Research Methods

Introduction

Eng Samokaab

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 Outline
• Introduction
– Nature and Meaning of Research
– Objectives and Motivation of Research
– Characteristics and Criteria of Good
Research
– Types of Research
– Research Process

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 Introduction
• Definition ofresearch ?
– Research is a systematic process
of inquiry aimed at discovering,
interpreting, and revising facts. It
involves the collection and analysis
of information to answer specific
questions or solve problems.

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 Introduction Cont..
– Research should have the following
characteristics:
• Data are collected systematically.
• Data are interpreted systematically.
• There is a clear purpose: to find
things out.
Research
Characteristics
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 Purposes of Research
• The purpose is to discover answers to
questions through the application of
scientific procedures:
– To gain familiarity with a fact or to achieve
new insights into it (exploratory study)
– To describe the characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or a group (descriptive
study)

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 Objectives of Research cont..
– To determine the frequency with which
something occurs or with which it is
Explanatory

associated with something else

(Correlation study)
– To test a hypotheses of a causal
relationship between variable (hypothesis
testing study)

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 Motivation in Research
• What makes people to undertake research?
– Desire to get a research degree along with its
consequential benefits
– Desire to face the challenge in solving the
unsolved problem
– Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some
creative work.
– Desire to be of service to society.
– Desire to get respectability.
– Employment conditions and requirements.
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 Types of Research
And
Research Process

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 Types of Research
1. Descriptive vs. Analytical
2. Applied vs. Fundamental(Basic
Research)
3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative
4. Conceptual vs. Empirical
• Some others
– Action research
– Historical research
– Laboratory research
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 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.

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 Descriptive vs. Analytical

• In 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.

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 Applied vs. Fundamental:
• Applied research aims at finding a solution
for an immediate problem facing a society or
an industrial/business organization. example
marketing research
• Fundamental research is mainly concerned
with generalizations and with the formulation
of a theory. research studies, concerning
human behaviour carried on with a view to
make generalizations about human behaviour,
are also examples of fundamental research.
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 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.
• Quantitative research generates statistics
through the use of large-scale survey
research, using methods such as
questionnaires or structured interviews.

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 Quantitative vs. Qualitative
• Quantitative research involves the
collection of numerical data in order to
explain, predict and control phenomena of
interest, data analysis being mainly
statistical. It involves collecting data in
order to test hypotheses or answer
questions concerning the current status of
the subject of the study.

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 Quantitative vs. Qualitative

• Qualitative research explores attitudes,

behavior and experiences through such
methods as interviews or focus groups. It
attempts to get an in-depth opinion from
participants.
• Qualitative research seeks to investigate
deeply in to the research setting in order to
obtain understandings about the ways things
are, why they are that way, and how the
participants in the context perceive them.
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 Quantitative vs. Qualitative

• Qualitative research is not predetermined

or pre structured by hypotheses and
procedures that might limit its focus, scope
and operation.
• Qualitative research is embedded in a
process of communication between
researcher and respondent. There is no
attention to establish independences of
researcher from the respondent.
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 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.
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 Research Process

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 The difference between Inductive
and Deductive Research?

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 THEORIES, CONCEPTS
AND VARIABLES

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 The concept of variables
• Qualitative research is concerned with the
measurement of social phenomena.
• In Social Science context:
 Phenomena might comprise attitudes,
awareness, beliefs, satisfaction, opinion
and human.
 characteristics such as Gender, Age
marital status.
• VARIABLE is anything that can take on
differing or varying values.
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 Types of variables

1. Categorical Variables: Any variable

that has a number of distinct values or
classification value.
• Example1: Gender (Male and female)
• Example 2: Job Level (Clerical,
Supervisor and manager)

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 Types of variables
2. Discrete variable- Any variable that has a
number of distinct exact values.
Example: Number of Employees in the
finance department.
3. Continuous variable- any variable that
can assume any value within a specific
range.
Example: Age, Monthly Salary, heart rate,
height , weight.
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 Types of variables
4. Dependent Variable (criterion variable)
• The dependent variable is the variable of
primary interest to the researcher.
• The researchers goal is to understand and
describe the dependent variable, or to explain
its variability or predict it.
• It’s the main variable that lends itself as viable
factor for investigation.
• A variable that is to be predicted or explained.
Example: Exam Scores; Income level, attitude
level, satisfaction level.
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 Types of variables

• 5. Independent Variable(Predictor)
• IV is a variable that is expected to
influence the dependent variable.
• Also known as the predictor variable.
• Example: Gender, Education level, No.
of years of working experience.
 list the variable in these two cases individually,
and label them as dependent or independent,
create diagrams to illustrate the relationships
1. Research studies indicate that successful
new product development has an influence
on the stock market price of the company.
That is , the more successful the new
product turns out to be, the higher will be
the stock market price of that firm.
2. Cross-cultural research indicates that
managerial values govern the power
distance between superiors and
subordinates.
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 Variables in Case one:
• Independent variable : New product
success
• Dependent variable: Stock Market Price.

