Research and Scientific Methods

1. ResearchandScientificMethods
Dr. KirpaRam
Assistant Professor
FOS, Baba Mastnath University
Email- dr.kirparamjangra@gmail.com

2. Research is “Creative and Systematic work undertaken to
increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of
Humans, Culture and Society, and the use of this stock of
knowledge to devise new Applications”.
• It involves the Collection, Organization, and Analysis of information
to increase our understanding of a topic or issue.
What is Research?

3. Steps Involve in research Problem
1. Pose a question.
2. Collect data to answer the question.
3. Present an answer to the question.
This should be a familiar process. You engage in solving
problems every day and you start with a question, collect
some information, and then form an answer.

4. 1. Research adds to our knowledge: Adding to knowledge means
that educators undertake research to contribute to existing
information about issues
2. Research improves practice: Research is also important
because it suggests improvements for practice. Armed with
research results, teachers and other educators become more
effective professionals.
3. Research informs policy debates: Research also provides
information to policy makers when they research and debate
educational topics
THE IMPORTANCE OF
RESEARCH

5. What is a Research Problem ?
A research problem is a statement about an area of concern,
a condition to be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a
troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory,
or in practice that points to the need for meaningful
understanding and deliberate investigation.
1. Research expands your knowledge base
2. Research gives you the latest information
3. Research helps you know what you’re up against
4. Research builds your credibility
5. Research helps you narrow your scope
6. Research teaches you better discernment
7. Research introduces you to new ideas
8. Research helps with problem-solving
9. Research helps you reach people
10.Research encourages curiosity

6. WhatistheResearch/ScientificMethod?
• The research/ scientific method is the
process of objectively establishing facts
through testing and experimentation.
The basic process involves making an
observation, forming a hypothesis, making
a prediction, conducting an experiment
and finally analyzing the results.
• The principals of the scientific method can
be applied in many areas, including
scientific research, business and technology.

7. STEPS OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. Ask a question
2. Background study/ Perform research
3. Establish your hypothesis
4. Test your hypothesis by conducting an
experiment
5. Make an Scientific Observation
6. Analyze the results and draw a
conclusion
7. Present the findings

8. 1. Raise or Ask a Research Question
A research question is an inquiry that the research attempts to answer. It is the
heart of the systematic investigation. Research questions are the most important
step in any research project. In essence, it initiates the research project and
establishes the pace for the specific research.
A research question is:
1. Clear: It provides enough detail that the audience understands
its purpose without any additional explanation.
2. Focused: It is so specific that it can be addressed within the
time constraints of the writing task.
3. Succinct: It is written in the shortest possible words.
4. Complex: It is not possible to answer it with a "yes" or "no",
but requires analysis and synthesis of ideas before somebody
can create a solution.
5. Argumental: Its potential answers are open for debate rather
than accepted facts.

9. StepstoWriteResearchQuestions?
1. Select an interesting topic: Always choose a topic
that interests you. So, it’s better that you pick
something that’s neither too narrow or too broad.
2. Do preliminary research on the topic: Search for
relevant literature to gauge what problems have
already been tackled by scholars. This will give you a
more contextual understanding of your subject and
you’ll have an easier time identifying knowledge
gaps in your discipline.
3. Consider your audience: It is essential to
understand your audience to develop focused
research questions for essays or dissertations. When
narrowing down your topic, you can identify aspects
that might interest your audience.

10. 2.BackgroundstudyorPerformresearch
• With your question formulated, conduct preliminary background research to
prepare yourself for the experiment.
• You can find information
through online searches or in
your local library, depending on
the question you are asking and
the nature of the background
data.
• You may also find previous
studies and experiments that
can help with your process and
conclusions.

11. 3.EstablishYourHypothesis
A hypothesis is an educated guess that seeks to answer a question that can be
systematically tested. Your hypothesis should also include predictions that you can
measure through experimentation and research.
Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis
1. A research hypothesis has to be simple yet clear to look justifiable
enough.
2. It has to be testable- your research would be rendered pointless if too
far-fetched into reality or limited by technology.
3. It has to be precise about the results- what you are trying to do and
achieve through it should come out in your hypothesis.
4. A research hypothesis should be self-explanatory, leaving no doubt in
the reader's mind.
5. If you are developing a relational hypothesis, you need to include the
variables and establish an appropriate relationship among them.
6. A hypothesis must keep and reflect the scope for further investigations
and experiments.

12. 4.TestYourHypothesisByConductingAn Experiment
• When a predetermined number of subjects in a hypothesis test prove the
"alternative hypothesis," then the original hypothesis (the "null hypothesis") is
overturned or "rejected." You must decide the level of statistical significance in
your hypothesis, as you can never be 100 percent confident in your findings.
Hypothesis Testing Examples
Que- Vitamin C
Is it true that vitamin C has the
ability to cure or prevent the
common cold? Or is it just a
myth?
Answer
1. Null hypothesis - Children who take vitamin C are no
less likely to become ill during flu season.
2. Alternative hypothesis - Children who take vitamin
C are less likely to become ill during flu season.
3. Significance level - The significance level is 0.05.
4. P-value - The p-value is calculated to be 0.20.
Conclusion - After providing one group with vitamin C during flu season and the other with a placebo, you record whether or not
participants got sick by the end of flu season. After conducting your statistical analysis on the results, you determine a p-value of
0.20. That is above the desired significance level of 0.05, and thus you fail to reject the null hypothesis. Based on your experiment,
there is no support for the (alternative) hypothesis that vitamin C can prevent colds.
There's nothing like an in-depth experiment to get to the bottom of it all. A potential hypothesis test could look something like this:

