Research Methodology (RM –A)

Paper I
Pre PhD Course Work 2022
Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kanpur

Dr Shilpa Deshpande Kaistha

Associate Professor
Department of Biotechnology
School of Life Science and Biotechnology
Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University Kanpur
Syllabus
• Foundations of Research: What is Research? Objectives of Research,
Scientific Research, Research and Theory, Conceptual and Theoretical
Models, Importance of research methodology in scientific research,
Types and Methods of Research
• Planning of Research: Selection of a Problem for Research,
Formulation of the Selected Problems, Hypothesis formation,
Measurements, Research Design/Plan.
Learning Objective
• Students will know why scientific research is undertaken
• Students should be able to identify the overall process of designing a
research study from its inception to its report
• Students should know the primary characteristics of different types of
research
• Students should be able to identify a research problem stated in a
study.
Difference between Search and Research
• Search: Non scientific means and random process
of looking for something- information
• Google Search, Literature Search, PubMed
• Research: Systematic foundation through which
new knowledge is attained,
existing knowledge is improved,
new techniques and processes are developed.

Research is important for the advancement of

any field
• What's your understanding of Research ?
What is Research ?
“Research is seeing what everybody else
has seen and thinking what nobody else
has thought.”
- Albert Szent-Györgyi
Szent-Györgyi (1893-1986) was a
Hungarian pharmacologist known for his
work on vitamins and oxidation. He was
awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or
Medicine in 1937.
•
• “Research is something that everyone can do,
and everyone ought to do. It is simply
collecting information and thinking
systematically about it.”
- Raewyn Connell
Connell is an Australian sociologist. She is a
former professor of at the University of Sydney
and is known for her work on gender and
transgender studies.
• "Research is creating new knowledge.“
- Neil Armstrong
Armstrong (1930-2012) was an American astronaut
famed for being the first man to walk on the Moon.

• "I believe in innovation and that the way you get

innovation is you fund research and you learn
the basic facts."
- Bill Gates
Gates needs little introduction – he’s an
entrepreneur, philanthropist and the founder of
Microsoft.
• “If we knew what we were doing, it would not
be called research, would it?”
- Albert Einstein
• Maybe the most famous scientist of all time,
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German
physicist who came up with the theory of
relativity. However, it was his description of the
photoelectric effect, the interplay between light
and electrically charged atoms, that won him
the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921.
Foundation of Research- Oxford dictionary
• noun
• the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in
order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

• verb
• investigate systematically.
WHO Research Methodology 1992

Research is a quest for knowledge through

diligent observation, comparison,
investigation or experimentation aimed at
discovery and interpretation of new
knowledge
Existing knowledge is improved, new / novel
techniques and processes are developed.

• Research is art of scientific investigation

• Scientific and systematic search for pertinent
information on a specific topic is Research
and the methods adopted as known as
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Scientific Research
• Research conducted for the purpose of contributing towards science
by the systematic collection, interpretation and evaluation of data in a
planned manner is called scientific research

• Scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a

specific topic
• A researcher is the one who conducts this research
 Characteristics of Research
1. A systematic approach must be followed for accurate data. Rules and procedures are an integral part
of the process that set the objective. Researchers need to practice ethics and a code of conduct while
making observations or drawing conclusions.
2. Research is based on logical reasoning and involves both inductive and deductive methods.
3. The data or knowledge that is derived is in real time from actual observations in natural settings.
4. There is an in-depth analysis of all data collected so that there are no anomalies associated with it.
5. Research creates a path for generating new questions. Existing data helps create more opportunities
for research.
6. It makes use of all the available data so that there is no ambiguity in inference.
7. Accuracy is one of the most important aspects of research. The information that is obtained should
be accurate and true to its nature. For example, laboratories provide a controlled environment to
collect data. Accuracy is measured in the instruments used, the calibrations of instruments or tools,
and the final result of the experiment.
Motivations in Research
• The factors that motivate people to undertake research are
1. Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits
2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems
3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work
4. Desire to be of service to society
5. Desire to earn respect
6. Desire to get better employment
7. Curiosity about new things
• Whats your motivation for research ?

What is your Intention?

OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures.
The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered as yet.
Though each research study has its own specific purpose, research objectives may fall into a number of following
broad groupings:

1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this
object in view are termed as exploratory or formulative research studies);

2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group

(studies with this object in view are known as descriptive research studies);

3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated
with something else (studies with this object in view are known as diagnostic research
studies);
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as
hypothesis-testing research studies).
Research Topic
• Broad subject matter being investigated in a study. May
include many research problems to be delineated
• Focuses study to a defined manageable level
• Provides structure to steps in scientific methods
• Include
• Research Problem/ Gap
• Research Question
• Research Need
Research Problem/ Gap
• Area or condition that is unsatisfactory, needs improvement, requires
new answers/ contradiction/ conflicting theory, insufficient studies or
research papers (eg, geographical, people (low income/high income,
gender)
Helps define clearly the research topic so that dedicated and focussed efforts
area made on relevant areas
Research Problem has a purpose-focus and specific
Provides a situation/ circumstance that requires a solution to be described,
invented, explained or predicted
Not all problems are researchable – need empirical investigation, value based
concerns

Problem Design Results

Sources of Research Problem
• Theories
• Previous Work
• Confirm or contradiction

