Research Methodolgy (Bcom)
Research Methodolgy (Bcom)
MODULE I Types of research Research Design Difference between primary data and secondary data
Research 1. Basic research Research design is the planned sequence of the Primary data Secondary data
It simply refers to search for knowledge. It is a Basic research is a type of research which is entire process involved in conducting a research Original in character Not original in
scientific and systematic search for information undertaken out of intellectual curiosity or study character
on a particular topic. inquisitiveness. It is also known as pure Features of research design It is in the shape of It is in the shape of
Research Methodology research, fundamental research. • The means of obtaining information. • It is an raw material finished goods
It is the description, explanation and justification Features of basic research activity and time based plan. • It is a plan based It is adequate and Its need not ample
of various methods of conducting research. • It is related with principles, laws or rules. • The on the research question. • It comprises the time suitable and apposite
Characteristics / Features of research aim is to attainment of knowledge and truth. • It and cost budget. • It is depend upon the purpose It is expensive It is less expensive
• It is a systematic process. • It is a continuous try to find out cause and effect relationship of a of research. • It is a guide for selecting sources
It is time consuming It is less time
process. • It is empirical. • It gathers new phenomenon. • It is problem oriented. • It is and types of information needed.
consuming
knowledge. • It is an investigation. • It should be original type of research. Stages of Research Design
It is collected from It is collected from
carefully recorded and reported. • It is action 2. Applied research 1. Selection of a problem. 2. Review of existing
real time past
oriented. • It is logical and objective. It refers to scientific study and research that help literature. 3. Sources of the information to be
It has a specified It has a wider
Objectives of Research to solve practical problems. utilized. 4. Nature of study. 5. Objectives of
coverage coverage
1. To evaluate the information. 2. To find out the Features of applied research study. 6. Geographical area to be covered.
• It find out solution to a real life problem. • It is 7. Socio cultural context of the study. 8. Period It require more efforts It require less effort
real facts 3. To achieve the new thoughts 4. To
based on pure research. • It is problem or goal of study. 9. Dimension of study. 10. Basis for Measurement
test hypothesis 5. To design or implement the
oriented. • It integrate previously existing selecting the data. 11. Technique of study. It is a systematic way of assigning numbers or names
research. 6. To improve the understanding.
knowledge. • It seeks solution to immediate 12. The control of error. to objects and their attributes.
Qualities / Criteria of a good research
problems. Important concepts in research design Scaling
1. Sound research question 2. Systematic and
3. Exploratory research • Dependent variables It is a device used for measuring various things. It is
appropriate research methodology
It is a research used to investigate a problem A variable whose value depends on the value of the procedure fordetermining the quantitative
3. Acknowledges previous research on the topic.
which is not clearly defined. It is also called another variable or variables is known as measure of abstract concept.
4. Use of relevant data 5. Use of proper data
formative research. dependent variable. Types of measurement scales (Levels of
analysis method 6. Representative and
Objectives/Features of exploratory research • Independent variable measurement)
generalizable 7. Guided by logic 8. External
• To generate new ideas. • To make an exact A variable whose value does not depend on the 1. Nominal scale 2. Ordinal scale 3. Interval scale
validity 9. Replicable and transparent
formulation of the problem. • To clarify concepts. value of another variable or variables is known 4. Ratio scale
Researcher
• To determine the feasibility of the study. • To as independent variable. Nominal scale
A person who carries out academic or scientific
increase researchers familiarity with problem. • Extraneous variable It simply refers to assigning numbers or categories to
research is called a researcher.
4. Descriptive research Extraneous variables are undesirable variables events in order to label them.
Qualities of a good researcher
It refers to the methods that describes the that influences the relationship between Characteristics/ Features of Nominal scale
1. Expertise 2. Keen observation and listening
characteristics of the variable under study. It is variables an experimenter is examining. • It is qualitative. • In nominal scale variables are
3. Accuracy 4. Patience 5. Unbiased 6. Interest
also known as statistical research. • Control divided into two or more categories. • Each number is
7. Analytical
5. Experimental research One of the important characteristic of a good assigned to one object.
Role of research in business
It is a scientific investigation conducted by using research design is to minimize the influence or Ordinal scale
• Testing of new products. • Studying
two sets of variables. It is also called casual effect of extraneous variable. It is a measurement scale, used for variables in ranked
competition • Recruitment of employees.
research. • Confounded relationship order.
