Research Methodology For Natural Science By Jibril Kedir Gambella university Ethiopia April 2023

1.  Research is scientific and can prove anything you want.
 Research can be done in many ways.
 A review of research will reveal a great list of types of research.
 The nature of the problem determines the choice of the research method.
 It is imperative that the researcher uses scientific method to be assured of objectivity in collecting
facts and verifying concepts for alternative economic strategies.

2. 1.2 Scientific Research – Concepts
Science is commonly defined as an accumulation of systematic knowledge.
 It is a method of approach to the empirical world.
Science is a mode of analysis that permit the scientist to state proposition in the form of
"if__, then __
"In short, the whole purpose of science is to understand the word in which we live in.
Theory offers a conceptual scheme by which the relevant phenomena are systematized,
classified and interrelated.
A good reason for conducting research is to develop and evaluate concepts and theories.

3. 1.2 Scientific Research – Concepts
 The results of the basic research expands scientific knowledge about theories of general performance behavior.
• The basic research employ the scientific method to answer the question at hand.
 The scientific method refers to the techniques and procedures used to analyze empirical evidence in an attempt to
confirm or disprove earlier conceptions.
 Thus, the scientific method requires systematic analysis and logical interpretation of empirical evidence.
 The use of scientific method in research assures objectivity in gathering facts and testing ideas.
 The scientific researcher operates at two levels: on the abstract level of concepts and on the empirical level of
variable.
 As empirical level, we 'experience' reality, that is, we observe or manipulate objects or events.

4. Concepts are abstracts of reality
- Concepts: are abstraction of reality.
- Theories: are structures of idea that explain and
interpret facts.
- Facts: are the world's data.
- Hypothesis: is a proposition that is empirically
testable/verifiable.
- Abstract level: the level of knowledge expressing a
concept that exists only as an idea.
- Empirical level: level of knowledge that is verifiable
by experience or observation.
- Variable: Anything that may assume different
numerical values

5. 1.3 Objectives of Research
To find more about some subjects you are interested in, you carry out research.
It is part of a course and you will work to get some credit or qualification.
However, the general objectives of a scientific research are as follows.
Investigation of a phenomenon or knowledge of some relevance and its impacts.
Analysis of the resulting data to determine any systematic patterns or trend.
• According to Robert Merton, the objective of research should be to more than confirm or refute
hypothesis.
• Research should initiate, reformulate, refute and clarify theory.

6. Relationship of Problem to Type of Research
Exploratory Research
Descriptive Research Causal Research
 Ambiguous problem  Aware of partially defined problem  Clearly defined problem
 Testing out and problem solving
research
 Explanatory and evaluation research  Market and academic research

7. 1.5.1 Exploratory Studies
• Exploratory research is initial research conducted to clarify and define
the nature of a problem.
• Exploratory studies provide information to use in analyzing a
situation.
• It conducted with the expectation that subsequent research will be
required to provide conclusive evidence.
• It is not wise to rush into detailed surveys before less expensive

8. 1.5.2 Descriptive Research
• Research designed to describe characteristics of a population or a
phenomenon is known as descriptive research.
• Descriptive research seeks to determine the answers to who, what, when,
where, and how questions.
• Accuracy is very important in descriptive research.
• Although errors cannot be completely eliminated, good researchers aim for
descriptive precision.
• Descriptive studies are based on some previous understanding of the nature
of the research problem.

9. 1.5.3 Causal Research
Causal research is a research conducted to identify cause and effect
relationship among variables.
When the research problem has already been variously defined.
The main goal of causal research is to identify cause and effect
relationships among variable.
Causal research attempts to establish that when we do one thing, another
thing will follow.
A typical causal study has a researcher change one variable e.g., training
and then observe the effect on another variable e.g., productivity.

10. Flowchart of the Research Process