This document provides an overview of research methods. It defines research and describes the scientific research process. Research is defined as a systematic investigation to discover and develop knowledge. The scientific research process involves four stages: exploration, description, explanation, and prediction. It also outlines key aspects of different types of research methods, including quantitative and qualitative approaches, and discusses challenges in applying scientific methods to social science research. The document emphasizes that research requires a systematic, objective, and rigorous approach.

1. Unit1
Introduction to Research
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2. Main Contents:-
 Definition and nature of research
 Concept, Features and Process of Scientific Research
 Features of social science Research
 Quantitative and Qualitative paradigms of Research
 Features of social science Research
 Difficulties of applying scientific methods to social
science Research
 Management Research: Concept, Types,
Methodology and value of Decision making
 Ethical issues in Management Research
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3. Definition and nature of research
To study or to search about a phenomenon
Research = Re + search
Re = Repeatedly or again and again
search = to investigate or find
To search again and again is a research
Generally , research is an effort to search new fact,
knowledge, principle in scientific ways.
It is essentially a systematic inquiry seeking facts through
objectives verifiable methods in order to discover the
relationship among them and to deduce from them broad
principles or laws.
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4.  Contd………
Really it is a method of critical thinking by defining
and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or
suggested solution, collecting, organizing and
evaluating data, making deductions and making
conclusions to determine whether they fit the
formulated hypothesis.
It refers to a critical, careful and exhaustive
investigation or inquiry or examination or
experimentation having as its aim the revision of
accepted conclusions, in the light of newly discovered
facts.
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5.  Contd……
 Some definitions:
Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of current English
Defines “ Research is a careful investigation or
inquiry specially through search for new facts in
any branch of knowledge.”
According to John W. Best(1992) “Research is a
systematic and objective analysis and recording
of observations that may lead to the development
of a theory.”
Uma Sekaran(2007) “ Research is an organized,
systematic, data-based, critical, scientific enquiry
or investigation into a specific problem,
undertaken with the objective of finding answers
or solutions to it.”
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6. Thus the Research …
is the directed towards the solution of the problem.
is based upon observable experience or empirical evidence.
demands accurate observation and descriptions.
involves gathering new data from primary or first hand
sources or using existing data for a new purpose.
requires expertise and courage necessary to carry out
investigation, search the related literature and to understand
and analyze the data gathered.
involves the quest for answers to unsolved problems.
To sum up, Research is the process of a systematic and
in-depth study or search of any particular topic, subject
or area of investigation backed by the collection,
compilation, presentation and interpretation of
relevant datails or data.
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7. Characteristics of a Good Research
Systematic
Logical
Empirical
Replicable
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8. Type of Research
Applied vs. Fundamental
Descriptive vs. Analytical
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Conceptual vs. Empirical
Other types of Research
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9. Nature and Scope/ Purpose of
Research
Exploration
Description
Explanation
Generalization and Prediction
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10. Distinction Between Theoretical and
Applied Research
Theoretical Research[Pure or Basic] Applied Research[ Decisional]
1. It aims to contribute the theory and
techniques of the discipline.
1. It aims to solve or improve the problem.
2. It studies any problem usually from the
focus of one discipline.
2. It studies problems with important social
consequences in several disciplines.
3. It requires mainly technical judgement. 3. It requires also a sense of what the
situation and personalities can bear.
4. It restricts to research. 4. It is often useful in action or
administration, not only in research.
5. It seeks generalizations. 5. It studies individual cases without the
objectives to generalize.
6. It accepts the hypothesis that variables
not measured remain constant.
6. It recognizes that other variables are
constantly changing.
7. It attempts to get all the facts. 7. It attempts only to correct facts.
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11. Distinction Between Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods
Qualitative Research Quantitative Research
Methods include focus groups, in-depth interviews,
and reviews of documents for types of themes
Surveys, structured interviews & observations, and reviews of
records or documents for numeric information
Primarily inductive process used to formulate
theory or hypotheses
Primarily deductive process used to test pre-specified concepts,
constructs, and hypotheses that make up a theory
More subjective: describes a problem or condition
from the point of view of those experiencing it
More objective: provides observed effects (interpreted by
researchers) of a program on a problem or condition
Text-based Number-based
More in-depth information on a few cases Less in-depth but more breadth of information across a large number
of cases
Unstructured or semi-structured response options Fixed response options
No statistical tests Statistical tests are used for analysis
Can be valid and reliable: largely depends on skill
and rigor of the researcher
Can be valid and reliable: largely depends on the measurement
device or instrument used
Time expenditure lighter on the planning end and
heavier during the analysis phase
Time expenditure heavier on the planning phase and lighter on the
analysis phase
Less generalizable More generalizable
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12. Scientific Research
systematic and objective attempt to provide answers to
certain questions
To discover and develop an organized body of knowledge
According to Kerlinger “ Scientific research is
systematic, controlled, empirical and critical
investigation of hypothetical propositions about the
presumed relations among nature phenomena.”
