Amity Institute of International Studies

End Term Examination June 2022

Model Answer
Course Code: IRS 614
Course Name: Research Methods in IR
Section A
Marking Scheme
Very Goud Excellent
Below Average Average Good
1< 2< 3< 4 <5

1. Define Research. Discuss the qualities of good research.

Research is an original and systematic investigation undertaken to increase existing
knowledge and understanding of the unknown to establish facts and principles.
Good Research
1. Commitment to a Theoretical Attitude - aim is for objectivity, researcher puts aside
personal beliefs and judgments and records what is observed with the goal of learning
the truth. Truth claim is only true or valid if it is "objectively valid"

2. Research should contribute important knowledge to the profession - research should

have apurpose that ismeaningful, not just to get the degree or for personal status.
Should not be trivial but instead and important contribution.
profession
3. Reflects recognition of guiding interest - serves to provide value to the
through understanding. This knowledge helps to explain the purpose of the research and
to determine how the research should be performed.
research -
4. Researcher is knowledgeable about the subject area and other related
deeper
ensures that the researcher understands the subject area and has a
understanding of the topic which allows for greater understanding and ability to
interpret and critically analyze data.
and revisions -
5. Needs clear understanding of symbol systems and open to questioning
knowledge and
symbols are subjective and the researcher must understand the varying
research is able to
interpretations of the people they are researching. Additionally, good
withstand questioning and criticisms.
conclusions are
6. Conclusions have rational logic and are supported by evidence -
claims of the
drawn by the research conducted and there is data to support the
researcher

to questioning and criticisms of

7. Responds to challenge -good research stands up research and their conclusions
others. A researcher should be able to defend their

8. Researcher is socially responsible and observes ethical

norms - researchers are
 expected to meet ethical standards of the society as the pertain to their subjects,
colleagues,employers and society as a whole.

2. Define the role of literature review in research process.

Literature reviews constantly feed new research, that constantly feeds literature
reviews..and we could go on and on. The fact is, one acts like a force over the other and
this is what makes science, as a global discipline, constantly develop and evolve. As a
scientist, writing a literature review can be very beneficial to your career, and set you
apart from the expert elite in your field of interest. But it also can be an overwhelming
task, so don't hesttate in contacting Elsevier for text editing services, either for profound
edition or just a last revision. We guarantee the very highest standards. You can also save
time by letting us suggest and make the necessary amendments to your manuscript, so
that it fits the structural pattern of a literature review. Who knows how many worldwide
researchers you will impact with your next perfectly written literature review.

3. Explain the criteria for workable hypothesis.

There exist two criteria for formulation of a good hypothesis. First, it is a statement
about the relations between variables. Secondly it carries clear implications for testing
the stated relations. A workable hypothesis should fulfil certain conditions:
1. Conceptual clarity,
2. Specificity
3. Testability
4. Availability Techniques
5. Theoretical relevance
6. Consistency
7. Objectivity
8. Simplicity

Hypothesis plays a key role in formulating and guiding any study. The hypotheses are
generally derived from earlier research findings, existing theories and personal
observations and experience. A researcher should consider certain points while
formulatinga hypothesis: i) Expected relationship or differences between the variables.
i) Operational definition of variable. i) Hypotheses are formulated foillowing the review
of literature The literature leads a researcher to expect a certain relationship. Hypotheses
are the statement that is assumed to be true for the purpose of testing its validity.
4. Write short note on 'Experlence Survey' explaining fully its utility in exploratory research
studies

An experience survey is a set of questons deslgned to gauge the overall satistaction of

agroup of people who have shared a common experlence. Businesses commonly
distribute these surveys among customers, and educational institutions often distribute
surveys among students.
 Exploratory research is defined as a rese arch used to investigate a problem which is
clearly defined. t is conducted to have a better not
but will not provide concusive results. For such a understanding of the existing problem,
research, a researcher starts with a
general idea and uses this research as a medium to identify issues, that can be the focus
for future research. An important aspect here is that the
researcher should be willing to
change his/her direction subject to the revelation of new data or insight. Such aresearch
is usually carriedout when the problem is at a
preliminary stage. It isoften referred to as
grounded theory approach or interpretive research as it used to answer questions like
what, why and how.

5. Write a short note on "Documentation" in the context of a research report.

Adocument unit is the end result of information assimilation and
condensation
Documentation: Concept, processes and it is the result of whole set of selection and
transformation processes, Systems, Services and Evaluation meant to make information
presentation effective. A document unit may easily be indexed and classified. 8y
classification we mean adopting the notation system of a specific classification modet
covering awhole range of documents. Through documentation we create and provide
evidence, and convey information. Documentation is meant to provide an interpretative
infrastructure to a whole organization. Documentation in Reports and Research
Papers ... Examples and Observations ... In brief, anything that is copied needs to be
documented. ... Note-Taking and Documentation During the Research Process
paraphrased, and summarized material that must be documented in your paper and
ideas that do..
Section B
Marking Scheme
Beiow Average Average Good Very Good Excellent
2< 3< 4< 6<

