UNIT: 9

RESEARCH METHODS
MEANING OF RESEARCH
◻ Research is an intensive and purposeful search of knowledge and
understanding of social and physical phenomenon.
◻ It is a systematic search of information in a specific topic .
◻ It is an art of scientific investigation where we make a discovery of
facts and information
◻ It is the mother of all knowledge and methods where people obtain
knowledge of unknown things.
◻ According to Redman and Mary “ Research is a systematizes effort to
gain the knowledge”
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
◻ Research is a systematic inquiry
◻ Research is a systematic investigation into a subject or specific field
of knowledge
◻ Research is done in order to establish the principles and facts .
◻ Research is an original contribution to the existing stock of
knowledge for its advancement .
IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
◻ Exploration
◻ Description
◻ Explanation
◻ Generalization and prediction
◻ Theory building
◻ Theory testing
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
◻ Qualitative research is the scientific method of observation to gather
non-numeric data. It collects the data by open-ended and conversational
communication.
◻ This research not only answers what the people think? But also why the
people think and feel that way .
◻ The qualitative research method allows for in-depth and further probing and
questioning of respondents based on their responses, where the
interviewer/researcher also tries to understand their motivation and feelings
◻ It helps to collect the knowledge od in-depth behaviour and perception of
people
ADVANTAGES OF QUALITITATIVE
REASEARCH
◻ Provides depth and detail : Looks deeper than analysing ranks and
counts by recording attitudes , feelings and behaviours
◻ Creates openness: encouraging people to expand on their responses
can open up new topic areas not initially considered
◻ Simulates people's individual experiences: a detailed picture can be
built up about why people act in certain ways and their feelings about
these actions
◻ Attempts to avoid pre-judgements: if used alongside quantitative
data collection, it can explain why a particular response was given
DISADVANTAGES OF QUALITATIVE
DATA
◻ Usually fewer people studied: collection of qualitative data is generally
more time consuming that quantitative data collection and therefore unless
time, staff and budget allows it is generally necessary to include a smaller
sample size.
◻ Less easy to generalise: because fewer people are generally studied it is
not possible to generalise results to that of the population. Usually exact
numbers are reported rather than percentages.
◻ Difficult to make systematic comparisons: for example, if people give
widely differing responses that are highly subjective.
◻ Dependent on skills of the researcher: particularly in the case of
conducting interviews, focus groups and observation.
METHODS OF QUALITITATIVE
RESEARCH
◻ ETHONOGRAPHY
◻ CASE STUDY
◻ NARRITIVE
METHODS OF QUALITITATIVE
RESEARCH
◻ ETHONOGRAPHY: It is the systematic study of people and culture.
It is designed to explore the cultural phenomenon like custom,
traditions , habits etc.
◻ CASE STUDY: Case study is the in-depth study of a particular
situation. It helps to test weather the scientific principles and theories
can be used in real world or not. It is used in areas like education,
social science
◻ NARRITIVE: It is the interdisciplinary study of activities involved in
generating and analysing stories of life experiences ( e.g. life history,
narrative interview, journals, autobiography etc)
QUNATITATIVE RESEARCH
◻ Quantitative research is the systematic empirical investigation of
observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical, or computational
techniques.
◻ It deals with numbers and any thing that can be measured
◻ Quantitative research is a structured way of collecting and analysing
data obtained from different sources.
◻ Quantitative research involves the use of computational, statistical,
and mathematical tools to derive results.
◻ It is a systematic approach to investigations during which numerical
data is collected and/or the researcher transforms what is collected or
observed into numerical data.
◻ It often describes a situation or event, answering the 'what' and 'how
many' questions you may have about something. This is research
which involves measuring or counting attributes (i.e. quantities)
ADVANTAGES
◻ Allow for a broader study, involving a greater number of subjects, and
enhancing the generalisation of the results
◻ Can allow for greater objectivity and accuracy of results.
◻ Using standards means that the research can be replicated, and then
analysed and compared with similar studies. Kruger (2003) confirms
that 'quantitative methods allow us to summarize vast sources of
information and facilitate comparisons across categories and over
time'
◻ Personal bias can be avoided by researchers keeping a 'distance' from
participating subjects and employing subjects unknown to them .
DISADVANTAGES
◻ Collect a much narrower and sometimes superficial data set .
◻ Results are limited as they provide numerical descriptions rather than
detailed narrative and generally provide less elaborate accounts of human
perception
◻ The research is often carried out in an unnatural, artificial environment so
that a level of control can be applied to the exercise.
◻ In addition present answers will not necessarily reflect how people really
feel about a subject and in some cases might just be the closest match.
◻ The development of standard questions by researchers can lead to
'structural' bias and false representation, where the data actually reflects the
view of them instead of the participating subject.