This document provides an overview of research concepts and processes. It defines research, discusses different research approaches including qualitative and quantitative methods. It covers topics such as research problem identification, literature reviews, methodology, data collection tools, sampling, hypothesis, and research ethics. The key aspects of research covered include having a systematic, objective, and reproducible process that adds new knowledge.

1. Basic Inculcation
on
Research Activities among
Devotees
Organized By Presented by
Department of English Education Prakash Paudel
Nilkantha Multiple Campus Lecturer, NMC
27th August, 2019

5. Research
Starts with problem, question, hypothesis
Needs goals, plans,
Divides principal problem into many manageable
sub problems
Examining critically the various aspects of our day
to day professional work
Understanding and formulating guiding principles
that govern a particular procedure
Developing and testing new theories

6. What Research is not?
Not only searching information
Not only information collection
Not only transportation of facts from one
location to another
Not only presenting catchy words

7. Why Research?
To describe issue, problem, event
To identify gaps in the body of knowledge
To add something to the body of knowledge

8. Features of scientific research
Systematic
Objective
Reproducible
Relevant

9. Topic
Abstract
Introduction
 background of the study
 statement of the problem
 objectives of the problem
 research questions
 justification of the study
 delimitation of the study
 organization of the study
 operational definition of key terms

10. Literature review
Conceptual framework
Methodology
Research design
Population of the study
Sampling procedures
Types of data collection
Tools of data collection
Process of data collection
Data analysis procedure
Results
Discussion
Conclusion and implication

11. Worldviews of Research
Positivism (scientific method of investigation,
experimentation, observation, reasoning)
Post- positivism (determinism, empiricism,
generalizability, )
Constructivism
Pragmatism
Transformative

12. Theoretical persepctives
Positivism
Post positivism
Interpretivism
Symbolic interactionism
Phenomenology
Hermeneutics
Critical inquiry
Feminism
Pragmatism
Post modernism
Structuralism
Post structuralism

13. Features of post positivism
• theory is universal and law-like generalizations can be
made across contexts
• truth or knowledge is ‘out there to be discovered’ by
research
• cause and effect are distinguishable and analytically
separable
• results of inquiry can be quantified
• theory can be used to predict and to control outcomes
• Research should follow the scientific method
• Hypothesis formulation and testing to get the answer of
the research questions
• empirical or analytical approaches
• objective search for facts
• believe in ability to observe knowledge
• ultimate aim is to establish a comprehensive universal
theory, to account for human and social behavior.

14. Research paradigms
Ontology (theory of reality, truth)
Epistemology (theory of knowledge)
Axiology (value, ethics, aesthetics)
methodology

15. Research Approaches
Qualitative
Quantitative
Mixed methods
Types of reasoning:
Deduction
Induction

16. Research designs
• Exploratory Design
• Historical Design
• Descriptive Design
– Descriptive Research
– Case study Research
– Developmental Research
• Longitudinal study
• Cross-sectional study
• Comparative Design
– Correlational Design
– Causal Comparative Design (ex-post facto/ explanatory)
• Survey Design
• Experimental Design
– Quasi-experimental Design
– True-experimental Design
Based on the research design, we have to describe our research paradigm, ontology,
epistemology, methodology, population and sample, tools and techniques, data collection,
data analysis and presentation, reliability and validity, ethical consideration
 Quantitative (e.g. experimental, pre experimental, quasi experimental, true
experimental, single subject, non- experimental like surveys, correlational, )
 Qualitative (e.g. ethnographies, case study, phenomenology, narrative research,
grounded theory, )
 Mixed (e.g. explanatory sequential, convergent, exploratory sequential, transformative, )

17. Research Types
On the basis of
Application: Pure research and Applied research
Objectives: Descriptive, Exploratory,
Correlational, Explanatory
Inquiry based: Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed
Time: Historical, Present, Futuristic

