RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

KQX 7001- RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY
SESSION 2020/21
Ir. Dr. Khairunnisa Hasikin
University of Malaya
 1.1 What is Research Methodology
• The system of collecting data for research
projects is known as research methodology.

• Research methodology is a way to solve the

research problem systematically .

• Research methodologies are generally used

to test hypotheses or theories.
 1.2 Why Research Methodology
• Research methodology is the process to find out the
problem.
• Different research methods are compatible with
different situations.
• Therefore it is important to know which method is
best suitable for use with a particular hypothesis or
question.
• If an unsuitable research method is used, it could
render the research useless.
 1.3 Research Approaches
• The method you choose will affect your
results and how you conclude the findings.

• There are two main approaches to a

research problem:
a) Quantitative Research
b) Qualitative Research
 QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE
• Generally deals in • Generally deals in words,
numbers, logic and images and the subjective.
amount. • Uses techniques like in-
• uses experimental, depth interview, focus group
inferential and simulation interviews.
approaches to research. • Originated in the disciplines
of anthropology, psychology,
and sociology.
 Quantitative: Experimental Research
• Often begins with the collection of data based
on a theory or hypothesis or experiment
followed by inferential statistical methods.
• It is numerical, non-descriptive, applies
statistics or mathematics and uses numbers.
• It is an iterative process whereby evidence is
evaluated.
• The results are often presented in tables and
graphs.
• It is conclusive.
 Qualitative: Non-Experimental Research
• Non-experimental research is often called
correlational research.
• Because it seek causes of behavior by looking for
correlations among variables.
• Correlation does not prove causation.

Example:
• Doctors have noticed that people who drink red wine have better health.
**This does not mean that red wine necessarily improves health. OR
• Healthy people prefer to drink red wine. OR
• People with enough money to drink red wine can also afford healthy diets.
Varieties of non-experiment research
a) Observation Research – researcher simply
observes and records on-going behavior but does
not attempt to change it.

i. Naturalistic observation: observation is made in

the environment where the behavior naturally
occurs (used in animal study).
ii. Unobtrusive research: another term of
naturalistic observation (used in social science
study).
iii) Participant-Observer Research – the
observer participates in a group to record
behavior.

b) Archival Research – researcher examines

existing records to test hypotheses about the
causes of behavior.

Example: Study crime statistics in different

countries to see if there is a correlation between
capital punishment and the murder rate.
C) Case Study – to study the problems and
intensive description of an event, person, or
animal.

D) Survey – assessing public opinion or individual

characteristics by the use of questionnaire and
sampling methods.
• Open-ended question: permits the respondents
to answer in their own words completely and reveal
the reasoning behind their answer.
• Closed-ended question: limits the respondents to
certain alternatives.
General Type of Quantitative Research
1. Experiments

• an investigator manipulates and controls one or

more independent variables and observes the
dependent variable for variation concomitant to
the manipulation of the independent variables.

• True experiment: research procedure in which

the scientist has complete control over all aspects.
• Quasi experiment: is an experiment in which the
investigator lacks the degree of control over the
conditions.
 1.4 Formulate
(a). Formulating the research Problems
Identify a broad field or subject area of interest to you.

Dissect the broad area into sub-areas.

Select what is of most interest to you.

Raise research questions.

Formulate objectives.

Assess your objectives.

(b). Formulating The objectives
• Objectives are the goals you set out to attain in
your study.
• Inform a reader what you want to attain through
the study.
• It is extremely important to spell out objectives
clearly and specifically.

Objectives should be listed under two headings:

a) main objectives (aims)
b) sub-objectives.
(I). MAIN OBJECTIVE (AIMS)
• Is an overall statement of the thrust of your study.
• It is also a statement of the main associations and
relationships that you seek to discover or establish.

(II). SUB-OBJECTIVES
• Are the specific aspects of the topic that you want
to investigate within the main framework of your
study.
• They should be numerically listed.
• Use action-oriented words or verbs.
• Wording should clearly, completely and specifically.
 Example
An infertility detection system based on sperm motility analysis

The specific research objectives include:

1) To propose a new enhancement technique to overcome problems with

degraded images that suffer from non-uniform illumination and poor contrast.

2) To propose a new segmentation technique that will be able to distinguish object

of interest (i.e. sperm) from its background.

3) To discriminate between sperm and non-sperm cells (i.e. debris).

4) To propose a detection algorithm to detect the motile sperms that enables

automated tracking without prior initialization
 The objectives should start with words such as:
Example:
• To determine … 1) To analyze the influence of cell
• To find out … structure on the thermal and
• To ascertain … acoustic properties of open-cell
• To measure … aluminium foams manufactured by
• To compare …
the infiltration process.
• To analyze …

2) To examine the evaluations of

amplitudes of the simulated footstep
sounds and of the soundscapes, as
well as of their combination.
(c). Formulating The hypothesis
• Researchers must carry out work with any aim or
expectation. The expectations form the hypothesis.
• Hypotheses are scientifically reasonable predictions.
• Hypothesizing is done only after survey of relevant
literature and learning the present status of the field of
research.
• It can be formulated based on previous research and
observation.
• To formulate a hypothesis the researcher should acquire
enough knowledge in the topic of research and a
reasonably deep insight about the problem.
• Testing of hypothesis leads to explanation of the
associated phenomenon or event.
Criteria as good hypothesis

• Should have conceptual clarity and a

theoretical orientation.
• Should be testable.
• A hypothesis made initially may become
incorrect when the data obtained are
analyzed. In this case it has to be revised.
 1.5 Research Design
• Design is the basic plan for a piece of empirical
research.
• Design is connecting the research questions to
data:
a) Showing how the research questions will be
connected to the data.
b) What tools and procedures to use in
answering the research questions.

# Plan your work and work your plan

• Design includes four main ideas:

a) Strategy.
b) Conceptual framework.
c) Who or what will be studied (sample).
d) The tools (instruments) and procedures to be
used for collecting data and analyzing
empirical materials.
(a) Strategy
Quantitative or Qualitative study?
• In quantitative research: Experiment
• In qualitative research : Ethnography; grounded
theory; discourse analysis; life history, etc.
• Whether quantitative or qualitative, the researcher
needs to:

 Identifying the strategy in general terms (case

study, ethnography, survey or experiment).
 Describe how to execute the planned strategy.
(b) Conceptual Framework
• Is the conceptual status of the things being
studied, and their relationship to each other.

• Pre-specified research questions are often

accompanied by a clear conceptual
framework.

• Developing and describing the framework

can help in clarifying the research
questions.
(c) Sample
• All empirical research involves sampling.

“You cannot study everyone everywhere doing

everything.” Miles and Huberman
(1994)

• The researchers need to think through the

sampling aspects of the study in preparing the
proposal.
• Needs to fit into the study’s logic.
• The appropriate sampling plan depends very
much on what the study is trying to find out.
(d) Data Collection (Instruments)
QUANTITATIVE DATA QUALITATIVE DATA
• from counting, scaling or • Most likely to be words.
both. • Example: documents,
diaries, journals, audio-
Instrument: visual materials, artifacts,
• Questionnaires. etc.
• Standardized measuring
instruments. Instrument:
• Ad hoc rating scales. • Questionnaires with
• Observation schedules. open-ended questions.
• Interview.
(d) Data Collection (Analysis)
• Quantitative data analysis involves
statistics.

For the proposal, should indicate:

• What analytical techniques you propose to
use.
• What computer programs (if any) will be
used in the analysis.
Thank You
- [email protected] -