Course Work for PhD Program (2021)

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (PDRM 101)

What do you understand by Research?

Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized effort to gain new

knowledge.”
RESEARCH PROCESS

1. Identify research problem

a) Broad Problem Area

It refers to the entire situation where one sees a possible need for research and
problem solving. The specific issues that need to be researched within this situation
may not be identified at this stage.

b) Preliminary Data Collection

The broad problem area would be narrowed down to specific issues for
investigation after some preliminary data are gathered by the researcher. This may
be through interviews and literature review.

Unstructured interviews, structured interviews and literature review would help the
researcher to define the problem more specifically and evolve a theory, delineating
possible variables that might exert an influence on it.

Literature review: -

It is the documentation of a comprehensive review of the published and

unpublished work from secondary sources of data in the areas of specific interest to
the researcher.

The purpose of the literature review is to ensure that no important variable that has
in the past been found repeatedly to have had an impact on the problem is ignored.

A good literature survey ensures that:

1. Important variables that are likely to influence the problem situation are not left
out of the study.

2. A clearer idea emerges as to what variables would be most important to

consider, why they would be considered important, and how they should be
investigated to solve the problem. Thus, the literature survey helps the
development of the theoretical framework and hypotheses for testing.

3. The problem statement can be made with precision and clarity.

4. Testability and replicability of the findings of the current research are enhanced.

5. One does not run the risk of ‘reinventing the wheel’ that is, wasting efforts on
trying to rediscover something that is already known.

6. The problem investigated is perceived by the scientific community as relevant

and significant.

The purpose is to ensure that no important variable that has in the past been found
repeatedly to have had an impact on the problem is ignored.

c) Problem Definition

After the interviews and the literature review, the researcher is in a position to
narrow down the problem from its original broad base and define the issues of
concern more clearly.

It should be noted that:

-The problem shall be defined as any situation where a gap exists between the
actual and the desired ideal state.

-It is very important to note that symptoms of the problems are not the real
problem.

-One must check that any factor identified related to problem is an antecedent, the
real problem, or the consequence.

Thus, Problem definition “is a clear, precise, and succinct statement of the question
or issue that is to be investigated with the goal of finding an answer or solution”.
 2. Theoretical Framework
It is a conceptual model of how one theorizes or makes logical sense of the
relationships among the several factors (variables) that have been identified as
important to the problem.

From the theoretical framework, then, testable hypotheses can be developed to

examine whether the theory formulated is valid or not. Then only hypothesized
relationships can be tested through appropriate statistical analysis.

Type of variables:
i) The dependent (criterion) variable: It is the variable of primary interest to
the researcher.
ii) The independent (predictor) variable: It is one that influences the dependent
variable in either a positive or negative way.
iii) Moderating variable: is one that has a strong contingent effect on the
independent variable- dependent variable relationship.
iv) Intervening variable: It is one that surfaces between the time the
independent variables start operating to influence the dependent variable
and the time their impact is felt on it.