PRESENTATION

ON

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Submitted by
Submitted to

Abhinav Shukla(PN09001) Prof.M.

Sagar

M.Tech(III Sem.) Mech.

Engg. Deptt.
Introduction to Research Methodology-
Research can be defined as the search for knowledge or as any
systematic investigation to establish facts. The primary purpose
for applied research (as opposed to basic research) is discovering,
interpreting, and the development of methods and systems for
the advancement of human knowledge on a wide variety of
scientific matters of our world and the universe. It is defined as a
highly intellectual human activity used in the investigation of
nature and matter and deals specifically with the manner in which
data is collected, analyzed and interpreted. Further it is a way to
systematically solve the research problem. It is necessary for the
researcher to design his methodology for his problem, as the
same may differ from problem to problem i.e.

Why a research study has been undertaken?

How the research problem has been defined?

In what way and why the hypothesis has been formed?

Defining the research problem-

A research problem is defined as per the target and type of work,
it includes that there must be an individual or a group those have
some difficulty or problem.

• There must be some objectives to be attained at.

• There must be alternative means for obtaining the objectives

one wishes to attain(At least two)

• There must be some environment to which the difficulty

pertains.
Therefore a research problem is one which requires a researcher
to find out the best solution for the given problem.

NEED FOR RESEARCH DESIGN-

Minimizes time and money

Advance planning

Avoid flaws

Selection of appropriate tools

Eliminate bias and marginal error

Selecting the problem-

It is actually a tough situation. It should be selected very carefully
and wisely. Following points should be taken into account for
selection-

• Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen.

• Controversial subject should not become the choice of an

average researcher.

• Too narrow or two vague problems should be avoided.

• The subject selected for research should be familiar and

feasible so that the related research material is within one’s
reach.

• The importance of the subject, cost and time factors etc.

Selection of an Appropriate Methodology-

 • What is the nature of the problem being investigated?

• Is the problem being investigated subjective or objective?

• Types of research methods

PRINCIPLES OF RESEARCH DESIGN-

Professor Fisher has enumerated three important principles of
research design.

Principle of Replication

Principle of randomization

Principle of Local Control

Principle of Replication

According to this principle, the experiment should be repeated

more than once. Thus, each treatment is applied in many
experimental units instead of one.

Principle of Randomization

This principle indicates that the researcher should design or plan

the experiment in such a way that the variations caused by
extraneous factors can all be combined under the general
heading of “Chance”.

Principle of Local Control

The extraneous factors, the know source of variability, is made to

vary deliberately over as wide a range as necessary and this
needs to be done in such a way that the variability it causes can
be measured and hence eliminated from the experimental error.

Types of research-
Descriptive vs. Analytical
It includes surveys and fact finding. While in analytical, researcher
use facts or information already available.

Applied vs. fundamental

Research can either be applied or action research or fundamental

(basic or pure) research.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative

Quantitative is based on the measurement of quantity or amount.

While Qualitative is concerned with Qualitative phenomenon.

Ex. Human behavior study is a Qualitative research.

Conceptual vs. Empirical

Conceptual is related to some abstract idea or theory and used by

philosophers or thinkers.

Empirical relies on experience or observations alone.

A complete research process-

Before embarking on the details of research methodology and
techniques, it seems appropriate to present a brief overview of
research process. Research process consists of series of action or
steps necessary to effectively carry out research and the desired
sequencing of these steps.

1. Formulating the research problem

2. Extensive literature survey

3. Development of working hypotheses

It includes-

 Discussions with colleagues

 Examination of data and records

  Review of similar studies in the area

4. Preparing the research design

It relates to conceptual structure within which research would be

conducted, further research purpose may be grouped into four
categories-

 Exploration

 Description

 Diagnosis

 Experimentation

5. Determining sample design

All the items under consideration in any field of inquiry constitute

a universe or population. Quite often we select only a few items
from the universe for our study purposes. Important sample
designs are as follows-

i) Deliberate sampling-Also known as purposive or non probability

sampling. This sampling method involves purposive or deliberate
selection of particular units of the universe for constituting the
sample which represents the universe.

Ex. If a researcher wishes to secure data from, say, gasoline

buyers he may select a fixed number of Petrol stations and may
conduct interviews at these stations.

ii) Simple random sampling-Also known as chance sampling or

probability sampling where each and every item in the population
has an equal chance of inclusion in the sample and has the same
probability of being selected.
Ex. If we have to select a sample of 300 items from a universe of
15000 items, then we can put the names or numbers of all the
15000 items on slips of paper and conduct a lottery.

iii) Systematic sampling-In some instances the most practical way

of sampling is to select every 15th name on a list and like this.
This is useful when sampling frame is available in the form of a
list.

iv)Stratified sampling-

If the population from which a sample is to be drawn does not

constitute a homogeneous group then this technique is applied. In
this the population is stratified into a number of nonoverlapping
subpopulations or strata and sample items are selected from each
stratum .

v)Cluster sampling-

It involves grouping the population and then selecting the groups

or the clusters rather than individual elements for inclusion in the
sample Ex. Suppose any departmental store wishes to sample its
credit card holders. It has issued 15000 cards to customers. Say
sample size is to be kept 450.For cluster sampling this list of
15000 cards could be formed into 100 clusters of 150 card
holders each. Three clusters might then be selected for the
sample randomly.