6. Analyse the importance of each steps involved in research process

The following are the major steps in doing research
Formulation of problem
b. formulation of Mypothesis
c. Analysis of Concepts
d. Research Design
Collection of Data
Data Analysis
8 Concdusion of generalization
h Repoting

1. Define cassification of Kesearch Desgn txplasn the two Class1tication of Research

(a)Expioratory or Formulative Researçh (b) Descriptive Research with suitable enamples
Research design is needed because it facilitates the smooth sailing of
operations, thereby making research as efficient as possible yielding maximalthe various research
minimal expenditure of effort, time and money. Even then, the information with
rescarch design is at times not realised by many. Thoughllessness in need for a well thought out
designing the research
project may result in rendering the research exercise futile. It is, therefore,
imperative that an
efticient and appropriate design must be prepared before starting research operations.
Exploratory There are occasions when variables are unknown or the phenomenon under study
is a new development. In such a case, the researcher can use an
exploratory design. This design
provides flexibility for study and helps in the process of identifying
research. Exploratory studies provide the basic information upon which variables for future
we can sharpen our
research questions, identify our variables and state our hypotheses. When preliminary
information isnot readily available, exploratory research is found useful.
Descriptive When we want to describe a phenomenon under study, it is called a descriptive
design. Let us say, we want to describe how people watch television or what happens when
people watch film in the theatre or how do children deal with the mobile phones of their parents
- all these are possible descriptions of individuals interaction with media.

8. llustrate the type of mistakes which frequently occur in interpretation

Interpretation of data, as we stated earlier, is a very difficult task and requires

a high degree of care, objectivity, skill and judgement. In the absence of these
things, it is likely that the data may be misused. In fact, experience shows that
the largest number of mistakes are committed knowingly or unknowingly while
interpreting statistical data which may lead to misinterpretation of data by most
of the readers. Statistical fallacies may arise at any stage in the collection,
presentation,
analysis and interpretation of data. The following are some of the (i) specific
examples illustrating how statistics can be misinterpreted, (ii) Sources of errors
leading to false generalizations, (iii) examples how fallacies arise in using
statistical data and statistical methods.

It is important to recognize that errors can be made in interpretation if proper

precautions are not taken. The interpretation of data is a very difticult task and
requires ahigh degree of skill, care, judgement and objectivity. In the absence
of these, there is every likelihood of data being misused to prove things that are
not true. The following precautions are required before interpreting the data.
1) The interpreter must be objective.
2) The interpreter must understand the problem in its propcr perspective.
3) He / she must appreciate the relevance of various elements of the problem.
4) See that all relevant, adequate and accurate data are collected.
S)See that the data are properly classified and analyzed.
6) Find out whether the data are subject to limitations? If so what are they?
7) Guard against the sources of errors.
8) Do not make interpretations that go beyond the information /data.
9) Factual interpretation and personal interpretation should not beconfused. They
should be kept apar.
If these precautions are taken at the time of interpretation, reasonably good
 conclusions can be arrived at.

Section C
Marking Scheme
Below Average Average Good Very Good Excellent
5< 7< 9< 12< <14

and demerits.
9. Explain various methods of collecting primary data pointing out their merits
(Any 4) time, and thus happen to
The primary dataare those which are collected afresh and fer the first
themselves
be original incharacter. Such data are published by authorities who
are responsible for their collection. already been collected by some other
The secondary data, on the other hand, are those which have secondary data are information
speaking,
agency and which have already been processed. Generally to satisfy its own need but it is being
which have previously been collected by some organisation different reason. For example, the census
used by the department under reference for an entirelyGeneral of India. But the census figures are
figures are published every tenth year by the Registrarfor planning and research. Thus, the officials
also used by demographers and other social scientists the census figures as primary data. But a
of the department of Registrar General will visualise mortality table will consider them as
demographer using the same census figures to prepare a
secondary data.

importance to assist management

The collection of primary data for business research is of paramount characteristics are necessary
in making decisions. Generally, information regarding a large number ofrelating to employment in
to analyse any problem pertaining to management.ofFor instance, a study
rural areas requires data on income, wages, types crops and land holdings. The collection of
primary data thus requires a great deal of deliberation and expertise. Depending upon the nature of
information necessary the following methods of collecting primary data are available.
1) Observation Method
2) Questionnaire Method
3) Mailed Questionnaire Method
4) Telephone Interview
Generally speaking,the conditions under which the data are to be obtained willpredetermine the method
of data collection. If a relatively few items of information are sought quickly covering a number of
industries and funds are limited telephone interviews should be recomnended for collection of data. If
depth intervicws and probing techniques are to be employed, it is necessary to employ investigators to
coilect data. Thus, cach method has its uses and none is superior in all situations. The joint use of more
than one data collection method is sometimes preferred for a variety of reasons. When a wide
geographic area is being covered, the use of mailquestionnaires supplemented by personal interviews
willyield more reliable results than either method alone..