It is very useful for researcher

2. Introduction to Research
Methodology
Jabir Hussain
Ph.D chemistry 2nd semester

3. MEANING OF RESEARCH
 A scientific and systematic search for
pertinent information on a specific topic.
 Research in common parlance refers to a
search for knowledge
 The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current
English lays down the meaning of research as
“a careful investigation or inquiry specially
through search for new facts in any branch of
knowledge.

4.  Redman and Mory define research as a
“systematized effort to gain new knowledge.”
 Research is an academic activity and as such the
term should be used in a technical sense
 According to Clifford Woody research comprises
defining and redefining problems, formulating
hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting,
organising and evaluating data; making
deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last
carefully testing the conclusions to determine
whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.

5. We can say that
• Research is, thus, an original contribution to
the existing stock of knowledge making for its
advancement

6. OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
 To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve
new insights into it (studies with this object in view are
termed as exploratory or formulative research studies);
 To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or a group (studies with this object
in view are known as descriptive research studies);
 To determine the frequency with which something
occurs or with which it is associated with something
else (studies with this object in view are known as
diagnostic research studies);
 To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between
variables (such studies are known as hypothesis-testing
research studies).

7. MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
 Desire to get a research degree along with its
consequential benefits;
 Desire to face the challenge in solving the
unsolved problems, i.e., concern over practical
problems initiates research;
 Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some
creative work;
 Desire to be of service to society;
 Desire to get respectability

8. Descriptive vs analytical research
Applied vs fundamental
Quantitative vs qualitative
Conceptual vs empirical
TYPES OF RESEARCH

9. Descriptive vs analytical Research
 It Include surveys and fact-finding enquiries of
different kinds.
 The major purpose of descriptive research is
description of the state of affairs as it exists at
present.
 Insocial science and business the term Ex post
facto research for descriptive research studies
 It has no control over the variables

10.  Ex post facto studies also include attempts by
researchers to discover causes even when they
cannot control the variables.
 The methods of research utilized in descriptive
research are survey methods of all kinds,
including comparative and correlational methods
 In analytical research, on the other hand, the
researcher has to use facts or information already
available, and analyze these to make a critical
evaluation of the material

11. Applied vs. Fundamental
• Applied research aims at finding a solution for an
immediate problem facing a society or an
industrial/business organization
• fundamental research is mainly concerned with
generalizations and with the formulation of a theory.
• Research concerning some natural phenomenon or
relating to pure mathematics are examples of
fundamental research
• Research studies, concerning human behavior carried
on with a view to make generalizations about human
behaviour, are also examples of fundamental research

12. Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research
• Quantitative research is based on the
measurement of quantity or amount.
• It is applicable to phenomena that can be
expressed in terms of quantity
• Qualitative research is concerned with
qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena
relating to or involving quality or kind.e.g
motivation Research
• This type of research aims at discovering the
underlying motives and desires

13. Conceptual vs. Empirical Research
• Conceptual research is that related to some
abstract idea(s) or theory.
• It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers
to develop new concepts or to reinterpret
existing ones.
• Empirical research relies on experience or
observation alone, often without due regard for
system and theory.
• It is data-based research, coming up with
conclusions which are capable of being verified
by observation or experiment

14. Some Other Types of Research
• Form the point of view of time, we can think of
research either as one-time research or longitudinal
research.
• In the former case the research is confined to a single
time-period,
• whereas in the latter case the research is carried on
over several time-periods.
• Research can be field-setting research or laboratory
research or simulation research, depending upon the
environment in which it is to be carried out. Research
can as well be understood as clinical or diagnostic
research.

15. Research Approaches
Quantitative approach
• It involves the generation of
data in quantitative form
which can be subjected to
rigorous quantitative
analysis in a formal and rigid
fashion.
• This approach can be
further sub-classified into
inferential, experimental
and simulation approaches
to research.
Qualitative approach
• It research is concerned
with subjective assessment
of attitudes, opinions and
behavior.
• Research in such a situation
is a function of researcher’s
insights and impressions

16. Research Approaches
Quantitative approach
• The purpose of inferential
approach to research is to
form a data base from which
to infer characteristics or
relationships of population.
This usually means survey
research where a sample of
population is studied
• Experimental approach
• Simulation approach involves
the construction of an artificial
environment within which
relevant information and data
can be generated.
Qualitative approach
• This approach to research
generates results either in
non-quantitative form or in
the form which are not
subjected to rigorous
quantitative analysis
• the techniques of focus
group interviews, projective
techniques and depth
interviews are used.

17. Significance of Research
 To those students who are to write a master’s or Ph.D.
thesis, research may mean a careerism or a way to
attain a high position in the social structure;
 To professionals in research methodology, research may
mean a source of livelihood;
 To philosophers and thinkers, research may mean the
outlet for new ideas and insights;
 To literary men and women, research may mean the
development of new styles and creative work;
 To analysts and intellectuals, research may mean the
generalisations of new theories.

18. Research Methods
Research methods can be put into the following three
groups:
1. In the first group we include those methods which are
concerned with the collection of data. These methods
will be used where the data already available are not
sufficient to arrive at the required solution;
2. The second group consists of those statistical
techniques which are used for establishing
relationships between the data and the unknowns;
3. The third group consists of those methods which are
used to evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained.

19. Research Methodology
 Research methodology is a way to
systematically solve the research problem.
 It may be understood as a science of studying
how research is done scientifically.
 In it we study the various steps that are
generally adopted by a researcher in studying
his research problem along with the logic
behind them

20. Research and Scientific Method
The scientific method is based on certain basic postulates
which can be stated as under:
1. It relies on empirical evidence;
2. It utilizes relevant concepts;
3. It is committed to only objective considerations;
4. It presupposes ethical neutrality, i.e., it aims at nothing
but making only adequate and correct statements
about population objects;
5. It results into probabilistic predictions;
6. Its methodology is made known to all concerned for
critical scrutiny are for use in testing the conclusions
through replication;
7. It aims at formulating most general axioms or what can
be termed as scientific theories.

22. Criteria of Good Research
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, keeping the
continuity of what has already been attained.
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

23. 5. The analysis of data should be sufficiently
adequate to reveal its significance and the
methods of analysis used should be appropriate.
The validity and reliability of the data should be
checked carefully.
6. Conclusions should be confined to those justified
by the data of the research and limited to those
for which the data provide an adequate basis.
7. Greater confidence in research is warranted if the
researcher is experienced, has a good reputation
in research and is a person of integrity.