RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Prof. Deepak Nagaria

BIET, Jhansi
What is Research?
Research is systematic process, because it follows certain steps that
are logical in order.

These steps are:

• Understanding the nature of problem to be studied and identified
the related area of knowledge.
• Reviewing literature to understand how others approached and
dealt with the problem.
• Draw a road map of research methodology.
What is Research?

• Collecting data in an organized and controlled manner .

• Analyzing data appropriate to the problem.
• Drawing conclusions and making generalization.
Objectives of Research
• Find out truth which is hidden and which has not been
discovered yet .

• Gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new

insights into it .

• Portray accurately the characteristics of a particular

individual, situation or a group .
The Research Process
1. Identification of general problem/question
2. Literature review
3. Specify questions/hypotheses
4. Determination of research design/methodology
5. Data collection
6. Data analysis/presentation
7. Interpretation of findings
8. Discussion of findings
 Research Methodology
The way/ Science

Systematically
&
Scientifically
 Research Methodology
In logic, we often refer to the two broad methods of reasoning as
the deductive and inductive approaches.
Deduction and Induction
Deduction

Induction
 Research Methodology

• Research methodology says the how to do/conduct research

systematically & scientifically.

• Research methodology not only provides the knowledge of

various types of methods & techniques for sampling, data
collection, data analysis & report writing etc. but also guides
that which particular method or technique for sampling/data
collection/data analysis should be used or not & why should /
shouldn't do so.
 Research Methodology
• There are different ways of “knowing” and the
epistemological standpoint will determine the nature of that
knowing.
(Their work is related to epistemology, a branch of philosophy that examines the nature and
origins of knowledge, and stresses that knowledge is always socially situated.)
• One may explore their reality using statistical data as
evidence while another may have first-hand accounts of
how the person has been effected, which is their reality.

• Each represents a particular Paradigm of knowledge.

Neither is right or wrong it is just a different view.
 Research Method
The Action of Research: Design; Sample; Method;
Collection; How Data will be analysed
 Three Research Approaches

Observational
Research
Gathering data
by observing Survey Research
people, actions Asking Experimental
and situations individuals about Research
(Exploratory) attitudes, Using groups of
preferences or people to
behaviors determine cause
(Descriptive) and effect
relationships
(Causal)
Types of Research
Designs
Gathers preliminary information to define
Exploratory the problem and suggest hypotheses
Research Literature search, expert interviews, focus
groups, case studies, company audits,
qualitative research

Describes things as the market potential of

a product, consumer demographics and
Descriptive
attitudes
Research Secondary data analysis, surveys, observations,
panels, simulations

Causal Test hypotheses about cause and effect

Research relationships
X causes Y
 Criteria of Good Research

• Purpose should be clearly defined

• Common concepts to be used
• Explain procedure clearly - for continuity
• Results should be as objective as possible
• Report with frankness
• Acknowledge, procedural flaws
• Limitations of the study
 Criteria of Good Research
• Appropriate statistical test of significance
• Reliable outcome measures
• Justify conclusions with data
• Limitation of data
• Experienced researcher
• Systematic
• Logical
 Types of Research
• Descriptive
• Analytical
• Applied
• Fundamental
• Quantitative
• Qualitative
• Conceptual
 Types of Research
• Empirical
• One-time research / longitudinal
• Field-setting research/laboratory/simulation
• Clinical / laboratory
• Historical
• Conclusion oriented
• Decision oriented
 Descriptive Research
• Descriptive research can be explained as a statement of affairs as
they are at present with the researcher having no control over
variable .

• Aimed at casting light on current issues or problems through a

process of data collection that enables them to describe the
situation more completely than was possible without employing
this method
 Descriptive Research
Advantages:
• Effective to analyze non-quantified topics and issues.

•The possibility to observe the phenomenon in a completely natural

and unchanged natural environment.

• The opportunity to integrate the qualitative and quantitative

methods of data collection.
• Less time-consuming than quantitative experiments
 Descriptive Research
Disadvantages:
• Descriptive studies cannot test or verify the research problem statistically.

• Research results may reflect certain level of bias due to the absence of
statistical tests.

• The majority of descriptive studies are not ‘repeatable’ due to their

observational nature.

• Descriptive studies are not helpful in identifying cause behind described

phenomenon.
Analytical Research
• Analytical research means carrying out analysis on a
phenomenon – Mostly involves secondary data – ex-ante
research before contemplated change.

• To use facts / information already available .

• Analyze these to make critical evaluation of material .

• Ex-ante: based on forecast rather than actual result.

 Analytical Research

Advantages:
• You get nice close formed solutions which gives an instant insight.

• They
don't require heavy computation which is of course time and
resource intensive.

Disadvantages:
• Most problems can't be approached by such methods.
Analytical Research

• Requires great mathematical knowledge and skills to solve

more often than not.

• With the huge development in computational capacity these

methods have become rather slow in comparison
Fundamental Research
• Fundamental research is driven by curiosity and the desire to
expand knowledge in specific research area.

• This type of research makes a specific contribution to the

academic body of knowledge in the research area.

