MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY

MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
WHAT IS RESEARCH?

Research takes place with the purpose of acquiring knowledge to contribute to further investigation or
processes, informing actions, proving a theory, or achieving a result. For the research experience to be fruitful,
it must maintain a high level of quality. In this context, the choice of appropriate methods, data analysis, and,
of course, the researcher’s expertises are crucial. And types of Research Methodology support to get the
best-suited outcome. We can understand the significance of Qualitative/ Quantitative Research Methodology
Research with some fundamental points:

 Research is a way to build knowledge.

 It is an essential requirement to start analyzing, writing, reading, and distributing information.

 It nourishes and opens up the minds.

 With Research, different understanding issues seem easy.

 Research helps to build confidence and positivity to try on opportunities.

In other words, Research is an activity that leads us to finding new facts, information, assisting us in
verifying the available knowledge and in making us question things that are difficult to understand as per
existing data. To be successful manager it is important for you to know how to go about making the right
decisions by being knowledgeable about the various steps involved in finding solutions to problematic issues.
It may be understood in following terms also:
 Research is a continuous activity in majority of disciplines and professions.
 It is helpful in critical assessment of the way we work, execute policies, and give instructions in our
professions.
 It is systematic observation of processes to find better ways to do things and to reduce the effort being put
in to achieve an objective and identifying the validity of the targets.
 In fact research is a subconscious activity that we are involved in at all times whether it is purchase of daily
use articles , a car, an electronic good or planning a holiday.

MEANING OF RESEARCH:
Research is a process to discover new knowledge to find answers to a question. The word research has two
parts re (again) and search (find) which denote that we are taking up an activity to look into an aspect once
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS

again or we want to look for some new information about something. E.g Front Office Executive has to learn
about the facilities, timings, key features of products and services available at the hotel if one wants to
become a wonderful sales professional other than being a host. "All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often
better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention" is a famous Hudson Maxim
in context of which the significance of research can well be understood.

DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH:
Research has been interpreted and defined by various scholars as per their fields of study and availability of
resources at the given time. You will find out that the basic meaning and the context of these definitions are
same. The difference between these definitions lies only in the way the author has undertaken research in his
discipline.

According to (Thyer, 2001), "the word research is composed of two syllables, re and search. re is a prefix
meaning again, anew or over again search is a verb meaning to examine closely and carefully, to test and try,
or to probe. Together they form a noun describing a careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in
some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles."

According to (Rocco, 2011), "Research is a careful investigation or inquiry especially through search for new
facts in any branch of knowledge.

According to (Redman and Mory, 2010) “Research is a movement, a movement from the known to the
unknown.

According to (Kothari, C.R.) “Research is manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose of
generalizing to extend, correct or verify knowledge, whether that knowledge aids in construction of theory or
in the practice of an art”.

HOW TO ENSURE A GOOD QUALITY RESEARCH?

1. Purpose should be clearly defined.
2. Common concepts should be used that can be understood by all.
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
3. Research procedures should be explained in detail.
4. Research design should be carefully planned.
5. Researcher should declare all the possible errors and their possible impact on findings.
6. Analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal significance.
7. The methods of analysis should be appropriate.
8. The validity and reliability of the data should be checked carefully.
9. The researcher should good command over research methodologies and should be intelligent and
experienced. 10. Ethics in research refers to a code of conduct of behavior while conducting research. Ethical
conduct applies to the organization and the members that sponsor the research, the researchers who undertake
the research, and the respondents who provide them with the necessary data.

WHAT IS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY?

A research methodology describes the techniques and procedures used to identify and analyze information
regarding a specific research topic. It is a process by which researchers design their study so that they can
achieve their objectives using the selected research instruments. It includes all the important aspects of
research, including research design, data collection methods, data analysis methods, and the overall
framework within which the research is conducted. While these points can help you understand what research
methodology is, you also need to know why it is important to pick the right methodology.

It is practical to know ‘how’ the given Research or any specific piece of Research was done. The process
of research is crucial in understanding how a researcher designs a comprehensive study to get a reliable
outcome, which justifies the objectives of the course. Research methodology plays a significant role in this
process. For instance: Research Methodology allows us to know:

 How did the Researcher reach to decide: What data should be collected or what data should be
avoided?

 How to collect it: The data collection methods of the Research.

 How to analyze it: The data analysis methods of the Research.

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS

CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH:
Characteristics of research determine whether a research is free of biases, prejudices, and subjective errors or
not. The terms are very commonly used in research and the success of any research depends on these terms.
They can be summarized as:

1. Generalized: The researcher usually divides the identified population into smaller samples depending on
the resource availability at the time of research being conducted. This sample is understood to be the
appropriate representative of the identified population therefore the findings should also be applicable to and
representative of the entire population. The analytical information obtained from studying these samples
should be give a fair idea of total population of being follower of particular ideology, beliefs, social stigmas,
driving force, etc. E.g. A study to understand the occupancy statistics and patterns of small hotels and resorts
in a given city would involve the researcher studying selected properties after the city is divided into zones
(East, West, North, South and Central). He may also divide the properties on the basis of number of rooms for
categorization and selection for study purposes thus ensuring that the findings are representative of entire city.

2. Controlled: The concept of control implies that, in exploring causality in relation to two variables (factors),
you set up your study in a way that minimizes the effects of other factors affecting the relationship. Some
variables are classified as controlling factors and the other variables may be classified as possible effects of
controlling factors. Laboratory experiments as in pure sciences like chemistry can be controlled but any study
that involves societal issues cannot be controlled. E.g. Destination studies are not controllable as they have
variables like geography, climate, accessibility, seasonality, etc but studying the effects of standard operating
procedures in a hotel applied in a particular service can be controlled.

3. Rigorous: One must be careful in ensuring that the procedures followed to find answers to questions are
relevant, appropriate and justified. Again, the degree of rigor varies markedly between the physical and social
sciences and within the social sciences.

4. Empirical: The processes adopted should be tested for the accuracy and each step should be coherent in
progression. This means that any conclusions drawn are based upon firm data gathered from information
collected from real life experiences or observations. Empirical nature of research means that the research has
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS

been conducted following rigorous scientific methods and procedures. Quantitative research is easier to prove
scientifically than qualitative research. In qualitative research biases and prejudice are easy to occur.

5. Systematic: The procedure or process being developed to undertake a study should be carefully drafted to
ensure that resources utilization is optimized. Chaotic or disorganized procedures would never yield expected
outcomes. The steps should follow a logical sequence to get to the desired outcome. E.g. The meal in a fine
dine restaurant at a five star hotel cannot commence with dessert being served before the starter or soup
course.

