research methodology 1 intro to research

8/9/2019 Research Methodology 1 Intro to Research

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Research Methodology The means by which researchers are

able to make conclusive statements

about their studies with a minimum of

bias

Organized Inquiry


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Why Research? Hudson Maxim (US Scientist):

All progress is born of inquiry

Doubt is better than overconfidence

Leads to inquiry

Inquiry leads to invention

Research is the foundation of invention Research encourages scientific and inductive

thinking


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Research Methodology TWO TYPES:

Scientific

Historical


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Scientific

Identification of TOPIC AREA

Formulation of the HYPOTHESIS

TESTING the hypothesis

CONLUSION Historical


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Scientific

Historical

Identification of SOURCES

Confirmation of AUTHENTICITY &

PROVENANCE Testing RELIABILITY

SYNTHESIS


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BIAS


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BIAS

There are three kinds of lies:


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BIAS


Lies


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BIAS


Lies

Damned lies


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BIAS


Lies

Damned lies

Statistics!


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BIAS


Lies

Damned lies

Statistics!

Benjamin Disraeli as quoted by Mark Twain


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Unscientific Method

Imagination

Opinion

Blind belief

Vague and inaccurate


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Basis of Scientific Method

Reliance on Empirical Evidence

Use of Relevant Concepts

Commitment of Objectivity

Ethical Neutrality

Science and with that, accurate data states facts

without imposing any good or bad Generalization within a group/segment

Verifiability

Logical Reasoning Process (for drawing inference)


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Reasoning

Deduction:

Is a form of inference

For a deduction to be correct, it must be

true and valid

Premises (reasons) given for conclusionmust agree with the real world (true)

The conclusion must necessarily follow

from the premises (valid)


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Reasoning

Deduction: Example

Suburban HH interviewing is difficult and

expensive: Premise 1

This survey involves substantial suburban

HH interviewing: Premise 2

The interviewing in this survey will be

difficult and expensive: Conclusion


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Reasoning

Induction:

Induction occurs when we observe a fact

and ask 'why is this?'

We give a tentative explanation (hypothesis)

Deduction is the process by which we testwhether hypothesis is capable of explaining

the fact


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Reasoning

Combining Induction and Deduction:

We advertise a product, but sales don't increase

(Fact)

We ask why didn't sales increase?' (Induction)

We infer to answer the question: the

advertisement was poorly executed (Hypothesis) We use this hypothesis to conclude that the sales

will not increase during a poorly executed

promotion (Deduction)


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Concepts

Are mental representation and are typically basedon experience

Concepts can be of real phenomena (clouds,pain, dogs)

Concepts can be agreed-upon phenomena (truth,

beauty, justice, prejudice, value etc) Concepts can be measured

Concepts develop over shared usage

Travel time and distance


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Constructs

Constructs are combination of concepts and

difficult to measure

Things such as IQ, leisure, satisfaction

environmental values etc are constructs

Construct is central to research and

questionnaire is built around concepts


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Variables

Dependent variable

Independent variable

Moderating variable: a second independent

variable included for better fit/explanation

Extraneous variable: can be included asindependent or moderating variable


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Variables

Intervening variable: factor which

theoretically affects the observed phenomena

Introduction 4-day workweek (Ind. Var.) will leadto higher productivity (Dep. Var.) by increasing

job satisfaction (Int. Var.)

A promotion campaign (IV) will increase savingsactivity (DV), especially when free prizes are

offered (MV), but chiefly among smaller savers

(EV-control). The results come from enhancing

the motivation to save (IVV)


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Purpose of Research

Knowledge extension

Establishes generalization to help in:

Building laws

Specific knowledge in different fields

Make reliable predictions

To verify and test existing facts & theory tohandle emerging situations

To find out inter-relationships between

variables


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Purpose of Research

Finding solution to problems related to:

Socio-economic

Human relations

Health etc

Research provides data input to business and

national planning activities Provides in developing new concepts and

theories for better understanding of unknown

phenomena


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Types of Research

Pure Research

Basic or fundamental: Science, Medicine etc

New or refinement

Applied Research:

Practical-Problem-Oriented and Action-

Oriented Testing of theory or to get conceptual clarity


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Types of Research

Exploratory Research

Study of an unfamiliar problem

Done at two levels Discovering significant variables of influence

Discovery of relationship between variables

Descriptive Study: More specific than exploratory

Fact-finding involving interpretations

Useful for planning social action programs


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Types of Research

Diagnostic Study

Extension to descriptive method

Requires some prior knowledge about variables Useful for identifying causes of a problem and possible

solutions for it

Evaluation Studies

Type of applied research

To assess impact of projects to be implemented or

after implementation on benefits of projects

Also concerned with study of change over time


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Types of Research

Action Research

Extension to evaluation studies

Is a concurrent study of actions under way duringimplementation


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Classification by Methods of Study

Experimental Research

Laboratory / Field

Pretest Posttest studies

Analytical Study:

Data analysis

Mathematical models or statistical tools Tests hypothesis and interpret relationships


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Classification by Methods of Study

Historical Research

Past data analysis to discover trends

Depends upon logical analysis of past data andindirect evidence

Survey:

Fact finding study

From the population or representative samples

Establish cause-effect relationship for making

predictions


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Research Approaches

Qualitative

Subjective assessment of opinion, behaviour

and attitudes Influenced by researcher's insights and

interpretations

Involves depth interviews, focus-groupinterviews and projective techniques


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Research Approaches

Quantitative:

Collection of quantitative data

Includes qualitative factors measured onscales

Put to quantitative analysis for interpretation


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Significance of Research

Business & Economy:

Explore alternatives for strategies and policy

formulation Information for decision making in operational

process

Understand process of change


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Social System:

Information about demographic structure,

behaviour and shifts Understand changes in social system

Find explanation to social problems


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Government:

Investigation of economic structure through

continual compilation of data Diagnosis of progress of projects

The Prognosis: prediction for future

development

research methodology 1 intro to research

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