This document provides an overview of research methodology. It discusses key topics such as the meaning and importance of research, classification of research types, the research process, and characteristics of good research. Specifically, it covers: - The objectives of research including exploration, description, diagnosis, and hypothesis testing. - The significance of research in advancing knowledge and solving problems. - How research follows the scientific method principles of clearly defined purpose, planned process, and justified conclusions. - Classification of research as basic vs applied, descriptive vs analytical, quantitative vs qualitative, and conceptual vs empirical. - The characteristics of good research as being systematic, logical, empirical, and having a clear purpose.

1. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Sunday, December 21, 2014

2. CONTENTS – UNIT 1
 Introduction
 Meaning and Importance of Research
 Classification of Research
 Research in Engineering Functions
 The Research Process
 Research as a Scientific Process
 Issues Governing Research Function
 Listing and Description of Steps of Research
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3. INTRODUCTION
 What is Research?
Search for knowledge.
Scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a
specific topic.
Art of scientific investigation.
Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of English defines research as
“a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for
new facts in any branch of knowledge.”
Redman and Mory define research as “systematized effort to
gain new knowledge.”
According to Clifford Woody, “Research comprises of defining
and redefining problems. Formulating hypothesis or
suggested solutions, making deductions and reaching
conclusions, and at last carefully testing the conclusions to
determine whether they are fit and formulating hypothesis.”
For some authors, “Research is a movement from known to
unknown. It is actually a voyage of discovery.” 3
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4. OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
 The purpose of research is to discover answers to
questions through the application of scientific
procedures. The broad objectives of research are:
To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or achieve new
insight into it (exploratory or formulative research
studies).
To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual situation or a group (descriptive research
studies).
To determine the frequency with which something
occurs or with which it is associated with something else
(diagnostic studies).
To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between
variables (hypothesis-testing research studies) 4
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5. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH
 In Hudson Maxim’s words, “All progress is born of
inquiry. Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it
leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention.”
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.
Research provides the basis for nearly all government
policies in our economic system.
Research has its significance in solving various operational
and planning problems of business and industry.
Research is equally important for social scientists in studying
social relationships and in seeking answers to various social
problems. 5
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6. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH
 The significance of research can also be
understood keeping in view the following points:
Research may mean career growth or a way to attain a
high position in the social structure (somebody writing
Masters or Ph.D. thesis).
Research may mean a source of livelihood
(professionals in research methodology).
Research may mean the outlet for new ideas and
insights (philosophers and thinkers).
Research may mean the development of new styles and
creative work (literary people).
Research may mean the generalization of new theories
(analysts and intellectuals). 6
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7. RESEARCH AS A SCIENTIFIC METHOD
 Good research generates trustworthy data that can
be used to draw functional solutions. In contrast,
poor research is carelessly planned and conducted,
therefore, its conclusion cannot be used for
decision-making. Good research follows the
principles of the scientific method as mentioned
below:
Clearly Defined Purpose
Detailed Research Process
Planned Research Design
Clearly Defined Limitations
Provide Opportunity to Analyze
Unambiguous Presentations of Findings
Justified Conclusion
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8. CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH
 There can be different research types according to
different criteria, such as purpose, method,
availability of time and other resources, type of
analysis, scope and statistical content. A broad
classification of different research types include:
Basic versus Applied Research
Descriptive versus Analytical Research
Conceptual versus Empirical Research
Qualitative versus Quantitative Research
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9. CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH
 Basic versus Applied Research
Research can either be applied (or action) research or
fundamental (or basic or pure) research.
Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate
problem facing a society or an industrial/business organization,
whereas fundamental research is mainly concerned with
generalizations and with the formulation of a theory.
Examples of fundamental research – research concerning some
natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics, research
studies concerning human behavior carried on with a view to
make generalizations about human behavior etc.
Examples of applied research – research aimed at certain
conclusions (say, a solution) facing a concrete social or business
problem, research to identify social, economic or political trends,
marketing research etc.
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10. CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH
 Descriptive versus Analytical Research
Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding
enquiries of different kinds. The major purpose of
descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it
exists in present. The main characteristic of this type of
research is that the researcher has no control over the
variables, he can only report what has happened or what is
happening.
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.
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11. CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH
 Quantitative versus Qualitative
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, on the other hand, is concerned with
qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or
involving quality or kind. Qualitative research is specially
important in the behavioral science where the aim is to
discover the underlying motives of human behavior.
