INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH AND ITS TYPES

INTRODUCTION
Research is an art of investigation. In common parlance, it refers to a search for
knowledge. One can also define research as a scientific and systemic search for
pertinent information on specific topic. The word ‘Research’ is derived from the
middle French word ‘recherche’ meaning ‘to go about seeking’. the Advanced
Learner’s Dictionary of Current English states the meaning of research as “a
careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any
branch of knowledge.” Redman and Mory defines research as “systemized
effort to gain new knowledge.” We all have the vital instinct of inquisitiveness
for, when the unknown confronts us, we wonder, and our inquisitiveness makes
us probe and attain full and fuller understanding of the unknown. This instinct
of inquisitiveness is the mother of all knowledge and method, which a man
employs for obtaining the knowledge of whatever the unknown was, this
knowledge is termed as research. Research is an academic activity, According
to D. Slesinger and M. Stephson in the Encyclopaedia of Social Science defines
research as s “the manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose
of generalising to extend, correct or verify knowledge, whether that knowledge
aids in construction of theory or in the e practice of an art.” Therefore, Research
is an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making its
advancement. It is the pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation,
comparison and experiment. In brief, the search for knowledge through
objective and systematic method of finding solution to a problem is research.
Author Clifford Woody states that research comprises defining and redefining
problems, formulation of hypothesis: collection, organizing and evaluation of
data; and reaching conclusions; at last, carefully testing the conclusion to
determine whether they fir the formulating hypothesis. In my view, Research
refers to the systematic method which consists of enunciating the problem,
formulating a hypothesis, collecting the facts or data, analysing the facts and
reaching certain conclusion either in the form of solutions towards the problem
or in certain generalisations for some theoretical formulation.

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH
The main purpose of research is to find answers to question through the
application of scientific methods. The main aim is to find out truth which is
hidden, and which has not been discovered yet. Although each research study
has its own specific purpose, but we may think of research purposes as
following into number of broad categories.
 To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it.
 To portray accurately the characteristics of particular individual, situation
or a group.
 To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which
it is associated.
 To test hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables.

