This document provides definitions and explanations of key concepts in research methodology. It discusses different types of research such as descriptive research, analytical research, quantitative research, qualitative research, conceptual research, and empirical research. It also defines important research terms like variables, hypotheses, literature review, sampling, reliability and validity. The document aims to outline the fundamental components and process of conducting research studies.

1. Assistant Professor
PRIYANKA ROY
HALDIA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

2. Re+search = Again+Find
Search for knowledge.
An art of scientific investigation.
Scientific and systemic search for pertinent
information on a specific topic.

3. The word RESEARCH derived from Middle
French “RECHERCHE” means “TO GO
ABOUT SEEKING”
The term itself being derived from the Old
French term “RECERCHIER” a compound
word from “re-” + “ cerchier”, or “sercher”,
meaning ‘search’.
The earliest recorded use of the term in
1577.

4. A systemic, controlled, empirical and
critical investigation of hypothetical
propositions about the presumed relations
among natural
phenomenon.(Kerlinger,1976)

5.  To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to
achieve new insights into it.(Exploratory or
Formulative)
 To portray accurately the characteristics of a
particular individuals, situation or a
group.(descriptive)
 To determine the frequency with which
something occurs or with which it is
associated with something else.(Diagnostic)
 To test a hypothesis of a casual relationship
between variables.(Hypothesis-testing)

6.  Descriptive Research vs. Analytical Research
 Applied Research vs. Fundamental Research
 Quantitative research vs. Qualitative
Research
 Conceptual Research vs. Empirical Research

7. Purpose
• Exploratory
• Descriptive
• Analytical
• Predictive
Process
• Quantitative
• Qualitative
Outcome
• Applied
• Basic or pure
• Action

8.  One-time Research or Longitudinal Research
 Field-setting Research or Laboratory Research or
Simulation Research
 Clinical Research or Diagnostic Research
 Exploratory Research
 Historical Research
 Conclusion-oriented Research and Decision-
oriented Research

9.  Is the most widely-used research design as indicated
by the thesis, dissertations and research reports of
institutions.
 Its common means of obtaining information include the
use of the questionnaire, personal interviews with the
aid of study guide or interview schedule, and
observation either participatory or not .
 Descriptive research gives meaning of the quality and
standing of facts that are going on.

10. Analytical research means carrying out
analysis on a phenomenon – Mostly
involves secondary data – ex-ante
research before contemplated change .
Aims to understand phenomena by
discovering and measuring casual
relations among them .

11.  Reviews
A critical account of present understanding
A meta-analysis is a quantitative method of
review
 Historical research
Accessing both primary(e.g. Witnesses) or
secondary (e.g. Literature) sources to document
past events
 Philosophical research
Organising existing evidence into a
comprehensive theoretical model .

12. Descriptive
research
1. Fact-finding enquires and
survey methods
2. Ascertains and describes the
characteristics of the issue
3. Describes of the state of affairs
as it exists at present
4. No control over the variables
Analytical
research
1. Collected data is analyzed
and explained
2. Beyond merely describing
the characteristics
3. Explain existing state of
affairs from available data
4. Works within the constraints
variables

13. Descriptive
research
What is absentee rate among a particular group
of workers?
What are the feelings of workers faced with
redundancy?
Analytical
research
How can the number of complaints made by
customers be reduced?
How can the absentee rate among
employees be reduced?
Why is the introduction of empowerment
seen as a threat by departmental managers?

14. .
• Obtain knowledge for practical application
.
• Also known as practical research
.
• It is for the sake of the technological advancements
Ex:
• Studying the factors that would enhance participation for college students in
the co-curricular activities
• Modern techniques of tooth treatment

15. .
• Also known as the basic or pure or
theoretical research
.
• Driven purely by curiosity to expand our
knowledge/ for the sake of knowing
.
• But without any particular practical
purpose

16. Basic
research
Additional to
knowledge
Discovery /
invention
Mere
academic
Applied
research
Solution to
existing
problems
Innovation /
application
Practical use
for solving
problems

17. “Quantitative methods emphasize objective
measurements and the statistical ,
mathematical, or numerical analysis of data
collected through polls, questionnaires, and
survey, or by manipulating pre-existing
statistical data using computational
techniques. Quantitative research focuses on
gathering numerical data and generalizing it
across groups of people or to explain a
particular phenomenon”

18. • Qualitative research is collecting ,
analysing, and interpreting data by
observing what people do and say.
Qualitative research refers to the
meanings, concepts, definitions,
characteristics, metaphors, symbols, and
description of things.
.
• Qualitative research is subjective and
uses very different methods of collecting
information, including individual, in-depth
interviews and focus groups. The nature
of this type of research is exploratory
and open-ended.
.

