INTRODUCTION

Research is a serious academic activity with a set of objectives to

explain or analyze or understood a problem, finding solution,
adopting a systematic approach in collecting, organizing and
analyzing the information relation to a problem.

Meaning
It is the search for the knowledge; it is the pursuit of truth with the
help of study, observation and experiment.
Research is the original contribution to the existing stock of
knowledge.
It is careful investigation or enquiry especially through search for new
facts in any branch of knowledge.
Research identifies the problem and finding the scientific and
permanent solution.

Definitions
Clifford woody defined: Research may be defined as defining and
redefining problems formulating hypothesis, collecting, organizing
and evaluating data making decision.
Hudson maxim defined: “All progress is born of inquiry
It leads to inquiry and
Inquiry leads to invention”

Objectives
To gain to new insides to a particular phenomenon (Study with this
objective in view Exploratory research)
To assess accurately to characters of a particular individual situation
(Study with this objective in view descriptive research).
To determine the frequency with which something occurs and its
association something others. (Study with this objective in view
Diagnostic research).
To test the causal relationship between variables (Study with this
objective Hypothesis testing research)
Nature of research
Research means the search for truth
Research is the pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation,
and experiment.
Research is to the systematic and critical investigation into a
phenomenon.
It adopts the scientific method
It is based upon observable experience.

Importance/ purpose of research

The importance/ purpose of research is really an ongoing process of
correcting and refining hypotheses, which should lead to the
acceptance of certain scientific truths.
Research is actually an act of studying something carefully and
extensively in order to attain deep knowledge in the same.
The main purpose of research is to inform action, to prove a theory,
and contribute to developing knowledge in a field or study.
Basically, research is important in that
Research extends knowledge of human beings’ social life and
environment.
Research established general laws
Research verifies the existing knowledge
It developing new tools.

BUSINESS RESEARCH
Business research is a process of acquiring detailed information of all
the areas of business and using such information in maximizing the
sales and profit of the business. Such a study helps companies
determine which product/service is most profitable or in demand.
Business research can be done for anything and everything

Role of business research

Business research is a systematic inquiry that provides information to
guide managerial decisions. Business research plays an importance
role in this new measurement.
Research being a fact-finding process, significantly influences
business decisions.
Research plays a significant role in the identification of a new
project.
Research helps the management to discharge its managerial
functions of planning, forecasting, coordinating, motivating,
controlling, and evaluation.
Research and development helps invention, developing new
products and modifying existing products.
Research is a must in the production area.
In the area of human resource management personal policies have
to be guided by research.
Finally research in business is a must to continuously update its
attitude, products, goals etc.
Decision making tool, problem solving, large scale product, market
strategy, management planning, control technique, capital market,
distribution, sales promotion.

Nature of business research

Research on aspects related your business such as your target
customer, marketplace trends, production processes, and financial
practices, can help you predict trends, project sales, spot
opportunities, and avoid potential problems
Clearly define objective
Promoting business
Judging problem
Chose the right methodology
Flexibility

Aims (Objectives) of social research

Objectives of Social Research
To understand the human behavior and its interaction with the
environment and the social institutions. To develop new scientific
tools, concepts and theories, which would facilitate reliable and valid
study of human behavior and social life.
The major objectives of social research are listed as follows:-
a) The aim of social research is to discover new facts and verifying or
testing old facts.
b) It tries to understand the human behavior and its interaction with
the environment.
c) It tries to find out the casual connection between human activities
and natural laws governing them.
To facilitate the understanding of human behavior.
To acquire knowledge about social phenomena, events, issue,
problems etc.
To identify functional relationship existing in the social phenomena.
To find out the natural laws that regulates or directs social
phenomena.
To standardize the society concept, e.g. culture, struggle, generation
gap, social distance etc.
To formulate solution to social problems.
To maintain social organization, remove social tension,
misconception, etc.
To develop social revival plan.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
1.Pure Research Vs Applied research
2.Qualitative research Vs Quantitative research
3.Exploratory research Vs Descriptive research
1.Pure Research Vs Applied research
Pure Research
Pure research is also known as basic or fundamental research. Pure
research involves developing and testing theories and hypotheses
that are intellectually challenging to the researcher but May or may
not have practical application at the present time or in the future.
It aims at extension of knowledge
It is concerned with singular situation and not suitable to a wide
area.
Pure research provides the basic for applied research.
It is not necessarily problem oriented.
Advantages
It results in general knowledge, provide the answering a large no. of
important practical problems.
It leads to new knowledge
It leads scientific capital.
Disadvantages
It may not give scientific and complete answer.
Its time consuming and costly.
It is based on theoretical aspects.

