AN INFORMANT BOOK OF

RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY

Dr. Sagar S. Vyas

(M.A., Ph.D.)

VISTA PUBLISHERS
INDIA
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ISBN : 978-93-82935-34-6

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First Published - March 2016

All right reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
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Responsibility for the facts stated, opinions expressed, conclusions reached and
plagiarism, if any, in this volume is entirely that of the Author, according to him the matter
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what so ever.
Respectfully Dedicated to

My Parents and Wife

Sureshbhai Z. Vyas
Vandanaben S. Vyas
and
Sneha S. Vyas
 P REFACE
Research is a careful and scientific inquiry into every sub-
ject, subject matter or area, which is an endeavour to discover valu-
able information which would be useful for further application. Thus,
research is a process of a systematic and in-depth study or search of
any specific topic, subject or area of investigation. Research may
involve a scientific study or experimentation and result in discovery
or invention, which would increase in scientific development or de-
cision-making. The research would result in the formulation of new
theories, discovery of new techniques, an improvement in old con-
cept or knocking-off of an existing theory, concept, method or tech-
nique. With the help of research we may develop a hypothesis and
test it. There cannot be any research which does not increase in the
knowledge or improve scientific know-how in any branch of sci-
ence, arts or commerce.
A methodology is usually a guideline system for solving a
problem, with specific components such as phases, tasks, methods,
techniques and tools. It can be defined also as follows:
1. "the analysis of the principles of methods, rules, and postu-
lates employed by a discipline";
2. "the systematic study of methods that are, can be, or have
been applied within a discipline";
3. "the study or description of methods".
 A methodology can be considered to include multiple meth-
ods, each as applied to various facets of the whole scope of the
methodology. The research can be divided between two parts, they
are qualitative research and quantitative research.
Generally speaking, methodology does not describe specific
methods despite the attention given to the nature and kinds of pro-
cesses to be followed in a given procedure or in attaining an objec-
tive. When proper to a study of methodology, such processes con-
stitute a constructive generic framework; thus they may be broken
down in sub-processes, combined, or their sequence changed.
The present books deals with the few of the many methods
of doing research. This book will be a useful source book for doing
research for all the research scholars and academicians. The book
will also of a great help to students of any field for conducting a
comprehensive research. I would like to thank my staff members
and friends who helped me with their views and ideas to present this
book in such a simple and lucid language. Also I would like to appre-
ciate my publisher friend Mr. Punit Gupta of M/s Vista Publishers for
helping and guiding me through the publication process. Suggestions
and corrections are welcomed from readers so as the next issue will
be even better.
Dr. Sagar S. Vyas
Ahmedabad
 C ONTENTS
• Preface v
1. Introduction to Research and Research Methods 1
2. Survey in Research 32
3. Sampling in Research 59
4. Collection of Data 75
5. Analysis of Data 111
6. Qualitative Methods 128
7. Quantitative Methods 182
8. Case Study 217