6. Reliability: This is a degree to which the result of a measurement, calculation, or specification can be
depended on to be accurate. It is difficult to be measured accurately, but now there are instruments which can
estimate the reliability of a research. It is the extent to which an experiment, test, measuring procedure,
research, research instrument, tool or procedure yields the same results on repeated trials. If any research
yields similar results each time it is undertaken with similar population and with similar procedures, it is
called to be a reliable research.

7. Validity & Verifiability: It is the extent to which a concept, conclusion or measurement is well-founded
and likely corresponds accurately to the real world. The word "valid" is derived from the Latin valid us,
meaning strong. This should not be confused with notions of certainty nor necessity. The validity of a
measurement tool (for example, a test in education) is considered to be the degree to which the tool measures
what it claims to measure. Validity is based on the strength of a collection of different types of evidence. In
terms of research validity is the strength with which we can make research conclusions, assumptions or
propositions true or false. Validation refers to accuracy of measurement whether or not it measures what it is
supposed to measure. It also ascertains the application of research in finding the solution to an issue in
different conditions. This gives a clear direction to the research activity. The findings of a study should be
verifiable by the researcher as well as anyone else who wants to conduct the study on similar guidelines/
under similar conditions.

8. Employs Hypothesis: Any research definitely begins with formulation of a hypothesis. It is a supposition
or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. A
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
hypothesis can be defined as an educated guess about the relationship between two or more variables. In
simple words a hypothesis is an idea around which one starts working before it is actually converted to
research. A question is what forms the base and is later termed as hypothesis and it may or may not draw a
logical outcome. Hypothesis may prove to be wrong or null or void after the study is conducted. A hypothesis
is an informed and educated prediction or explanation about something. Part of the research process involves
testing the hypothesis, and then examining the results of these tests as they relate to both the hypothesis and
the world around you.

9. Analytical & Accurate: A research should be focused not only about what is happening but also on how
and why a particular phenomenon, process draws certain conclusions. Any data collected if does not yield
results or is unsuitable to be used for further studies or applications disrupts the purpose of research.
Therefore, data collected should be reasonable and free of errors to be easily analyzed. Accuracy is also the
degree to which each research process, instrument, and tool is related to each other. Accuracy also measures
whether research tools have been selected in best possible manner and research procedures suits the research
problem or not. Selection of appropriate data collection tools is essential for a research.

10. Credibility: The extent to which an analysis of finding can be treated to be trustworthy is termed as
credibility. This can only be assured by the use of the best source of information and best procedures in
research. Researches based on secondary data are not reliable as such data may have been manipulated or
distorted by earlier researchers to suit their work. The availability of secondary data from public domains is
easy but cokes with lots of risks involved. The research study conducted based on primary data is always
reliable and carries more credibility. A certain percentage of secondary data can be used if the primary source
is not available but basing a research completely on secondary data when primary data can be gathered is least
credible. When researcher gives accurate references in the research the credibility of the research increases
but fake references also decrease the credibility of the research.

11. Critical: Critical scrutiny of the procedures used and the methods employed is crucial to a research
enquiry. The process of investigation must be foolproof and free from drawbacks. The process adopted and
the procedures used must be able to withstand critical scrutiny.

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS

SCOPE OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

WHAT IS SCOPE?

The scope of your project sets clear parameters for your research. A scope statement will give basic
information about the depth and breadth of the project. It tells your reader exactly what you want to find
out, how you will conduct your study, the reports and deliverables that will be part of the outcome of the
study, and the responsibilities of the researchers involved in the study. The extent of the scope will be a part
of acknowledging any biases in the research project.

DEFINING THE SCOPE OF A PROJECT:

 focuses your research goals

 clarifies the expectations for your research project
 helps you determine potential biases in your research methodology by acknowledging the limits of
your research study
 identifies the limitations of your research
 The scope of a study explains the extent to which the research area will be explored in the study and
specifies the parameters within which the study will be operating. Thus, the scope of a study will
define the purpose of the study, the population size and characteristics, geographical location, the time
period within which the study will be conducted, the theories that the study will focus on, etc.
 As a researcher, you have to be careful when you define your scope or area of focus. Remember that if
you broaden the scope too much, you might not be able to do justice to the work or it might take a very
long time to complete. Consider the feasibility of your work before you write down the scope. Again,
if the scope is too narrow, the findings might not be generalizable.

Example: For example, your study is about online personal banking, but it will not be possible for you to
cover all banks and all individuals who use the online banking system. Therefore, you can maybe specify that
your study will cover 100 people of one particular area and examine their use of the online banking system.

TYPES OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY OR RESEARCH METHODS

An area is selected, a specific hypothesis is determined and a defined conclusion is required to be achieved.
But how is this conclusion reached? What is the approach that can be taken up? The basic types of Research
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
Methods are the following:

1. Descriptive Research: Descriptive Research is a form of research that incorporates surveys as well as
different varieties of fact-finding investigations. Descriptive research is a research method describing
the characteristics of the population or phenomenon studied. This descriptive methodology focuses
more on the “what” of the research subject than the “why” of the research subject. Descriptive
research questions aim to provide a description of the variable under consideration. It is one of the
easiest and commonly used ways to quantify research variables. Questions that begin with: How
much: How much time does an average teenager spend on watching documentaries on OTT
platforms? Example -A company studies the behavior of its customers to identify its target market
before it launches a new product. This is another use case of how brands use descriptive research. The
company may conduct this research by observing the customer's reaction and behavior toward a
competitor's product.

2. Analytical Research: Analytical research is the process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting
information to make inferences and reach conclusions. Depending on the purpose of the research and
the data you have access to; you can conduct analytical research using a variety of methods. Example-
Analytical research is a methodical investigation approach that delves deep into complex subjects
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
through data analysis. It aids in understanding, problem-solving, and informed decision-making in
diverse fields. A retail company is using analytical research to enhance its marketing strategies.

3. Applied Research: Applied research methods identify solutions to specific problems or find answers
to particular questions. It is solution based. An example of this would be a researcher who is tasked
with finding ways to increase student involvement in the classroom. Applied research requires
practical solution for existing problems. Applied Research Topic Examples Persuasion of
individuals Interventions for specific child behaviors Ways to manage schizophrenia How to cure
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Ways to market products The effectiveness of abstinence programs
Should pilots be armed? Has U.S. policy contributed to terrorism?

