RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

UNIT- I

Research
RESEARCH

IS A SYSTEMATIC & OBJECTIVE IVESTIGATION OF A SUBJECT/PROBLEM SO TO DISCOVER REVALANT INFORMATION OR PRINCIPLES.

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it termed as exploratory or formulative research studies); To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group known as descriptive research studies); To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else known as diagnostic research studies); To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables

MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
The possible motives for doing research may be either one or more of the following: 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

Types of Research

Descriptive

No control over variables Ex post facto research

Analytical

Critical analysis of information

Finding solution of immediate problems

Applied

Fundamental

Generalizations or formulation of theory

Types of Research

Quantitative

Measurement of quantity or amount attitude or opinion research Developing new concept or reinterpreting existing ones.

Qualitative

Conceptual

Empirical

Hypothesis testing

Approaches of Research
Quantitative Inferential Experimental Simulation Qualitative

Qualities of Researcher
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The qualities are two fold: General qualities that are needed for any research. Specific qualities that are concerning the particular research

GENERAL QUALITIES

Scientific Attitude: The first essential quality of a successful research worker is that he must possess a `scientific frame of mind. Imagination: A research worker must possess a high degree of imagination power. Perseverance : The work of scientific research requires unlimited patience and inexhaustible perseverance. A Quick Grasping Power : The research worker should possess power to grasp the significance of things quickly. Clarity of Thinking: The research worker should be very clear in his concepts.

SPECIFIC QUALITIES
The Chief qualities required are as follows: Knowledge of the Subject : The research worker should have a complete knowledge of the subject under study. Knowledge of the Technique of Research : The research worker should also possess the intimate knowledge of the technique that is to be applied to the problem. Personal Taste in the Study : The research worker should take personal taste in the study undertaken.

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Familiarity about the Informants : It is desirable that the research worker should make himself familiar with the people whom he is studying.

Unbiased Attitude : The researcher should have no preconceptions about the subject under study.

CRITERIA OF GOOD RESEARCH

Good research is systematic Good research is logical Good research is empirical Good research is replicable

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY RESEARCHERS IN INDIA

The Lack of a Scientific Training Lack of Interactions Lack of Confidence Analyse Overlapping Lack of Code of Conduct Unnecessary Delays Inadequate Library Management Irregular supply of Government Publications Lack of availability of Published Data Problem of Process of Data Collection

Significance of Research
Role in several fields of applied economics Basis for government policies Solution of various operational and planning

problems of business and industry Study of social relationship

 In addition, the significance of research can also be

understood keeping in view the following points

To student may mean a careerism or a way to attain a high position in the social structure To professional may mean a source of livelihood To philosophers and thinkers may the outlet of new ideas and insights To literary men and women may the development of new style and creative work To analysts and intellectuals may the generalizations of new theories.

Process of research
Formulating the Research Problem Understanding the problem Rephrasing the same into meaningful terms Literature Review Formulation of hypothesis Preparing the Research design Determining sample design Collecting Data Execution of the Project Analysis of data Hypothesis Testing Generalization and Interpretation of data Preparation of report

Defining the Research Problems

Components of Research Problems Must be an individual or a group Must be some objective to obtain Must be alternative means for obtaining the objective Must be some doubt in the mind of the researcher Must be some environment to which the difficulty pertains

Selection of the Problems

Avoid overdone subject Avoid controversial subject Avoid too narrow or too vague problems

Familiar and feasible subject

Preceded by a preliminary study

Steps or technique of defining the problems

Statement of the problem in a general way Understanding the nature of the problem Surveying the available literature

Developing the ideas through discussions

Rephrasing the research problem

Steps or technique of defining the problems..

In addition to the above Technical terms should be clearly defined Basic assumptions should be clearly stated Criteria for the selection of the problem should be provided Suitability of time period and availability of data Scope of the problem or limit within which the problem is to be studied .

Research Design
A research design is the arrangement of conditions

for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure.

 Design decisions happen to be in respect of What is the study about? Why is the study being made? Where will be study be carried out? What type of data is required? Where can the required data be found? What period of time will the study include? What will be the sample design? What techniques of data collection will be used? How will the data be analyzed? In what style will the report be prepared?

Part of Research Design

Sampling Design Observational Design Statistical Design

Operational Design

Features of Research Design

It is a plan that specifies the sources and types of

information relevant to the research problem It is strategy specifying which approach will be used for gathering and analyzing the data. It also includes the time and cost budgets since most studies are done under these two constraints.

