Research Methodology

1. UNIT 2
Research
Methodology

4.  Formulating research problem
There are two types of research problem:
a. Those which relate to state of nature
b. Those which relate to relationships between variables
The researcher must decide the general area of interest that he want to
inquire about. Essentially two steps are involved in formulating the
research problem
1. Understanding the problem thoroughly
2. Rephrasing the same into meaningful terms
To understand the problem the researcher should discuss it with experts
in that area.
This step is of greatest importance in the entire research process. The
problem to be investigated must be defined unambiguously for as it
will help discriminating relevant data from the irrelevant ones

5. Extensive literature survey
Two types of literature can be reviewed
a. The conceptual literature concerning the
concepts and theories
b. Empirical literature consisting of studies
made earlier which are similar to the one
proposed

6. Different ways of literature review
Discussions with colleagues and experts about
the problem, its origin and the objectives in
seeking a solution
Examination of data and records
Review of similar studies in the area of the
studies on similar problems
Exploratory personal investigation which involves
original field interviews on a limited scale with
interested parties to get greater insight into the
practical aspects of the problem

7. Preparing research design
In research design the researcher have to state the
conceptual structure within which research would
be conducted. The function of research design is to
provide for the collection of relevant evidence with
minimal expenditure of effort, time and money. But
this can be achieved based on the research
purpose. There are four categories:
i. Exploration
ii. Description
iii. Experimentation

8. • There are several research designs such as:
i. Experimental research design
ii. Non- experimental research design
Experimental research design:
a. Before and after without control
b. After only with control
c. Before and after with control
Non- experimental research design:
a. Randomized design

9. • Factors considered for formation of research
design:
i. The means of obtaining the information
ii. Explanation of the way in which selected means
of obtaining information will be organized and
the reasoning leading to the selection
iii. The time available for research
iv. The cost factor relating to research, i.e. the
finance available for the purpose

11. • Secondary data is collected through:
 Publications of central, state and local government
 Academic Journals
 Books, Magazines, Newspaper
 Reports & Publications of industry, bank, stock exchange
 Reports by research scholars, Universities economists
 Public Records
 Websites

13. • The editing of data is a process of examining the raw data to
detect errors and omissions and to correct them, if possible, so
as to ensure legibility, completeness, consistency and accuracy.
• Completeness involves that all the items in the questionnaire
must be fully completed. If some questions are not answered,
the interviewers may be contacted to find out whether he failed
to respond to the question or the respondent refused to answer
the question.
• It is very important to check whether or not respondent is
consistent in answering the questions. For example there
could a respondent claiming that he makes purchases by credit
card may not have one
• The inaccuracy of the survey data may be due to interviewer
bias or cheating. One way of spotting is to look for a common
pattern of responses in the instrument of a particular
interviewer

14. • Coding is the process of assigning some symbols
(either) alphabetical or numerals or (both) to the
answers so that the responses can be recorded
into a limited number of classes or categories
For example, consider the following question. What
is your gender?
Male
Female
We may assign a code of `1' to male and `2' to
female respondent

16.  Preliminary page:
1. Title page
2. Declaration
3. Certificate from supervisor
4. Acknowledgement
5. Table of contents
 The Main text
1. Introduction
2. Review of Literature
3. Research design and methodology
4. Data analysis &v Interpretation
5. Conclusion & recommendations
 The end matter
1. Bibliography
2. Annexure
3. Appendices

17. DATA COLLECTION METHODS
Primary Data: Data collected at source. This type of
information is obtained from the source. It is first hand
obtained directly by means of surveys, observations,
experiments
Secondary data: Data collected by someone else. Data
is already available and analysed by someone else.
Sources are: published or unpublished data, books,
magazines, newspaper, trade Journals etc.