4. Fundamental Research: Fundamental Research is defined as research in science, engineering, or

mathematics, the results of which ordinarily are published and shared broadly within the research
community, and for which the researchers have not accepted restrictions for proprietary or national
security reasons. Examples of Fundamental Research
1. A critical analysis of product placement as an effective marketing strategy.
2. An investigation into the main elements of brands and branding.
3. A study of factors impacting each stage of product life cycle.

5. Quantitative Research: Quantitative Research, as the name suggests, is based on the measurement of
a particular amount or quantity of a particular phenomenon. It focuses on gathering and interpreting
numerical data and can be adopted for discovering any averages or patterns or for making predictions.
This form of Research is number based and it lies under the two main Research Types. It makes use of
tables, data and graphs to reach a conclusion. The outcomes generated from this research are
measurable and can be repeated unlike the outcomes of qualitative research. Quantitative research is a
research strategy that focuses on quantifying the collection and analysis of data. It is formed from a
deductive approach where emphasis is placed on the testing of theory, shaped by empiricist and
positivist philosophies. Quantitative research methods broadly include questionnaires, structured
observations, and experiments. Here are two quantitative research examples: Satisfaction surveys sent
out by a company regarding their revamped customer service initiatives. These research methods can
be adopted for approaches like descriptive, co relational or experimental research.
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS

Descriptive research - The study variables are analyzed and a summary of the same is seeked.
Co relational Research - The relationship between the study variables is analyzed.
Experimental Research - It is deciphered to analyze whether a cause and effect relationship between the
variables exists.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

 Experiment Research - This method controls or manages independent variables for calculating the
effect it has on dependent variables.

 Survey - Surveys involve inquiring questions from a certain specified number or set of people either
online, face to face or over the phone.

 (Systematic) observation - This method involves detecting any occurrence and monitoring it in a natural
setting.

 Secondary research: This research focuses on making use of data which has been previously collected
for other purposes such as for say, a national survey.

6. Qualitative Research: As the name suggests, Qualitative research is defined as a market research
method that focuses on obtaining data through open-ended and conversational communication. This
method is about “what” people think and “why” they think so. For example, consider a convenience
store looking to improve its patronage. Qualitative research is a type of research that explores and
provides deeper insights into real-world problems. An example of Qualitative Research would
be Motivation Research. This research focuses on deciphering the rooted motives or desires through
intricate methods like in depth interviews. It involves several tests like story completion or word
association. The Types of Qualitative Research includes the following methods:

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

 Observations: In this method what the researcher sees, hears of or encounters is recorded in detail.

 Interviews: Personally asking people questions in one-on-one conversations.

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
 Focus groups: This involves asking questions and discussions among a group of people to generate
conclusions from the same.

 Surveys: In these surveys unlike the quantitative research surveys, the questionnaires involve extensive
open ended questions that require elaborate answers.

 Secondary research: Gathering the existing data such as images, texts or audio or video recordings.
This can involve a text analysis, a research of a case study, or an In-depth interview.

7. Conceptual Research: Conceptual research is defined as a methodology wherein research is

conducted by observing and analyzing already present information on a given topic. Conceptual
research doesn't involve conducting any practical experiments. It is related to abstract concepts or
ideas. Conceptual research is a type of research that does not involve conducting any practical
experiments. It is based on observing and analyzing already existing concepts and theories. The
researcher can observe their surroundings and develop brand-new theories, or they can build on
existing ones. The most famous example of conceptual research is Sir Issac Newton. He observed
his surroundings to conceptualize and develop theories about gravitation and motion. Einstein is
widely known and appreciated for his work on conceptual research.
8. Empirical Research: Empirical research is research that is based on observation and measurement of
phenomena, as directly experienced by the researcher. The data thus gathered may be compared
against a theory or hypothesis, but the results are still based on real life experience. For example: It is
cold outside; traffic is busy in the morning; and we are hungry. Data is derived from these simple
observations. Empirical data can be defined as information gathered from observations. People
observe with all five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.
Other Types of Research: All research types apart from the ones stated above are mainly variations of
them, either in terms of research purpose or in the terms of the time that is required for accomplishing the
research, or say, the research environment. If we take the perspective of time, research can be
considered as either One-time research or Longitudinal Research or others research also.

 One time Research or Cross-Sectional Study: The research is restricted to a single time period. A cross-
sectional study is conducted at a given point in time. One cross-sectional study example in medicine is a data
collection of smoking habits and lung cancer incidence in a given population. A cross-sectional study like this
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
cannot solely determine that smoking habits cause lung cancer, but it can suggest a relationship that merits
further investigation.
 Longitudinal Research: A longitudinal study is a research conducted over an extended period of time. It is
mostly used in medical research and other areas like psychology or sociology. Longitudinal study examples
consider a study conducted to understand the similarities or differences between identical twins that are
brought up together versus identical twins that were not. The study observes several variables, but the
constant is that all the participants have identical twins.
 Exploratory Research: This is a research that is more focused on establishing hypotheses than on deriving
the result. This form of Research focuses on understanding the prevailing issue but it doesn’t really offer
defining results.
 Formalized research: This is a research that has a solid structure and which also has specific hypotheses for
testing. We can also classify Research as conclusion-oriented and decision-oriented.
 Conclusion Oriented Research: In this form of research, the researcher can select an issue, revamp the
enquiry as he continues and visualize it as per his requirements.
 Decision-oriented research: This research depends on the requirement of the decision maker and offers less
freedom to the research to conduct it as he pleases.

Qualitative research vs. Quantitative research

Qualitative research Quantitative research

Deals with subjective aspects, e.g., Measures different types of variables and
experiences, beliefs, perspectives, and describes frequencies, averages, correlations,
concepts. etc.

Tests hypotheses about relationships between

Deals with non-numerical data, such as words,
variables. Results are presented numerically
images, and observations.
and statistically.

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS

In qualitative research design, data are

collected via direct observations, interviews,
Quantitative research design is empirical. Data
focus groups, and naturally occurring data.
collection methods involved are experiments,
Methods for conducting qualitative research
surveys, and observations expressed in
are grounded theory, thematic analysis, and
numbers. The research design categories under
discourse analysis.
this are descriptive, experimental, correlational,
diagnostic, and explanatory.

Data analysis involves interpretation and Data analysis involves statistical analysis and
narrative analysis. hypothesis testing.

The reasoning used to synthesize data is The reasoning used to synthesize data is
inductive. deductive.

Typically used in fields such as sociology, Typically used in fields such as economics,
linguistics, and anthropology. ecology, statistics, and medicine.

Example: Focus group discussions with

women farmers about climate change
Example: Testing the effectiveness of a new
perception.
treatment for insomnia.

