Unit II

RESEARCH PROCESS AND

CONCEPTS IN RESEARCH

Research Process - Steps in research, Research

designs for Experimental, Explorative and
Explanatory. Concepts - Methodology and
Methods, Theory, concepts, constructs
variables, Deductive and inductive logic.
 CHRIST
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Content

 Research Process - Steps in research

 Research designs -Experimental, Explorative and
Explanatory
 Concepts - Methodology and Methods
 Theory & concepts
 Constructs & variables
 Deductive and Inductive

Excellence and
Service
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Video
● Steps in the Research Process
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axHm4zto
noA

Excellence and
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 The Process of Research
1. Define research problem
2. Extensive literature survey
3. Formulate hypotheses
4. Preparing the research design
5. Determine Sample Design
6. Data collection
7. Data analysis
8. Hypothesis testing
9. Generalization & Interpretation
10. Preparation of the Report

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 Research Problem
• A research problem is a statement about an
area of concern, a condition to be improved, a
difficulty to be eliminated, or a
troubling question that exists in scholarly
literature, in theory, or in practice that points
to the need for meaningful understanding and
deliberate investigation.
 Research Problem
• The purpose of a problem statement is to:

1. Introduce the reader to the importance of the topic being

studied. The reader is oriented to the significance of the study
and the research questions or hypotheses to follow.
2. Places the problem into a particular context that defines the
parameters of what is to be investigated.
3. Provides the framework for reporting the results and indicates
what is probably necessary to conduct the study and explain
how the findings will present this information.
 Research Problem
• Practical research problems
• If you are doing practical research, you can identify a
problem by reading reports, following up on previous
research, and talking to people who work in the relevant
field or organization. You might look for:
1. Issues with performance or efficiency in an organization
2. Processes that could be improved in an institution
3. Areas of concern among practitioners in a field
4. Difficulties faced by specific groups of people in society
 Research Problem
• Practical research problems
• If your research is connected to a job or internship, you
will need to find a research problem that has practical
relevance for the organization.
• Examples of practical research problems
1. Voter turnout in region X has been decreasing, in
contrast to the rest of the country.
2. Department A of Company B has a high staff turnover
rate, affecting productivity and team cohesion.
3. Non-profit organization Y faces a funding gap that
means some of its programs will have to be cut.
 Research Problem
• Theoretical research problems
• Theoretical research focuses on expanding knowledge and
understanding rather than directly contributing to change.
You can identify a research problem by reading recent
research, theory and debates on your topic to find a gap in
what is currently known about it. You might look for:
1. A phenomenon or context that has not been closely
studied
2. A contradiction between two or more perspectives
3. A situation or relationship that is not well understood
4. A troubling question that has yet to be resolved
 Research Problem
• Theoretical research problems
• Theoretical problems often have practical consequences, but they
are not focused on solving an immediate issue in a specific place
(though you might take a case study approach to the research).
• Examples of theoretical research problems
1. The effects of long-term Vitamin D deficiency on cardiovascular
health are not well understood.
2. The relationship between gender, race and income inequality has
yet to be closely studied in the context of the millennial gig
economy.
3. Historians of Scottish nationalism disagree about the role of the
British Empire in the development of Scotland’s national identity.
 The Process of Research

• Preparing the research design

•  Name that Research Method Activity 

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 Research design
• Research Design
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70LY
Research design

Research design is intended to provide an

appropriate framework for a study.
A very significant decision in research design
process is the choice to be made regarding research
approach since it determines how relevant
information for a study will be obtained; however,
the research design process involves many
interrelated decisions 
Research Design
A research design is a broad plan that states
objectives of research project and provides the
guidelines what is to be done to realize those
objectives. It is, in other words, a master plan for
executing a research project.

Research design is a broad framework that states the

total pattern of conducting research project. It
specifies objectives, data collection and analysis
methods, time, costs, responsibility, probable
outcomes, and actions.
Research Design

Statement of research objectives, i.e., why the research project is to be conducted

Type of data needed

Definition of population and sampling procedures to be followed

Time, costs, and responsibility specification

Methods, ways, and procedures used for collection of data

Data analysis – tools or methods used to analyze data

Probable output or research outcomes 

Types of Research Design

The research design is a broad framework that describes

how the entire research project is carried out. Basically, there
can be three types of research designs – exploratory research
design, descriptive research design, and experimental (or
causal) research design.
Research Design

Exploratory Descriptive Experimental

 Exploratory Research Design
This design is followed to discover ideas and
insights to generate possible explanations.
It helps in exploring the problem or situation. 
The exploratory research design is used to increase
familiarity of the analyst with problem under
investigation.
This is particularly true when researcher is new in
area, or when problem is of different type.
Descriptive Research Design:
Descriptive research design is typically concerned
with describing problem and its solution.
It is more specific and purposive study.
Before rigorous attempts are made for descriptive
study, the well-defined problem must be on hand.
Descriptive study rests on one or more hypotheses.
Causal or Experimental Research Design:
Causal research design deals with determining cause and
effect relationship. It is typically in form of experiment.
In causal research design, attempt is made to measure
impact of manipulation of independent variables (like
price, products, advertising and selling efforts or
marketing strategies in general) on dependent variables
(like sales volume, profits, and brand image and brand
loyalty).
It has more practical value in resolving marketing
problems. We can set and test hypotheses by conducting
experiments.
 Methodology & Methods
Methodology and Method are often (incorrectly)
used interchangeable
• Methodology – the study of the general
approach to inquiry in a given field
• Method – the specific techniques, tools or
procedures applied to achieve a given objective
– Research methods in economics include regression
analysis, mathematical analysis, operations research,
surveys, data gathering, etc.

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 Methodology & Methods

https://keydifferences.com/difference-b
etween-research-method-and-research-
methodology.html

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Research Methods
 Research methods are the various procedures,
schemes and algorithms used in research.
 All the methods used by a researcher during a
research study are termed as research methods.
They are essentially planned, scientific and value-
neutral.
 They include theoretical procedures,
experimental studies, numerical schemes,
statistical approaches, etc.
Research Methods
 Research methods help us collect samples, data
and find a solution to a problem.
 Particularly, scientific research methods call for
explanations based on collected facts,
measurements and observations and not on
reasoning alone.
 They accept only those explanations which can be
verified by experiments
Research Methodology
Research methodology is a systematic way to solve
a problem. It is a science of studying how research
is to be carried out.
Essentially, the procedures by which researchers go about
their work of describing, explaining and predicting
phenomena are called research methodology.
It is also defined as the study of methods by which
knowledge is gained. Its aim is to give the work
plan of research.
 Concepts Theories

• 'Concept' is a term that is • A theory is a well-

widely used in everyday established scientific
English to mean an idea. It principle that is supported
has the same general by convincing
meaning in a scientific experimental and
context and is often used to observational evidence.
refer to an abstract idea.  •  A theory has strong
• A concept can be explanatory power that
exceptionally broad or helps researcher to
very specific. understand and describe
• A concept can be based in the universe and make
experience or may be predictions about future
entirely imaginary. events.
Constructs & Variables
Construct- A construct is an image or abstract idea
specifically invented for a given research and/or theory-
building purpose.
 A construct is an abstract idea inferred from specific instances
that are thought to be related.
 Typical marketing constructs are brand loyalty, satisfaction,
preference, awareness, knowledge.
 Research objectives typically call for the measurement of
constructs.
 There are customary methods for defining and measuring
constructs
Variables- Variables are created by developing the
construct into a measurable form.
Variables, by definition, correspond to any
characteristic that varies (meaning they have at least
two possible values).
Examples of variables include height in inches,
scores on a depression inventory, and ages of
employees.
Thus, a variable is a property that taken as
different values.
Types of Variables

Depending on their intended use, variables may be classified as

independent, dependent, moderating, mediating, or control
variables.

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Deductive and Inductive Reasoning in Research

 Inductive and Deductive Research Approaches

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 What are Deduction & Induction?

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Deductive and Inductive Reasoning in Research

In logic, we often refer to the two broad methods of

reasoning as the deductive and inductive approaches.

Deductive reasoning works from the more general to

the more specific. Sometimes this is informally called
a “top-down” approach. We might begin with
thinking up a theory about our topic of interest. We
then narrow that down into more
specific hypotheses that we can test.
We narrow down even further when we
collect observations to address the hypotheses. This
ultimately leads us to be able to test the hypotheses
with specific data – a confirmation (or not) of our
original theories.
Inductive reasoning works the other way, moving
from specific observations to broader generalizations
and theories. Informally, we sometimes call this a
“bottom up” approach.
In inductive reasoning, we begin with specific
observations and measures, begin to detect patterns
and regularities, formulate some tentative
hypotheses that we can explore, and finally end up
developing some general conclusions or theories.
 Difference between Deductive and Inductive Research

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