Meaning and Definition of Research

Research comprises of two words, "Re" and "search". While "

Re" implies a repetitive or iterative process, "Search" denotes
making a thorough examination of or looking over carefully in
order to find something Different researchers have defined
research in various ways due to its wide scope.
According to John Best, "Research is a systematic activity
directed towards discovery and the development of an
organised body of knowledge"
Characteristics of Research

1) Systematic Activity: Research follows a systematic procedure

to analyse a research problem in a better way. A research
cannot be conducted in a haphazard manner. A researcher can
come to a step only when the previous one is completed.
2) Logical Process: The basic tenet of research is "logic". All the
assumptions and analyses undertaken are based on certain
logic. Research is a scientific, systematic, and planned
investigation to understand the underlying problem.

3) Iterative Process: Research is an iterative process.

Sometimes it becomes necessary for the researcher to review
the work of earlier stages, which makes it cyclic in nature.
Often it becomes harder for the researcher to find out the
starting and ending points
 Objectives of Research

1) To Explore about Unknown: One of the prime objectives

of research is to explore the unknown object or
phenomenon. While exploring, a researcher tries to
understand the details of the situation or phenomenon for
developing preliminary hypotheses and generalisations.
Exploring allows the researchers to develop theories and
explains the questions of how and why a phenomenon
operates in a particular way.

2) To Describe the Features: Research seeks to describe the

features of a phenomenon. It is one of the core activities of
research where researcher either observes the phenomenon
and records its characteristic behaviour, or conducts
standardised tests to measure the behaviour, or describes the
change in attitude or opinion of the object.

3) To Explain a Phenomenon: Another objective of research is

to provide explanation. Here, the researcher aims to explain
how and why a phenomenon operates in a specific way. The
researchers develop certain theories explaining the behaviour
of a particular phenomenon by determining the factors that
cause the change and identifying their effects on the
phenomenon. Most of the scientific and educational
researches have this objective for their studies.
 Importance of Research

1) Recognises the Potential Opportunities and Threats: For any

strategy to be successful, the organisation needs to have a very
good understanding of the environment in which it operates.
Research is a tool with which management is able to scan its
environment and identify various opportunities and problems
existing in the environment.
2) Assessment of Problems and Opportunities: Researching the
problems and opportunities help the managers to estimate
and analyse them. It allows the managers to identify the
existing problems and the factors responsible for the problems
. Research facilitates the managers in identifying, exploring,
refining and quantifying the opportunities existing in the
environment.

3) Evaluating the Course of Action: Research can be used to see i

planned course of action has been implemented in way it was in
It allows the managers to estimate the extent to which a given ac
project is executed as per the direction. It helps to identify the po
factors that can affect the execution. Research is also carried-ou
evaluate and control the strategies implemented for executing th
5) Analysing the Competition: The organisations need to study
the market and the level of prevailing competition in it. To
fulfill this objective, organisations conduct research to collect
the information regarding the purchasing trends, competitor's
strategy, market share of competitor firms, etc.
 RESEARCH DESIGN

When a research is carried-out, it follows a definite pattern or

plan of action throughout the procedure, L., since the problem
identification to the report preparation and presentation. This
definite pattern or plan of action is called "research design".

According to William Zikmund, "Research design is defined as

a master plan specifying the methods and procedures for
collection and analysing the needed information."
 Need of Research Design
1) Reduces Cost: Research design is needed to reduce the
excessive costs in terms of time, money and effort by planning
the research work in advance.

2) Facilitate the Smooth Scaling: In order to perform the

process of scaling smoothly, an efficient research design is of
utmost importance. It makes the research process effective
enough to give maximum relevant outcome in an easy way.

3)Helps in Getting Reviews from Experts: Research design

helps in developing an overview about the whole research
process and thus assists in getting responses and reviews from
different experts in that field.

Provides a Direction to Executives: Research design directs the

researcher as well as the executives involved in the research
for giving their relevant assistance.

Characteristics of a Good Research Design

1) Objectivity: 4) Generalizability:

2) Reliability: 5) Sufficient Information:

3) Validity: 6) Other Features:

 Components of Research Design
1) Research Study's Questions: This first component suggests
the type of the question-in terms of "who," "what" "where," "
bow," and "why" provides an crucial clue concerning the most
relevant research" method to be used.
2) Study Propositions: Each proposition directs focus on
something which needs to be examined within the scope of
study.
3) Unit of Analysis: It is associated with the fundamental
problem of defining what the "case" is a problem which has
affected many researchers at the beginning of case studies.
4) Logic Linking the Data to the Propositions: Methods of
linking data to propositions are pattern matching. explanation
building,
Types of Research Design

1) Exploratory Research Design: Exploratory research design

aims to get a better understanding of the problem by
explaining the concepts and developing hypotheses regarding
the research study.
2) Descriptive Research Design: Unlike exploratory research,
the aim of descriptive research is to describe the
characteristics of a phenomenon.

3) Experimental or Causal Research Design: Experimental or

Causal or Conclusive research design is a type of research
design which is predetermined and structured in nature.