RESEARCH TECHNIQUES | KEY POINTS by BalliOP

Unit-1

Research

Types of Research

Based on Method of Data Collection:

1. Qualitative(Collecting and analysing words)

2. Quantitative(Measuring and testing Numerical Data)
3. Mixed Measures

Selecting Appropriate Research Design

Strategy to conduct the research, to achieve answers to the initially generated problems and questions.

Factors of Research Design/Research Methodology:

1. Type of Data Collected.

2. Nature of Data Analysis.
3. Type of research question to be answered.
4. Research Goal or objective.

Research on Data-Type:

1. Applied Research
2. Basic Research
3. Correlational Research
4. Descriptive/Statistical Research
5. Experimental Research
6. Explanatory Research
7. Ground Theory Research
8. Ethnographic Research
9. Historical Research
10. Phenomenological Research

Elements of Research:

1. Introduction(Problem/question)
2. Literature review(what already exits)
3. Methods ands Subjects(What is your approach)
4. Measurement
 5. Data Collection(observations, interviews, document analysis, focus group, photography, &
video)
6. Data Analysis
7. Scholarly Work(what is your end goal)
8. Findings
9. Conclusions & Recommendations

+ Schedule, & Budget

Characteristics of Good research:

1. Should Originates with a question or a problem.

Raising a Data
2. Requires proper articulation of goal. Data Analysis
Question Interpretation
3. Follow a specific plan or procedure.
4. Divides main problem into sub-problems. Suggest
Acquire Data
Hypothesis
HypoThesis Support
5. Guided by specific problem, question or
hypothesis.
Literature Literature
Conclusion
6. Requires data collection and its analysis. Review Evaluation

Types of Samples

Probability Sampling(Random group of people chosen then generalize to entire population).

Non-Probability Sampling(Does not choose a random sample).

Main Data Collection Methods:

1. Interviews
2. Focus Groups and group interviews
3. Surveys
4. Observations
5. Document and record
6. Case Studies

Main Data Analysis Methods:

1. Qualitative Content Analysis(Manuscripts, voice recordings & journals)

2. Thematic Analysis(Categorise large bodies of data)
3. Discourse analysis(Analysing language)
4. Narrative analysis(Analysing stories)
5. Grounded theory(Social scientists used to analyse problems in social environment)
Hypothesis:

Prediction of the result of our research

1. Alternative Hypothesis(One Variable dependent on other)

2. Null Hypothesis(No Relationship b/w two variables)
3. Directional Hypothesis(Independent variable have non-directional effect on dependent
variable)
4. Non-Directional Hypothesis(Independent variable have predictive effect on two dependent
variables)

Research Proposal

1. Title
2. Background Study
3. Research Questions/Hypothesis
4. Methodology
5. Plan of Work and Time Schedule
6. Funding
7. Bibliography
 UNIT-2

Data Collection:

Indepth
Group Web Survey
Interview
Qualitative
Online
Online forums
Community
Primary
Face to face Phone
Quantitative Mail
Online
Data Collection
Secondary Already Existing

Importance of Data Collection:

1. Integrity of the Research

2. Reduce the likelihood of errors
3. Decision Making
4. Save Cost & Time
5. To support the need of new idea, change and /or innovation

Methods of Data Collection & its tools:

Data Collection Methods

Interview Questionaires Reporting Existing Data Observation Checlist Focus Groups Combination

Audio Online Direct Online

NGOs Journals Two-Way
Recorder Questionaires Observation Survey

Digital Paper Dueling- Dual-

NewsPaper Surveys
Camera Questionaires Moderator Moderator

Website
Camcorder
Articles

Hospital
Records

TOOLS
1. Interview(Structure, semi-structured. Unstructured)

Advantage:

In-depth Info, Freedom of Flexibility, Accurate Data

Disadvantages:

Time-Consuming, expensive to collect.

2. Questionnaires(fixed, alternative, scale, and open-ended)

Advantages:

• Operated at large no. and cost-effective.

• Used to compare previous papers.
• Respondent ID protected
• Can cover all set of areas.

Disadvantages:

• Answers may be distracted or respondents lose interest midway.

• Can’t produce qualitative Data.
• Respondent may have hidden agenda.
3. Reporting(gathering and submitting data for further analysis).

Advantages:

• Informed decision making

• Easily Accessible

Disadvantages:

• Self-reported anw. May be exaggerated

• Bias results could happen.
• Respondents to shy to give out all the details
• Inaccurate study leads to uniformed decisions.
4. Existing Data
Advantages: High Accuracy, Easily accessible
Disadvantages: Problems with evaluation, difficult in understanding
5. Observation

Advantages:

• Easy to administer.
 • A greater accuracy with results.
• Universally accepted practice.
• Diffuses the situation of unwilling of the respondent.
• Appropriate for certain situations.

Disadvantages:

• Some Phenomenon aren’t open to observation

• Can be biased
• Expensive, and validity cannot be predicted accurately.
6. Focus Groups

Advantages: Detailed, Cost-effective, Speed and efficiency is more.

Disadvantages: Lack Depth, Can be biased, Interviewer training, little control over outcome.