TYPES OF RESEARCH
Research can be classified into various categories depending on the perspective
under which the research activity is initiated and conducted.
 DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH: Descriptive research includes surveys
and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds. The major purpose of
descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it exists at
present. In social science and business research, it is quite often used as
the term as Ex post facto research. The main characteristic of this method
is that researcher has no control over variables; he/she can only report
what has happened or what is happening. Most ex post facto research
projects used descriptive studies in which the researcher seeks to measure
things like frequency of shopping, preferences of people, related data.
 ANALYTICAL RESEARCH: Analytical research is a critical
evaluation based on information that is available. The research makes use
of the facts or data already available and analyses these to make a critical
evaluation of the material. It is mainly concerned with hypothesis testing.
It specifies and interprets relationships by analyse the facts or the existing
data. It provides the answer to the “why” part of a research. It is usually
concerned with cause-effect relationships. For example, explaining why
and how US trade balance move in a particular way over time.
 FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH: Gathering knowledge for
knowledge’s sake is termed as fundamental research. It is mainly
concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of a theory.
Fundamental research is directed towards finding information that has a
broad base of application and thus, adds to the existing scientific
knowledge. Research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to
pure mathematics are examples of fundamental research. Likewise,
research which concerns human behaviour carried with a view to make
 generalisation about human behaviour are also example of fundamental
research.
 APPLIED RESEARCH: Applied Research aims at finding a solution
for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial business
organization. It is practical in nature as it aims to find a solution for some
existing problem. Research conducted to identify social, economic or
political trends that may affect a particular institution, or the marketing
research or evaluation research is to discover a solution for some pressing
practical problem.
 QUANTITAIVE RESEARCH: quantitative research is based on the
measurement of quantity or amount. It is applicable to phenomena that
can be expressed in terms of quantity. For example, studying the number
of enquiries received for room booking though different modes like
internet, emails, calls, letters or other sources.
 QUALITTATIVE RESEARCH: Qualitative Research is concerned
with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving
quality or kind. For example, investigating the reasons for human
behaviour, ‘motivation research’, an important type of qualitative
research. Attitude or opinion research i.e., research conducted to find out
how people feel or what they think about particular subject or institution
is also qualitative research.
 CONCEPTUAL RESEARCH: Conceptual Research is that related to
some abstract ideas or theory. It is used by philosophers and thinkers to
develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.
 EMPIRICAL RESEARCH: Empirical Research relies on experience or
observation alone, it is data-based research. This type of research comes
up with solution which are capable of being verifies by observation or
experiment. We can also term this as experimental research. In such
research it is necessary to get at facts first-hand, at their source and
actively to go about doing certain things to stimulate the production of
desired information.
 SOME OTHER TYPES OF RESEARCH: all other types of research
are variation of one or more above mentation types, based on either the
purpose, or the time required to accomplish research, on the environment
in which research is done, or on the basis of some other similar factor.
With the time point of view, we can think of research as one-time
research or longitudinal research. In this case, research is confined to a
single time-period. Research can be field-setting research or laboratory
research or simulation research, depending upon the environment in
 which it is to be carried out. Research can also be termed as clinical or
diagnostic research; it focuses on case study methods or in-depth
approaches to reach the basic casual relations. Such research which goes
deep into the causes of things or events that interests us using very small
samples and deep probing data gathering devices, that type of research is
exploratory research. The main objective of type of research is the
development of hypothesis rather than their testing. Additionally, there
are Historical Research which utilizes the historical documents, remains,
etc. to study events or ideas of the past, including the philosophy of
persons and groups at any remote point of time. Research can be further
classified into conclusion-oriented and decision-oriented. While
conducting conclusion-oriented research, a researcher is free to pick up a
problem, redesign the enquiry as he proceeds and is prepared to
conceptualize as he wishes. Decision-oriented research is always for the
need of a decision maker and the research in this case is not free embark
upon research according to his own inclination.

SIGNFICANCE OF RESEARCH
Famous Author Hudson Maxim stated “All progress is a born of inquiry.
Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and
inquiry leads to invention.” This can be well understood in the context of
significance of research.
 Increased amount of research makes progress possible as Research
inculcates scientific and inductive thinking, and it promotes the
development of logical habits of thinking and organization. The role of
research in several fields of applied economics whether related to
business or to the economy or whole has greatly increase in modern era.
The increasingly complex nature of business and government has laid
emphasis on the use of research in solving operational problems.
 Research provides the basis for nearly all government policies in our
economic system. For instance, government’s budget rest in part on an
analysis of the needs and desires of the people and on the availability of
revenues to meet these ends. Research certainly facilitates the decisions
of the policy maker. In addition, research is also considered necessary
with regard to allocation of nation’s resources as government chalks out
programme for dealing with all facets of the countries on the basis of
research only.
 Research has its special significance in solving various operational and
planning problems of business and industry. Operations research and
 market research along with motivational research, are considered crucial
and their result assist in taking business decisions. Research with regard
to demand and market factors has great utility in business. Given
knowledge of future demand, it is generally not difficult for a firm, or for
an industry to adjust its supply schedule within the limits of its projected
capacity. Market analysis has become an integral tool of business policy
these days.
 Research is equally important for social scientist in studying social
relationships and in solving various social problems. It provides the
intellectual satisfaction of a knowing few things just for the sake of
knowledge. Research in social science is concerned both with knowledge
for its own sake and with knowledge for what it can contribute to
practical concerns.
 In addition, what has been mention above, the significance of research
can also be understood, for those who are pursuing master’s or Ph.D.
thesis, research may mean a careerism or a way to attain a high position
in the social structure, for professionals in research methodology,
research may mean a source of livelihood, for philosophers and thinkers,
research may mean a way for new ideas and insights.
Therefore, research is fountain of knowledge for the sake of knowledge and an
important source of providing guidelines for solving different business,
governmental and social problems.

METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION.

The task of data collections begins when the research problem has been defined
and research deign plan chalked out. There are two type data which is used for
the method of data collection, Primary Data and Secondary Data.
Primary data are those which are collect afresh and for the first time and thus
happened to be original in character.examples for Primary data are evaluating a
social prog., determining the job satisfaction of the employees of an org. On the
other hand, secondary data are those data which have already been collected by
someone else and which have already been passed through the statistical
process. For example – the use of census data to obtain info. On the age-sex
structure of a population The research would have to decide which sort of data
he would be using or collecting for his study and accordingly he has to select
amongst these two methods. The methods of collecting primary and secondary
data differs since primary data are to be originally collected.
COLLECTION OF PRIMARY DATA
There are several methods of collecting primary data, particularly in surveys
and descriptive research: (I) observation method (ii) interview method, (iii)
through questionnaires (iv) through schedules, and (v) other methods.
(i) Observation method - it is the most common method, mainly used in
studies related to behavioural sciences. Under this method, the
information is sought by way of investigator’s own direct observation
without asking from respondent. The main advantage of this method is
that subjective bias is eliminated, if observation is done correctly.
Secondly, the information obtained under this method relates to what
is currently happening; it not based on past behaviour or future
intentions.
Thirdly, this method is independent of responder’s willingness to
respond and as such less demanding of active cooperation on part of
respondents.
(ii) Interview Method - data collection is made by verbal conversation of
interviewing people in person or in a telephone or using any computer
aided model. This method can be used through personal interviews
and, if possible, through telephone interviews.
(i) Personal interview – it requires a person known as
the interviewer asking questions generally in a
face-to- contact to the other person or person.
The interviewee ask certain question and
interviewer responds to these.
(ii) Telephone interviews – this method of collecting
information consist in contacting respondents via
telephone.

(iii) Questionnaire method – it is quite popular, particularlay in case big

enquiries. It is adopted by private individuals, research workers,
private and public organisations and even by government. Under this
method, a questionnaire is sent to the persons concerned with a
requestion to answer the question and return the questionnaire. A
questionnaire consist of a number of questions printed or typed in
definite order on a for,. The questionnaire is mailed to respondents,
who are expected to read and understand the questions and write down
the reply in the questionnaire itself.
 (iv) The schedule method of data is very much like the questionnaire
method but with a slight difference which lies in the fact that
schedules (proforma containing a set of questions) being filled in the
enumerators, who are specially appointed for the purpose. These
enumerators along with schedules, go to respodents, put to them the
questions from the proforma in the order questions are listed and
record the replies in the space meant for the answer in the proforma.
In certain situations, schedules maybe handed over to respondents and
enumerators may help them in recording their answers to various
questions in the said schedules. Enumerators explain the aims and
objectives of the investigation and also help the respondents with
difficulties he feels in understanding the implication of a particular
questions.
(v) Other sources includes warranty cards; distributor audits; pantry
audits; consumer panels; using mechanical devices; through projective
techniques; depth interviews and content analysis.

Secondary data means data that are already available, when the researcher
utilizes secondary data then he has to look into various sources where he can
obtain it into from – published and unpublished source.
Usually published data are available in: various publication of the centra, state,
are local governments; (b) various publications of foreign journals and
organization; c books, magzines and newspapers; d reports and publications of
various associations connected with business and industry, banks , stock
exchanges etc. e public record and statistics, historical documents f reports
prepared by scholars and universities and other sources of published info.
The source of unpublished data are many like diaries, letters, unpublished
biographies and autobiographies and also maybe with scholars and research
worker, trade association, labour bureaus and others.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