6. Collecting the data

To collect the adequate data is necessary. Primary data can be

collected either through experiment or survey. Data can be
collected by anyone of the following way-

• By observations

• Through personal interviews

• Through telephonic interviews

 • By mailing of questionnaires

7. Execution of the project

Then we go for execution of the project, if the execution proceeds

on correct lines, the data to be collected would be adequate and
dependable. We should see that the project is executed in a
systematic manner and in time.

8. Analysis of data

After the data have been collected, we turn to the task of

analyzing them. The analysis of data requires a number of closely
related operations such as Establishment of categories, the
application of these categories to raw data through coding,
tabulation
and then drawing statistical inferences

9. Hypothesis testing

After analyzing the data researcher is in the position to test the

hypotheses, if any, he had formulated earlier. Does the fact
support the hypotheses or they are contrary? Various tests such
as chi-square test,t-test,f-test are used.

Chi square Test application

The chi-square test is used to determine whether there is a

significant difference between the expected frequencies and the
observed frequencies in one or more categories.

It is possible for researchers to—

• Test the goodness of fit

• Test the significance of association b/w two attributes

• Test the homogeneity or the significance of population

variance
t-test application

The t-test (or student's t-test) gives an indication of the

separateness of two sets of measurements and is thus used to
check whether two sets of measures are essentially different (and
usually that an experimental effect has been demonstrated).

It is applicable to test the significance of-

• The mean of the sample

• The diff. b/w two means or to compare two samples

• Sample coefficient of correlation

• Sample coefficient of regression

F-test application

we use the F-test as the Student's t test, only we are testing for
significant differences in the variances-

• The hypothesis that the means of several normally

distributed populations, all having the same standard
deviation, are equal. This is perhaps the best-known F-test
and plays an important role in the analysis of
variance(ANOVA).

• The hypothesis that a proposed regression model fits the

data well.

• The hypothesis that a data set in a regression analysis,

follows the simpler of two proposed linear models that are
nested within each other.

10. Generalization and interpretation

If a hypotheses is tested and upheld several times it may be

possible for the researcher to arrive at generalization i.e. to build
a theory and interpret it in practical manner.
11. Preparation of the report or the thesis

It contains three parts-

The preliminary pages:

Title, acknowledgement and foreword

The main text:

Introduction, summary of findings, main report, conclusion

The end matter:

Bibliography, journals, reports etc.

Tests of sound measurement-

Sound measurement must meet the tests of validity, reliability
and practicality-

1.Test of validity-It is the most critical criteria and indicates the

degree to which a research work is helpful what it is supposed to
do.

2.Test of reliability-It is another test of sound measurement. A

research work is reliable if it provides consistent and useful result.

3.Test of practicality-It can be judged in terms of economy,

convenience

Interpretability.

Criteria of good research-

• It should be flexible, appropriate, efficient and economical
and so on.

• It should give a smallest experimental error and high

reliability and validity.
 • Good research design includes following five important
elements--

Subjects

Variables

Time

Setting

Investigator’s role

Computer and Researchers-

Actually, in this era of technological development the role of
computer is increasing by leaps and bound. A researcher is
handicapped without computer, computer has improved the
speed and system of research i.e. either data collection or
keeping the record for the long time. Therefore, computer helps a
lot to make the search effective, efficient and economical.

Areas of application-
It may be used in any type of research-

• Defence sector

• Industrial sector

• Retail sector

• Banking sector

• Problems of environments

• Education field etc.

Advantages-
• It provides a systematic approach for work.
• It decides a procedure to follow.

• Research methodology divided the whole work into parts or

steps.

• The investigator is able to account for events occurring

between two time spans through observations.

• It also enables the investigator to control for changes in the

instrumentation, since changes or drifts in measurement
should affect the system.

Future scope-
Defining the problem and selecting the problem is an
important task, but if it is done properly then problem
becomes easy, good research methodology helps a lot but if
any improper selection is there, it may make the process
tedious. Everything should be decided on the basis of its
parameters those are suitable for the purpose. It may my
improved by incorporating some experiences and expert
advices.
 Bibliography
• Research Methodology

by

C R Kothari Second Edition

• Mathematical statistics

by

ray

Sharma

Chaudhary

• Statistical methods

by

D.C. Agarwal