STEPS IN RESEARCH PROCESS

There are a variety of approaches to research in any field of investigation, irrespective of whether it is applied
research or basic research. Each research study will be unique in some ways because of the particular time,
setting, environment, and place it is being undertaken. Understanding the research process is necessary to
effectively carry out research and sequence the stages inherent in the process.

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS

Step 1: Identify the Problem

Finding an issue or formulating a research question is the first step. A well-defined research problem will
guide the researcher through all stages of the research process, from setting objectives to choosing a
technique. There are a number of approaches to get insight into a topic and gain a better understanding of it.
Such as:

 A preliminary survey
 Case studies
 Interviews with a small group of people
 Observational survey

Step 2: Evaluate the Literature

A thorough examination of the relevant studies is essential to the research process. It enables the researcher to
identify the precise aspects of the problem. Once a problem has been found, the investigator or researcher
needs to find out more about it. This stage gives problem-zone background. It teaches the investigator about
previous research, how they were conducted, and its conclusions. The researcher can build consistency
between his work and others through a literature review. Such a review exposes the researcher to a more
significant body of knowledge and helps him follow the research process efficiently.

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
Step 3: Create Hypotheses

Formulating an original hypothesis is the next logical step after narrowing down the research topic and
defining it. A belief solves logical relationships between variables. In order to establish a hypothesis, a
researcher must have a certain amount of expertise in the field. It is important for researchers to keep in mind
while formulating a hypothesis that it must be based on the research topic. Researchers are able to concentrate
their efforts and stay committed to their objectives when they develop theories to guide their work.

Step 4: The Research Design

Research design is the plan for achieving objectives and answering research questions. It outlines how to get
the relevant information. Its goal is to design research to test hypotheses, address the research questions, and
provide decision-making insights. The research design aims to minimize the time, money, and effort required
to acquire meaningful evidence. This plan fits into four categories:

 Exploration and Surveys

 Experiment
 Data Analysis
 Observation

Step 5: Describe Population

Research projects usually look at a specific group of people, facilities, or how technology is used in the
business. In research, the term population refers to this study group. The research topic and purpose help
determine the study group. Suppose a researcher wishes to investigate a certain group of people in the
community. In that case, the research could target a specific age group, males or females, a geographic
location, or an ethnic group. A final step in a study’s design is to specify its sample or population so that the
results may be generalized.

Step 6: Data Collection

Data collection is important in obtaining the knowledge or information required to answer the research issue.
Every research collected data, either from the literature or the people being studied. Data must be collected
from the two categories of researchers. These sources may provide primary data.
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
 Experiment
 Questionnaire
 Observation
 Interview

Secondary data categories are:

 Literature survey
 Official, unofficial reports
 An approach based on library resources

Step 7: Data Analysis

During research design, the researcher plans data analysis. After collecting data, the researcher analyzes it.
The data is examined based on the approach in this step. The research findings are reviewed and reported.
Data analysis involves a number of closely related stages, such as setting up categories, applying these
categories to raw data through coding and tabulation, and then drawing statistical conclusions. The researcher
can examine the acquired data using a variety of statistical methods.

Step 8: The Report-writing

After completing these steps, the researcher must prepare a report detailing his findings. The report must be
carefully composed with the following in mind:

o The Layout: On the first page, the title, date, acknowledgments, and preface should be on the
report. A table of contents should be followed by a list of tables, graphs, and charts if any.

 Introduction: It should state the research’s purpose and methods. This section should include the
study’s scope and limits.

o Summary of Findings: A non-technical summary of findings and recommendations will

follow the introduction. The findings should be summarized if they’re lengthy.

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
 Principal Report: The main body of the report should make sense and be broken up into sections that
are easy to understand.

 Conclusion: The researcher should restate his findings at the end of the main text. It’s the final result.

Ethics in Business Research

What are Ethics?

Ethics are norms or standards of behavior that guide moral choices about our behavior and our relationship
with others. As in other aspects of business, all parties in research should exhibit ethical behavior. The goal of
ethics in research is to ensure that no one is harmed or suffered adverse consequences from research activities.
This objective is usually achieved. However, unethical activities are pervasive and include violating non
disclosure agreement, breaking respondent confidentiality, misrepresenting results, deceiving people,
invoicing irregularities, avoiding legal liability, and more.

Ethics are norms or standards of behavior that guide moral choices about our behavior and our relationships
with others. Ethics differ from legal constraints, in which generally accepted standards have defined penalties
that are universally enforced. The goal of ethics in research is to ensure that no one is harmed or suffers
adverse consequences from research activities. As research is designed, several ethical considerations must
be balanced:

• Protect the rights of the participant or subject.

• Ensure the sponsor receives ethically conducted and reported research.

• Follow ethical standards when designing research.

• Protect the safety of the researcher and team.

• Ensure the research team follows the design.

Most societies also have legal rules that govern behavior, but ethical norms tend to be broader and more
informal than laws. Although most societies use laws to enforce widely accepted moral standards and ethical
and legal rules use similar concepts, ethics and law are not the same. An action may be legal but unethical or
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illegal but ethical. We can also use ethical concepts and principles to criticize, evaluate, propose, or interpret
laws. Indeed, in the last century, many social reformers have urged citizens to disobey laws they regarded as
immoral or unjust laws. Peaceful civil disobedience is an ethical way of protesting laws or expressing political
viewpoints.

Another way of defining 'ethics' focuses on the disciplines that study standards of conduct, such as
philosophy, theology, law, psychology, or sociology. For example, a "medical ethicist" is someone who
studies ethical standards in medicine. One may also define ethics as a method, procedure, or perspective for
deciding how to act and for analyzing complex problems and issues. See Glossary of Commonly Used
Terms in Research Ethics.

 First, norms promote the aims of research, such as knowledge, truth, and avoidance of error. For
example, prohibitions against fabricating, falsifying, or misrepresenting research data promote the
truth and minimize error.
 Second, since research often involves a great deal of cooperation and coordination among many
different people in different disciplines and institutions, ethical standards promote the values that are
essential to collaborative work, such as trust, accountability, mutual respect, and fairness. For
example, many ethical norms in research, such as guidelines for authorship, copyright and patenting
policies, data sharing policies, and confidentiality rules in peer review, are designed to protect
intellectual property interests while encouraging collaboration. Most researchers want to receive credit
for their contributions and do not want to have their ideas stolen or disclosed prematurely.
 Third, many of the ethical norms help to ensure that researchers can be held accountable to the
public. For instance, federal policies on research misconduct, conflicts of interest, the human subject’s
protections, and animal care and use are necessary in order to make sure that researchers who are
funded by public money can be held accountable to the public.
 Fourth, ethical norms in research also help to build public support for research. People are more
likely to fund a research project if they can trust the quality and integrity of research.
 Finally, many of the norms of research promote a variety of other important moral and social values,
such as social responsibility, human rights, animal welfare, compliance with the law, and public health
and safety. Ethical lapses in research can significantly harm human and animal subjects, students, and
the public. For example, a researcher who fabricates data in a clinical trial may harm or even kill
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patients, and a researcher who fails to abide by regulations and guidelines relating to radiation or
biological safety may jeopardize his health and safety or the health and safety of staff and students.