The literature review is an integral part of the research process and makes a
valuable contribution to almost every operational step. A literature review is the
writing process of summarizing, synthesizing and or critiquing the literature
found as a result of a literature search.
A review tells the reader that the researcher knows the research in the area.
There is various definition on a literature review, Queensland University defines
a literature review is an evaluative report of information found in the literature
related to selected area of study. The review describes, summarizes, evaluates,
and clarifies this literature. It gives theoretical base for the research and helps to
determine the nature of research.
Whereas University of Toronto describes literature review is an account of what
has been established or published on a particular research topic by accredited
scholars and research
In the initial stages of research, it helps you to establish the theoretical roots of
your study, clarify your ideas and develop your research methodology. Later in
the process, the literature review serves to enhance and consolidate your own
knowledge base and helps you to integrate your findings with the existing body
of knowledge. Later in the process, the literature review serves to enhance and
consolidate your own knowledge base and helps you to integrate your findings
with the existing body of knowledge.
In brief, a literature review has the following functions:
 It provides a theoretical background to your study.
 It helps you to establish the link between what you are proposing to
examine and what has already been studied.
 It enables you to show how your findings have contributed to the existing
body of knowledge in your profession.

The importance of literature review in research;

1. The literature review plays an extremely key role in shaping your
research problem because the process of reviewing the literature helps
you to understand the subject area better and thus helps you to
conceptualise your research problem clearly and precisely and makes it
more relevant and pertinent to your field of enquiry. When reviewing the
literature, you learn what aspects of your subject area have been
examined by others, what they have found out about these aspects, what
gaps they have identified and what suggestions they have made for
further research.
2. A literature review tells you if others have used procedures and methods
like the ones that you are proposing, which procedures and methods have
worked well for them and what problems they have faced with them. By
becoming aware of any problems and pitfalls, you will be better
 positioned to select a methodology that can provide valid answers to your
research question.
3. A literature review can also be useful for laying out a road map for future
research studies. It identifies gaps in previous research studies and
provides information about areas where further investigation is needed.
4. The literature review also makes readers more aware of the importance of
validity and reliability.
5. A well-done research review can help researchers to save time by
identifying relevant studies and steering them away from those that are
not. It also allows them to focus on the most issues and avoid
unnecessary duplication of effort.
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA
Quantitative research is expressed in numbers and graphs. It is used to test or
confirm theories and assumptions. This type of research can be used to
establish generalizable facts about a topic.
Common quantitative methods include experiments, observations recorded as
numbers, and surveys with closed-ended questions. Quantitative research is at risk
for research biases including information bias, omitted variable bias, sampling bias,
or selection bias.

Qualitative research is expressed in words. It is used to understand concepts,

thoughts or experiences. This type of research enables you to gather in-depth
insights on topics that are not well understood.
Common qualitative methods include interviews with open-ended questions,
observations described in words, and literature reviews that explore concepts and
theories. Qualitative research is also at risk for certain research biases including the
Hawthorne effect, observer bias, recall bias, and social desirability bias.

Difference between Qualitative and Quantitative

Research

Qualitative Research Quantitative Research

A method for developing It is the method used to

a better understanding of generate numerical data by
human and social using a lot of techniques
sciences, in such as logical, statistical
understanding human and mathematical
behaviour and techniques
personalities better

It employs a subjective It employs an objective

approach approach

It is generally expressed It is expressed using

using words graphs and numbers
It has open-ended It has multiple choice
questions questions

Qualitative research Quantitative research

needs only a few requires many respondents
respondents

The data collection The data collection

methods involved are methods involved are
interviews, focus groups, experiments, surveys, and
literature review, observations expressed in
ethnography numbers

Qualitative research is Quantitative Research

holistic in nature is particularistic in nature

The reasoning used to The reasoning used to

synthesise data in this synthesise data in this
research is inductive research is deductive

