RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research is an endeavor to discover answers to intellectual and practical problems through the application of scientific method.

Research is a systematized effort to gain new knowledge Qualities of Good Research: Systematic Logical Empirical Reliable Creative Use of Multiple Methods

Types of Research: Descriptive Research Analytical Research Applied Research Fundamental Research Quantitative Research Qualitative Research Conceptual Research Empirical Research

Some more types: Longitudinal Research Exploratory Research Experimental Research Historical Research

Research Method Used: Exploratory Research Exploratory Research: Exploratory research is a type of research conducted for a problem that has not been clearly defined. Exploratory research helps determine the best research design, data collection method and selection of subjects. It should draw definitive conclusions only with extreme caution. Given its fundamental nature, exploratory research often concludes that a perceived problem does not actually exist. It often relies on secondary research such as reviewing available literature and/or data, or qualitative approaches such as informal discussions with consumers, employees, management or competitors, and more formal approaches through in-depth interviews, focus groups, projective methods, case studies or pilot studies

Exploratory Research is used in following situations: To gain background information To define terms To clarify problems and hypothesis To establish research priorities

Data Collection Method: Questionnaire, Direct Observation Questionnaire: Questionnaire consists of 11 questions. Out of 11 questions 11th question is dichotomous having replies as yes or no. 1st to 10th are closed ended to be relied on 5 point scale. (1 = excellent; 2 = very good; 3 = Satisfactory; 4 = average; 5 = below average) Sample Size: Sample size for this study through questionnaire method is 200, i.e. views of 200 outpatients are taken. Sampling technique used for this study is simple random sampling. Simple random sampling refers in which a subset of individuals (a sample) is chosen from a larger set (a population). Each individual is chosen randomly and entirely by chance, such that each individual has same probability of being chosen at any stage during the sampling process.