study population - People: individuals, organizations, groups,
communities
(they provide you with the information or you collect information about
them)
2. Subject area:- Problems: issues, situations, associations, needs, profiles
Program : content, structure, outcomes, attributes, satisfactions,
consumers, Service providers, etc. Phenomenon: cause-and-effect
relationships, the study of a phenomenon itself (Information that
you need to collect to find answers to your research questions).
 Research Process cont’
Considerations in selecting a research problem:
These help to ensure that your study will remain manageable
and that you will remain motivated.
1. Interest: a research endeavor is usually time consuming,
and involves hard work and possibly unforeseen problems.
One should select topic of great interest to sustain the
required motivation.
2. Magnitude: It is extremely important to select a topic that you
can manage within the time and resources at your disposal.
Narrow the topic down to something manageable, specific
and clear.
3. Measurement of concepts: Make sure that you are clear
about the indicators and measurement of concepts (if used) in
your study.
 Research Process cont’
Considerations in selecting a research problem:
4. Level of expertise: Make sure that you have adequate level of
expertise for the task you are proposing since you need to do
the work yourself.
5. Relevance: Ensure that your study adds to the existing
body of knowledge, bridges current gaps and is useful in
policy formulation. This will help you to sustain interest in the
study.
6. Availability of data: Before finalizing the topic, make sure that
data are available.
7. Ethical issues: How ethical issues can affect the study
population and how ethical problems can be overcome
should be thoroughly examined at the problem formulating
stage.
 Research Process cont’
Steps in formulation of a research problem :
• Working through these steps presupposes a reasonable level
of knowledge in the broad subject area within which the study
is to be undertaken. Without such knowledge it is difficult to
clearly and adequately ‘dissect’ a subject area.
Step 1 Identify a broad field or subject area of interest to you.
Step 2 Dissect the broad area into sub areas.
Step 3 Select what is of most interest to you.
Step 4 Raise research questions.
Step 5 Formulate objectives.
Step 6 Assess your objectives.
Step 7 Double check.
 Research Process cont’
Step 2. Reviewing the literature:
• Essential preliminary task in order to acquaint yourself with the
available body of knowledge in your area of interest.
• Literature review is integral part of entire research process and
makes valuable contribution to every operational step.
• Reviewing literature can be time-consuming, daunting and
frustrating, but is also rewarding. Its functions are:
1. Bring clarity and focus to your research problem;
– The process of reviewing the literature helps you to understand the subject
area better and thus helps you to conceptualize your research problem clearly
and precisely
2. Improve your methodology;
– A literature review tells you if others have used procedures and methods
similar to the ones that you are proposing, which procedures and methods
have worked well for them, and what problems they have faced with them.
– Thus you will be better positioned to select a methodology that is capable of
providing valid answer to your research questions
 Research Process cont’
3. Broaden your knowledge base in your research area:
• It ensures you to read widely around the subject area in which you intend to
conduct your research study. As you are expected to be an expert in your
area of study, it helps fulfill this expectation.
• It also helps you to understand how the findings of your study fit into
the existing body of knowledge.

4. Contextualize your findings:

– How do answers to your research questions compare with what others have
found?
– What contribution have you been able to make in to the existing body of
knowledge?
– How are your findings different from those of others?
– For you to be able to answer these questions, you need to go back to
your literature review.
– It is important to place your findings in the context of what is already known
in your field of enquiry.
 Research Process cont’
Procedure for reviewing the literature:
i) Search for existing literature in your area of study;
Sources are:
 books
 journals
ii) Review the literature selected;
After identifying books and articles as useful, the next step
is to start reading them critically to pull together themes and
issues that are associated.
iii) Develop a theoretical framework;
Set parameters by reviewing the literature in relation to some
main themes pertinent to your research topic.
iv) develop a conceptual framework.
systematic comparison of your findings with those made by
others.
 Research Process cont’
Step 3 The formulation of objectives:
 Objectives are the goals you set out to attain in your study.
 They inform a reader what you want to attain through the study.
 It is extremely important to word them clearly and specifically.
Objectives should be listed under two headings:
a) main objectives ( aims);
– The main objective is an overall statement of the thrust of your study.
– It is also a statement of the main associations and relationships that you seek
to discover or establish.
b) sub-objectives.
– The sub-objectives are the specific aspects of the topic that you want to
investigate within the main framework of your study.
– They should be numerically listed. Wording should clearly, completely and
specifically Communicate to your readers your intention.
– Each objective should contain only one aspect of the Study.
– Use action oriented words or verbs when writing objectives.
 Research Process cont’
The objectives should start with words such as
‘to determine’,
‘to find out’,
‘to ascertain’,
‘to measure’,
‘to minimize ‘
‘to explore’ etc. example
 To minimize the effect of noise in mobile
communication.
 To design noise resistive amplifier.
 Research Process cont’
CHARACTERISTICS OF OBJECTIVES
 Clear
 Complete
 Specific
 Identify main variables to be correlated
 Identify the direction of relationship
 Research Process cont’
Step 4. PREPARING THE RESEARCH DESIGN
• Research design is the conceptual structure within which
research would be conducted.
• The function of research design is to provide for the
collection of relevant information with minimal
expenditure of effort, time and money.
• The preparation of research design, appropriate for a
particular research problem, involves the consideration of
the following :
1. Objectives of the research study.
2. Method of Data Collection to be adopted
3. Source of information
4. Tool for Data collection
5. Data Analysis: qualitative and quantitative
 Research Process cont’
Step 5: COLLECTING DATA
– Having formulated the research problem, developed a study design,
constructed a research instrument and selected a sample, you then
collect the data from which you will draw inferences and conclusions for
your study.
Step 6 &7: PROCESSING AND ANALYSING DATA
– Processing and analyzing data involves a number of closely related
operations which are performed with the purpose of summarizing
the collected data and organizing these in a manner that they answer
the research questions (objectives).
Step8: REPORTING THE FINDINGS:
– Writing the report is the last, and for many, the most difficult step
of the research process.
– The report informs the world what you have done, what you have
discovered and what conclusions you have drawn from your
findings.
– The report should be written in an academic style. Language should be
formal and not journalistic.