A guide to understand and application of Research Methodology for a research paper writing. This presentation has been prepared for a live webinar organised on 8th May, 2021.
6. Selection of research methodology
Explanatory Research
Confirmatory Research
It is a process of investigating a problem that has not been studied thoroughly in the past. It is
usually conducted to have a better understanding of the existing problem, but does not lead to a
conclusive result.
A research to find out the degree of job satisfaction of an employee.
A survey on mobile phone specifications that a customer prefers before buying.
A deeper insight on customer’s reaction on introduction of new product in a FMCG sector.
Examples:
Confirmatory research is an approach to the validity of already made hypothesis, known as
a priori hypothesis. This research method is normally based on previous studies, to confirm an
existing result or theory. The benefit is that it makes the results more meaningful.
A research study to find the relationship between movement of stock prices and market risk.
A study on the corporate brand value before and after the new market strategies.
An investigation on the cause and effect on psychological stress on students through online
education.
Examples:
7. Selection of research methodology
Research Methodology
Explanatory Confirmatory
Researcher aims to uncover the
possible relationship between the
variables.
Researcher has a clear idea about
the possible relationship between
the variables.
Objective
Nature
Type of data
Application of
statistics
Mainly attempts to explain the
observations.
Mainly attempts to explain &
confirms the observations.
Qualitative data Quantitative data
No application of statistics Statistical tools are required.
8. Selection of research methodology
Research Methodology
Quantitative Qualitative
Focuses of describing individual
experiences and believes.
Focuses on describing the
characteristics of the population.
Analytical
objective
Questions
Data collection
method
Form of data
produced
Mainly open-ended questions. Mainly closed-ended questions.
In-depth interviews, focused
groups, deep observations
Questionnaires and surveys
Descriptive data Numerical data.
10. Meaning of research design
A careful plan to structure the research activity highly aimed to
improve the quality of the research.
It is a blueprint of research project.
Contains the plan and strategies of research project to complete
within the pre-defined time frame and cost by utilizing the resources
efficiently.
11. Categories of Research Design
Root cause analysis.
Impact analysis.
Root cause and Impact analysis.
Pre and Post analysis.
Describing/review a system or a mechanism or a process or a technology.
Designing a new process.
Study the relationship between two or more variables.
Cost, benefit analysis (CBA).
Roles, challenges, responsibilities of a system/technology/process.
12. Contents of Research Design
Research
Design
Research
objectives
Population &
sample size
Methods of
data
collection
Outcome &
action to be
taken
Data analysis
Type of data
needed
Time & Cost
13. Meaning of research design
A careful plan to structure the research activity highly aimed to
improve the quality of the research.
It is a blueprint of research project.
Contains the plan and strategies of research project to complete
within the pre-defined time frame and cost by utilizing the resources
efficiently.
14. Types of Research Design
Describing a given or a specific situation.
No root cause analysis or impact analysis.
Presenting a data that is studied in terms of, “How much?”, “How regularly?”, “What
percentage?”, “What is?”, “What time?”
Descriptive research design:
Surveys
Observations
Case studies
Customer survey about a new features of a product.
Explaining the functionality of a new software application/equipment/any other asset.
Studying the stock markets based on a specific parameter.
Studying the human behavior at work place under stress conditions.
15. Types of Research Design
Describing a given or a specific situation.
Primary focus on root cause analysis or impact analysis.
Considered as highly practical research method.
Studies relationship between two or more variables.
Concludes with suggestions or action point.
Experimental research design:
Observations.
Simulations.
Survey.
Patients health condition before and after vaccination.
Corporate brand value before and after change management .
Employee performance measurement.
Students psychology before and after the COVID19 pandemic.
16. Types of Research Design
Describing a given or a specific situation.
Considered as highly quantitative research method.
Studies relationship between two or more variables in terms of dependency of one variable
over other
Concludes with suggestions.
Correlational research design:
Journals/periodicals/new papers
Observations.
Survey.
Movement Stock prices Vs. stock indices.
Study on relationship between employee age, marital status, past experience on
Organization performance.
Study the pattern of sales in employee performance.
17. Sampling Design
Exploring for the first time.
Intended to discover some ideas and insights on a situation which has no past data.
Studies relationship between two or more variables in terms of dependency of one variable
over other
Concludes with suggestions.
Exploratory research design:
Journals/periodicals/new papers
Observations.
Survey.
A study into the role of social networking sites as an effective marketing communication
channel
An investigation into the ways of improvement of quality of customer services within
hospitality sector.
An assessment of the role of corporate social responsibility on consumer behavior in
pharmaceutical industry.
19. Sampling Design
A process of selection of sample size/units that are related to
individuals/locations/entities .
Selection of a suitable sample design method ensures that the samples you
invest your time and money into collecting can support the inferences you
want to make.
It forms an important basis of observation, survey and analysis of the data.
20. Determinants of sample size
Population size Restricted to a specific control variable.
Margin of error the percentage of error in the data you allow. Usually it is
5%
Confidence level It represents how confident you want to be that the actual
mean falls within the margin of error. Usually it is 90% or 95% or &99%.
Standard deviation This has to be ascertained to find out how much
deviation from actual mean.
21. Calculation of Sample Size
Necessary Sample Size = (Z-score)2 * StdDev*(1-StdDev) / (margin of error)2
Step -1: First you need to find the Z-Score
Step -2: Use the formula to calculate sample size
Here’s a worked example, assuming you chose a 95% confidence level, .5 standard
deviation, and a margin of error (confidence interval) of +/- 5%.
((1.96)2 x .5(.5)) / (.05)2 (3.8416 x .25) / .0025 .9604 / .0025 384.16
385 respondents are needed
The z-score at various confidence levels are (published and standard values)
@ +90% CL = 1.645
@ +95% CL = 1.96
@ +99% CL = 2.576
22. Calculation of Sample Size
n = Required Sample size,
z = Z-Score
p = Population Proportion
q = 1-p
e = margin of error
31. Testing of hypothesis
Parametric Test Non-parametric Test
Evaluate hypothesis for a
particular parameter, usually the
population mean.
Evaluate hypothesis for entire
population distributions.
It considers only quantitative
data.
It considers both quantitative
and qualitative data.
Require assumptions about the
distributional characteristics of
the population in terms of
normal shape and equal
variance.
Require no assumptions. It is
used with non-normal
distributions and when
variances of the groups are not
equal.
More powerful than non-
parametric tests when
assumptions are met.
Generally easy to compute but
less effective than parametric
test.
33. Interpretation of data
Summarize the outcome of the research in a much professional manner.
Straight forward, exactly related to the outcome of the research.
Use generally accepted professional language.
Must clearly depicts the objective of the research.
Components of interpretation:
Summary of findings
Concluding observations
Suggestions or action points.
35. Key takeaways
Define explicitly the problem statement, objectives, scope and limitations at
the inception of the research project.
Always try to choose Confirmatory research as it has greater weightage.
Make sure to include quantitative data and qualitative data in your project.
Research design is a strategy that aims to bring quality in the research.
Always draw a justifiable sample size using the formula.
Apply relevant statistical tools according to the data.
Cross check the results of analysis by taking help from experts.
Draw your conclusions straight to the point of observation.
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