research methods 1.pptx

CHAPTER ONE
Introduction and Overview of Research
1
Compiled by Tarekegn B.
5/15/2023

meaning of research
“All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than
overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to
invention” Hudson Maxim
research as a scientific and systematic search for
pertinent information on a specific topic.
 it is a movement from the known to the unknown.
research comprises defining and redefining
problems, formulating, hypothesis or suggested
solutions; collecting, organizing and evaluating data;
making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at
last carefully testing the conclusions to determine
whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.
2
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Cont;d
Research is also a careful investigation or inquiry
specially through search for new facts in any branch
of knowledge.
a “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.
Research is the systematic process of collecting and
analyzing information to increase our understanding
of the phenomenon under study.
Broadly defined, the purpose of research is to answer
questions and acquire new knowledge.
In short, the search for knowledge through objective
and systematic method of finding solution to a
problem is research.
3
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Cont’d
• Research = Re + Search
To find out something,
Re’ means again and again
Therefore, research means a process of observing the phenomena
again and again from different dimensions and collects the data so
as to draw some conclusions on the basis of data.
Business Research may be defined as the “systematic and
objective process of gathering, recording and analyzing
data for aid in making business decisions”
4
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What research is not?
 Research is not mere information gathering.
 Research is not transformation of facts from one location to another.
 Collecting data, assembling reference materials, and
referring statements properly do not add up to a true research.
 Research is not a catch word to get attention.
 Eg. “Years of research as proved that Coca Cola is the
best soft drink.” The phrase “Years of research” catches
the attention of persons. People say the product is
good. But it is the same as other soft drinks. But people
buy it more than other soft drinks because of that
catchy phrase.
5
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OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
• Though each research study has its own specific purpose,
we may think of research objectives as falling into a number
of following broad groupings: The main aim of research is
to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not
been discovered as yet.
1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into.
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or a group
3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or
with which it is associated with something else
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between
variables 6
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MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
• What makes people to undertake research? This is a
question of fundamental importance.
• The possible motives for doing research may be
either one or more of the following:
1. Desire to get a research degree along with its
consequential benefits;
2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the
unsolved problems
3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some
creative work;
4. Desire to be of service to society;
5. Desire to get respectability. 7
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o However, this is not an exhaustive list of factors
motivating people to undertake research studies. Many
more factors such as:
 Directives of government,
 Employment conditions,
 Curiosity about new things,
 Desire to understand causal relationships,
 Social thinking and awakening, and the like may
as well motivate people to perform research
operations.
8
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Research and Scientific Method
What is science?
Science refers to a systematic and organized body
of knowledge in any area of inquiry that is
acquired using the scientific method.
Natural science is the science of naturally
occurring objects or phenomena, such as light,
objects, matter, earth, celestial bodies, or the
human body.
social science is the science of people or
collections of people (such as, groups, firms,
societies, economies)
9
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Cont’d
• Scientific method refers to a standardized set of
techniques for building scientific knowledge, such
as how to make valid observations, how to
interpret results, and how to generalize those
results.
• The scientific method allows researchers to
independently and impartially test preexisting
theories and prior findings, and subject them to
open debate, modifications, or enhancements.
• Scientific method is the pursuit of truth as
determined by logical considerations. The ideal of
science is to achieve a systematic interrelation of
facts. 10
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The scientific method must satisfy four characteristics
Replicability: Others should be able to
independently replicate or repeat a scientific study
and obtain similar, if not identical, results
Precision. Theoretical concepts, which are often
hard to measure, must be defined with precision
Falsifiability: A theory must be stated in a way
that it can be disproven.
Parsimony: When there are multiple explanations
of a phenomenon, scientists must always accept
the simplest or logically most economical
explanation. 11
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The Scientific Method and characteristics
• Although some disagreement exists regarding the exact
characteristics of the scientific method, most agree
that it is characterized by the following elements:
– Empirical approach
– Observations
– Questions
– Hypotheses
– Experiments
– Analyses
– Conclusions
– Replication
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• Any branch of inquiry that does not allow the
scientific method to test its basic laws or theories
cannot be called “science.” For instance, theology
(the study of religion) is not science because
theological ideas (such as the presence of God)
cannot be tested by independent observers using
a replicable, precise, falsifiable, and parsimonious
method. Similarly, arts, music, literature,
humanities, and law are also not considered
science, even though they are creative and
worthwhile endeavors in their own right.
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Research process
Research process consists of series of
actions or steps necessary to
effectively carry out research and the
desired sequencing of these steps.
Research originates with a question or
problem?
Research requires clear articulation of a
goal.
Research requires a specific plan for
proceeding.
Research usually divides the principal
14
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Cont’d
Eg: Main problem: How do I get from town A to
town B?
Sub questions: 1. What is the most direct route?
2. How far do I travel on the high way?
3. Which exit do I take to leave the high way?
• Research is guided by the specific research
problem, question or hypothesis.
• Research requires the collection and
interpretation of the data in an attempt to resolve
the problem that initiated the research.
• Research is cyclical by its nature cyclical. 15
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Preliminary
literature review
Develop research idea
Formulate research problem Theoretical framework
Literature review
Research hypothesis & design
Data analysis
Data collection
Interpretation & conclusion
Publication
Practical judgment of problem
Identify research problem
16
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Formulating
a research
problem
Constructing
an instrument
For data
collection
Selecting
a sample
Writing a
research
proposal
Collecting
data
Processing
data
Writing a
research
report
Conceptualizing
a research
design
Considerations
and steps in
formulating a
research problem
Research design:
functions
Literature
review
Methods and
tools of data
collection
Sampling theory
and designs
Contents of the
research proposal
Study designs
Methods of data
processing;
Use of computers and
statistics
Principles of
scientific writing
Variables and
hypotheses:
definition
and typology
Validity and
reliability of the
research tool
Field test of
the
research
tool
Editing of
the
data
Developing a
code book
Coding
What How Conducting of the study
The Research Process
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Cont’d
 An initial question is asked.
 The initial question is formally stated as a problem.
 The problem is divided into sub problems.
 Preliminary data are gathered.
 A tentative hypothesis is formed.
 Data are systematically collected.
 Data is processed and interpreted.
 A discovery is made—a conclusion is reached.
 The tentative hypothesis is supported or not
 supported.
 The cycle is complete. 18
Compiled by
Tarekegn B.
5/15/2023

Define
research
problem
Review
the
literature
Formulate
hypothes
es
Design
research
(including
sample
design
Collect
data
Analyze
data
Interpret
and report
19
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To summarize
• identify a topic area of interest.
• conduct a literature review.
• formulate a researchable question.
• articulate hypotheses.
• determine who or what will be studied.
• identify the independent and dependent variables
that will be examined in the study.
• choose an appropriate research methodology.
Compiled by Tarekegn B. 20
5/15/2023

Classification of research
There are different ways of classifying research.
It is really difficult to propose a single classification
method that fits it is acceptable by all discipline.
Research can be classified in terms of:
1.Application of research studies (pure or applied
research)
2.Objectives in undertaking the research (descriptive,
explanatory or exploratory research)
3.Inquiry mode employed (qualitative or quantitative
research)
5/15/2023

Pure/Basic Research
is about explaining the world around us and trying
to understand how the universe operates.
Fundamental research is mainly concerned with
generalization and with the formulation of theory.
“Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is
termed ‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research.”
the end results have no direct or immediate
commercial benefits.
Basic/fundamental/pure research has as its primary
objective the advancement of knowledge and the theoretical
understanding of the relations among variables.
5/15/2023

Cont’d
The driving force in basic research is a researcher’s curiosity
or interest to expand human knowledge, not to create or
invent something that has practical significance.
E.g. research studies, concerning human behavior carried on
with a view to make generalizations about human behavior.
Hence, basic research may take any of the following forms:
• Discovery: where a totally new idea or explanation emerges
from empirical research.
• Invention : where a new technique or method is created.
• Reflection : where an existing theory, technique or group of
ideas is re-examined possibly in a different organizational or
social context.
5/15/2023

Applied Research
Applied research aims at finding a solution for an
immediate problem facing a society or an
industrial/business organization.
The central aim of applied research is to discover a
solution for some pressing practical problem.
Applied scientists might look for answers to specific
questions that help humanity.
The purpose of applied research is about testing
theories, often generated by pure science, and
applying them to real situations.
5/15/2023

Cont’d
This research deals with real life situations.
e.g.1: “Why have sales decreased during the last
quarter”?
e.g. 2:To develop a new market for the product.
e.g. 3 Research to identify social, economic or
political trends that may affect a particular institution
The purpose of applied research is about testing
theories, often generated by pure science, and
applying them to real situations.
5/15/2023

Based on objectives
1. Descriptive Research
Attempt to describe systematically a situation,
problem, phenomenon, service or program, or
provide information about, say, the living conditions
of a community, or describes attitude towards an
issues.
The purpose of descriptive research is description
of the state of affairs as it exists at present.
The main characteristic of this method is that the
researcher has no control over the variables; he
can only report what has happened or what is
happening. Compiled by Tarekegn B. 26
5/15/2023

Cont’d
Discovery studies also include attempts by researchers
to discover causes even when they cannot control the
variables.
e.g. 1 frequency of shopping & preferences of people.
e.g. 2 the degree of viewing TV channels respect to:
 age, income level, profession of respondent as well as
time of viewing.
e.g.3 trends in the consumption of soft drink respect to;
 socio-economic characteristics such as age, family,
income, education level etc.
5/15/2023

Cont’d
The following are the main objectives of descriptive research:
1. To identify present conditions and point to present needs.
2. To study immediate status of a phenomenon.
3. Fact findings.
4. To examine the relationships of traits and characteristics.
• The methods that come under descriptive research are:
• Surveys
• Correlation studies
• Observation studies
• Case studies
5/15/2023

