The document discusses the meaning, definitions, objectives, and characteristics of research. It defines research as a careful, systematic study aimed at increasing understanding through objective methods. The main objectives of research are to explore unknown areas, describe situations, diagnose associations between variables, and establish causal relationships. Research should be focused, logical, replicable, generative, and aimed at solving problems. It is most effective when it involves multiple disciplines and stakeholders.

1. UNIT 1
INTRODUCTION

2. Meaning -Research
• The word research is composed of two syllables, re and search. re is a prefix
meaning again, anew or over again. Search is a verb meaning to examine
closely and carefully, to test and try, or to probe.
• Together they give a meaning “describing a careful, systematic, patient
study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish
facts or principles”.

3. Various Definitions
 Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information
(data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about
which we are concerned or interested.
 The search for knowledge through objective and systematic method of
finding solution to a problem is research.
 A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in
any branch of knowledge

4. Various Definitions
•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 conclusion to determine whether they fit the formulating
hypothesis”.

5. OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of
scientific procedures. The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden
and which has not been discovered as yet. Though each research study has its own
specific purpose, we may think of research objectives as falling into a number of
following broad groupings:
Explore Describe Diagnose
Causal
relationship

6. OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
I.To Explore
•Research can be carried out with the purpose of gaining familiarity with a particular
topic or to gain insight into unexplored areas. Such a research is termed as exploratory
research and is often carried out before formulating a hypothesis
e.g. a domestic company may think of setting up its manufacturing operations abroad.
•This kind of investment is new to the company and the initial research conducted to
explore the possibility of this new idea can be termed as exploratory research.

7. OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
II. To Describe
•Quite often a research can be carried out with the objective of describing a particular
situation, event or an individual
•e.g. a study can be carried out to study the voting pattern in a particular state on the
basis of gender, economic status, religion etc. as observed in the previous election.
Such researches are termed as descriptive studies.
• Since these studies are about events that have already taken place, these studies are
also called as ex post facto studies.

8. OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
III To Diagnose
•When a study is carried out with the objective of finding out how frequently a
particular event is associated with another event, it is termed as diagnostic study
• e.g. a fast food chain has conducted a research to find out the feasibility of setting up
an outlet in a multiplex. The chief objective of this study is to find out that how often
people eat their meal outside when planning to watch a movie.
• Doctors frequently employ diagnostic methods to discover what it is that ails the
patient. Numerous questions are asked from the patient and through symptomatic and
clinical investigation the doctors can then give a diagnosis. Such studies are called as

9. OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
IV. To establish Causal Relationship
•A research can be done with the objective of finding out the causal relationship
between the dependent variables with independent variables. Such research are called as
hypothesis testing research
•e.g. a research carried out to establish the relationship between polio vaccine
(independent variable) and its effectiveness in controlling the occurrence of polio
(dependent variable) is a hypothesis testing research.

10. Some other Objectives
•1.Research extends knowledge of human beings, social life and environment.
Scientists and researchers build up the wealth knowledge through their research
findings. They search answers for various types of questions: What, Where, When,
How and Why of various phenomena, and enlighten us. The bodies d knowledge
have been developed by research in general and pure or fundamental research in
particular.
•2. Research brings to light information that might never be discovered fully
during the ordinary course of life. For example, marketing research could result in
discovery of new uses for an old product.

11. Some other Objectives
•3. Research establishes generalizations and general laws and contributes to theory
building in various fields of knowledge. Our knowledge of separately known events
is connected together to draw generalizations and general laws. Law of gravitation,
Law of Demand, and principles of organization such unity of command and scalar
principle, the theory of consumer behaviour and motivation theories are some
examples for such generalizations, laws and theories.

12. Some other Objectives
•4. Research verifies and tests existing facts and theory and these help improving our
knowledge and ability to handle situations and events. Merton argues: "Empiricial
research goes far beyond the passive role of verifying and testing theory... Research
plays an active role, it performs at least four major functions... It initiates, it
formulates, it deflects, and it clarifles theory."

13. Some other Objectives
•5. General laws developed through research may enable us to make reliable predictions
of events yet to happen.
•6. Research aims to analyse inter-relationships between variable and to derive casual
explanations and thus enables us to have a better understanding of the world in which
we live.
•7. Applied research aims at finding solutions to problems...socio economic problems
e.g., social unrest, unemployment, poverty. health problems, human relations problems
in organizations and so on. Thanks to the fruits of research, we have better quality of
life, longer life span, and better control over events.

14. Characteristics of Research
1. The research should focus on priority problems.
2. The research should be systematic. It emphasizes that a researcher should
employ a structured procedure.
3. The research should be logical. Without manipulating ideas logically, the
scientific researcher cannot make much progress in any investigation.
4. The research should be reductive. This means that the findings of one
researcher should be made available to other researchers to prevent them
from repeating the same research.

15. Characteristics of Research
5. The research should be replicable. This asserts that there should be scope to
confirm the findings of previous research in a new environment and different
settings with a new group of subjects or at a different point in time.
6. The research should be generative. This is one of the valuable
characteristics of research because answering one question leads to generating
many other new questions.
7. The research should be action-oriented. In other words, it should be aimed
at reaching a solution leading to the implementation of its findings.
8. The research should follow an integrated multidisciplinary approach, i.e.,
research approaches from more than one discipline are needed.

16. Characteristics of Research
9. The research should be participatory, involving all parties concerned (from
policymakers down to community members) at all stages of the study.
10. The research must be relatively simple, timely, and time-bound,
employing a comparatively simple design.
11. The research must be as much cost-effective as possible.
12.The results of the research should be presented in formats most useful for
administrators, decision-makers, business managers, or the community
members.