7. Combination Research

Advantages: Encourage to give more responses, Deeper connection b/w participants, depth in
data collected

Disadvantages: Most Costly, Most time consuming.

Graphical Representation of Statistical Analysis:

1. Line Diagram
2. Bar Diagram
3. Pie Chart
4. Ogives
UNIT-4

A. Research Paper

Writing:

1. Title (What is the paper called and who wrote it?)

2. Abstract (One-paragraph summary of the entire study)
3. Introduction (What is the topic and why is it wort studying?)
4. Thesis Statement (What do you want to find?)
5. Literature Review (Analysing already existing studies)
6. Methods (What did you do?)
7. Results (What did you find?)
8. Discussion (What is the significance of your results?)
9. Conclusion (What have you learned from the study?)
10. References (List of articles and any books cited)
11. Table & Figure (Graphs and Data)
12. Appendix (Supplementary Information)

Main Components:

1. Research Questions
2. Literature Review
3. Research Design(Qualitative & Quantitative)
4. Population & Samples
5. Measures(Reliable + Valid)
6. Findings/Results
7. Discussion and Implications

Research Paper Vs Research Report

Research Report- An Empirical Research including Facts.

Research Paper- Analysing our Topic to form an opinion.

B. Referencing

Referring something in-text in certain format.

Uses:

1. Support our Research

2. Give credit to other’s work
 3. Avoid charges of Plagiarism
4. Indicate origin of Material.
5. Support or analysis and statements

Chicago Style Harvard Style

a. Uses Footnotes and endnotes. a) Uses authors-date citation.
b. Uses Full name. b) Uses last name and first name’s initial
c. Publication date follow the publisher. c) Publication date follows the authors name
d. Mainly used by American English writers in d) Mainly used in UK, Australia, esp. in field
historical researches of Humanity.
e. Book e) Book
Last Name, First Name.“ Title of Book.” f) Last Name, First Initial(Year Published).
Publisher City: Publisher Name, Year Book Title. City Published: Publisher, Page
Published (s)
f. Journal g) Journal
Last Name, First Name. “Article Title”, Last Name, First Initial(Year
Journal Name Volume Number(Year Published). Article Title. Journal Name,
Published), Page Number(s) Volume(Issue), Page(s)
g. Website h) Website
Last Name, First Name. “Page Title.” Web Last Name, First Initial.(Year
Address (retrieved Date Accessed) Published).Page Title.[online] Website
name. Available at: URL[Accessed Day
Mo. Year]
h. Newspaper i) Newspaper
Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Last Name, First Initial( Year Published).
Newspaper Name, Publication Date Article Title. Newspaper, Page(s)

C. Presentation Techniques

Main Goal of presentation is persuade your audience that your argument/ideas/interpretations/findings

are valid!!

PREPARATION:

1. Knowledge of Audience
2. Knowledge of Subject
3. Use of Time and rehearsal
4. Personal Appearance
Divided into following:

1. Content
2. Delivery

1. Content

Introduction: Tell what will be presented in the presentation.

a) Outline your Talk

b) Get Audience’s Attention
c) Motivate the Audience

Main Body: Present Content

a) Arrange ideas logically (Direct/Indirect)

b) Select Supporting Material

Conclusion: Summarize whole content.

a) Review
b) Invite questions
c) End with a memorable Statement

2. Delivery Methods
a) Extemporaneous Method (Fully Detailed Layout)
b) Impromptu Method (poor organization and incompleteness)
c) Memorization
d) Reading

Other Factors:

a. Enthusiasm (Slight Movement)

b. Eye Contact (Every Person)
c. Use of Voice(Clarity)
d. Use of Time (Take pauses)
e. Language (Professional/non-offensive)
f. Visual-Aids (Good Graphic=103 words)
D. Printing Processes

Printing Processes Applications Advantages Disadvantages

1. Xerography • Duplicating • Cheap • Takes a lot of
Documents • Quick space.
• Adopted to • Allows to alter • Violates Copyright
eliminate hand- size • Toner produces
inking toxic compounds.
2. Offset Lithography • Commercial • Good • Color variation
• Business Cards reproduction • Paper Stretch
• Stationary quality • Needs to be done in
• Menus • Cheap large factory.
• Brochures • Fast
• Widely available
3. Flexography • Flexible • Fast • Not reproduce fine
Packaging • Relatively cheap detail
• Brown corrugated to setup. • Color may be
boxes • Can print on inconsistent
• Envelopes widely range • Poor Shadows
• Wallpaper materials

4.Gravure • High quality art • Consistent colors • Expensive printing

• Photobooks • High speed plates and
• Packaging • Good results cylinders.
• Expensive • Durable printing • Only good for long
magazines plate print runs

5. Screen-printing. • T-shirts • Economical for • Difficult to achieve

• Posters short runs fine detail
• Plastic and metal • Stencils are Easy • Low output
signage to produce • Has to be done
• Can Print on manually.
virtually any
material.
E. PowerPoint Presentation

• Simple Slides
• Limited Words
• High Quality graphics
• Relevant Charts
• Fresh Templates, Appropriate fonts, plus Color well
• Avoid over-formatting
• Avoid Over slides transition and sound effects