What is research?

According to Oxford Living Dictionaries, research means the systematic

investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and
reach new conclusions. Similarly, Cambridge Dictionary defines it as a detailed study of
a subject, especially in order to discover (new) information or reach a (new)
understanding. Kothari (2004) defines it as a systematic method consisting of
enunciating the problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting the facts or data,
analyzing the facts and reaching certain conclusions either in the form of
solutions(s) towards the concerned problem or in certain generalizations for some
theoretical formulation.

Objectives of Research

The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application

of scientific procedures. The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden
and which has not been discovered as yet. Though each research study has its own
specific purpose, we may think of research objectives as falling into a number of
following broad groupings:

 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);
 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);
 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);
 To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables, such studies are
known as hypothesis-testing research studies (Kothari, 2004).

Generally speaking, quantitative research emphasizes objective

measurements and statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data
collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or by manipulating pre-
existing statistical data using computational techniques (Labaree, 2009). Likewise,
Kothari (2004) defines it as based on measurement of quantity or amount. It is
applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity.

Characteristics of Quantitative Research

1. The data is usually gathered using structured research instruments.

2. The results are based on larger sample sizes that are representative of the
population.
3. The research study can usually be replicated or repeated, given its high reliability.
4. The researcher has a clearly defined research question to which objective
answers are sought.
5. All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is collected.
6. Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often arranged in tables, charts,
figures, or other non-textual forms.
7. Results can be used to generalize concepts more widely, predict future results, or
investigate causal relationships.
8. The researcher uses tools, such as questionnaires or computer software, to
collect numerical data (Labarre, 2009).