• Guaranteeing adequate distribution. • Helps in
6. Diagnostic research When the dependent variable is not free from the Characteristics/ Features of Ordinal scale
decision making. • Helps in demand forecasting.
It is a type of research conducted to identify the influence of extraneous variable, the relationship • It shows relative ranking of the variables.• It
• Helps in SWOT analysis.
cause of a problem. between dependent and independent variable is identifies and describes the magnitude of variables.
Statistics
7. Quantitative research called confounded relationship. • The interval properties are not known
Statistics means studying, collecting, analyzing,
It is based on the measurement of quantity or • Research hypothesis Interval scale
interpreting and organizing data. It is a science
amount. It can be used to describe phenomena Research hypothesis is a predictive statement These are numerical scale in which it allow not only
that helps to gather and analyses numerical data
that have a numerical value. that relates an independent variable to the order but also the exact difference between the
in huge quantities.
8. Qualitative research dependent variable. values.
Characteristics of statistics
These are those research which is concerned Characteristics/ Features of Ordinal scale
• Statistics are aggregate of facts • Statistics are MODULE II
with qualitative phenomena. These types of • It allows calculating mean and median of variables
affected by a multiplicity of courses. • Statistics Data
research tries to measure attitude and opinion of • It is a preferred scale in statistics. • It is quantitative.
are numerically expressed. • Statistics are The term data can be defined as a systematic
people. Examples of interval scale
collected in systematic manner. • Statistics record of a particular quantity. It is a collection of
9. Conceptual research 1. Likert scale :- It is a scale used to represents
should be collected for a predefined purpose. facts and figures used for a specific purpose.
It is a type of research that is concerned with people’s attitude to a topic.
• Statistics should be placed in relation to each Importance of data in research
abstract ideas or theories. Philosophers and 2. Net promotor score 3. Bipolar matrix table
other. 1. Basis for analysis 2. Draw inferences
thinkers commonly use conceptual research. Ratio scale
Functions of statistics 3. Quality findings 4. Basis for testing hypothesis
10. Longitudinal research It is the highest measurement scale. It is possess the
1. Present facts in definite form. 2. Precision to 5. Basis for construction of measurement scales
A research spread over a long period of time is characteristics of nominal, ordinal and interval scale.
the facts. 3. Helps in comparison. 4. Formulation Primary data
called longitudinal research. Characteristics/ Features of Ordinal scale
and testing of hypothesis. 5. Forecasting 6.Helps Primary data is a type of data that is collected by
11. Stimulation research • It has a feature of absolute zero. • It doesn’t have
in policy making 7. To measure uncertainty researchers directly from many sources through
It is a type of research, the researcher creates an negative numbers. • It has unique and useful
Importance of statistics interviews, surveys, experiments etc.
artificial environment which is very similar to the properties. • It affords unique opportunities for
• Statistics in planning •Statistics in mathematics Methods for collecting primary data (Sources)
real environment and then within the artificial statistical analysis.
• Statistics in economics • Statistics in social • Observation method • Interview method
environment variable manipulated and studied. Validity
science • Statistics in trade • Statistics in • Questionnaire method • Schedule
Research process/Phases Or stages of Validity is defined as extent to which a concept is
research works Secondary data
research accurately measured in a quantitative study.
Value of information (VOI) Secondary data is a type of data which has
1. Tentative selection of the topic 2. Initial survey Reliability
VOI is the amount a decision maker would be already been collected for a certain purpose and
of literature 3. Finalization of research problem Reliability refers to how consistently a method
willing to pay for information prior to making a documented somewhere else.