New Product Stock Market

Success Price

Conceptual framework
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 Variables in Case Two:
• Independent variable : Managerial values
• Dependent variable: Power Distance.

Managerial Power
Values Distance

Conceptual framework

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 Types of variables
• 6. Moderating variable
• Is the variable that has a strong contingent
effect on the independent and dependent
variable relationships.
• The presence of the third variable (the
moderating) modifies the original
relationship between the independent and
dependent variables.
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 Example of Moderating variable
MODERATING variable:

Social class (IV) affects attitudes(DV)

past experience (MOD VAR)

Social class (IV) Attitudes(DV

)

Past
experience
(MOD VAR)
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 Types of variables
7. Mediator variable (Intervening Variable) Is
the variable that describes how, rather than
when, effects will occur by accounting for the
relationship between the independent and
dependent variables.
• NO direct link between social class and
attitudes. Example

(IND VAR) (MED VAR) (DEP VAR)

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 The Theoretical Framework
A theoretical framework is
Similar to the frame of the
house.

Just as the foundation supports

a house, a theoretical
framework provides a
rationale for predictions about
the relationships among
variables of a research study
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 Theory
• A theory is a set of interrelated constructs,
definitions, and propositions that present a
systematic view of phenomena by specifying
relations among variables, with the purpose
of explaining and predicting the phenomena.
• Constructs are concepts adapted for a scientific
purpose.
• Through research, scientists can develop,
modify, or evaluate theories.
• Theories are generated by using inductive
processes

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 Theory
• A theoretical framework is a foundational
review of existing theories that serves as a
roadmap for developing the arguments you
will use in your own work.
• Theories are developed by researchers to
explain phenomena, draw connections, and
make predictions.
• In a theoretical framework, you explain the
existing theories that support your research,
showing that your paper or dissertation topic
is relevant and grounded in established
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ideas.
 Theory
• Your theoretical framework justifies and
contextualizes your later research, and it’s a
crucial first step for your research paper,
thesis, or dissertation.
• A well-rounded theoretical framework sets
you up for success later on in your research
and writing process.
• A theoretical framework consists of concepts,
together with their definitions, and existing
theory/theories that are used for your
particular study.
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 5 features in any theoretical
framework
1. The variables considered relevant to the
study should be clearly identified and
labeled in the discussion.
2. The discussion should state how two or
More variables are related to one another.
3. If the direction of the relationships can be
theorized on the basis of literature; then
there should be an indication of whether the
relationships are positive or negative.
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 5 features in any theoretical
framework

4. There should be a clear explanation of

why we would expect these relationships
to exist. The arguments could be drawn
from the previous research findings.
5. A schematic diagram of the theoretical
framework should be given (Model) so
that the reader can see and easily
comprehend the theorized relationships.

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 Conceptual framework (Model)
• A conceptual framework is typically a visual
representation of the expected
relationships and connections between
various concepts, constructs or variables.
• Conceptual framework represents your
beliefs and thoughts on how certain
phenomena (or variables or concepts) are
related to each other.
• Giving explanation on why you believe that
these variables are associated to each other
(a theory).
 Conceptual framework (Model)
• So; You Need to develop Model (Concept)
which had theoretical explanation of why
these variables are related.

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 The need for a Conceptual
framework
• The process of building a Conceptual
framework includes:
1.Introducing definitions of the concepts or
variables in your model.
2.Developing a conceptual model that
provides a descriptive representation of your
theory.
3.Coming up with a theory that provides an
explanation for relationships between the
variables in your Model.
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Conceptual Framework Construction
• Basic steps:
– Identify and label the variables
correctly
– State the relationships among the
variables: formulate hypotheses
– Explain how or why you expect these
relationships with citation ( use your
articles to discuss why and how your
variables relate each other).
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 Hypothesis
• It is an empirical statement concerned
with the relationship among variables. It is
a proposition that is empirically testable.
• Good hypothesis:
– Must be adequate for its purpose

– Must be testable

– Must be better than its rivals

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 Argumentation
• The expected relationships / hypotheses
are an integration of:
– Explanatory research
– Common sense and logical reasoning
– Backed with existing theory

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 Exercise 1
1. Define the following
a) research.
b) the variable. What are the types of variables ? and define
each variable and give an example.
c) Theory
d) Hypothesis.
2. What are the characteristics of research?
3. What is the purpose of research? Briefly discuss each
one?
4. List the motivations of research.
5. Illustrate the types of Research?
6. Draw the research process.
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 Exercise 1
7. What is Conceptual framework (Model)?

8. What are the basic activities of building a Conceptual

Framework

9. What are the characteristics of good Hypothesis?

10. What is the difference between deductive and inductive

approach?

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