The Nature and Context of Social

Research
Unit 1

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 Chapter Outline
 The concept of research; Types of research; Nature and
purpose of research;
 Scientific research - scientific research process, feature of
scientific research, difficulties of applying scientific methods
to social science research;
 Management research-concept, types, importance of research
for decision making; Ethical issues in management research.

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 Concept of Research
 Research is combination two word. It is “Re’ and ‘Search’.
‘Re’ means again and ‘Search’ means findings new.
 Research is a systematic approach to solve the existing
problem and to generate new knowledge in the phenomenon.
 Systematic approach refers to the data gathering, recording,
analyzing, and interpreting with the purpose of finding
answers to the problem.
 Research is used to build a theory, develop policies, support
decision making and solve problems.
 The process of searching again and again to come closer and
closer to the truth is known as research.

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“Research is a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical
investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed
relations among natural phenomena.” – Kerlinger, F. N. (1986)

“Research is a systematic and objective analysis and recording of

observations that may lead to the development of a theory.”-
Best (1992)
 Research can be undertaken for two different purposes.
 The first purpose is to solve a problem existing in the work
setting.
 The second purpose is to generate new knowledge in a
particular area.

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 Feature of Research
1. Objective
2. Controlled
3. Generalizability
4. Free from personal biases
5. Systematic
6. Reproducible
7. Directed toward solution of a problem
8. Logical
9. Replicable

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1. Objective
 A good research should be objectives and it must answer the
research questions.
2. Controlled
 A good research must be able to control all the variables.
3. Generalizability
 The ability to apply finding from a sample to a larger
population is known as generalization.
4. Free from personal biases
 A good research must be free from the researcher’s personal
biasness and must be based on objectivity but not
subjectivity.

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5. Systematic
 A good research should follow the steps of research serially.
6. Reproducible
 A researcher should be able to get approximately the same
result by using an identical methodology.
7. Directed toward solution of a problem
 Research tries to find out the probable solutions of such
problem through depth study.
8. Logical
 Research does not only present the result on the basis of
analysis but should prove those results using various logics.
9. Replicable
 Conducting research using same methodology is replicable.

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 Types of Research

1. Applied or Action 2. Basic or Fundamental

Research Research

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1. Applied or Action Research
 Applied research is to solve existing problem faced by the
organization.
 The major purpose of applied research is to answer practical
and useful questions about policies, programs, projects and
procedures currently faced by the organization.
 It is also called decisional research.
 Applied research is undertaken for practical problem -solving
purposes.

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 Characteristics of Applied Research
 It is related with solving real life problems.
 Conclusion of applied research can be implemented
immediately.
 It helps to prove concepts.
 It helps to formulate new policies and programs alternating or
improving old procedures and practices.

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2. Basic or Fundamental Research
 Fundamental research is to generate new knowledge in
particular areas.
 The main purpose of basic research is to generate more
knowledge and understandings on the issue and build theories
based on research results.
 Professors, academician and students do fundamental research
so that more knowledge is generated in particular areas of
interest.
 It is also called pure research.

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 Characteristics of Fundamental Research
 It develops fundamental principles
 It finds major factors of practical problems.
 It helps to understand the problems in depth.
 It develops number of alternative solutions for problems.
 Principles developed by basic research can be generalized.

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 Difference between Basic and Applied Research
Bases of difference Basic research Applied research
Objective Main purpose is to Main purpose is to
establish theory and develop applications
techniques of the to solve the current
discipline. problems.
Focus Researcher undertakes Researcher should
research in those issues conduct research
where he/she has focusing on the
interest and knowledge. problems faced by the
organization.
Time limit There is no time limit in Fixed time is given to
basic research. the researcher in
applied research.

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Generalization Results of basic Applied research focuses
research can be on the particular problem
generalized in all the or particular organization.
similar nature of work. Thus, generalization is
not possible and
necessary.
Practical Basic research has no Applied research has
immediate implication. immediate implication.
Assumptions It is assumed that It is assumed that
variables used in this variables which are used
research are constant. in applied research are
dynamic.

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 The Nature and Purpose of Research
1. Exploration
2. Description
3. Explanation
4. Generalization and prediction

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1. Exploration
 The first purpose of research is to explore the reality.
 When any of such issue is studied for the first time ,
exploration has to be done for a better understanding of the
subject or situation.
 This kind of research deals with the unknown, tackling new
problem issues or topics.
2. Description
 The second purpose of research is to describe the phenomenon
under investigation.
 Precise observation and description are the basic of research.
 Thus description adds more to our existing knowledge.
 The researcher often has some prior knowledge of the topic
and uses a fairly structured approach to gathering the
information.
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3. Explanation
 The essential purpose of research is to study the phenomena
and provides an explanation for them.
 Explanation research study the relationships between two or
more variables to explain the phenomenon that exists and to
identify the case and effect.
4. Generalization and prediction
 The ability to apply finding from a sample to a larger
population is known as generalization.
 Prediction is one of the primary functions of research.