4. Formulation of the problem 5. Extensive measures something.
decision research or any other area. Sources of secondary data
Types of reliability
Criteria for the value of information literature survey 6. Formulation of hypothesis ◆ Published sources
7. Preparation of research design 8. Preparation 1. Test-Retest reliability 2. Internal consistency
1. Accuracy 2. Consistency 3. Applicability • Magazine, journals and periodicals • Statistical
of sample design 9. Collection of data and 3. Inter rater reliability
4. Clarity 5. Completeness 6. Consciousness synopsis, census record • Published articles of
execution of project 10. Analysis of data Types of validity
7. Convenience 8. Accessibility 9. Flexibility local bodies • Publications of CSO, NSSO
11. Testing of hypothesis 12. Generalization and 1. Face validity 2. Criterion validity 3. Content validity
10. Reliability • Report presented by scholars • Reports of
interpretation 13. Preparation of research report. 4. Discriminant validity
Cost of information economist
How to ensure reliability and validity in research
Cost of information refers an amount that has to Types of research design ◆ Unpublished sources
• Exploratory research design • Descriptive • Ensuring reliability • Apply the methods consistently
be paid / spent to buy / obtain some information • Records of private enterprises • Statistics by
research design • Causal research design • Standardize the conditions of research • Ensuring
Difference between pure research and applied different departments • Statistics by different
• Experimental design validity • Choose appropriate methods for
research agency • Research conducted by teachers
Exploratory research design measurement • Use appropriate sampling methods
Pure research Applied research Advantages/ Merits of secondary data
Exploratory research design are those design Internal validity
It is original type of It is based on pure 1. It can easily obtain 2. It is economical. 3. It
which is conducted to clarify ambiguous Internal validity is the extent to which the observed
research research save time and effort of researcher. 4. It helps in
situations or discover ideas that maybe potential results represent the truth in the population studying
It is knowledge It is problem or formulating and testing hypothesis 5. It cover
business opportunities. and thus are not due to methodological errors.
oriented goal oriented wider geographical area. 6. It allow more time for
Descriptive research design External validity
Theoretical and Practical and data analysis.
Descriptive research design are those design External validity is the extent to which generalize the
exploratory in descriptive in Disadvantages/ Demerits of secondary data
which is designed to gain more information findings of a study to other situations, people, settings
nature nature 1. It may not be accurate as desired. 2. No real
about characteristics of individuals, groups or and measures.
Reports are in Reports are in control over data quality. 3. It cannot ensure
Situations. Construct validity
reliability. 4. It is past data. It may not be
common language technical language Causal research design It is the most important type of validity. It is the
updated. 5. It may not be suited for researcher
It is try to explain It is try to explain Casual research design seeks to find cause and degree to which the instrument actually measures
specific need. 6. Data collection method may be
why thing is happen how things can be effect relationship between variables. whether or not an underlying construct is being
unknown.
changed Experimental research design measure
Precautions to be taken before using secondary
Experimental research design are those design data
which study the casual inferences about the • Suitable to purpose • Reliable agency
relationship between the independent and • Adequacy and accuracy • Definition of unit
dependent variable. • Method of data collection • Comparison • Test
checking • Homogeneous condition
Difference between reliability and validity Main pillars of focus group Qualities of a good questionnaire Sampling
Reliability Validity 1. Participants 2. Moderator 1. Valid 2. Reliable 3. Interesting 4. Conscious 5. It is a process of selecting sample from the population.
It measure the It measure the Types of focus group Simplicity 6. Limited number of questions 7. No Sampling frame
consistency of an accuracy of an Dual moderator focus group personal questions It is the source of material or device from which a
instrument instrument There are two moderators for this type of focus Questionnaire design process (Components) sample is drawn.
Reliable Valid measurement group. • State the information required • State the kind Difference between sampling and census
measurement is is generally reliable Two way focus group of interviewing technique • Decide the content of Census Sampling
not always valid It involves two separate groups having individual questions • Overcome the Enumeration of each It is a process of
Reliability is Validity is checking discussion on the topics at different times. respondent’s inability and unwillingness to and every population selecting sample from
assessed by how well the result Mini focus group answer • Decide the structure of the question is called census given population
checking correspond to This type of group restricts participants to four • Determine the question language. • Properly This method is not This method is
consistency of established to five members instead of usual six to ten arrange the question. • Recognize the form and scientific scientific
result across time, theories and other Client involvement focus layout of the questionnaire. • Reproduce the Non-sampling errors Sampling errors are
different measures of the group Use this group when client asked you to questionnaire • Pretest the questionnaire is more more
observers, and part same concept conduct focus group and invite those who ask. • Finalize the questionnaire. Time consuming Less time consuming
of the test itself Participant moderated focus group Open ended questions method
Under this type, one or more participant It is a form of qualitative research. It allows
MODULE III Expensive method Less expensive
provisionally take up the role of moderator. someone to give a free form answer.
Primary data It require more labour It require less labour
Online focus group Multiple choice question
Primary data is a type of data that is collected by Sampling design
These group employ online medium to gather These are questions where respondents are
researchers directly from many sources through It is a definite plan for obtaining a sample from a given
opinion and feedback. presented a set of predefined answers and the
interviews, surveys, experiments etc. population.