18. Qualitative Research
Describes
Uses open ended questions
Inductive in nature
Anthropology, history, sociology are more inclined
Philosophical ground is empiricism, the only knowledge
that human being acquire from sensory experience
Unstructured/flexible/open methodology
Describes the variables
Covers multiple issues but gathers required information
form fewer respondents
Authentic but not completely value free
Explores experiences, meanings, perceptions and feelings
Builds theory

19. Types of Qualitative Research
Ethnography (researcher studies the shared patterns of behaviors,
language, and actions of an intact cultural group in a natural setting over a
prolonged period of time. Observation and interview methods are used)
Case study
Phenomenology (the researcher describes the lived experiences of
individuals about a phenomenon as described by participants)
Grounded theory (the researcher derives a general, abstract theory of a
process, action, or interaction grounded in the views of participants)
Historical Model
Narrative (the researcher studies the lives of individuals and asks one or
more individuals to provide stories about their live)

20. Quantitative Research
 Use of statistical tools (mean, median, mode, mean deviation, standard deviation, T test,
Z test, )
 Use of variables (dependent, independent, intervening, moderating,
 Experimental group, control group
 Has objective measurements
 Uses close ended questions, predetermined methodology
 Survey, experimental, …………..tools are used
 Defines
 Describes new situations, events, or concepts
 Examines relationships among variables
 Determines the effectiveness of treatments
 Deductive in nature
 To describe a situation, phenomenon, problem or event
 To quantify the variation in phenomenon, situation, problem or issue
 Psychology, epidemiology, education, economics, public health, marketing are more
inclined
 The human beings achieve knowledge because of their capacity to reason
 Reliability and objectivity
 Explains incidence, event, nature of issues, opinions and attitudes, discovers regularities
and formulates theories
 Attempts to test hypothesis, proves or disproves the theory

21. Types of Quantitative Research
Descriptive
Correlational
Experimental
Causal comparative
Survey

22. Research problem
 To make research problem is the first step in research process
 It is the signpost or identification of destination
 It is like the foundation of a building
 Research problem determines the type of study design that can be used, type
of sampling strategy that can be employed, research instrument can be used ,
the type of analysis that can be applied
 Any question that you want answered and any assumption that you want to
challenge or investigate can become a research problem or research topic
 While selecting research problem, you should think on interest, magnitude,
measurement of concepts, level of expertise, relevance, availability of data,
ethical issues
 It is in between what it is and what it should be
 Identify a broad field or subject area of interest to you
 Dissect the broad area into subareas
 Select what is of most interest to you
 Raise research questions
 Formulate objectives
 Assess your objectives
 Double check

23. Sources of research problem
People (individuals, organizations, groups,
communities)
Problems (issues, situations, associations, needs,
population composition, profiles)
Programs (contents, structure, outcomes,
attributes, satisfaction, consumers, service
providers)
Phenomena (cause and effect relationship, the
study of a phenomenon)

24. Problem statement
It is the description of an issue currently existing
which needs to be addressed
It provides context of the research and it
generates research questions
It is the focal point of any research
raise a question about a relationship between
variables
The relationship between the variables should be
stated and explained clearly
suggest a method of researching the question

25. Most relevant verbs in formulating objectives
To determine
To find out
To measure
To explore

26. How to make research topic?
Research topic is research problem
Must not be more than 12 words
What types of answer our research topic expect?
What new knowledge adds to the existing
knowledge?
It must be clear, specific and directly attached
with research problems
It is a subject, subject matter of the proposed
study

27. Some research topics
The effect of computer based math instruction in
secondary schools in Nepal
 Factors influencing education of the marginalized group: A
survey of Raute in Nepal
Students’ perception on examination, practices, ethics and
learning habits: an ethnographic study in NMC
Voice disorder among college teachers of Nepal
School facilities: an assessment of public school classroom
of Kathmandu metropolitan city
Inclusive practices in education
Educational development in south Korea: Drawing lesson
for educational reforms in Nepal
An evaluation of SLC results: 2070
Conflict management in the classroom