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

The following is a rough and general summary of some ethical principles that various codes address*:

Honesty
Strive for honesty in all scientific communications. Honestly report data, results, methods and procedures, and
publication status. Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data. Do not deceive colleagues, research
sponsors, or the public.

Objectivity
Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer review, personnel
decisions, grant writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of research where objectivity is expected or
required. Avoid or minimize bias or self-deception. Disclose personal or financial interests that may affect
research.

Integrity
Keep your promises and agreements; act with sincerity; strive for consistency of thought and action.

Carefulness
Avoid careless errors and negligence; carefully and critically examine your own work and the work of your
peers. Keep good records of research activities, such as data collection, research design, and correspondence
with agencies or journals.

Openness
Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.

Transparency
Disclose methods, materials, assumptions, analyses, and other information needed to evaluate your research.

Accountability
Take responsibility for your part in research and be prepared to give an account (i.e. an explanation or
justification) of what you did on a research project and why.
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Intellectual Property
Honor patents, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property. Do not use unpublished data, methods, or
results without permission. Give proper acknowledgement or credit for all contributions to research. Never
plagiarize.

Confidentiality
Protect confidential communications, such as papers or grants submitted for publication, personnel records,
trade or military secrets, and patient records.

Responsible Publication
Publish in order to advance research and scholarship, not to advance just your own career. Avoid wasteful and
duplicative publication.

Responsible Mentoring
Help to educate, mentor, and advise students. Promote their welfare and allow them to make their own
decisions.

Respect for Colleagues

Respect your colleagues and treat them fairly.

Social Responsibility
Strive to promote social good and prevent or mitigate social harms through research, public education, and
advocacy.

Non-Discrimination
Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or other factors not
related to scientific competence and integrity.

Competence
Maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through lifelong education and
learning; take steps to promote competence in science as a whole.

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Legality
Know and obey relevant laws and institutional and governmental policies.

Animal Care
Show proper respect and care for animals when using them in research. Do not conduct unnecessary or poorly
designed animal experiments.

Human Subjects protection

When conducting research on human subjects, minimize harms and risks and maximize benefits; respect
human dignity, privacy, and autonomy; take special precautions with vulnerable populations; and strive to
distribute the benefits and burdens of research fairly.
RESEARCH MISCONDUCT
What are research misconducts?

(a) Fabrication - making up data or results and recording or reporting them.

(b) Falsification - manipulating research materials, or changing or omitting data or results such that the
research is not accurately represented in the research record.

(c) Plagiarism - the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving
appropriate credit.

(d) Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.

BUSINESS ETHICS: DEFINING IN RESEARCH PROBLEM, REVIEW OF LITERATURE,

FORMULATION OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND HYPOTHESIS FORMULATION IN RESEARCH

Introduction

The term "identification of research problem" refers to the knowledge of a persistent social issue, a social
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phenomenon, or a notion that merits investigation in order to be understood. Such a study problem is
discovered by the researcher by observation, knowledge, wisdom, and abilities.

Finding a subject to study can be difficult, not because there aren't any problems that could be researched, but
because it can be difficult to formulate a problem that is both academically important and researchable and
that is also original and doesn't just repeat previous research. Consider these sources of inspiration to help you
decide on a problem to base your research project around.

Perspectives from Various Disciplines

Identifying a problem that will serve as the foundation for a research study can come from academic
movements and scholarship that originate in disciplines other than your primary field of study. This can be a
mentally stimulating activity. Examining research from related disciplines that can reveal new avenues of
exploration and analysis should be included in a review of relevant literature. An interdisciplinary approach to
selecting a research problem allows for a more comprehensive understanding of a very complex issue than
any single discipline could provide.

Practitioner Interviews

Formal interviews or informal discussions with practitioners who provide insight into new directions for
future research and how to make research findings more relevant to practice can lead to the identification of
research problems about specific topics. Discussions with experts in the field, such as teachers, social
workers, health care providers, lawyers, business leaders, and so on, provide an opportunity to identify
practical, "real world" issues which is often ignored within academic circles. This approach also provides
some practical knowledge that may aid in the design and execution of your study.

Related Literature

A thorough review of relevant research related to your overall area of interest can help you choose a research
problem. This may reveal where there are gaps in understanding or where an issue has been understudied.
Research may be conducted to: 1) fill such knowledge gaps; 2) assess whether the methodologies used in
previous studies can be adapted to solve other problems; or 3) determine whether a similar study could be
conducted in a different subject area, in a different context, or with a different study sample.
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Formulation of Research Questions/ Statement

A strong problem statement starts by outlining the broad topic on which your study is focused before guiding
the reader toward the more specific problems you are looking into. A good research problem should have the
following characteristics, albeit it need not be long:

1. Captivating Subject

The problem you choose should be one that inspires you to solve it; nevertheless, pursuing a research project
out of mere curiosity is not recommended as this does not suggest significance. The issue you decide to
research must matter to you, but it must also matter to your readers and the greater academic and/or social
community that might be affected by the findings of your investigation.

2. Accepts Multiple Points of View

The issue must be phrased in a way that avoids dichotomies and instead encourages the generation and
exploration of multiple points of view. A general rule of thumb in the social sciences is that a good research
problem is one that will elicit a wide range of opinions from a diverse group of reasonable people.

3. Research ability

Research ability is an important aspect of creating a good research statement. It seems a smidgen obvious, but
you don't want to find yourself in the middle of investigating a complex research project and realize that it is
not necessary much prior research to draw from for the analysis. There's nothing wrong with original research,
but as a researcher you certainly need to select the problems of research is supposed to be able in supporting,
to some extent, the resources available to the researcher.

Analytical questions that are well-developed can focus on any of the following:

Draws attention to a genuine quandary, area of ambiguity, or point of confusion about a topic that is open to
interpretation by your readers; It gives birth to an answer that is unexpected and not apparent slightly but is
inevitable and self-evident; Provokes meaningful thought or discussion; Increases the visibility of key ideas or
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concepts that may be understudied or hidden; Research ability helps in providing the suggestions to the need
for complex analysis or argument rather than a basic description or summary.