19. Qualitative
research
1. A type of educational in which the researcher
decides what to study.
2. Looks at the patterns in numeric data.
3. Gathers data in numerical form which can be
put into categories or measured in units of
measurement.
4. This type of data can be used to construct
graphs and tables .
Quantitative
research
1. A type of educational research in which the
researcher relies on the views of the
participants.
2. Gathers information that is not numerical
form.
3. Qualitative data is typically descriptive data.
4. When you think of qualitative data, think of the
word ‘quality’- because in qualitative analysis
people taking a deep quality look at a
phenomenon.

20. Quantitative
research
examples
1.Application forms
2. Closed ended
questionnaires
3. IQ test
4. Measurements
Qualitative
research
examples
1. Diary accounts
2. Documents review
and open ended
questionnaires
3. Unstructured
interviews
4. Unstructured
observations

21.  A methodology wherein research is
conducted by observing and analyzing
already present information on a given topic.
Conceptual research does not involve
conducting any practical experiments .
 It is related to abstract concepts or ideas.
 Philosophers have long used conceptual
research to develop new theories or interpret
existing theories in a different light.

22.  Copernicus used conceptual research to
come up with the concepts about stellar
constellations based on his observations of
the universe.
 The most famous example of a conceptual
research is Sir Issac Newton. He observed
his surroundings to conceptualize and
develop theories about gravitation and motion
.

23. Defined as any research where
conclusions of the study is strictly drawn
from concretely empirical evidence, and
therefore “ verifiable” evidence.
This empirical evidence can be gathered
using quantitative market research and
qualitative market research methods.

24. A research is being conducted to find out if
listening to happy music while working
many promote creativity? An experiment is
conducted by using a music website
survey on a set of audience who are
exposed to happy music at all, and the
subjects are then observed. The results
derived from such a research will give
empirical evidence if it does promote
creativity or not .

25. • This sort of research is
generally related to some
abstract idea or theory .
• Ex. Philosophy theories
Conceptual
research
• Also know as “ experimental
research it relies on
experience and observation
along .
Empirical
research

26. One tine research is a kind of research
that is carried out over a single time
period.
E.g. Population research .

27. It involves study of sample at more than
one point in time or occasion.
E.g. Trend studies, panel studies.

28. Definition
• Defined as a qualitative method of data collection that aims to observe,
interact and understand people while they are in natural environment .
• Although field research is generally characterized as quantitative research,
it often involves multiple aspects of quantitative research in it.
Types
• Ethnography
• Ethno methodology
• Phenomenological study
Purposes
• Data collection
• Theory construction

29.  The word laboratory was applied originally to the experimental study
of natural science.
 Procedure involving first hand experience- with primary source
materials, through which students can acquire psychomotor as well
as mental skills.
 Planned learning activity dealing with original or raw data in the
solution of problems.
 Observation and reasoning.
 Improving understanding of methods of scientific enquiry.
 Developing problem solving and doing by self skills.
 Nurturing professional and constructive attitude.

30. A simulation is a computer model in which
experiments can be conducted, creating a
higher level of completeness than a normal
experiment.
Simulation models can assist in both
complex and simple experiments, and they
can be used with almost any social
process.

31.  According to the International conference on
Harmonization(ICH), the definition of a clinical trail
or study is as follows:
“Any investigation in human subjects intended to
discover or verify the clinical, pharmacological
and/or other pharmacodynamic effects of an
investigational product, and /or to identify any
adverse reactions to an investigational product,
and/or to study absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion of an investigational
product with the object of ascertaining its safety
and/or efficacy.”

32. Patient-oriented research
Includes : 1. Mechanism of human
diseases
2. Therapeutic interventions
3. Clinical trials
4. Development of new
technologies
Epidemiological and behavioural studies

33. It is also called clinical research which
aims at identifying the causes of a
problem, frequency with which it occurs
and the possible solution for it.
 ex. Researches done by doctors on a
crucial disease.

34. It is designed to assess the effect of one
particular variable on a phenomenon by
keeping the other variables constant or
controlled.
Experimental research is commonly used
in sciences such as sociology, psychology,
physics, chemistry, biology and medicine
etc.

35.  It is the study of past records and other information
sources, with a view to find the origin and development
of a phenomenon and discover the trends in the past,
in order to understand the present and to anticipate the
future.
 The historical method of research applies to all fields to
study because it encompasses their: origins, growth,
theories, personalities, crisis, etc.
Both quantitative and qualitative variables can be used
in the collection of historical information.
For e.g. , a researcher may chose to answer questions
about the development of school.

36.  It is the preliminary study of an unfamiliar problem,
about which the researcher has little or no
knowledge.
 it is aimed to gain familiarity with the problem, to
generate new ideas or to make a precise
formulation of the problem. Hence it is also known
as formulative research.
 Any research starts with exploratory research that
is a basic step. Descriptive research as the name
suggest, is done in detail and is based on the
exploratory research.

37. It is more formal and structured than
exploratory research.
The conclusive research is designed to
test specific hypothesis and examine
specific relationship.