Need for Research Design

Smooth research operation Economy

Important Concepts
Dependent and Independent Variables Continuous Variable Non-continuous Variable

Extraneous Variable Experimental Error

Control

Confounded Relationship
Research Hypothesis Experimental and non-experimental hypothesis

testing research

Important Concepts
Experimental and Control Group Treatments Experiments Absolute Comparative Experimental Units

METHODS OF COLLECTION OF DATA

26 The success of an enquiry is based upon the proper collection of data. W.G.COCHRAN
SOURCE OF DATA Data source can be broadly categorized into three types viz., primary and secondary. Documentary Sources (Secondary Data)

Books Report of Surveys Memories Accounts of Travels Historical Account Official Published Data Other Unpublished Record

Field Sources (Direct Sources) Direct Observation Information from the informants Information from witnesses

METHODS OF COLLECTION OF DATA

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OBSERVATION
Observation is probably the oldest method used by man in scientific investigation.

KINDS OF OBSERVATION
Participant Observation Non-Participant Observation Non-Controlled Observation Controlled Observation

Advantage OF OBSERVATION AS A METHOD OF SOCIAL RESEARCH

Related to the current happening Independent of respondents willingness

LIMITATIONS OF OBSERVATION AS A METHOD OF SOCIAL RESEARCH

Some of the occurrences may not be open to observation Not all Occurrences Open to Observation can be Observed

METHODS OF COLLECTION OF DATA

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IMPORTANCE OF OBSERVATION IN SOCIAL RESEARCH
Simplest method Useful in Framing hypothesis Greater Accuracy More Convincing Results Test of Validity A common Method for All Sciences

METHODS OF COLLECTION OF DATA

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INTERVIEW Interview may be regarded as a systematic method by which a person enters more or less imaginatively into the life of a comparative stranger. A. Personal Interview KINDS OF PERSONAL INTERVIEWS

Structured Interview Unstructured Interview Focused Interview

Merits
More Information Greater Flexibility Observation method can be applied

More personal information can be obtained

Low non-response The language of the interview cab be adopted Easy to obtain supplementary information

Demerits
Expensive Not easy to approach Time consuming

Over-stimulation of respondent

Prerequisite
Selection of interviewer Honest, sincere, hardworking and must possess the

technical competence and necessary competence. Supervision of interviewer work Telephone Interview:
Comparatively flexible

Faster
Cheaper Higher rate of response Easy approach

No field staff requierd

demerits
Little time Restricted to those having telephone facility Not suitable for intensive survey

Probes are difficult to handle

TECHNIQUE OF INTERVIEW
Establishing Contact Starting an Interview Establishing Rapport Recall Probe Questions Encouragement Guiding the Interview Recording Closing the Interview Report

METHODS OF COLLECTION OF DATA

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QUESTIONNAIRE
Form of Questionnaire Size of Questionnaire Appearance Clarity Sequence of Questions Catching interest

Factors affecting response

Importance of the Problem Under Study Nature of Questionnaire Nature of Reaction Size of Questionnaire Sequence of the Questions

Merits
Free from bias of the interviewer Adequate time for respondent Easily approachable

Wide area coverage

Demerits
Low response

Only for literate people

Inflexibility Interpretation of omission is difficult Slowest method

Costly

METHODS OF COLLECTION OF DATA

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SCHEDULE
The schedule is the form containing some questions or blank which are to be filled by the workers after getting information from the informants.

Essentials of a Good Schedule

Type of Questions Open-end Questions Structured Questions Multiple-Choice Questions Leading Questions Ambiguous Questions Ranking Item Question

METHODS OF COLLECTION OF DATA

A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF DATA COLLECTION METHODS IN RESEARCH

Sl.No.
1.

Methods of data collection

Non probability sampling Convenience sampling

Features
Less expensive, less time consuming, most convenient.

Advantages
Bias selection, lack of representative items, not suggested for descriptive and causal research. High sample control, covered both literate and illiterate, face-to-face communication. Less expensive less chance of human error suitable for literature people.

Disadvantages
Less reliability of data less chance of accuracy

2.

Primary datafield survey Interview - Personal

First hand and original informations, interview schedule, questionnaire, observation. Data collected through telephone.

Expensive method chance of more response errors time consuming No face-facecommunication Non-Response is high ignore and rural areas.

3.

Telephone

4.

Mail

Data collected through postal communication.

Data collected through electronic media.

Less expensive suitable for educated respondents.

More accuracy

Ignore uneducated respondents.

Illiterate ignored cheating error.

5.

Electronice-mail, internet

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OTHER METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

Warranty Cards Store Audits Pantry Audits Consumer panels Mechanical Devices

METHODS OF COLLECTION OF DATA

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PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUES
Word Association Test Sentence Completion Tests Story Completion Test Verbal Projection Tests Pictorial Techniques Thematic Appreciation Test (T.A.T) Rosenweiz Test Rorschach test Holtzman Inkblot Test (HIT)

Play Techniques Quizzes, Tests and Examinations Sociometry