FEATURES OF A RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research question should be feasible that is to say adequate number of subjects, adequate technical
expertise, affordable in time and money, manageable in scope.

It should be interesting: Getting the answer intrigues the investigator and her friends.

It should be novel: Confirms, refutes or extends previous findings, provides new findings.

It should be ethical: Amenable to a study that institutional review board will approve.

It should be relevant: to scientific, knowledge, to clinical and health policy and to future research.

A research problem is a definite or clear expression [statement] about an area of concern, a condition to be
improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in
theory, or within existing practice those points to a need for meaningful understanding and deliberate
investigation. A research problem does not state how to do something, offer a vague or broad proposition, or
present a value question. It is not always easy to formulate the research problem simply and clearly. It may
take years to decide for some and just a few minutes for others to decide the research problem to be studied.
The social issues may provide a broader prospect but it may not suggest a specific one. E.g. understanding
economic background of society may not address the issues of unemployment in the same society therefore
unemployment needs to studied differently and individually to assess the underlying problems. The
availability of resources like money, time, manpower, etc also affects the selection of research problem.

Some sources of Research Problems may be identified as follows:

 Personal Experiences.

 Media: Documentation done on various issues, live coverage, panel discussions etc.

 Resources: Literature such as books, journals, news articles, periodicals etc may facilitate the researcher to
identify a relevant problem based on the area of interest.

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 Government / Official Records: The orders passed by government. The decisions given in various cases
by courts, the petitions and surveys conducted become important sources to shortlist finger prints in abrader
problem.

 People: A group of individuals may be studied to understand how they behave, how tiny respond to a
particular situation do or what responses are generated when they are influenced from within or outside the
group.

 Discussions: A researcher may be able to come to a conclusion to identify a research problem by discussing
the perspectives with peers, colleagues, seniors in the field, guides etc.

 Problems: It may be decided to examine the existence of certain issues or problems relating to society,
sciences or any subjects in reference.

 Programs: These may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of an interference, involvement or intrusions.

 Phenomena: To establish the existence of regularity and to understand if a procedure would yield similar
results overtime when used repetitively. This includes causes and effects and relationships between variables.

 Ideas from external sources.

 Interdisciplinary Perspectives.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IN SELECTING A RESEARCH PROBLEM:

A good problem statement begins by introducing the broad area in which your research is centered, gradually
leading the reader to the more specific issues you are investigating. The statement need not be lengthy, but
a good research problem should incorporate the following features:

1. Persuasive Topic: The problem that is taken up for research should not only be of ample interest to the
researcher but also the one that is continuously motivating to ensure consistent efforts to find a solution. The
significance is greatly reduced if the idea is to just get some superficial knowledge about the problem and not
to lead the researcher to resolve.

2. Viability: A problem that has been identified to be studied should be decide on the basis of whether it is
actually possible to be resolved , or has some previous know how to guide the researcher to move ahead. A
problem which has not been foreseen earlier may be selected but then the resources availability should be
considered.
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3. The So What Test: A research problem should be able to pass the ―So What‖ test as in social researches,
to ascertain the meaningfulness and relevance of studying a particular problem. If the problem does not a
result which may lead to further study or analysis it has be avoided. According to Ranjit Kumar (RM – A step
by step guide) a few more considerations that assist a researcher to ensure that the study will remain
manageable and that you will remain motivated are:

a. 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.

b. 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.

c. Measurement of concepts: Make sure that you are clear about the indicators and measurement of concepts
(if used) in your study.

d. 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.

e. 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.

f. Availability of data: Before finalizing the topic, make sure that data are available.

g. 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.

WHAT IS A LITERATURE REVIEW?

A literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers.
Occasionally you will be asked to write one as a separate assignment, but more often it is part of the
introduction to an essay, research report, or thesis. In writing the literature review, your purpose is to
convey to your reader what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic, and what their
strengths and weaknesses are. As a piece of writing, the literature review must be defined by a guiding
concept (e.g., your research objective, the problem or issue you are discussing, or your argumentative thesis).
It is not just a descriptive list of the material available, or a set of summaries

A literature review must do these things:

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 be organized around and related directly to the thesis or research question you are developing
 synthesize results into a summary of what is and is not known
 identify areas of controversy in the literature
 formulate questions that need further research

Ask yourself questions like these:

 What is the specific thesis, problem, or research question that my literature review helps to define?
 What type of literature review am I conducting? Am I looking at issues of theory? methodology? policy?
quantitative research (e.g. on the effectiveness of a new procedure)? qualitative research (e.g., studies of
loneliness among migrant workers)?
 What is the scope of my literature review? What types of publications am I using (e.g., journals, books,
government documents, popular media)? What discipline am I working in (e.g., nursing psychology,
sociology, medicine)?
 How good was my information seeking? Has my search been wide enough to ensure I've found all the
relevant material? Has it been narrow enough to exclude irrelevant material? Is the number of sources
I've used appropriate for the length of my paper?
 Have I critically analyzed the literature I use? Do I follow through a set of concepts and questions,
comparing items to each other in the ways they deal with them? Instead of just listing and summarizing
items, do I assess them, discussing strengths and weaknesses?
 Have I cited and discussed studies contrary to my perspective?
 Will the reader find my literature review relevant, appropriate, and useful?
Ask yourself questions like these about each book or article you include:

 Has the author formulated a problem/issue?

 Is it clearly defined? Is its significance (scope, severity, relevance) clearly established?
 Could the problem have been approached more effectively from another perspective?
 What is the author's research orientation (e.g., interpretive, critical science, combination)?
 What is the author's theoretical framework (e.g., psychological, developmental, feminist)?
 What is the relationship between the theoretical and research perspectives?
 Has the author evaluated the literature relevant to the problem/issue? Does the author include literature
taking positions she or he does not agree with?

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 In a research study, how good are the basic components of the study design (e.g., population,
intervention, outcome)? How accurate and valid are the measurements? Is the analysis of the data
accurate and relevant to the research question? Are the conclusions validly based upon the data and
analysis?
 In material written for a popular readership, does the author use appeals to emotion, one-sided
examples, or rhetorically-charged language and tone? Is there an objective basis to the reasoning, or is
the author merely "proving" what he or she already believes?
 How does the author structure the argument? Can you "deconstruct" the flow of the argument to see
whether or where it breaks down logically (e.g., in establishing cause-effect relationships)?
 In what ways does this book or article contribute to our understanding of the problem under study, and
in what ways is it useful for practice? What are the strengths and limitations?
 How does this book or article relate to the specific thesis or question I am developing?