18. • Experiments:
Where a researcher wishes to find out whether independent variable effects the
dependent variable.
Example: experiment done to check Teaching pedagogy impacts student
performance. Here, Teaching pedagogy is an independent variable called
treatment and student performance is the dependent variable of interest. The
student on which test is applied are called test unit
Types:
Field experiment: Example, observing people in natural environment,
manipulates the independent variable but in real life setting
Laboratory experiment: It is a controlled environment which enables the
scientist to measure the effects of independent variables on dependent
variables
Natural experiment: It is conducted in the real life environment of the
respondents Where you can not make changes in the independent variable

19. Collection of Primary Data
Observation method: It is used in behavioural
sciences
a. Structured and unstructured
b. Participant, non-participant & Disguised
c. Controlled and uncontrolled

20.  Structured :
The researcher specifies in detail what is to be observed and how
the measurements are recorded. Example: An auditor performing
inventory analysis at store
 Unstructured:
The observer monitors all aspects of the phenomenon that seem
relevant to the problem at hand. Example: Observing children
playing with toys.
 Participant:
A research method in which the researcher actually plays a role,
usually a minor one, in the group or setting being observed.
Example: Playing cards with the people being studied.
•

21.  Non-participant:
• When observer observes by detaching himself from the group. A
research method in which the sociologist plays little or no role.
Example: A researcher observe a football team without participating
the football game
 Disguised:
• When the observer presence is unknown to the people. They are
observed through hidden cameras
 Controlled:
Observation when done according to some pre arranged plans,
involving experimental procedure
 Uncontrolled:
• If the observation is done in natural setting

22. Interview or survey method:
A. On the basis of structure of questionnaire
1. Unstructured: Open ended questions are used, no restriction
on sequence, free to add some question on his own,
conducted in exploratory study, researcher explore variable
interest
2. Structured: Questions are arranged in order, only close
ended questions are considered, only questions given in
questionnaire will be asked, visual aids, pictures, diagrams,
maps, paintings are sometimes shown, results are objective
& real, The body language reflects is he saying truth.

23. B. On the basis off Mode of Data Collection
1. Personal Interviews: It is face to face, like Door to
Door, Executive Interview, Mall survey, CAPI-
Computer Assisted Personal Interview.
The personal interview consists of:
The researcher, the interviewer, respondents, interview
Environment
2. Telephone interview:
Alternative of face to face, it is low cost, used when
respondents are distributed in vast geographical area. Per
is used to record the answers. The interview is conducted
for 10 min duration.

24. • Longitudinal studies
A longitudinal study is a descriptive research design that involves
repeated observations over an extended fixed period
• The longitudinal study involves a fixed sample of population
elements measure repeatedly
Example:1 If the satisfaction level of 100 consumers is studied
for a particular product over a five year period. Then all the five
years the no. of consumer will be 100. But the group member
may change
Example: 2 A researcher wants to find out the extent of mobile
use amongst teenage boys over that period of time

25. • It is useful for conducting research on:
• Market trends and brand awareness: Through this the research the
businesses can know what customers want and what they will
discard
• Product feedback: Feedback from customers about the product can
be collected over an extended period of time
• Customer satisfaction: customer satisfaction surveys helps
organization to know the level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction
amongst their customers.
• Employee engagement: This is a continuous study, where employee
engagement survey is deployed to understand the level of their
engagement and appropriate feedback is collected and acted on.
Advantages and disadvantages (refer in book)

26. • Panel study:
A panel study is defined as a study that collects repeated information
on the same subjects at different points in time.
Panel studies are designed both for quantitative and qualitative
analysis:
 To examine changes in market share of a product or services
 To monitor the dynamics of poverty
 Movements in and out of the labour market
 The process of demographics change
 To monitor change in health of individuals at the age of 20 till 40
Example: A study of 100 companies extended over a 15 year period,
data will be collected from same 100 companies for 15 year4s

27. Research can be done :
1. To examine changes in market share of a product
2. To monitor the dynamics of poverty
3. The process of demographics change
4. To monitor the change in the health of
individuals at the age of 20 till 40
Advantages and disadvantages (refer the book)