LECTURE-1

Zain Zulfiqar
16-02-2023
 WHAT IS RESEARCH ?

 Research in common words refers to, “a search for knowledge or

truth.”
• Definition of Research:

“ A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for

new facts in any branch of knowledge.”

• Research is, thus, an original contribution to the existing stock of

knowledge making for its advancement. It is the pursuit of truth
with the help of study, observation, comparison and experiment.
 WHAT IS
RESEARCH
Research is an academic ?
activity and as such
the term should be used in a technical sense.
According to Clifford Woody research
comprises defining and redefining
problems, formulating hypothesis or
suggested solutions; collecting, organising
and evaluating data; making deductions
and reaching conclusions; and at last
carefully testing the conclusions to
determine whether they fit the formulating
hypothesis.

*A hypothesis is an assumption, an idea that is

proposed for the sake of argument so that it can be
tested to see if it might be true.
PURPOSE OF
RESEARCH
• The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is
hidden and which has not been discovered as yet.

1) To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights

into it (studies with this object in view are termed as exploratory or
formulative research studies);

2) To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual,

situation or a group (studies with this object in view are known as
descriptive research studies);
 PURPOSE OF RESEARCH

3) To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with

which it is associated with something else (studies with this object in
view are known as diagnostic research studies);

4) To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such

studies are known as hypothesis-testing research studies).

*The definition of a variable in the context of a research study is some feature with
the potential to change, typically one that may influence or reflect a relationship or
outcome.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESEARCH
METHODS & RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
Research Methods:

• Research methods may be understood as all those

methods/techniques that are used for conduction of research.
• In other words, all those methods which are used by the researcher
during the course of studying his research problem are termed as
research methods.

Research Methodology:

• Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research

problem.
• It may be understood as a science of studying how research is done
scientifically.
TYPES OF RESEARCH

The basic types of research are as follows:

1. Descriptive vs. Analytical:

• Descriptive research, includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries

of different kinds. The major purpose of descriptive research is
description of the state of affairs as it exists at present.
The main characteristic of this method is that the researcher has
no control over the variables; he can only report what has
happened or what is happening.

• Analytical research, on the other hand, the researcher has to use

facts or information already available, and analyze these to make
a critical evaluation of the material.
 TYPES OF
RESEARCH
2. Applied vs. Fundamental:
Research can either be applied (or action) research or
fundamental (to basic or pure) research.

• Applied research; aims at finding a solution for an immediate

problem facing a society or an industrial/business
organisation,.

• Fundamental research; is mainly concerned with

generalisations and with the formulation of a theory.
“Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or
‘basic’ research.”
Research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to
pure mathematics are examples of fundamental research.
TYPES OF
RESEARCH
3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative:

• Quantitative research; is based on the measurement of

quantity or amount. It is applicable to phenomena that can be
expressed in terms of quantity.

• Qualitative research; on the other hand, is concerned with

qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or
involving quality.
For instance, when we are interested in investigating the
reasons for human behaviour (i.e., why people think or do
certain things in a certain way).
TYPES OF
RESEARCH
4. Conceptual vs. Empirical:
• Conceptual research; is that related to some abstract idea(s) or
theory. It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to
develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.

• Empirical research; relies on experience or observation alone,

often without due regard for system and theory. It is data-
based research, coming up with conclusions which are
capable of being verified by observation or experiment.
In such a research, the researcher must first provide himself
with a working hypothesis or guess as to the probable results.

All other types of research are variations of one or more of the

above stated approaches,
SIGNIFICANCE OF
RESEARCH
The significance of research can be understood keeping in view the following
points:

1. To those students who are to write a Master’s or Ph.D. Thesis,

research may mean a careerism or a way to attain a high position in
the social structure;
2. To professionals in research methodology, research may mean a source
of livelihood;
3. To philosophers and thinkers, research may mean the outlet for new
ideas and insights;
4. To literary men and women, research may mean the development of
new styles and creative work;
5. To analysts and intellectuals, research may mean the generalisations
of new theories.
SIGNIFICANCE OF
RESEARCH
• Thus, research is the fountain of knowledge for the sake of
knowledge and an important source of providing guidelines
for solving different social problems.
• It is a sort of formal training which enables one to understand
the new developments in one’s field in a better way.
• Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking and it
promotes the development of logical habits of thinking and
organisation.
• Increased amounts of research makes progress possible.
• Research certainly facilitates the decisions of the policy maker.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD
RESEARCH
1.Good research follows a systematic approach to capture accurate data.
Researchers need to practice ethics and a code of conduct while making
observations or drawing conclusions.

2.The analysis is based on logical reasoning and involves both inductive and
deductive methods.

3.Real-time data and knowledge is derived from actual observations in

natural settings.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD RESEARCH

4. There is an in-depth analysis of all data collected so that

there are no anomalies associated with it.

5. It creates a path for generating new questions. Existing

data helps create more research opportunities.

6. It is analytical and uses all the available data so that there

is no ambiguity in inference.

7.Accuracy is one of the most critical aspects of research.

The information must be accurate and correct. For example,
laboratories provide a controlled environment to collect
data. Accuracy is measured in the instruments used, the
calibrations of instruments or tools, and the experiment’s
final result
STEPS OF RESEARCH
PROCESS
• Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to
effectively carry out research and the desired sequencing of these
steps.
• The chart below, illustrates research process:
STEPS OF RESEARCH
PROCESS
8 steps in the research process are

1.Identifying the Research Problem

2.Reviewing of Literature
3.Setting Research Questions, Objectives, and Hypotheses
4.Choosing the Study Design
5.Deciding on the Sample Design
6.Collecting Data From The Research Sample
7.Process and Analyze the Collected Research Data
8.Writing Research Report – Developing Research Proposal, Writing Report,
Disseminating and Utilizing Results
THANK YOU 