HYPOTHESIS IN RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A hypothesis is a statement produced on the assumption of some proof. This is the starting step of any
research that converts a forecast into qualitative Research. That involves elements such as variables,
population and the relationship between the variables. A study hypothesis is a hypothesis used to assess the
correlation between two or more factors. The focus of the Research is relevant to this theoretical relationship.
This rational relation is called a hypothesis between different anomalies. And this sensible relationship or
provable inference gives the research direction, determines the research emphasis and allows to frame of types
of research methodology Approach.

Hypothesis Features:

Hypothesis features are as follows:

 The theory for it to be accurate should be transparent and specific.

 If the Hypothesis is a quantitative research assumption, then the interaction between variables
should be specified.

 The theory must be precise and should have the potential for carrying out further experiments.

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Hypothetical Origins:

Hypothesis origins are as follows:

 The correlation of phenomena.

 Assumptions from previous Research, insights from today, and rivals.

 Theoretical Research.

 Common trends that affect the thought process of individuals.

Forms of Hypothesis:

Six conditions of Hypothesis exist, and these are:

It shows a relationship between one dependent variable and a single independent

variable. For example, – If you eat more vegetables, you will lose weight faster.
Simple Hypothesis
Here, eating more vegetables is an independent variable, while losing weight is
the dependent variable.

It illustrates the connection of two or more dependent variables with two or

Complicated more independent variables. Consuming more fruits and vegetables contributes
Hypothesis to weight loss, perfect skin, reducing the risk of many illnesses, such as heart
disease, high blood pressure, and certain cancers.

This illustrates how an investigator is analytical and dedicated to a specific

result. Even the relationship between the variables may forecast their existence.
Directional
For example, children aged four years who eat proper food over five years have
Hypothesis
higher IQ levels than children who do not wear appropriate food. It indicates the
influence and direction of the impact.

It has been used when it does not require any explanation. It is a hypothesis that
Non-directional
there is an interaction between two variables, without forecasting the
Hypothesis
relationship’s precise nature (position).

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It offers a declaration contradictory to the Hypothesis. It’s a negative

Null Hypothesis assumption, and the connection between independent and dependent variables is
not present. A symbol is labelled with “HO.”

An associative hypothesis arises when one variable shift, contributing to a

Associative and
change in the other variable. The causal theory, however, suggests an
Causal Hypothesis
association of impact and consequence between two or more variables.

Hypothesis Examples

Here are the examples of their forms of Hypothesis:

1. An example of a simple hypothesis is the consumption of sugary drinks every day that contributes
to obesity.

2. An example of a null hypothesis is that all the lilies have the same number of petals.

3. If a person gets 7 hours of sleep, then less exhaustion will be felt than if he sleeps little.

A research hypothesis is a real, simple, and testable idea or predictive assumption on the potential outcome of
a population-based scientific research study, such as supposed variations between groups on a specific
variable or interactions between variables.

RESEARCH DESIGN

A research design is a strategy for answering your research question using empirical data. Creating a
research design means making decisions about:

 Your overall research objectives and approach

 Whether you’ll rely on primary research or secondary research
 Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects
 Your data collection methods
 The procedures you’ll follow to collect data
 Your data analysis methods

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A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research objectives and that you
use the right kind of analysis for your data.

Research design is the framework of research methods and techniques chosen by a researcher to conduct a
study. The design allows researchers to sharpen the research methods suitable for the subject matter and set up
their studies for success. Research design is a blueprint of a scientific study. It includes research
methodologies, tools, and techniques to conduct the research. It helps to identify and address the problem that
may rise during the process of research and analysis.

Here are some Principles of a sound Research Design:

 Identifies the problems

 Reviews literature around the problem statement
 Specifies hypothesis
 Describes sources of data
 Defines how data will be interpreted

CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH DESIGN

 Neutrality: When you set up your study, you may have to make assumptions about the data you
expect to collect. The results projected in the research should be free from research bias and neutral.
Understand opinions about the final evaluated scores and conclusions from multiple individuals and
consider those who agree with the results.
 Reliability: With regularly conducted research, the researcher expects similar results every time.
You’ll only be able to reach the desired results if your design is reliable. Your plan should indicate
how to form research questions to ensure the standard of results.
 Validity: There are multiple measuring tools available. However, the only correct measuring tools are
those which help a researcher in gauging results according to the objective of the research.
The questionnaire developed from this design will then be valid.
 Generalization: The outcome of your design should apply to a population and not just a
restricted sample. A generalized method implies that your survey can be conducted on any part of a
population with similar accuracy.

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RESEARCH DESIGN ELEMENTS

Research design elements include the following:

 Clear purpose: The research question or hypothesis must be clearly defined and focused.

 Sampling: This includes decisions about sample size, sampling method, and criteria for inclusion or
exclusion. The approach varies for different research design types.

 Data collection: This research design element involves the process of gathering data or information from the
study participants or sources. It includes decisions about what data to collect, how to collect it, and the tools
or instruments that will be used.

 Data analysis: All research design types require analysis and interpretation of the data collected.
This research design element includes decisions about the statistical tests or methods that will be used to
analyze the data, as well as any potential confounding variables or biases that may need to be addressed.

 Type of research methodology: This includes decisions about the overall approach for the study.

 Time frame: An important research design element is the time frame, which includes decisions about the
duration of the study, the timeline for data collection and analysis, and follow-up periods.

 Ethical considerations: The research design must include decisions about ethical considerations such as
informed consent, confidentiality, and participant protection.

 Resources: A good research design takes into account decisions about the budget, staffing, and other
resources needed to carry out the study.

BASICS OR IMPORTANT CONCEPTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN

Variable

Variable is a concept that can take on various quantitative values. For instance, weight, height, etc.

Dependent Variable

A dependent variable is a variable that is tested in an experiment. It is dependent, in some way on the
variation of an independent variable.

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Independent Variable

An independent variable in an experiment is considered to stand on its own. For instance, if the test scores of
a class are an outcome of their efforts; efforts are an independent variable, and the score is a dependent
variable.

Hypothesis
It is defined as the hypothesis that needs to be tested in an experiment.
Research Methodology
Research methodology refers to the overall approach to the research project, including the research design,
data collection methods, and data analysis techniques.
Data Collection Methods
Data collection methods refer to the specific techniques that will be used to collect data, such as surveys,
interviews, and observations.
Data Analysis Techniques
Data analysis techniques refer to the specific statistical techniques that will be used to analyze the collected
data, such as regression analysis, t-tests, and ANOVA.
Sampling
Sampling refers to the process of selecting a representative subset of the population to participate in the
research project.
Validity and Reliability
Validity refers to the accuracy and correctness of the research findings, while reliability refers to the
consistency and stability of the research findings.

THE PROCESS OF RESEARCH DESIGN

The research design process is a systematic and structured approach to conducting research. The process is
essential to ensure that the study is valid, reliable, and produces meaningful results.

1. Consider your aims and approaches: Determine the research questions and objectives, and identify
the theoretical framework and methodology for the study.
2. Choose a type of Research Design: Select the appropriate research design, such as experimental,
correlational, survey, case study, or ethnographic, based on the research questions and objectives.
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
3. Identify your population and sampling method: Determine the target population and sample size,
and choose the sampling method, such as random, stratified random sampling, or convenience
sampling.
4. Choose your data collection methods: Decide on the methods, such as surveys, interviews,
observations, or experiments, and select the appropriate instruments or tools for collecting data.
5. Plan your data collection procedures: Develop a plan for data collection, including the timeframe,
location, and personnel involved, and ensure ethical considerations.
6. Decide on your data analysis strategies: Select the appropriate data analysis techniques, such
as statistical analysis, content analysis, or discourse analysis, and plan how to interpret the results.

Research Design Types

A researcher must clearly understand the various types to select which model to implement for a study. Like
the research itself, the design of your analysis can be broadly classified into quantitative and qualitative.

 Qualitative research

Qualitative research determines relationships between collected data and observations based on mathematical
calculations. Statistical methods can prove or disprove theories related to a naturally existing phenomenon.
Researchers rely on qualitative observation research methods that conclude “why” a particular theory exists
and “what” respondents have to say about it.

 Quantitative research

Quantitative research is for cases where statistical conclusions to collect actionable insights are essential.
Numbers provide a better perspective for making critical business decisions. Quantitative research methods
are necessary for the growth of any organization. Insights drawn from complex numerical data and analysis
prove to be highly effective when making decisions about the business’s future.

Qualitative Research vs Quantitative Research

Here is a chart that highlights the major differences between qualitative and quantitative research:

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS

Qualitative Research Quantitative Research

Focus on explaining and understanding Focus on quantifying and measuring

experiences and perspectives. phenomena.

Use of non-numerical data, such as words, Use of numerical data, such as statistics
images, and observations. and surveys.

Usually uses small sample sizes. Usually uses larger sample sizes.

Typically emphasizes in-depth exploration Typically emphasizes precision and

and interpretation. objectivity.

Data analysis involves interpretation and Data analysis involves statistical analysis
narrative analysis. and hypothesis testing.

Results are presented numerically and

Results are presented descriptively.
statistically.

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS

EXPLANATIONS OF TYPES OF RESEARCH DESIGNS

Now that we know the broadly classified types of research, Quantitative and Qualitative Research can be
divided into the following types of Research Designs:

Descriptive Research Design

In Descriptive Research Design, the scholar explains/describes the situation or case in depth in their research
materials. This type of research design is purely on a theoretical basis where the individual collects data,
analyses, prepares and then presents it in an understandable manner. It is the most generalised form of
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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
research design. To explore one or more variables, a descriptive design might employ a wide range of
research approaches. Unlike in experimental research, the researcher does not control or change any of the
variables in a descriptive research design; instead, he or she just observes and measures them. In other words,
while qualitative research may also be utilised for descriptive reasons, a descriptive method of research design
is typically regarded as a sort of quantitative research. To guarantee that the results are legitimate and
dependable, the study design should be properly constructed. Here are some examples of the descriptive
design of the research type:

 How has the Delhi housing market changed over the past 20 years?
 Do customers of Company A prefer Product C or Product D?
 What are the main genetic, behavioural and morphological differences between Indian wild cows and
hybrid cows?
 How prevalent is disease 1 in population Z?

Experimental Research Design

Experimental research is a type of research design in which the study is carried out utilising a scientific
approach and two sets of variables. The first set serves as a constant against which the variations in the second
set are measured. Experimentation is used in quantitative research methodologies, for example. If you lack
sufficient evidence to back your conclusions, you must first establish the facts. Experimental research collects
data to assist you in making better judgments. Experimentation is used in any research undertaken in
scientifically appropriate settings. The effectiveness of experimental investigations is dependent on
researchers verifying that a variable change is due only to modification of the constant variable. The study
should identify a noticeable cause and effect. The traditional definition of experimental design is “the
strategies employed to collect data in experimental investigations.” There are three types of experimental
designs:

 Pre-experimental research design

 True experimental research design
 Quasi-experimental research design

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
Correlational Research Design
A Correlational research design looks into correlations between variables without allowing the researcher to
control or manipulate any of them. Correlational studies reveal the magnitude and/or direction of a link
between two (or more) variables. Correlational studies or Correlational study designs might have either a
positive, negative or zero.

Correlational Studies What Happens? Example

Direction or Types
Positive correlation Both variables change in the As the price of petrol increases, the
same direction fare of an auto increases too.
Negative correlation The variables change in As tea consumption increases,
opposite directions tiredness decreases
Zero correlation There is no relationship Tea consumption is not correlated
between the variables with height
Correlational research design is great for swiftly collecting data from natural settings. This allows you to
apply your results to real-world circumstances in an externally legitimate manner. Correlational studies
research is a viable choice in a few scenarios like:

 To investigate non-causal relationships

 To explore causal relationships between variables
 To test new measurement tools

Diagnostic Research Design

Diagnostic research design is a type of research design that tries to investigate the underlying cause of a
certain condition or phenomenon. It can assist you in learning more about the elements that contribute to
certain difficulties or challenges that your clients may be experiencing. This design typically consists of three
research stages, which are as follows:

 Inception of the issue

 Diagnosis of the issue
 Solution for the issue

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE) UNIVERSITY
MULLANA (AMBALA)
COURSE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS
Explanatory Research Design
Explanatory research is a method established to explore phenomena that have not before been researched or
adequately explained. Its primary goal is to notify us about where we may get a modest bit of information.
With this strategy, the researcher obtains a broad notion and uses research as a tool to direct them more
quickly to concerns that may be addressed in the future. Its purpose is to discover the why and what of a
subject under investigation. In short, it is a type of research design that is responsible for finding the why of
the events through the establishment of cause-effect relationships. The most popular methods of explanatory
research are:

 Literature research
 In-depth interview
 Focus groups
 Case studies

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Dr. Deepa Sharma, MM University, India