ENG (CRRI)1-459

Research Methodology
Lecture-1
 Contents
• Introduction to research
• Purposes of Research
• Definitions
• Steps in conducting Research
• Research Methods
• Ethics in research
 Introduction
• the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in
order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
• Research is "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the
stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humans, culture and society,
and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.
• It is used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous
work, solve new or existing problems, support theorems, or develop
new theories. 
• A research project may also be an expansion on past work in the field.
Research projects can be used to develop further knowledge on a topic
 Purposes of Research
• The primary purposes of basic research (as opposed to 
applied research) are documentation, discovery, interpretation, or
the research and development (R&D) of methods and systems for the
advancement of human knowledge. 
 Definitions
• "Any creative systematic activity undertaken in order to increase the
stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society,
and the use of this knowledge to devise new applications. [used by
the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development )]
• Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information
to increase our understanding of a topic or issue". It consists of three
steps: pose a question, collect data to answer the question, and
present an answer to the question. (by John W. Creswell)
• Scientific research is a systematic way of gathering data and
harnessing curiosity.
• This research provides scientific information and theories for the
explanation of the nature and the properties of the world.
• It makes practical applications possible.
• Scientific research is funded by public authorities, by charitable
organizations and by private groups, including many companies.
• Scientific research can be subdivided into different classifications
according to their academic and application disciplines. 
 Steps in conducting Research
1. Identification of research problem
2. Literature review
3. Specifying the purpose of research
4. Determining specific research questions
5. Specification of a conceptual framework, sometimes including a set of hypotheses
6. Choice of a methodology (for data collection)
7. Data collection
8. Verifying data
9. Analyzing and interpreting the data
10. Reporting and evaluating research
11. Communicating the research findings and, possibly, recommendations
 Research methods
• Exploratory research, which helps to identify and define a problem or
question.
• Constructive research, which tests theories and proposes solutions to
a problem or question.
• Empirical research, which tests the feasibility of a solution using 
empirical evidence.

There are two major types of empirical research design: qualitative

research and quantitative research.
 Qualitative research

• This involves understanding human behavior and the reasons that govern
such behavior, by asking a broad question, collecting data in the form of
words, images, video etc. that is analyzed, and searching for themes.

• This type of research aims to investigate a question without attempting

to quantifiably measure variables or look to potential relationships
between variables.
 Quantitative research
• This involves systematic empirical investigation of quantitative properties and
phenomena and their relationships, by asking a narrow question and collecting
numerical data to analyze it utilizing statistical methods.

• The quantitative research designs are experimental, correlational, and survey (or
descriptive). Statistics derived from quantitative research can be used to establish the
existence of associative or causal relationships between variables.

• Quantitative research is linked with the philosophical and theoretical stance of positivism
.
 Data

In either qualitative or quantitative research, the researcher(s) may

collect primary or secondary data. Primary data is data collected
specifically for the research, such as through interviews or
questionnaires. Secondary data is data that already exists, such as
census data, which can be re-used for the research. It is good ethical
research practice to use secondary data wherever possible.
 Mixed-method research

Research that includes qualitative and quantitative elements, using

both primary and secondary data, is becoming more common.

This method has benefits that using one method alone cannot offer. For
example, a researcher may choose to conduct a qualitative study and
follow it up with a quantitative study to gain additional insights.
 Research Ethics
Research ethics is concerned with the moral issues that arise during or as a result of research activities, as well as the ethical conduct of

researchers.

Clear measures are needed for the ethical governance of research to ensure that people, animals and environments are not unduly harmed

in research.

When making ethical decisions, we may be guided by different things and philosophers commonly distinguish between approaches like  

consequentialism, virtue ethics and value (ethics). Regardless of approach, the application of ethical theory to specific controversial topics is

known as applied ethics and research ethics can be viewed as a form of applied ethics because ethical theory is applied in real-world

research scenarios.

Ethical issues may arise in the design and implementation of research involving human experimentation or animal experimentation.

There may also be consequences for the environment, for society or for future generations that need to be considered.

Research in various fields such as social sciences, information technology, biotechnology, or engineering may generate different types of

ethical concerns to those in medical research.

 Task Given
Literature Review