This document provides an introduction to research, covering key topics such as the definition of research, objectives of research, characteristics of good research, and types of research. Research is defined as a systematic, objective investigation to solve problems and expand knowledge. It aims to discover answers through scientific inquiry. There are two main types of research: quantitative research, which uses numerical data to test hypotheses and predict outcomes, and qualitative research, which explores meanings, interpretations and experiences through open-ended questioning to understand issues. Both approaches are important and complementary in social science research.

1. INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
1

2.  What is Research?
 What is the Value of Research?
 Objectives of Research
 Motivation in Research
 Characteristics of Research
 Significance of Research
 Criteria of Good Research
 Scientific Research
 Qualitative and Quantitative Research
 Ethics in Research
2

3.  Research in common language refers to a search
for knowledge.
 The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary lays down the
meaning of research as “a careful investigation or
inquiry specially through search for new facts in
any branch of knowledge.”
3

4.  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 form a noun describing a careful,
systematic, patient study and investigation in
some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish
facts or principles.
4

5.  Research is asking questions and finding answers.
It is the discovery of answers to questions through
the application of scientific and systematic
procedures.
 Research is an activity directed toward the
solution of a problem with a view to discovering
and developing an organized body of knowledge.
5

6.  Research is defined as an organized, systematic,
objective, data based, scientific, inquiry or
investigation into a specific problem, undertaken
with the purpose of finding answers or solutions
to it.
6

7.  Research provides solutions to problems
 Research provides new information or aid information
in the existing body of knowledge.
 Research provides the needed information that guides
the policy makers, decision makers, business
managers, and other stakeholders to make informed
decisions and to improve decision making process.
7

8.  Research helps in generating theories and models
 Research helps in developing methodologies
8

9.  The purpose of research is to discover answers to
questions.
 The main aim of research is to find out the truth
which is hidden and which has not been
discovered as yet.
9

10.  The research objectives are divided into following broad
groups:
 To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into it (studies with this objective are termed as
exploratory research studies)
 To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
phenomenon (studies with this objective are known as
descriptive research studies)
 To explain or test causal relationship between
factors/variables (studies with this objective are known as
explanatory or causal research studies).
10

11.  What makes people to undertake research? The
possible motives for doing research may be either
one or more of the following:
 Desire to get a research degree.
 Desire to undertake the challenge in solving the
unsolved problems.
 Desire to help society by discovering and
generating new facts, information and knowledge.
 Desire to get recognition.
11

12.  Research is a process of collecting, analyzing and
interpreting information to answer questions.
 But to qualify as research, the process must have
certain characteristics: it must, as far as possible,
be controlled, rigorous, systematic, valid and
verifiable, empirical and critical.
12

13.  Controlled
In real life there are many factors that affect an
outcome. The concept of control implies that, in
exploring causality in relation to two variables
(factors), one set up his study in a way that
minimizes the effects of other factors affecting the
relationship.
 Rigorous
The concept of rigorous implies the procedures
followed to find answers to questions are relevant,
appropriate and justified.
13

14.  Systematic
This concept implies that the procedure adopted
to undertake an investigation follow a certain
logical sequence.
 Valid and verifiable
This concept implies that whatever one conclude
on the basis of findings is correct and can be
verified by others.
14

15.  Empirical
This means that any conclusion drawn are based
upon hard evidence gathered from information
collected from real life experiences or
observations.
 Critical
The critical scrutiny of the procedures used and
the methods employed is crucial to a research
inquiry. The process of investigation must be
foolproof and free from drawbacks.
15

16.  Research inculcates scientific and inductive
thinking and it promotes the development of
logical habits of thinking and organization.
 The role of research in several fields of applied
economics, whether related to business or to the
economy as a whole, has greatly increased in
modern times.
16

17. The following aspects emphasize the significance
of research.
 Government Policies
 Allocation of National Resources
 Investigation of Economic Structure
 Solution of Operational and Planning Problems of
Business and Industry
 New Knowledge
 Organizational and Social Control and Prediction
17

18.  Purpose/ objectives should be clearly defined
 Research process should be detailed to ensure
comprehensiveness
 Research design should be selected based on
sound logic and realistic assumptions.
 Procedures used should be described in sufficient
details
 Analysis of data should be done with appropriate
methods of analysis
18

19.  Findings and conclusions should be consistent
with the results obtained in the analysis
 Scope should be clearly stated
 Assumptions should be clearly stated
 Limitations should be clearly stated
19

20.  Scientific approach to research implies an objective,
logical and systematic research wherein
 the researcher is guided by the rules of logical
reasoning
 the investigation proceeds in an orderly manner
 Conducted through observations and experiments
20

21.  The goal of scientific research is to explain,
predict, and/or control phenomena.
 Characteristics of Scientific Research are
1. Purposive
2. Objective
3. Rational
4. Verifiable/ Testable
5. Generalizable
6. Empirical
7. Replicable
21