Examples Aim Main Theme Type of
Research
Socioeconomic characteristics of residents of a community
To describe what is
prevalent regarding:
- A group of people
- A community
- A phenomenon
- A situation
- A program
- An outcome
To describe
what is
prevalent
Descriptive
research
Attitudes of students towards quality of teaching
Types of service provided by an agency
Needs of community
Sales of a product
Attitudes of nurses towards death and dying
Attitudes of workers towards management
Number of people living in a community
Problems faced by new immigrants
Extent of occupational mobility among immirants
Consumers’ likes and dislikes with regrard to a product
Effects of living in a house with domestic violoence
Strategies put in place by a company to increase productivity of
workers
5/15/2023 29
29

2. Explanatory Research
When we encounter an issue that is already
known and have a description of it, we might
begin to wonder why things are the way they are.
The desire to know "why," to explain, is the
purpose of explanatory research.
The researcher goes beyond merely describing
the characteristics, to analyze and explain why or
how something is happening.
Explanatory research seeks explanations of
observed phenomena, problems, or behaviors.
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Examples Aim Main Theme Type of
Research
Why does stressful living result in heart attacks?
To explain:
- why a relationship,
association or
interdependence exists
- why a particular event
occurs
To explain why
the relationship
is formed
Explanatory
research
How does technology create unemployment/employment?
How do maternal and child health services affect infant
mortality?
Why do some people have a positive attitude towards an issue
while others do not?
Why does a particular intervention work for some people and
not for others?
Why do some people use a product while others do not?
Why do some people migrate to another country while others
do not
Why do some people adopt a program while others do not?
5/15/2023

3. Exploratory research
Exploratory research is conducted when there are
few or no earlier studies to which references can
be made for information.
the goals are to scope out the magnitude or extent
of a particular phenomenon, problem, or
behavior, to generate some initial ideas about that
phenomenon, to test the feasibility of undertaking
a more extensive study regarding that
phenomenon.
Its purpose is to gain background information and
better understand and clarify a problem.
5/15/2023

• The results of exploratory research are not usually
useful for decision-making by themselves,
• but they can provide significant insight into a given
situation.
approaches for exploratory research
In-depth interviews,
focus groups,
case studies or
pilot studies
5/15/2023

• For instance, if the citizens of a country are
generally dissatisfied with governmental policies
regarding during an economic recession,
exploratory research may be directed at measuring
the extent of citizens’ dissatisfaction,
understanding how such dissatisfaction is
manifested, such as the frequency of public
protests, and the presumed causes of such
dissatisfaction, such as ineffective government
policies in dealing with inflation, interest rates,
unemployment, or higher taxes.
5/15/2023

Based on enquiry mode
• Research design is a comprehensive plan for data collection
in an empirical research project.
• It is a “blueprint” for empirical research aimed at answering
specific research questions or testing specific hypotheses.
• Quantitative designs intended to collect primarily
quantitative data such as numeric scores and metrics,
• while qualitative designs are aimed at collecting
qualitative data, such as interview or observational data.
• Examples of quantitative designs include survey research
and laboratory experiments, while qualitative designs
include case research and ethnographic research.
• Despite the apparent separation of these techniques, note
that a qualitative design does not necessarily exclude
collection of quantitative data, or vice versa.
5/15/2023

• Qualitative research involves studies that do not
attempt to quantify their results through statistical
summary or analysis.
• Qualitative research seeks to describe various
aspects about behavior and other factors studied
in the social sciences and humanities.
• In qualitative research data are often in the form of
descriptions, not numbers.
• But sometimes results of qualitative research are
subjected to relatively less rigorous quantitative
treatment. Compiled by Tarekegn B. 36
5/15/2023

Cont’d
• Qualitative Research: Research Methodology that
emphasize on depth of understanding and the deeper
meanings of human experience, and that aim to generate
theoretically richer observations.
– Methods: Participant Observation, Direct Observation,
Unstructured or Intensive Interviewing (In-dept
Interview), Focus Groups.
• Quantitative Research: Research Methodology that
emphasize on precise, objectivity, and Generalizability .
– Methods: Measurement Design, Sampling Design and
Statistical Analysis Design
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Criteria of a good research
One expects scientific research to satisfy the following criteria:
1. The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and
common concepts be used.
2. The research procedure used should be described in
sufficient detail to permit another researcher to repeat the
research for further advancement,
3. The procedural design of the research should be carefully
planned to yield results that are as objective as possible.
4. The researcher should report with complete frankness,
flaws in procedural design and estimate their effects upon
the findings.
5/15/2023

Cont’d
5. Methods of analysis used should be appropriate.
The validity and reliability of the data should be
checked carefully.
6. Conclusions should be confined/narrowed to those
justified by the data of the research
7. Greater confidence in research is warranted/
acceptable if :
the researcher is experienced,
 has a good standing/character in research
and is a person of integrity
5/15/2023

qualities of a good research is as under
1. Good research is systematic
2. Good research is logical
3. Good research is empirical
4. Good research is replicable
5/15/2023

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