38.  1. Abstract
 2. Data
 3. Variables
 4. Operational Definition
 5. Concept
 6. Construct
 7. Proposition
 8. Conceptual Framework
 9. Assumption
 10. Hypothesis
 11. Literature Review
 12. Limitations
 13. Manipulation
 14. Population

39. 15. Research Setting
16. Sample
17. Sampling
18. Reliability
19. Validity
20. Pilot Study
21. Analysis

40. A clear, concise summary of the study that
communicates the essential information
about the study. In research journals, it is
usually located at the beginning of an
article.

41. Units of information or any statistics , facts,
figures, general material, evidence, or
knowledge collected during the course of
study.

42.  Attributes or characteristics that can have more than one value, such
as height or weight. In other words, variables are qualities,
quantities, properties, or characteristics of people, things or
situations that change or vary.
 Dependent variables: variables that change asa the independent
variable is manipulated by the researcher; sometimes called the
criterion variables.
 Independent variables: variables that are purposely changed or
manipulated by the researcher; also called manipulated variables.
 Research variables : these are the qualities, properties, or
characteristics which are observed or measured in a natural setting
without manipulating and establishing cause and effect relationship.

43.  Demographic variables: the characteristics
and attributes of the study subjects are
considered demographic variables, e.g. Age,
gender, educational status, religion, social
class, marital status, habitat, occupation,
income, medical diagnosis, and so on.
 Extraneous variables: extraneous variables
are the factors that are the part of the study
but may affect the measurement of the study
variables.

44. The way by which a researcher clarifies
and defines the variables under
investigations. In addition, the researcher
must also specify how the variables will be
observed and measured in the actual
research situation.

45. A word picture or mental idea of
phenomenon.
Concepts are words or terms that
symbolize some aspects of reality.
E.g . Stress, pain or love. Concepts are the
building blocks of theory.

46.  A highly abstract, complex phenomenon (concept)
is denoted by a made-up or construed term.
 A construct term is used to indicate a phenomenon
that can not be directly observed but must be
inferred by certain concrete or less- abstract
indicators of the phenomenon.
 E.g. Wellness, mental health, and self-esteem are
constructed , and they can only be measured
through indefinable and measurable concept; e.g.
Wellness can only be assesses through laboratory
data.

47. A proposition is a statement or assertion
the relationship between concepts.
E.g. There is relationship between level of
anxiety and performance; or virus causes
acute illness.
Proposition are drawn from theories or
empirical data.

48. Interrelated concepts or abstractions that
are assembled together in some rational
scheme by virtue of their relevance to a
common theme; sometimes referred to as
a conceptual theoretical framework if
based on the concepts of an existing
theory of theories.

49. Basic principle that is accepted as being
true on the basis of logic or reason, without
proof or verification.

50. A statement of the predicted relationship
between two or more variable in a
research study; an calculated guess by
researcher.

51. A critical summary or research on a topic
of interest, generally prepared to put a
research problem in context or to identify
gaps and weaknesses in prior studies so
as to justify a new investigation.

52. Restrictions in a study that may decrease
the credibility and generalization of the
research findings.

53. An intervention or treatment introduced by
the researcher in an experimental or quasi-
experimental study; the researcher
manipulates the independent variable to
assess its impact on the dependent
variable .

54.  The entire set of individuals or objects having some
common characteristics selected for a research
study(e.g. Patients admitted in intensive care units);
sometimes referred to as the universe of the research
study.
 Target population: the entire population in which the
researchers are interested and to which they would like
to generalize the research finding.
 Accessible population: the aggregate of cases that
conform to designated inclusion or exclusion criteria
and that are accessible as subject of the study.

55.  The study setting is the location in which the
research is conducted- it could be natural, partially
controlled , or highly controlled.
 Natural or field-setting is an uncontrolled real life
situations.
 In a partially controlled situation, environment is
partially modified to control extraneous variables,
while in highly controlled situations, study
environment is fully controlled to combat the effect
of extraneous variables.

56. A part or subset of population selected to
participate in research study .
Representative sample: a sample whose
characteristics are highly similar to that of
the population from which it is drawn.

57.  The process of the selecting sample from the target
population to represent the entire population.
 Probability sampling: the selection of subjects or
sampling units from a population using random
procedure; example include simple random sampling,
stratified random sampling, and systemic sampling.
 Non probability sampling: the selection of subjects or
sampling units from a population using non random
procedure; e.g. Convenient, purposive, and quota
sampling .

58. The degree of consistency or accuracy
with which an instrument measures the
attribute it is designed to measure.

59. The degree to which an instrument
measures what it is intended to measure.

60. Study carried out at the end of the
planning phase of research in order to
explore and test the research elements to
make relevant to make modification
research tools and methodology.

61. Method of organizing, sorting and
scrutinizing data in such a way that
research question can be answered or
meaningful inferences can be drawn.