Procedure for conducting a focus group respondents choose from those set of answers.
Methods for collecting primary data (Sources) Characteristics of a good sample design
1. Recruit the right participants 2. Choose a Interview Schedule (Schedule)
• Observation method • Interview method • True representative • Small sampling error
moderator 3. Record the meeting for future It is a set of questions which are asked by an
• Questionnaire method • Schedule • Economic viability • Bias control
purposes 4. Write clear guidelines for interviewer and filled in on the spot in a face to
Observation • Generalization of results
discussions.5. Conduct the session and face interaction with another person.
Observation is the systematic description of the Steps in sampling design
generate a report. 6. Use the data to make a plan Types of interview schedule
events, behaviors, and artifacts of a social 1. Define population 2. State the sampling frame
of action. • Observation schedule. • Rating schedule •
setting 3. Identify the sample unit 4. State the sampling
Behavioral mapping Survey schedule • Interview schedule.
Characteristics/ Features of observation method 5. Determine the sample size 6. Spell out the
It is a research tool used to observe and record Advantages of interview schedule
1. It is a systematic method 2. It is specific 3. It sampling plan 7. Select the sample
behaviour of a particular setting at a particular • It leads to more responses • Accurate
is objective 4. It is quantitative 5. It is an affair of Principles of Sampling
time. It is a direct observation method that information can be collected. • It is free from
eyes 6. It have definite objective 7. It is verifiable 1. Principle of statistical regularity
attracts people’s behaviour in specific space and biasness. • Personal contact between
Types of observation 2. Principle of inertia of large numbers
time. investigator and respondent. • More difficult
• Simple and systematic observation • Subjective Advantages/Merits of sampling
Consumer journey situation can be studied. • It is also used for
and objective observation • Casual and scientific Better rapport • High accuracy • Large scope • Better
It is a detailed representation of the consumers uneducated respondents.
observation • Factual and inferential observation speed • Economical • Intensive and exhaustive data
buying process which is the steps customers Disadvantages of interview schedule
• Direct and indirect observation • Structured and Limitations/Demerits of sampling
take on their way to making a purchase. • It is more expensive • It is more time
unstructured observation • Controlled and Chances of bias • Changeability of units
Delphi study (Delphi method) consuming • Wide range coverage is not
uncontrolled observation • Absence of knowledge in subject • Impossibility of
It is a systematic and qualitative method of possible • It requires skilled and experienced
Steps in observation sampling • Chances of sampling error
forecasting by collecting opinions from a group investigators. • In case of more interviewers, less
1. Determine the research objective.2. Determine Criteria in the selection of sampling techniques
of experts through several rounds of questions. uniformity found.
questions and create a research guide. 3. • Purpose of the survey • Measurability • Degree of
It is also known as estimate talk estimate Difference between questionnaire and interview
Establish a method of gathering data. 4. precession • Information about population
techniques (ETE). schedule
Observe. 5. Prepare your data. 6. Analyze the • Nature of the population • Geographical area of the
Delphi method process Questionnaire Interview Schedule
behaviour in your data. population • Financial resources • Time • Economy
1. Identify the issue and objective. 2. Choose a Responses are Responses are filled
Advantages of observation Types/Methods /Techniques of sampling design
group of experts and a facilitator 3. Round one filled by by enumerators
• Flexibility • Natural settings • Meaningful ◆ Probability sampling (Random sampling)
questionnaire 4. Round two questionnaire 5. respondents
insights • Generation of new data It is defined as the kind of sampling in which every
Round three questionnaire Useful only to Useful for both
Disadvantages of observation element in the population has an equal chance of being
Extreme user’s interview literates literate and illiterates
• Unreliability • Subjectivity • Limited selected.
It is a method employed to understand user No direct contact Direct contact with
generalizability • Labour intensive • Expensive Types of probability sampling
responses and insights at two opposite ends of with respondent respondent
method • Simple random sampling
the usages spectrum. It has large It has less coverage
Qualitative Research Methods Every member of the population has the same
Advantages of extreme user’s interview coverage
Qualitative research includes non-numerical data probability of inclusion in the sample.
1. Meaningful insights 2. No peer pressure if
to understand concepts, opinions and Questionnaires Schedules response • Systematic sampling
done individually 3. Adaptive 4. Empathy and
experiences response rate is rate is high It is a statistical method involving the selection of
connection 5. Wide range of data collection.
The following are the some of the most common low elements from an ordered sampling frame.
Disadvantages of extreme user’s interview
qualitative methods Non-response is Non-response is low • Stratified sampling
1. Participant identification and recruitment
• Observation • Interview • Focus group • Survey high It is a sampling method in which population is divided
2. Time consuming 3. Relatively expensive.
• Secondary data It is a cheaper It is costly into homogeneous groups and sample is randomly
Interview
Characteristics of qualitative research method taken from the group.
An interview is a face to face conversation
• Natural setting • Key instrument • Multiple It is a very slow Information is • Cluster sampling
between a researcher and a participant involving
source of data • Inductive data analysis • The method collected well in time It is a sampling method wherein the members of the
a transfer of information to the interviewer.
participants meaning • Emergent design population are selected at random from naturally
Characteristics of interview
• Holistic account • Interpretive occurring group called cluster.
• Goal driven • Question-answer nature MODULE IV
Advantages of qualitative research • Multistage sampling
•Structured • Controlled by an interviewer Population (Universe)
1. High flexibility 2. Natural settings 3. Detailed It is a type of sampling and draw a sample from
•Unbalanced Population means complete enumeration of all
insights 4. Generation of new ideas population using smaller and smaller groups at each
Types of interview items under the study. The population consist of
Disadvantages of qualitative research stage.
1. Mail interview 2. Person to person interview 3. any well-defined set of elements.
1. Non-reliability 2. Subjectivity 3. Limited • Sequential sampling
Telephonic interview Types of population
generalizability 4. Labour intensive It is a sampling technique which involves evaluation of
Pilot survey or pilot study 1. Homogenous population 2. Heterogeneous
Focus group each sample taken from a population to see if it fits a
It is a small scale preliminary investigation to population 3. Finite population 4. Infinite
It is a research technique used to collect data desired conclusion.
determine the feasibility of a large study.
through group interaction. Focus group are population 5. Existence population ◆ Non-Probability sampling
Importance / Advantages of pilot study 6. Hypothetical population
group comprises a small number of carefully It is a sampling method in which not all members of the
1. Identify / refining research question 2. Identify Sample
selected people who discuss a given topic. population have an equal chance of participating in the
or refining hypothesis. 3. Identifying and It is a small representation of a large unit.
Characteristics of a focus group study.
evaluating sample population. 4. Testing Difference between population and sample
• Group size • Homogeneous • Physical setting Types of non-probability sampling
research instruments. 5. Evaluating and deciding
• Time duration • Recording • Moderator Population Sample • Convenience sampling
upon research methods. 6. Estimating time and
Advantages of focus group Measurable quality Measurable quality It is a sampling method in which it attempts to obtain
cost of the project.
• It is an inexpensive method of acquiring of population is of sample is sample from convenient elements.
Questionnaire
valuable data. • It is a fast method. • Informants parameter statistic • Purposive sampling
Questionnaire is a set of printed or written
can build on the answer of others. • Researcher Population is a It is the sub set of It is a sampling method in which researcher
questions with a choice of answers, devised for
can clarify clashes among participants. complete set population intentionally select the sample based on some previous
the purpose of a survey or statistical study.
• Participants are given a chance to react It consist of each It is the small knowledge about the population.
Advantages of questionnaire
viewpoints of others. and every items of number of items of • Accidental sampling
• Practicability • Cost efficiency • Speed
Disadvantages of focus group entire group the population It is a non-probability sampling that involves the
• Comparability • Scalability • Standardization
• A few individual could possibly be introverts. Information Information sample being drawn from that part of the population
• Respondent comfort • Easy analysis
• Difficult to manage the discussion. • Recording collected from all collected from that is close to hand.
Disadvantages of questionnaire
data can present difficulties. • Data analysis is units of population sample is called • Quota sampling
• Answer dishonesty • Question skipping
time consuming. • Data analysis is a challenging is called census sample survey It is a sampling method wherein data is collected from
• Interpretation difficulty • Survey fatigue
task • This method is not replicable. a homogenous group.
• Analysis challenges • Unconscious responses
• Snowball sampling
It is a special non-probability method used when the
desired sample characteristics is rare.