• Fundamental researches mainly aim to answer the questions

of why, what or how and they tend to contribute the pool of
fundamental knowledge in the research area.
 Fundamental Research
Advantages:
• Fundamental researches are important to expand the pool of
knowledge in any discipline.
• Applicable in a wide range of cases and scenarios.
Disadvantages:
• Findings of this type of studies have little or no practical
implications i.e. fundamental studies do not resolve concrete
and specific business problems.
 Applied Research
• Applied research “aims at finding a solution for an
immediate problem facing a society, or an
industrial/business organization.

• Applied research is considered to be non-systematic inquiry

and it is usually launched by a company, agency or an
individual in order to address a specific problem.
 Applied Research

Advantages:
• Applied research can be helpful in solving specific problems in
business and other settings.

Disadvantages:
• On the negative side, findings of applied research cannot be
usually generalized.
• Applied studies usually have tight deadlines which are not
flexible.
 Quantitative Research
• Quantitative research is the process of gathering observable data to
answer a research question using statistical, computational, or
mathematical techniques.

• It is often seen as more accurate or valuable than qualitative

research, which focuses on gathering non-numerical data.

• E.g. how people feel or what they think about a particular subject
or institution .

• To discover underlying motives.

 Qualitative Research
Advantages:
• Can be tested and checked.
• Straightforward analysis.

Disadvantages:
• False focus on numbers.
• Difficulty setting up a research model.
 Conceptual Research
• Conceptual research is defined as a methodology wherein
research is conducted by observing and analyzing already
present information on a given topic.

• Doesn’t involve conducting any practical experiments.

• Related to abstract concepts or ideas. Philosophers have long

used conceptual research to develop new theories or interpret
existing theories in a different light.
 Conceptual Research

Advantages:
• This type of research heavily relies on previously conducted
studies, no form of experiment is conducted which save time,
efforts and resources.

• Most convenient form of research. In this type of research, if

the conceptual framework is ready only relevant information
and literature needs to be sorted.
Conceptual Research

Disadvantages:
• Conceptual Framework may not be acceptable to every party. It
may only benefit only some interested groups identified as
users.

• It is very difficult to set up. Countries which are rich and

developed can have their conceptual framework but poor and
developing nations can find it expensive and time consuming.
 Empirical Research

• Data-based research
• Relies on experience / observation alone
• Verified by observation / experiment
• Works to get enough facts to prove / disprove hypothesis
• Evidence gathered by this is most powerful support possible for a
given hypothesis
 Empirical Research
Advantages:
• Since an empirical study contributes to existing knowledge, it adds
high value to the research paper.
• The methodology is flexible. You can change the sample size, sampling
type, data collection methods, analysis methods as necessary.
• Fewer rules are to be followed as they are flexible to incorporate.
Empirical papers can be presented in many ways.
• For example, you can eliminate the literature. You can skip testing the
hypothesis and base the analysis on frequency tables and cross-
tabulations only.
• It saves a lot of time.
 Empirical Research

Disadvantages:
• Empirical studies are lengthy.
• Results can be unpredictable.
 Presentation of Report
• Preliminary pages
• Title page
• Certificate of supervisor
• Table of contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgement
• Listing of tables
• Listing of figures
• Abbreviations
 Presentation of Report
A. Main text

• Introduction
• Objectives
• Methodology
• Findings/Data Collection
• Limitations
• Conclusion and Recommendations
• Future Scope
 Presentation of Report
B. End matter

• Appendix
• Bibliography
• Alphabetical order books reports journals
name of author ,title ,place publisher volume ,page
number
• Glossary
 Problem Encountered by Researches in India

 • Lack of scientific training in methodology of research

• Insufficient interaction
• Need for generating the confidence that the information/data
obtained from a patient will not be misused
 Problem Encountered by Researches in India
• Research studies overlapping one another are undertaken
quite often for want of adequate information .

• Timely and adequate secretarial assistance, including

computerial assistance .

• Library management & functioning is not satisfactory at

many places .
 Problem Encountered by Researches in India

• Difficulty of timely availability of published data

• Problem of conceptualization
 Key Questions to Answer in your Methodology
• What kind of research methods are you going to use?
• Quantitative, or qualitative, or a mixture of both?
• What do you think your methods will enable you to discover?
• What might they prevent you from discovering?
• What kinds of research methods would be best suited to the
kind
• of research you are undertaking and the research questions
 Key Questions to Answer in your Methodology
• What sort of problems do you envisage in setting up these
methods?
• What are their benefits?
• What will you need to do to ensure they gather useful data?
 Summary
• “Methodology” implies more than simply the methods you
intend to use to collect data.

• It is necessary to include a consideration of the concepts and

theories which underlie the methods.

• you have to show that you understand the underlying concepts

of the methodology.

• When you describe your methods it is necessary to state how you

have addressed the research questions and/or hypotheses.
 Summary

• The methods should be described in enough detail for the study

to be replicated, or at least repeated in a similar way in another
situation.

• Every stage should be explained and justified with clear reasons

for the choice of your particular methods and materials.
Thank You