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 Scientific Research
 Scientific research is a systematic and empirical research that
is conducted on the basis of evidence and systems.
 Scientific research focuses on solving problems and pursues a
step- by – step logical, organized and rigorous method to
identify the problems, gather data, analyze them and draw
valid conclusions from them.
“Scientific research is a systematic, empirical and critical
investigation of propositions about the presumed relationship
among the variable.” – Kerlinger, F. N

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 Feature or Hallmarks of Scientific Research
1. Purposiveness
2. Rigor
3. Testability
4. Replicability
5. Objectivity
6. Precision and Confidence
7. Generalizability
8. Parsimony

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1. Purposiveness
 Scientific research must have a specific purpose.
 This helps to select the tools and procedure. Makes the study
simple, specific and economic.
2. Rigor
 Rigor connotes carefulness, scrupulousness and the degree of
exactitude in research investigation (Sekaran, 2012).
 Rigor research is based on good theory base, rigidly ordered
sequence and carefully selected methodology.
3. Testability
 The purpose of scientific research is to develop and test the
hypotheses.
 There are several statistical techniques and tools available to test
the hypotheses.
 Test of hypotheses and important characteristic of scientific
research.
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4. Replicability
 Replicability is the extent of getting same result again and
again with the same research method.
 The research results, which are replicable, have more
acceptability and confidence as being scientific.

5. Objectivity
 Research result must have free from the personal bias of
researcher.
 Interpretation of findings of research work should be based on
facts but not on the personal bias or subjective judgments or
emotional values.

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6. Precision and confidence
 Precision refers to the closeness of the findings to reality
based on a sample.
 This reflects the degree of accuracy of the results on the basis
of the sample, to what really exists in the universe.
 Confidence refers to the probability that our estimations are
correct.
 95 percent confidence level indicates that the result will be
true 95 percent of time and it may be wrong only 5 percent
times by chance

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7. Generalizability
 Scientific research aims at making generalizations.
 Generalization is one of the objective of research work in
which findings of research in sample is generalized to entire
population.

8. Parsimony
 Scientific research should be simple so that the process and
findings can be understood by everyone easily.
 The research work will be cheaper and nearer to reality.

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 Scientific Research Process
1. Sensing or Realizing Problem
2. Problem Identification
3. Theoretical Framework
4. Hypothesis Formulation
5. Research Design
6. Collection of Data
7. Data Analysis
8. Interpretation and Generalization

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1. Sensing or Realizing problem
 The first step in any scientific inquiry is to identify an issue
you want to study.
 At this stage, researcher may not know exactly what is
happening but you can definitely sense.

2. Problem identification
 After realizing a problem, problem or issues are identified.
 In this stage, researcher try to identify what exactly are the
problem or issues in the situation.

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3. Theoretical framework

 In this step, theoretical framework is developed from putting all

variables and their association together.

 Theoretical framework aims to identify the variables which are

going to incorporate in the research and analyze the relationship
among them.

 This framework is prepared on the basis of review of literature.

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4. Hypothesis formulation
 In the fourth step of scientific research, hypotheses are
formulated.
 Hypothesis is a testable statement that predict the relationship
between or among variables.
 Hypotheses are logically conjectured relationship between two
or more variables expressed in the form of testable statements.
For example:
 Motivation a positive effect on employees’ job satisfaction.
 Training has a positive effect on employees’ job satisfaction.

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5. Research design
 The fifth step is developing the plan for the research.
 Research design is a framework of research.
 Research works are completed based on research design.
 Developing plan for research regarding collection, analyzing
and evaluation data, interpretation criteria.
6. Collection of data
 The sixth step in scientific research, data collection is also
known as fieldwork.
 At this stage, researcher has to administer the research
instruments (questionnaire, interview schedules, observation
schedules etc) to gather data as expected in research design.
 Data collection is most crucial part as it provides the basis for
accurate result.

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7. Data analysis
 After researchers have collected date, researchers must summarize
and analyze them.
 It consists of editing, coding, tabulating, using statistical tools and
techniques to get the fact.
 Hypothesis are tested.
8. Interpretation and generalization (refinement of theory or
practice)
 The final step involves interpretation and generalization of the
findings into the larger body of knowledge about the
phenomenon.
 Interpretation is the process of explaining the numerical findings
or research in to sensible form.
 Generalization means to link the research findings with general
situation.

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 Difficulties of Applying Scientific Methods to Social Science
Research
Social science research is conducted in social settings, psychology,
feelings, emotions, attitude and perceptions.
Social sciences are always dynamic and they are related with
human behavior.
Some areas of social science research are not adopted scientific
method of research because of the following major problems.
1. Complexity of subject matter
2. Difficult to obtain accurate measurement
3. Misconceived impression of society
4. Emotional tendencies
5. Vested interest of the researcher
6. Qualitative nature of social events
7. Lack of universality of social events
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1. Complexity of subject matter
 Social science basically deals with human beings.
 Human differ from each other in their activities, motives,
beliefs, and value.
 Scientific method is only used in controlled situation but social
factors cannot be controlled.
 Thus, it is difficult to use scientific method in social science
research.
2. Difficult to obtain accurate measurement
 The scientific method requires precise and accurate measurement.
 In social science, this types of accurate measurement is often
quite difficult.
 Feelings, perception, attitude etc. of the people can not be exactly
measured.
 Thus, it is difficult to apply scientific method.
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3. Misconceived impression of society
 Due to the difference in perception of society, people do not
like to give opinion and even if they are ready to give opinion,
they do not provide right information.
 Because of such intuitive information, researcher can not use
scientific method.