It is used to develop theories, concepts, generalizations
and principles according to cause-effect relationship.
Scientific research is a procedure, a general strategy that
indicates an ordered sequence of moves(steps) which the
researcher has to make in order to reach the goal of his or
her research.
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13. Features/Characteristics of Scientific
Research
Purposiveness
Testability
Replicability
Objectivity
Rigour
Generalizability
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14. Mainly Scientific Research……
 is always directed towards the solution of a problem.
 is always based on empirical or observable evidences.
 is characterized by systematic objectives and logical
procedures.
 involves precise observation and accurate description.
 gives emphasis to the development of theories, principles
and generalizations.
 is marked by patience, courage an unhurried activities.
 requires that the researcher has full expertise of the problem
being studied.
 should be replicable, valid and reliable
 Requires skill of writing and reproducing the report as define
complex terminology, use of simple terms, formulation of
clear-cut design and procedure in objective manner.
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15. The scientific research process has four
stages: Exploration, Description,
Explanation and Prediction.
Similarly, there are Eight steps in a scientific
research: Sensing a problem, Problem
identification, Theoretical framework,
Hypothesis formulation, Research Design,
Data collection, Data analysis and
Refinement of Theory.
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16. Difficulties of Applying Scientific Method
to social science Research
Complexity of the subject matter
Human problems
Influence of measurement process on result
Difficulty of obtaining accurate measurement
Difficulty of using experiments to Test
Hypotheses
Difficulty of making accurate predictions
problematic objectives of the investigator
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17. Social Science Research
Aims at adding to knowledge of human beings about the
problems which face the society.
related to human or social behavior
scientific analysis of the nature and trends of social
phenomena of groups
According to Mrs. P. V. Young “ Social research is the
systematic method of discovering the new facts or
verifying the old facts, their sequences, inter-relationship,
casual explanations and the natural
laws which govern them.”
According to Claus Moser “ systematized investigation
to gain new knowledge about social phenomena and
social problems we call social research.”
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18. Basic Assumptions of Social
Research are…
Possibility of an objective study
Existence of social norm or laws
Existence of similar and ideal group
Representative sample
Casual relationship
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19. Business/ Management Research
Types:
Financial Management Research
Production Management Research
Personnel Management Research
Marketing Management Research
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20. Concept of Management Research
Uma Sekaran(2007): “ Business research is a
systematic and organized investigation
conducted to resolve problematic issues in, or
interrelated among, the different areas of
management.”
William Zikmund(2007): “ Management research is
the systematic and objective process of gathering,
recording and analyzing data for aid in making
business decisions.”
Donald Cooper and Pamela Schindler(2008):
“ Business research is a systematic inquiry whose
objective is to provide information to solve managerial
problems.”
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21. In view of the informational needs of managers,
types of management research are…
Policy Research
Managerial Research
Action Research
Evaluation Research
 Policy Research: It is defined as the development of
a foundation of information to be used as a basis for
making plans and decisions that will impact policy.
Specially, it is related to the strategic analysis and
planning activities of an organization.
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22.  Policy Research is composed of three basic elements:
 It studies how policy formulation occurs with a view
to understanding and improving the process.
 It is designed to analyzed situations at the strategic
level and to formulate overall policy proposals.
 It is systematically evaluates the priorities to be
accorded to conflicting and complementary policy
alternatives.
 Managerial Research: It is related to the specific
problem of limited scope for which management has
the need of additional information on which to base a
decision. It is focused on one particular activity,
scheme or project launched by a management for the
on-going projects.
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23.  Action Research: A task oriented form of the study
designed to provide continuous feedback regarding
the performance of management activity and to
improve that performance. It is a methodology which
combines “action” and “research” together.
Basic Features of Action Research:
 Addresses practical problems
 Generates new knowledge
 Enacts change
 Is participatory
 Relies on a cyclical process
 Evaluation Research: It is the process of determining
the value or worth of something. It has two types:
a. Formative Evaluation b. Summative Evaluation
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24. Role of Research in Management
Analysis
Planning
Execution
Control
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25. Ethical issues in Management Research
 Ethical treatment of participants
 Ethics and sponsor
 Researchers and Team members
Decision Making
Certainity
Uncertainity
Risk/Ambiguity
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