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12. CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH
 Conceptual versus Empirical
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 interpret existing ones.
On the other hand, 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. In such a research, the researcher must first provide
himself with a working hypothesis or guess as to the probable
results. He then works to get enough facts (data) to prove or
disprove his hypothesis. Such research is thus characterized by
the experimenter’s control over the variables under study and
his deliberate manipulation of one of them to study the effects.
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13. CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH
 Some Other Types of Research
All other types of research are variations of one or more of the
types described earlier:
 One-Time Research (research is confined to a single time-period)
 Longitudinal Research (research is carried on over several time-periods)
 Laboratory Research (research done in lab settings, also known as
simulation research)
 Field setting Research (research carried out in the field and not in the
lab settings)
 Historical research (researcher takes the help of historical sources to
conduct fresh research or studies the past events).
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14. RESEARCH APPROACH
 There are two types of research approach, namely quantitative
and qualitative approach:
Quantitative research approach – refers to the generation of data in
quantitative form, which can be subjected to quantitative analysis. The
sub-parts of quantitative approach are as follows:
 Inferential approach – refers to an approach that is used where a sample of
population is observed or studied to infer some characteristics of population
under study by forming a proper database.
 Experimental approach – refers to the approach in which some variables of
research study are manipulated to observe their effects on other variables.
 Simulation approach – refers to the approach in which an artificial
environment is created to generate relevant information and data.
Qualitative research approach – Deals with subjective evaluation of
attitudes, opinions, and actions. The approach generates result in non-
quantitative form. 14
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15. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD RESEARCH
 Some of the characteristics of a good research are as
follows:
Systematic – refers to the fact that research should be properly
structured. The role of intuition and creative thinking is also not
ruled out.
Logical – means that the research should be guided by logical
reasoning. Basically, logical reasoning is of two types:
induction(specific to universal) and deduction (universal to specific).
Empirical – indicates that the research should be based on real
situations rather than abstract concepts or ideas.
Clear Purpose – objectives of the research should be clearly
defined.
Elaboration – research procedures should be explained and
detailed properly.
Efficient Analysis – the data gathered in the research should be
properly analyzed using a suitable method.
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16. RESEARCH METHOD VERSUS RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
 There are several differences between research method
and research methodology.
 Research methods include methods, which can be
classified into three groups:
In first group, methods related to collection of data are included.
The second group includes statistical methods, which are used to
establish the relationships between different sets of data.
The third group consists of the methods, which are used to
estimate the correctness of the results obtained.
 Research methodology is an approach to solve research
problems in a systematic manner. It constitutes both the
research strategies and data generation methods.
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17. RESEARCH PROCESS
 Research process consists of a series of steps, which are as
follows, although not strictly in sequential order:
Defining Research Problem – refers to identifying a problem whose
solution can be found through research. Two steps are involved in
defining a research problem – i) Understanding the problem
correctly, ii) Rephrasing the problem into meaningful terms.
Reviewing the Literature (conceptual and empirical)
Formulating Hypothesis – refers to the tentative assumption made
by the researcher to speculate the outcome of the research.
Designing the Research
Collecting Data
Analyzing Data
Preparing Data
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18. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY RESEARCHERS
 Major problems faced by researchers:
Lack of Training
Improper Interaction
Lack of Code of Conduct
Lack of Assistance
Lack of Resources
Reluctance in Supplying Data
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19. RESEARCH AS EVERYDAY THINKING
Research task Everyday thinking
Identify a problem How can I deal with my punctured
tyre?
Gather data Obtain prices of new tyres
Analyze the data What is the cheapest?
Interpret the data That’s more than I want to pay. I need
more information.
Gather more data Is it reparable?
Obtain prices for new tyre repair.
Analyze the data Can it be repaired? What is the
lowest cost? How does the cost
compare with a new tyre?
Interpret the data Repairing it is possible. Repair will
cost 20% of the new tyre. Repair
rather than replace means I can still
afford to go out on a Friday night.
Draw conclusion I will get it repaired at Tyres-U-Like.
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20. EVERYDAY THINKING VERSUS GOOD RESEARCH
Everyday thinking Good research
Poor data Sufficient data sources
Incomplete data Appropriate data sources
Hasty thinking Accurately recorded
Properly analyzed
No hidden assumptions
Conclusions well-founded.
Properly presented.
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21. THE 6P’S OF RESEARCH
 6 Ps of research include:
Purpose
Products
Process
Participants
Paradigm
Presentation.
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End of Unit 1