• Personal Experience
• Replication- new twist on previous study
• Clarification a Understanding
Research Question
• Refined statement of specific components of the research problem
• Components of research problem may have to be broken down into
relevant research questions
• Research question guides what kind of data is required to address the
research problem
• Worded in present tense and comprising one or more variables
• Closed Ended Questions- answered by FACTS
• Open Ended Questions are good Research Questions- Require FACT and
INTERPRETATION
 Examples of Research Question
• Industrial Research :Designing processes for mass/ bulk manufacture of
chemicals- petroleum refining, petrochemicals- polymers, food drug ?
• Developing a catalyst for efficient and green synthesis/manufacturing of
value added chemical X ?
The characteristics of good RQ are expressed by acronym “FINERMAPS”
expanded as
• feasible
• interesting
• novel,
• ethical,
• relevant,
• manageable,
• appropriate,
• potential value,
• publishability, and
• systematic.
• Reference: Hulley SB, Cummings SR. Conceiving the research question. In: Hulley SB, Cummings SR, Browner WS, Grady D, Hearst N, Newman TB,
editors. Designing Clinical Research. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 2007. pp. 17–25
 Developing an Effective Research Question
• Begin by identifying a broader subject of interest that lends itself to investigate, for
example, hormone levels among hypospadias
• Do preliminary research on the general topic to find out what research has already been
done and what literature already exists.[7] Therefore, one should begin with “information
gaps” (What do you already know about the problem? For example, studies with results on
testosterone levels among hypospadias
• What do you still need to know? (e.g., levels of other reproductive hormones among
hypospadias)
• What are the implied questions: The need to know about a problem will lead to few
implied questions. Each general question should lead to more specific questions (e.g., how
hormone levels differ among isolated hypospadias with respect to that in normal
population)
• Narrow the scope and focus of research (e.g., assessment of reproductive hormone levels
among isolated hypospadias and hypospadias those with associated anomalies)
• Once question has been framed, one should evaluate it. This is to realize if these would be
effective RQs or if they need more revising
Research methodology

• Research methodology is a way to

systematically solve the research problem.
• Includes the research methods and the logic
behind the methods used
• Has to be decided in the context of our
research study and explain why we are using
a particular method or technique and why
we are not using others so that research
results are capable of being evaluated either
by the researcher himself or by others
Research methodology

• Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research

problem.
• Includes the research methods and the logic behind the methods
used
• Has to be decided in the context of our research study and explain
why we are using a particular method or technique and why we are
not using others so that research results are capable of being
evaluated either by the researcher himself or by others
Research Methods as opportunity and challenge

• Methods can enable but also limit evidence

• All methods are valuable but have weaknesses/ limitations
• Offset weakness by using different/ multiple methods
• Choose research methods that compliment strengths of one with
weakness of the other.
• Empirical (coming from experience) knowledge requires consistency
or convergence of evidence across studies from multiple methods
(
Research Process
Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry out
research and the desired sequencing of these steps.
The various steps involved in a research process are not mutually exclusive; nor they
are separate and distinct.
They do not necessarily follow each other in any specific order.
However, the following order concerning various steps provides a useful procedural
guideline
regarding the research process:
1. Formulating the research problem
2. Extensive literature survey
3. Development of working hypotheses
4. Preparing the research design
5. Determining sample design
6. Collecting the data
7. Execution of the project
8. Analysis of data
9. Hypothesis-testing
10. Generalizations and interpretation
11. Preparation of the report or the thesis
 Research and Theory (Chicken egg riddle)
 Theory:
• Abstract system of concepts and their relationships that help understanding a phenomenon
• Generalized thinking or conclusion which is result of analysis that is scientifically proven with evidence- guides
research and organizes ideas
• Conceptual frameworks with no practical aspect to them. Used to explain things
• Result of research based on a hypothesis
• Always tentative, never proven- gives rise to new research

 Research:
• Way of expanding existing knowledge and creating new knowledge performed scientifically and systematically.
• Practical aspect to research
• Research is preceded by a hypothesis
• If hypothesis is true, it may become a theory
• Research precedes theory. Based on research, theory is made
• Medical research separated from theory when applied research is considered
 Theory
• Purpose:
Prediction
Understanding

• Levels of Theory
 Abstract Level-based on general ideas beyond what we observe physically
Empirical Level- based on observation and measurement of phenomenon, as
directly experienced by researcher

• Process of Theory Development

Induction – aims at developing theory starts observations, seek patterns and
make generalization that form the basis of theory
Deduction- based on inference made by an observation/ existing knowledge,
affirms with observation and arrives at confirmation
Example
• Deductive reasoning for Theory Development: aimed at testing a theory based
on causality
• Describes how population changes over time by adapting to environmental challenges
• Newton’s Laws of Motion based on unobservables like inertia and gravitation
• Starts exploratory with general idea--------hypothesis--------observations and test it to our
original idea
• Top Down Approach

• Inductive reasoning for Theory Development (gather data---- look for patterns-----
- develop hypothesis---------theory
• All cells arise from pre-existing cells
• Boyle’s Law derived from observables
• Bottom Up approach : start with specific measurements--
• Base new theory on data rather than previous assumptions
Types of Theory in Research
• Grounded Theory:
• Sets to develop theory from data obtained systematically (iteratively and
dynamically) from comparative analysis
• Based on inductive
• Used both in qualitative and quantitative research

• Axiomatic theory:
• Used in mathematics and logic
• Starts with axioms (statement taken to be true, as starting point for further
reasoning)
Task- Pair and Share
• Formulate a research question
• Think of sub questions
• Make a list of answers/ explanations for your questions
• List of factors influencing your response
• Share with partner
• Partner – critique where assumptions in the response
• Do you need to address assumptions before addressing research
question?
Reading Material
• Read more: Difference Between Search and Research | Difference
Between http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-
between-search-and-research/#ixzz7CgXDhdSz
• Wikipedia
• Open Educational Resources (OER commons)