13. 5.MakeanScientificObservation
Scientific observation is the central element of scientific method or process.
The core skill of scientist is to make observation.
Observation consists of receiving knowledge of the outside world through our
senses, or recording information using scientific tools and instruments. Any data
recorded during an experiment can be called an observation.
• A quantitative observation is an objective method of data analysis that measures
research variables using numerical and statistical parameters. This method of
observation views research variables in terms of quantity hence; it is usually
associated with values that can be counted such as age, weight, volume, and scale.
• A quantitative observation is also referred to as standardized observation because it
measures research variables using definite parameters and results in definite
research outcomes. It is usually carried out with a large data sample size because
the larger the research sample; the more accurate the research findings would be.

14. 6.Analyzetheresultsanddrawaconclusion
• Analysis and Conclusion: This step involves the use of proper mathematical
and other scientific procedures to determine the results of the experiment. Based
on the analysis, the future course of action can be determined. If the data found
in the analysis is consistent with the hypothesis, it is accepted. If not, then it is
rejected or modified and analysed again.
 The results are actual statements of observations,
including statistics, tables and graphs.
 Indicate information on range of variation.
 Mention negative results as well as positive. Do
not interpret results - save that for the
discussion.
 Lay out the case as for a jury. Present sufficient
details so that others can draw their own
inferences and construct their own explanations.

15. PRESENT THE FINDINGS
• Present the findings of the study in the
order of the specific problem as stated in
the statement of the Problem.
• Present the data in these forms:
Tabular
Textual
Graphical (optional)

16. ANALYSIS OF DATA
• Data may be analyzed quantitatively or
qualitatively depending on the level of
measurement and the number of
dimensions and variables of the study.
• Analyze in depth to give meaning to the
data presented in the data presented in
the table. Avoid table reading.
• State statistical descriptions in
declarative sentences, e.g. in the studies
involving:

17. Summary & Conclusions
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
• This describes the problem, research
design, and the findings (answer to
the questions raised). The
recommended format is the
paragraph form instead of the
enumeration form.
• For each of the problems, present:
The salient findings,
The results of the hypothesis tested
CONCLUSIONS
 These are brief, generalized statements in
answer to the general and each of the specific
sub-problems.
 These contain generalized in relation to the
population. These are general inferences
applicable to a wider and similar population.
 Flexibility is considered in making of
conclusions. It is not a must to state
conclusions on a one-to-one correspondence
with the problems and the findings as all
variables can be subsume in one paragraph.
 Conclusions may be used as generalizations
from a micro to a macro-level or vice versa
(ZOOM LENS approach).

18. ExperimentalResearchDesignTypes
The classic experimental design definition is: “The
methods used to collect data in experimental studies.”
There are three primary types of experimental design:
1. Pre-experimental research design
2. True-experimental research design
3. Quasi-experimental research design
• The way you classify research subjects, based on conditions
or groups, determines the type of research design you should
use.

19. 1.Pre-ExperimentalDesign:
A group, or various groups, are kept under
observation after implementing cause and
effect factors. You’ll conduct this research
to understand whether further investigation
is necessary for these particular groups.
• You can break down pre-experimental
research further in three types:
1. One-shot Case Study Research Design
2. One-group Pretest-posttest Research
Design
3. Static-group Comparison
2.TrueExperimentalDesign:
It relies on statistical analysis to prove or
disprove a hypothesis, making it the most
accurate form of research. Of the types of
experimental design, only true design can
establish a cause-effect relationship within a
group. In a true experiment, three factors
need to be satisfied:
1. There is a Control Group, which won’t
be subject to changes, and an
Experimental Group, which will
experience the changed variables.
2. A variable that can be manipulated by the
researcher
3. Random distribution
4. This experimental research method
commonly occurs in the physical
sciences.

20. 3.Quasi-ExperimentalDesign:
• The word “Quasi” indicates similarity. A
quasi-experimental design is similar to an
experimental one, but it is not the same. The
difference between the two is the
assignment of a control group.
• In this research, an independent variable is
manipulated, but the participants of a group
are not randomly assigned.
• Quasi-research is used in field settings
where random assignment is either
irrelevant or not required.

21. Theimportanceofscientificresearch
1. Develop researcher experiences in various fields and topics of research.
2. Encouraging the researcher to follow up on various scientific issues, especially if his
research efforts receive attention, follow-up, and encouragement.
3. Increase the knowledge and cultural balance of man in the fields of science, culture and
knowledge.
4. Identify original references and sources of knowledge and science.
5. Determining the validity and accuracy of information through analyzing it and
identifying it as valid or weak.
6. Drawing science and knowledge from some of the abusive impurities suffered by them.
7. Raising the value of science and scientists, highlighting the history of scientists.
8. Strengthening the relevance of science students to scientific libraries, and raising the
value of the book as a great scientific and cognitive value.
9. Giving the researcher the ability to discuss, compare and choose the best research issues.

22. Thank you
Deptt. of Botany
FOS-BMU
+91- 946-839-3474 dr.kirparamjangra @gmail.com