28. Inclusive practices in education
Dropout students
Effectiveness of TBLT IN writing skill
Teaching techniques used by English teacher
Activities used in teaching reading
Use of computer in teaching grammar in English
Facilities given to students of private and public
schools
Practice of home assignment in basic schools
Effectiveness of teaching vocabulary through
rhymes and songs
Problem of grapheme in pre primary level students

29. Role of child friendly environment in ELT
Practice of using technology in primary level
Practice of CAS in primary schools in Dhading
Use of instructional materials in teaching reading
Effect of English language in
Parents attitudes towards ELT
Question transformation in Tamang and English
Practice of teaching listening activities of basic level
curriculum in Dhading
Problems of pronunciation in L2 in basic level
students

30. Research topic
Meaning of education to the marginalized group: A
n ethnography of Raute in Nepal
Research Questions:
 How do Raute people construct the meaning of
"Education"?
 How do they relate the meaning of "Education"
to their cultural context?
 What value of "Education" do they see in their
daily life?

31. Research topic
The effect of computer based math instruction in
secondary schools in Nepal,
here independent variable is computer used
method whereas dependent variable is difference
in students achievement in secondary schools

32. Literature Review
helps to know knowledge gap and to select topic then only
we can make research questions and statement of the
problem
helps to identify what knowledge is already there and what
is left to find.
paraphrase (you write in your own words someone’s
thoughts in understandable way) and give name of author
in brackets or explain in footnotes
mention the author for the contribution
If we cite something original, put in inverted comma and
mention page number
Summarize the text and give credit to the contributors
Use books, journals, theses, diary, policy documents,
audio, video sources
 Use .edu/.org/.gov/google scholar (not to focus on .com)

33. Reporting Verbs

34. Methods
 Experiments
 Survey
 Archival research
 Case study
 Ethnography
 Action research
 Grounded theory
 Narrative inquiry
 Discourse analysis
 Feminist standpoint research
 Life history
 Thematic identification
 Expert review
 Literary analysis
 Semiotics
 Autoethnography
 Archeology
 Genealogy
 deconstruction

35. Methodology
 it is the theoretical and scientific aspects of thesis
 ontology, epistemology of the research findings,
 research design, methods, approaches and
procedures
 we have to know about research design, research
types, population and sample in case of quantitative
and informants in case of qualitative, tools of data
collection, ways of data collection, ways of analyzing
data, confirming of quality research, ethical
concerns of researcher
Methods
how to do field work, how to select sample, how to
analyse

36. Functions of methodology
 To describe and justify the methodological
approach best suited to your research
questions/hypotheses
 To describe and justify the research design best
suited to examine your research
questions/hypotheses
 To describe and justify the specific methods
employed for data collection
 To explain how the validity and reliability or
truthfulness of your data were achieved
 To describe and justify your data collection
procedures

37. Data collection tools
Observation (participant and non participant)
Interview (face to face, telephone, focus group,
email internet interview)
documents, audio visual materials
Questionnaire (mailed questionnaire, collective
questionnaire)

38.  Population
 Sampling
 Sample unit
 Sample frame
 Sample frame error
 Sampling procedure (probability, non-probability)
 Probability sampling (simple random sampling/stratified
random sampling…..proportionate stratified random sampling
and dis proportionate stratified random sampling)/area or
cluster sampling method)
 Non- probability sampling (quota sampling/convenience
sampling/judgement or purposive sampling/snow ball
sampling/systematic sampling/saturation and dense)/multi
stage sampling/theoretical sampling)
 Mixed sampling (systematic sampling)

39. Hypothesis
Null hypothesis
Alternative hypothesis

40. Research Ethics
Research ethics concerns the responsibility of
researchers to be honest and respectful to all
individuals who are affected by their research
studies or their reports of the studies’ results.

41. Emic perspective: perspective of the people being
studies
Etic perspective: