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Chapter 1 Introduction To Research

research method

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70 views21 pages

Chapter 1 Introduction To Research

research method

Uploaded by

asterdamana55
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter One

Introduction
Meaning of Research
• Research is an Organized and Systematic way of Finding
answers to Questions
Systematic: because there is a definite set of procedures
and steps which you will follow. There are certain things in
the research process which are always done in order to get
the most accurate results.

Organized : because there is a structure or method in


going about doing research. It is a planned procedure, not
a spontaneous one. It is focused and limited to a specific
scope.
Meaning of Research ..(cont’d)
Finding Answers : is the end of all research. Whether it
is the answer to a hypothesis or even a simple
question, research is successful when we find answers.
Sometimes the answer is no, but it is still an answer.

Questions : are central to research. If there is no


question, then the answer is of no use. Research is
focused on relevant, useful, and important questions.
Without a question, research has no focus, drive, or
purpose.
Meaning of Research … (cont’d)

– Research is an academic activity


• Search for knowledge
• An art of scientific investigation

– Research comprises
• defining and redefining problems.
• formulating hypothesis
• collecting, organizing and evaluating data
• making deductions and reaching conclusions
• Carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the
formulated hypothesis
Scientific Research
• Employs systematic observation and rational
processes to create new knowledge.

• Based on logical relationships not just beliefs.

• Involves an explanation of the methods used to


collect and analyze data; explanation to “why the
results are meaningful?”
Objectives of Research

• To discover answers to questions through the


application of scientific procedures.

• To find out the truth which is hidden which


has not been discovered as yet.

• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to


achieve new insights into it;
Motivation in Research
• What makes people undertake research?
– Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential
benefits.
– Desire to solve a challenge in solving the unsolved
problems.
– Desire to design appropriate policies
– Desire to contribute to the existing stock of knowledge.
– Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work
– Desire to be of service to society
– Directives of government.
– Curiosity about new things, etc....
Significance of research
– Increased amount of research make progress possible.
– Research inculcates scientific thinking and promotes the
development of logical habits of thinking and organization.
– Complexity in business and government is increasing.
– There is more information and knowledge to understand
the world than before.
– Multi disciplinary professions have become common
Significance of research … cont’d

Research Knowledge

Information

Development
Significance of research … cont’d

• Research is necessary in allocation of


resources.
(eg. optimum resource allocation).
Significance of research … cont’d
– A means of livelihood
– The outlet for new ideas and insights;
– The development of new styles and creative
work;
– The generalizations of new theories;
– Fountain of knowledge;
– Important source of providing guidelines for
solving different problems; etc.
Requirements
Research requires resources, such as the following:
• Money;
• People;
• Time and space;
• Experimental Subjects, in some cases;
• Research is both enjoyable and frustrating.
• Enjoyment comes from considering a specific problem or
subject field.
• Frustration comes from discovering that it is not possible
to do all that is intended to at the start of the
investigation.
– The Research topic may be imposed on the student
– The Research must be completed within a given time
period.
– Funds for Experiments, travel, postage and so on may
be limited or even non -existent.
– The results of the research must be presented in a
specified manner.
– The student may possibly have to relate to an
academic supervisor who is not interested
Ethical Issues in Research

• Ethical concerns
– Moral issues: honesty, integrity
– Legal implications: confidentiality/privacy,
– Neutrality
– Protecting Human Subjects
Types of Research
Descriptive Research
 includes surveys and fact finding enquiries of different
kinds.
Major purpose:
 Could be the description of the state of affairs as it exists at
present
Main characteristic:
 The researcher can only report what has happened and
what is happening.
Types of Research …cont’d

Explanatory/Causal Research
Main purpose: finding the ‘reasons why’
• desire to know how the causal factors relate to the
effects under predictions
• Usually referred as hypothesis-testing research
• Such studies require procedures that
– Reduce bias and increase reliability
– Permit drawing inferences about causality
• Research design in such kind of studies means Design
of Experiments
Types of Research …cont’d
• Fundamental research: is mainly concerned with
generalizations and with formulation of a theory.
– Research concerning some natural phenomenon or
relating to pure mathematics. (Deriving formulas)
– Research carried to make generalizations about
human behaviour

• Quantitative Research:- based on the measurement of


quantity or amount- applicable to phenomena that can be
expressed in terms of quantity.

• Qualitative Research :- Concerned with qualitative


phenomena (relating to quality or kind)
Types of Research …cont’d
• Conceptual Research
• related to some abstract idea or theory - Generally
used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new
concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.
• Empirical Research –
• relies on experience or observation. It is a data-based
research, coming up with conclusions which are
capable of being verified - Appropriate when proof is
sought.
• Evidence gathered through Empirical Studies is
considered to be the most powerful support possible
for a given hypothesis.
Types of Research …cont’d
• Experimental research
– is commonly used in sciences such as sociology and
psychology, physics, chemistry, biology and medicine etc.

– It is a collection of research designs which use


manipulation and controlled testing to understand causal
processes.

– Generally one or more variables are manipulated to


determine their effect on a dependent variable.
Types of Research …cont’d
• From the point of view of time, we may have
– One-time research :- where the research is confined
to a single time - period.
– Longitudinal research:- where the research is carried
on over several time periods.
• from the point of view of environment, we have
– Field-setting research
– Laboratory research
• All other types of research are variations of one or
more of the above stated approaches, based on.
– the purpose of the research
– the time required to accomplish the research
– the environment in which the research is conducted.

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