RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGY

APPLIED - Undertaken specifically for the

RESEARCH - The systematic approach to
obtaining and confirming new and reliable purpose of obtaining information to help
knowledge. It should be systematic and resolve a particular problem.
orderly moreover its purpose is new knowledge
which should be reliable.
DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
 dwells on theories, fundamental
RESEARCH IS NOT
relationships and analytical procedures
 Accidental Discovery. and techniques.
 Data Collection.  Provides the conceptual and analytical
 Searching out published research base for other economic research.
results in libraries or the internet.  synergistic and complementary with
subject matter and problem-solving
research.
RESEARCH IS
 Searching for explanation of events
phenomena, relationships and causes. SUBJECT-MATTER RESEARCH
 A process.  Research on a subject of interest to a
set of decision makers.
 Tends to follow subject-matter
All well designed and conducted research boundaries within a discipline (eg.
has potential application resource economics, production
economics, labor economics).
Failure to see applications can be due to:  is a cornerstone in economics – it
 Users not trained or experienced in the involves direct application of economics
to contemporary issues.
specialized methods of economic research and
reasoning.
PROBLEM-SOLVING RESEARCH
 Researchers often do not provide
adequate  Designed to solve a specific problem for
a specific decision maker.
interpretations and guidance on applications
of  holistic – uses all information relevant
to the specific problem (while
the research. disciplinary research tends to be
reductionist).
PUBLIC RESEARCH = A PUBLIC GOOD
PRIVATE RESEARCH = MAY ALSO BE DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH - The attempt to
RIGOROUS determine, describe, or identify something.

CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH ANALYTIC RESEARCH - The attempt to

(B-A-D-S-P-D-A) establish why
BASIC - determine or establish fundamental something occurs or how it came to be.
facts and relationships within a discipline or
field of study. Develop theories.

VALENTINES DAY DATE IDEAS: 6 ROUNDS IN THE OVAL

METHODOLOGY DEFINED & DESCRIBED
 Methodology – The study of the
general approach to inquiry in a given
field.
 Method – The specific techniques, tools
or procedures applied to achieve a given
objective.

THE PROCESS OF RESEARCH

 The process is initiated with a question
or problem (step 1)
 Next, goals and objectives are
formulated to deal with the question or
problem (step 2)
 Then the research design is developed
to achieve the objectives (step 3)
 Results are generated by conducting
the research (step 4)
 Interpretation and analysis of results
follow (step 5)

CREATIVITY IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS

 Gather and use previously developed
knowledge
 Exchange ideas
 Apply deductive logic
 Look at things alternate ways
 Question or challenge assumptions
 Search for patterns or relationships
 Take risks
 Cultivate tolerance for uncertainty
 Allow curiosity to grow
 Set problems aside and come back to
them
 Write down your thoughts
 Freedom from distraction some time to
think

VALENTINES DAY DATE IDEAS: 6 ROUNDS IN THE OVAL