22.  Research is usually classified into two categories
 Quantitative Research
 Qualitative Research
 These two types of researches are complementary-
one supplementing the other.
 Qualitative research is not a substitute for
quantitative research, it is not to supplement the
quantitative research.
22

23.  Research is the combination of both qualitative
and quantitative researches.
 If one were to study the past
 What happened (Quantitative)
 Why and How it happened ( Qualitative)
 If one were to study the future
 What will happen (Quantitative)
 What should or ought to be happen (Quantitative)
 How to make it happen ( Qualitative)
23

24.  A pragmatic approach to conduct a research study
is to start the research as a qualitative and
conclude it as a quantitative.
 The qualitative method is used to explore and
identify the ideas, develop hypotheses and
variables of interest to the researcher.
 The concepts derived from the qualitative portion
of the study are then studied through the use of
quantitative methods
24

25.  The Research which is based on quantitative
measurement of attitudes, behaviors and
perceptions.
 It refers to the systematic empirical investigation of
quantitative properties and phenomena and their
relationships.
 It is more appropriate to determine the extent of a
problem, issue or phenomenon by quantifying the
variation.
25

26. Quantitative research:
 Explores relationships using numerical data.
 Involves the collection of numerical data.
 Predicts and explains data in the form of statistical
analysis.
 Uses the numerical method to analyze data and
interpret the results.
 Finds out the relationship among quantifiable
variables and the results are inferred.
26

27.  How much growth has been taken place in prices
during the year 2010?
 What is the average income of individual
household in Punjab?
27

28.  The Research which is concerned with subjective
assessment of attitudes, behaviors and
perceptions.
 It relates to inquiry / investigation of a social or
human problem and the explanation for the same.
 It is more appropriate to explore the nature of a
problem, issue or phenomenon without
quantifying it.
28

29. Qualitative research :
 Conducted to have an insight and better
understanding of not only about the current
situation is but also why it is so.
 Explores relationships using textual data.
 Is more open and responsive to the research
participants.
 Uses a variety of methods and data collection
strategies
29

30.  Why the market share of the company has been
declining?
 What are the factors that motivate the employees
in an organization?
30

31.  Social Science uses both Quantitative and
Qualitative methods.
 Quantitative methods attempt to capture social
behavior or phenomenon, collect numerical data
and focus on the links among a smaller set of
attributes across many cases/ individuals.
31

32.  Qualitative methods emphasize on personal
experiences and interpretations and are more
concerned with understanding the meaning of
social phenomenon and focus on links among a
larger number of attributes across relatively few
cases.
 Both researches involves a systematic interaction
between theories and data or between ideas and
evidences.
32

33. Quantitative Qualitative
Research
Objective
Description
Explanation
Prediction
Description
Exploration
Discovery
Research
Purpose
Describe or Predict:
Theory Testing
Understand and Interpret:
Theory Building
Research
Questions
How Many, How Much,
What
How, Why, What
Focus Concise and Narrow Complex and Broad
Scientific
Method/
Reasoning
Deductive or “top-down”
Test hypothesis and theory
with data.
Inductive or “bottom-up”
Generate new hypotheses
and theory from data
collected.
33

34. Quantitative Qualitative
Nature of
study
Study behavior under
artificial, controlled
conditions
Study behavior in its natural
environment or context
Research
Design
Rigid Design and
Framework
Flexible design and
Framework
Researcher’s
Involvement
Limited : Controlled to
prevent bias
High: Researcher is
participant or catalyst
Desired
Sample Design
Probability Non-Probability: Purposive
34

35. Quantitative Qualitative
Sample Size Large Small
Participant’s
Preparation
No Preparation Pre-tasking
Data Type Numbers and statistics Words, images, or objects
Data Form Quantitative data based on
precise measurements
using structured &
validated data-collection
instruments
Qualitative data such as
open- ended responses,
interviews, participant
observations, field notes, &
reflections
Data Analysis Identify statistical
relationships
Statistical Analysis
Identify patterns, features,
themes
Subjective Analysis
35

36. Quantitative Qualitative
Nature of
Reality
Single reality; objective Multiple realities; subjective
Results Generalizable findings
that can be applied to
other populations
Particular or specialized
findings that is less
generalizable
Final Report Statistical report with
correlations,
comparisons of means, &
statistical significance of
findings
Narrative report with
contextual description &
direct quotations from
research participants
36

37.  Ethics are norms or standards of behavior that guide moral
choices about our behavior and our relationships with
others.
 The goal of ethics in research is to ensure that no one is
harmed or suffers adverse consequences from research
activities. This objective is usually achieved. However,
unethical activities are pervasive and include violating
nondisclosure agreements, breaking respondent
confidentiality, misrepresenting results, deceiving people,
invoicing irregularities, avoiding legal liability, and more.
37