4. Emotional tendencies
 Social events affects the people and their opinion differs.
 The opinion provided at the general situation differs from
specific situation.
 Thus, it is difficult to use scientific method in social science
research.

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5. Vested interest of the researcher
 Social researcher conduct research with vested interest.
 Scientific method draws some objective results.

6. Qualitative nature of social events.

7. Lack of universality of social event

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 Management Research
Concept
Management research refers to the act of studying various
dimensions of organizational problems and finding out the real
problem, cause of problem and managerial tools and
techniques to solve such problem.
“Management research is the systematic and objective process of
gathering, recording and analyzing data for aid in making
business decisions.”- Zikmund

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 Types of management research
1. Policy research
2. Managerial research
3. Action research
4. Evaluation research

 Policy research and managerial research are more useful in

analysis and planning stages.
 Action research and evaluation research are more important
for execution and control purposes.

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1. Policy research
 Policy research is concerned with the analysis of overall
organizational situation with the purpose of formulating
major policy proposals and establishing their priorities.
 Policy research is the basis for the development of
organizational policies and strategies.
 The objectives of policy research is to formulate major
policy proposals, to establish their priorities and to identify
their implications.

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Following are the basic elements of policy research:
 It studies the elements of policy and policy formulation
process.
 It is designed to analyze situation at the strategic level and to
formulate overall policy proposals.
 It systematically evaluates the priorities to be accorded
conflicting and complementary policy alternatives
 It constantly evaluates the current policies to investigate its
weak zones for its amendments.
 It regularly analyzes the environmental factors and cope with
change in policy.

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2. Managerial research
 Managerial research is conducted in order to solve any
particular problem prevailing in the organization for example,
increasing absenteeism, low productivity, decreasing
market/sales of any particular product.
 Objectives of managerial research is to study the on-going
operations or projects, to help in improving managerial
effectiveness and to help in decision making.

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3. Action research
 Action research is the research methodology in which
researchers collect, record, analyze and interpret data
regarding the on-going operation in organization.
 A research that is conducted to find out the problem, its
solution and procedures of implementing solution to solve the
problem is known as action research.
 Objective of action research is to feed the information into the
organization, to improve the functioning, to improve
managerial actions and to suggest future courses of action.

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The following are the basic features of action research:
 It addresses to the practical problems of real world.
 It aims to endorse changes in prevailing working procedures
or system.
 It generates new knowledge and ideas for solving actual
problems
 It is participatory in nature.
 It is continuous process as it aims to further improve in
applications.

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4. Evaluation research
 Evaluation research is to measure or ensure the whether the
original objectives are achieved or not.
 A research that is conducted to check whether the
organizational works and programs are able to attain the
predetermined goal is known as evaluation research.
 Objectives of evaluation research is to measure achievements
against the objectives, to identify gaps and problem areas, and
to suggest the improvements required.

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Evaluation research can be classified into two types:
1.Formative evaluation
2. Summative evaluation

1. Formative evaluation
 It is also known as process or progress evaluation.
 It is the study seeking to gather information during the process
of implementation, with a view to informing the development
of the program.
 It seeks answers to questions about the process of
implementation and how this relates to the achieved outcomes.

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2. Summative evaluation
 It is also called outcome or impact evaluation.
 It investigates on outcomes of immediate result or impact of
completed program.
 It seeks answers to questions about what relationships exist
between the goals of the program and its outcomes.

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 Importance of Research for Decision Making
1. Identify problems
2. Diagnosing and assessing problems and opportunities
3. Selecting course of action
4. Implementing a course of action
5. Evaluating the course of action

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1. Identify problems
 Helps to find out the real problems
2. Diagnosing and assessing problems and opportunities
 Analyses the problems and assess the opportunities available
in the market
3. Selecting course of action
 Evaluates and selects the best course of action
4. Implementing a course of action
 Suggests derivative plan for the implementation of selected
options
5. Evaluating the course of action
 Evaluates the performance and provides feedback

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 Ethical issues in management research
 Ethics are norms or standards of behavior that guide moral
choices about our behavior and our relationships with others.
 The goal of ethics in research is to ensure that no one is
harmed or suffers adverse consequences from research
activities.

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 Ethical Issues in Research

A. Ethics to Participants
1.Voluntary participation C. Ethics to the team members
2.Informed consent 1.Safety and security
3.The right to be informed 2. Open relation
4. The right to be safe 3. co-operation
5. No deception of participants
6. Assuring privacy of
information
7. Rewarding
D. Ethics towards society
B. Ethics to the sponsor
1. Be objective
1. Competency
2. Maintain scientific
2.Confidentiality
rigour
3. Quality work
3. Report results
4. No fabrication
5. Professional practice
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 Thank you

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