CE 8314: RESEARCH

1
METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023

2 What is Research?
According to Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research)
Research comprises of creative and systematic work
undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge including
knowledge of humans, culture and society, and the use of
this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.

It is used to establish or confirm facts, confirm the results of

previous work, solve new or existing problems,
support theorems or develop new theories.

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023

3 What is Research? Cont..
A research project may also be an expansion on past
work in the field.

Research projects can be used to develop further

knowledge on a topic,

or in the example of a school research project, they can

be used to further a student's research skills to prepare
them for future jobs or reports.

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023

 4 What is a scientific research?
A scientific research is the application of scientific methods
to investigate, acquire or expand our understanding

The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific

questions by making observations and doing experiments.

The findings of a scientific research can be reproduced and

demonstrated to be consistent

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023

5 Scientific Research cont..
The steps of the scientific method are to:
i. Ask a Question
ii. Do Background Research
iii. Construct a Hypothesis
iv. Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
v. Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion
vi. Communicate Your Results

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023

 6 Non Scientific Research
Use techniques that are not scientific. Examples:
 Tradition: something believed to be true because it has been
traditionally accepted
 Personal experience: personal experience is subjective and not
reproductive hence non scientific
 Intuition: this comes from believing in an idea based on a gut
instinct. Someone can not offer a good reason for something but
they just know it is true
 Logic: is the application of thought and reasoning to come to
conclusion. Much like personal experience, the process is flawed
by a person’s limited point of view.
 7 What is research methodology?
METHODS VS METHODOLOGY
 Method is just a research tool, a component of research such as
interview, observation or laboratory experiment

 Methodology implies more than simply the methods you intend to

use. It includes a consideration of the concepts and theories
which underlie the methods as well as justification of applying the
method

 A scientific study should be capable of being replicated! A well

written methodology will enable this replication.
CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023
8 CE 8314: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
7 credits

Objectives of the course is to enable the student to:

i. Formulate research proposals.
ii. Undertake research project.
iii. Analyse information and data gathered during the
course of a project.
iv. Write a report, and consider ways of disseminating
the results.
CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023
9 Classification of research
Based on purpose, research is classified into two
categories; basic and applied research

Based on approach, research is categorised into

qualitative and quantitative approach

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023

10 BASIC/FUNDAMENTAL/THEORETICAL/PURE RESEARCH
Basic research is an investigation aimed at expanding the existing
base of scientific knowledge. Often driven by curiosity

Characteristics of basic research

▪ It is not concerned with solving any practical problems of
immediate interest.
▪ It provides a systematic and deep insight into a problem and
facilitates extraction of scientific and logical explanation and
conclusion on it.
▪ The outcomes of basic research form the basis for many
applied research.
CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023
11 APPLIED RESEARCH
Applied research is designed to solve specific practical problems
or answer certain questions. Most of the experimental research,
case studies and engineering research are essentially applied
research.

Characteristics of applied research

▪ The outcome of it has immediate application

▪ Is of practical use to current activity.

▪ Is concerned with actual life problems

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023
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Exercise: Classification of research
Which ones are basic and which are applied research
questions/statements?
 What causes malaria?
 How can malaria be prevented?
 Investigation on improving agricultural crop production in Mbeya
 How did the universe begin?
 Why is sound produced when water is heated?
 Study on pollution control in big cities
 What can be done to enable safe pedestrian crossing near
Mwanjelwa bus stop?
 When does cheating mostly happen during examination session?
4/13/2023
CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
13 Research approach/design
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH: Usually involve collecting and
converting data into numerical form so that statistical
calculations can be made and conclusions drawn.

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH: Descriptive study; is used to describe

the characteristics of a situation, subject, behaviour, or
phenomenon. It is used to answer questions of who, what,
when, where. Subjects are usually measured once.

Experimental study; where subjects are measured before and

after a treatment (or a manipulation). An experimental study
establishes causality. 4/13/2023
14 Characteristics of quantitative research
 Data is usually gathered using structured research instruments.
 The results are based on large sample sizes that are representative
of the population.
 The research study can usually be replicated or repeated, given its
high reliability.
 Researcher has a clearly defined research question to which
objective answers are sought.
 All aspects of the study are carefully designed before data is
collected.
 Data are in the form of numbers and statistics, often arranged in
tables, charts, figures, or other non-textual forms.
CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023
15 Strengths of using quantitative methods
Enhances generalization of the results to the population
and beyond;
Allows for greater objectivity and accuracy of results
Applying well established standards means that the
research can be replicated, and then analysed and
compared with similar studies
Personal bias can be avoided by keeping a 'distance' from
participating subjects and using accepted computational
techniques
CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023
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Limitations with using quantitative methods
Quantitative data is more efficient and able to test
hypotheses, but may miss contextual detail;
Uses a static and rigid approach and so employs an
inflexible process of discovery;
The development of standard questions by researchers can
lead to "structural bias" and false representation, where the
data actually reflects the view of the researcher instead of
the participating subject;
Results provide less detail on behaviour, attitudes, and
motivation;
CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023
17 Characteristics of Qualitative Research
The word qualitative implies an emphasis on the qualities of
entities and on processes and meanings that are not
experimentally examined or measured in terms of quantity,
amount, intensity, or frequency.

Qualitative research attempt to uncover the deeper

meaning and significance of human behaviour and
experience.

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023

18 Qualitative research design
The design of a qualitative research is such that the study is;

Naturalistic: refers to studying real-world situations as they

unfold naturally, non manipulative and non controlling, the
researcher is open to whatever emerges

Emergent: acceptance of adapting inquiry as understanding

deepens and/or situations change; the researcher avoids
rigid designs that eliminate responding to opportunities to
pursue new paths of discovery as they emerge.
CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023
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Qualitative research design cont..
Purposeful: cases for study [e.g., people, organizations,
communities, cultures, events, critical incidences] are
selected because they are “information rich” and
illuminative.
Sampling is aimed at insight about the phenomenon, not
empirical generalization derived from a sample and
applied to a population.

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Strengths of using qualitative methods
This includes the ability to:
Obtain a more realistic view of the lived world that
cannot be understood or experienced in numerical
data and statistical analysis;

Provide the researcher with the perspective of the

participants of the study through immersion in a culture,
language or situation and as a result of direct
interaction with them;

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023

21 Strengths of using qualitative methods cont..
Develop flexible ways to perform data collection,
subsequent analysis, and interpretation of collected
information;

Respond to changes that occur while conducting the

study and offer the flexibility to shift the focus of the
research as a result;

Respond to local situations, conditions, and needs of

participants;

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023

22 Limitations with using qualitative methods:
Drifting away from the original objectives of the study in
response to the changing nature of the context

Arriving at different conclusions based on the same

information depending on the personal characteristics of the
researcher;

Replication of a study is very difficult;

Difficulty in explaining differences in the quality and quantity

of information obtained from different respondents
CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023
23 Limitations with using qualitative methods cont..
Data gathering and analysis is often time consuming
and/or expensive;

Requires a high level of experience from the researcher to

obtain the targeted information from the respondent;

May lack consistency and reliability because the

researcher can employ different techniques and the
respondent can choose to tell some particular stories and
ignore others;

CEB 3228 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4/13/2023