Applied research
It is also called action research. Applied research aims at finding a
solution for an immediate problem facing society or an industrial or
organization. In thus problem- oriented and action-oriented, there is
a vast scope for applied research in the fields of technology,
management, commerce, economics and other social sciences.
The critical aim of applied research is to discover a solution for some
pressing practical problem.
It deals with practical problem
It is opposed to pure research
Applied research can be divided into two categories
Problem-solving research- - Particular issue
Problem – oriented research—Class of issues
2.Qualitative research Vs Quantitative research
Qualitative research
Motivation research is an important type of qualitative research. This
research is especially important in the behavioral sciences where the
aim is to discover the underplaying motives of human behavior.
It is a scientific method of observation to gather non-numerical data.
This type of research "refers to the meanings, concepts, definitions,
characteristics, metaphors, symbols, and description of things" and
not to their "counts or measures".
It is referred to assessment of attitudes, opinions and behavior.
It leads to development of logical and scientific thinking.
It is useful to solving various operational problems.
It is useful to finding solution to social problems.
Quantitative research
Quantitative research is defined as a systematic investigation of
phenomena by gathering quantifiable data and performing statistical,
mathematical, or computational techniques. Quantitative research
related to aspects that can be quantified.
It involves the measurement of quantity or amount
It refers to generation of data in quantities.
Quantitative research classified into three types
Informal approach: It is also known as survey research
Experimental approach: Control over variable
Simulation approach: Artificial research
3.Exploratory research Vs Descriptive research
Exploratory research
Exploratory research is a research conducted for a problem that has
not been studied more clearly, intended to establish priorities,
develop operational definitions and improve the final research
design. Exploratory research helps determine the best research
design, data-collection method and selection of subjects.
A need for an exploratory research is felt to gain experience that will
be helpful in formulating relevant hypothesis for more definite
investigation.
a.Survey of literature
A review of the literature helps to identify the hypothesis which may
serve as a guide for further investigation
b.Experience survey
Every day experience provides opportunity to obtain information
required to formulate hypothesis.
Descriptive research (for data collection)
This study may all the methods of data collection such as interview
questionnaire and observation test. This study formulating the
objectives, designing, the methods of data collection, selecting the
sample collecting, processing and analyzing the data & reporting the
findings.
This research is defined as a research method that describes the
characteristics of the population or phenomenon that is being
studied. This methodology focuses more on the “what” of the
research subject rather than the “why” of the research subject.
It may be simple or complex
It is a fact-finding
It is the simplest type of research
Experimental research
Experimental research is a study that strictly adheres to a scientific
research design. It includes a hypothesis, a variable that can be
manipulated by the researcher, and variables that can be measured,
calculated and compared.
Experimental research is commonly used in sciences such as
sociology and psychology, physics, chemistry, biology and medicine
etc
It is a collection of research designs which use manipulation and
controlled testing to understand causal processes. Generally, one or
more variables are manipulated to determine their effect on a
dependent variable.
The experimental method is a systematic and scientific approach to
research in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables,
and controls and measures any change in other variables.
Experimental Research is often used where
1.There is time priority in a causal relationship (cause precedes
effect)
2.There is consistency in a causal relationship (a cause will always
lead to the same effect)
3.The magnitude of the correlation is great.
Research process contains a series of closely related activities which
has to carry out by a researcher.
Research process requires patients. There is no measure that shows
your research is the best. It is an art rather than a science.
Following are the main steps in social or business research process.
1.Selection of Research Problem
2.Extensive Literature Survey
3.Making Hypothesis
4.Preparing the Research Design
5.Sampling
6.Data collection
7.Data Analysis
8.Hypothesis Testing
9.Generalization and Interpretation
10.Preparation of Report