This method involves a This method does not

process-oriented inquiry involve a process-oriented
inquiry

It develops the initial It recommends a final

understanding of data course of action

The data taken in the The data taken in this

Qualitative research method is pretty
method is pretty verbal measurable

The objective of this The main objective of

research method is to Quantitative research is to
engage and discover examine the cause and
various ideas effect between the
variables

It is one of the It is a conclusive research

exploratory research method
methods

Quantitative data collection methods

 Surveys: List of closed or multiple choice questions that is distributed to

a sample (online, in person, or over the phone).
 Experiments: Situation in which variables are controlled and manipulated to
establish cause-and-effect relationships.
 Observations: Observing subjects in a natural environment where variables
can’t be controlled.
Qualitative data collection methods

 Interviews: Asking open-ended questions verbally to respondents.

 Focus groups: Discussion among a group of people about a topic to gather
opinions that can be used for further research.
 Ethnography: Participating in a community or organization for an extended
period of time to closely observe culture and behavior.
 Literature review: Survey of published works by other authors.

What is hypothesis and its significance?

Formulating a hypothesis is an important step in Research. the origin of the
word, it is derived from the Greek word- ‘hypotithenai’ meaning ‘to put under’
or to ‘to suppose’.Hypotheses bring clarity, specificity and focus to a research
problem. The importance of hypotheses lies in their ability to bring direction,
specificity and focus to a research study. They tell a researcher what specific
information to collect, and thereby provide greater focus. t tells you what
specific aspects of a research problem to investigate. Hence, a hypothesis is a
hunch, assumption, suspicion, assertion or an idea about a phenomenon,
relationship or situation, the reality or truth of which you do not know. A
researcher calls these assumptions, assertions, statements or hunches hypotheses
and they become the basis of an enquiry. In most studies the hypothesis will be
based upon either previous studies or your own or someone else’s observations.
There are many definitions of a hypothesis. According to Kerlinger, ‘A
hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the relationship between two or more
variables’ (1986: 17). Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (1976)
defines a hypothesis as: a proposition, condition, or principle which is assumed,
perhaps without belief, in order to draw out its logical consequences and by this
method to test its accord with facts which are known or may be determined.
Black and Champion define a hypothesis as ‘a tentative statement about
something, the validity of which is usually unknown’ (1976: 126). In another
definition, Bailey defines a hypothesis as: a proposition that is stated in a
testable form and that predicts a particular relationship between two (or more)
variables. In other words, if we think that a relationship exists, we first state it as
a hypothesis and then test the hypothesis in the field.
While some researchers believe that to conduct a study requires a hypothesis,
having a hypothesis is not essential as already mentioned.
IMPORTANCE OF HYPOTHESIS
 Hypothesis facilitates the extension of knowledge in an area. They
provide tentative explanations of facts and phenomena and can be tested
 and validated. It sensitizes the investigator to certain aspects of the
situations which are relevant from the standpoint of the problem in hand.
 Hypotheses provide the researcher with rational statements, consisting of
elements expressed in a logical order of relationships which seeks to
describe or to explain conditions or events, which have yet not been
confirmed by facts. The hypothesis enables the researcher to relate
logically known facts to intelligent guesses about unknown conditions. It
is a guide to the thinking process and the process of discovery.
 Hypothesis provides direction to the research. It defines what is relevant
and what is irrelevant. The hypothesis tells the researcher what he needs
to do and find out in his study. Thus, it prevents the review of irrelevant
literature and provides a basis for selecting the sample and the research
procedure to be used in the study.
 Hypothesis implies the statistical techniques needed in the analysis of
data, and the relationship between the variables to be tested. It also helps
to delimit his study in scope so that it does not become broad or
unwieldy.
 Hypothesis provides the basis for reporting the conclusion of the study. It
serves as a framework for drawing conclusions. In other word, we can
say that it provides the outline for setting conclusions in a meaningful
way.
 So, Hypothesis has an important place in research although it occupies a
very small place in the body of a thesis.