Research Methodology

(RCH 601- 3 Credits)

Introduction
Nepal Engineering College
Center for Postgraduate Studies (nec-
CPS)
Sujan Nepal
Assistant Professor and Research
Coordinator, Research Management Cell
Center for Postgraduate Studies, Nepal
Engineering College, Lalitpur

Aug 2015 – Dec 2017 Msc. Climate change and Development, Tribhuvan
University
Erasmus + International visiting Student
University of Tartu (Estonia)

BE Civil, Tribhuvan University

Aug 2009 – Jun 2013

Contact
Email: sujann@nec.edu.np, 9841894352 2
Evaluation Scheme:

- Attendance and Presentations- 10%

- Written Tests (Mid-Term, Assessment and Class Tests) -

30%

- Assignments I (Numerical/ Term paper) - 10%

- Assignments II (Proposal)- 10%

- End of Semester Examination - 40%

Course Objectives:
The objective of this course is to equip the students
with
tools and techniques of social research work.

Intended Learning Outcome:

Students after completing this will be able to
course
conduct a research work independently.
Reference Materials
Text Books:
1. Riordan, D.G., and Pauley, S.E. Technical Report Writing Today. New
Delhi: Biztantra.
2. Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New
Delhi: New Age International.
3. Pant, P. R. Social Science Research and Thesis Writing.
Kathmandu:
Buddha Academic Publishers and Distributers.
4. Gaur, Ajai S. Statistical Methods for Practice and Research. New Delhi:
Tata McGraw-Hill.

Online Resources:
1. William M.K. Trochim. 2006. Research Methods Knowledge Base.
URL: https://www.socialresearchmethods.net
2. https://www.methodspace.com/ - An international forum which hosts
discussion boards, resources (including papers, videos etc.) and research
relating to research methods.
 Overview
 What is research?
 Nature and types of research
 Research process
 Writing research proposal
 Academic paper
What is research?
• Research in common parlance refers to a search
for
knowledge.
• Once can also define research as a scientific
and systematic search for pertinent information on a
specific topic.
• A research is an art of scientific investigation.
• The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current
English lays down the meaning of research as “a
careful investigation or inquiry specially through search
for new facts in any branch of knowledge.”
• Redman and Mory (1923) defined research as
a
“systematized effort to gain new knowledge.”
Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
What is research?
• Some consider research as a movement, a
movement
from the known to the unknown.
• Research activities aim to be planned, cautious,
systematic and reliable ways of finding out or deepening
understanding. The research process involves a series of
well-thought out activities of gathering, recording,
analyzing and interpreting the data with the purpose of
finding the answer to the problem.
• Acquiring knowledge through empirical investigation
conducted according to laid down and well-defined rules and
procedures for collecting, analyzing and evaluating
information (also called data)
Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
 The Concept of Research

• F.N. Kerlinger and H.B. Lee (2000): “Research is a

systematic and critical investigation of hypothetical
propositions about the presumed relations among
natural phenomena”.
• J.W.Best and J.V. Kahn (2006): “Research is a
systematic and objective analysis and recording of
observations that may lead to the development of
a theory”.
• U. Sekaran and R. Bogie (2013): “ Research is an
organized, systematic, data-based, critical,
scientific enquiry or investigation into a specific
problem, undertaken with the objective of finding
answers or solutions to it”.
 Conceptualization of Research
• Conceptualization is to specify exactly what we mean and don’t
mean by the terms we use in our research.
• Conceptualization is the process of specifying what we mean
when we use particular terms.
• When we see the concept “feminism”
• Talk a lot about men and women being equal
• Go the rallies about the equality of men and women „
• Give speeches about the equality of men and women
• conceptualization produces an agreed upon meaning for a concept for
the purposes of research. Different researchers may conceptualize a
concept slightly differently.
• Conceptualization is the process of not only selecting a topic, but
formulating a defensible and researchable research problem
• Conceptualization is mental process of organizing one's
observations and experiences into meaningful and coherent unit.
 Nature of Research
• Research is directed towards the solution of a problem.
• It emphasizes the development of generalizations, principles or
theories.
• It is based on observable experience or empirical evidence.
• It demands accurate observation and description
• It involves gathering new data or using existing data for a new
purpose.
• It uses carefully designed procedures that apply rigorous analysis.
• It requires expertise.
• It strives to be objective and logical.
• It involves the search for answers to unsolved problems.
• It is carefully recorded and reported.
Nature and types of research
(i) Descriptive vs. Analytical:
• Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-
finding
inquiries 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 we quite often
use the term Ex post facto research for descriptive
• research
The studies.
characteristic of this method is that the
main
researcher
researcher canhasonlynoreport what
over
hasthe the
happened or what
is happening.control variables;

Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
Nature and types of research
(i) Descriptive vs. Analytical:
• Most ex post facto research are used for
descriptive
projects studies in which the researcher seeks to
measure such items as, for example, frequency
of shopping, preferences of people, or similar data.
• Ex post facto studies also include attempts
by researchers to discover causes even when they
cannot control the variables.
• The methods of research utilized in descriptive research
are survey methods of all kinds, including
comparative and correlational methods.

Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
Nature and types of research
(i) Descriptive vs. Analytical:
• In analytical research, on the other hand, the researcher
has to use facts or information already available,
and analyze these to make a critical evaluation
of the material.

Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
Nature and types of research
ii. Applied vs. Fundamental:
• Applied research aims at finding a solution for
an immediate problem facing a society or
an industrial/business organisation, whereas
fundamental research is mainly concerned with
generalisations and with the formulation of a theory.
• “Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is
termed
‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research.”
• Research concerning some natural phenomenon or
relating to pure mathematics are examples
of fundamental research.

Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
 Nature and types of research
ii. Applied vs. Fundamental:
• Similarly, research studies, concerning human
behaviour carried on with a view to make
generalisations about human behaviour, are also
examples of fundamental research, but research aimed
at certain conclusions (say, a solution) facing a concrete
social or business problem is an example of applied
research.
• Research to identify social, economic or political trends
that may affect a particular institution or the copy research
(research to find out whether certain communications
will be read and understood) or the marketing
research or evaluation research are examples of applied
research.
Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
Nature and types of research
ii. Applied vs. Fundamental:
• The central aim of applied research is to discover a
solution for some pressing practical problem,
whereas basic research is directed towards finding
information that has a broad base of applications and
thus, adds to the already existing organized body
of scientific knowledge.
• Fundamental research generate more knowledge and
understanding of the phenomenon and problems that
occurs in several organization and to build theories
based on the research result.

Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
Nature and types of research
iii. Quantitative vs. Qualitative:
• Quantitative research is based on the measurement of
quantity or amount.
• It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in
terms of quantity.
• Qualitative research, on the other hand, is concerned
with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to
or involving quality or kind.
• For instance, when we are interested in investigating the
reasons for human behaviour (i.e., why people think
or do certain things), we quite often talk of
‘Motivation Research’, an important type of qualitative
research.
Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
Nature and types of research
iii. Quantitative vs. Qualitative:
• This type of research aims at discovering the underlying
motives and desires, using in depth interviews for
the purpose.
• Other techniques of such research are word association
tests, sentence completion tests, story completion
tests and similar other projective techniques.
• Attitude or opinion research i.e., research designed
to find out how people feel or what they think about
a particular subject or institution is also
qualitative research.

Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
Nature and types of research
iii. Quantitative vs. Qualitative:
• Qualitative research is specially in the
behavioural
important sciences where the aim is to discover
the underlying motives of human behaviour.
• Through such research we can analyse the
various factors which motivate people to behave in a
particular manner or which make people like or dislike a
particular thing.
• It may be stated, however, that to apply
qualitative research in practice is relatively a
difficult job and therefore, while doing such research,
one should seek guidance from experimental
psychologists.
Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
Nature and types of research
iv. Conceptual vs. Empirical:
• Conceptual research is that related to some
abstract
idea(s) or theory.
• It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers
to
develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.
• On the other hand, empirical research relies
on experience or observation alone, often without
due regard for system and theory.
• It is data-based research, coming up with
conclusions which are capable of being verified by
observation or experiment.
Lectures based on Kothari, C.R. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age
International.
Qualities of a good research

i. Good Research is Systematic:

• It means that research is structured with specified steps
to be taken in a specified sequence in accordance with
the well defined set of rules.
• Systematic characteristic of the research does not
rule out creative thinking but it certainly does reject the
use of guessing and intuition in arriving at conclusions.
Qualities of a good research
ii. Good Research is Logical:
• This implies that research is guided by the rules of
logical reasoning and the logical process of
induction and deduction are of great value in
carrying out research.
• Induction is the process of reasoning from a part to the
whole whereas deduction is the process of
reasoning from some premise to a conclusion which
follows from that very premise.
• In fact, logical reasoning makes research
more meaningful in the context of decision making.
Qualities of a good research
ii. Good Research is Logical:
• Deductive reasoning

• To get a Master's degree at nec-CPS, a student must have

60 credits. Pramod has more than 70 credits. Therefore, Promod
has a Master's degree.

• All men are mortal. Joe is a man. Therefore, Joe is mortal. If

the first two statements are true, then the conclusion must be true.
Qualities of a good research
ii. Good Research is Logical:
• Inductive reasoning

• This cat is black. That cat is black. A third cat is black. Therefore,
all cats are are black.
Qualities of a good research
iii. Good research is empirical:
• It implies that research is related basically to one or
more aspects of a real situation and deals with concrete
data that provides a basis for external validity
to research results.

iv. Good research is replicable:

• This characteristic allows research results to be verified
by replicating the study and thereby building a sound
basis for decisions.
Qualities of a Good Researcher
1. A researcher must have to be truthful.
2. A good researcher manifests thirst for new information
3. has a keen sense of things around him and likes to reflect or think about
the things s/he encounters
4. must be intelligent enough to express his ideas
5. A good researcher applies a systematic approach in assessing
situations
6. must have the quality to become friendly with respondents
7. has no prejudice or bias study about a problematic situation
8. should have the capacity to collect more and more information
in little time.
9. should be good in conversation; having clear terminology and
free from quick statements
Qualities of a Good Researcher
10. Good researcher must have control over his economic
resources.
11. Good researcher must have the capacity of least time
consuming and more efficient
12. Expert in Subject: A researcher would be a good one if he has
full command over his subject. He makes the use of his theoretical
study in field work easily.
13. should believe on equality and justice
14. Need to be more Analytical
The relationship between theory and fact
A fact is something that is considered true as per
existing knowledge and verifiable evidences. A fact
will not remain a fact if it is disproved on the basis of
new knowledge or evidences.
A theory is a scientific explanation of a fact. A theory
explains possible relationship between or among
facts. A theory is a proposed relationship and
supposed to give the best possible compensation
about the relationship at that point of time. It may be
rejected on the basis of new facts or evidences at any
stage.
Relationship between theory and research
A theory is a group of linked ideas intended to explain
something.
1. Conceptualisation-- define subject of inquiry
2. Operationalization-- translate general concepts into specific
variables.
3. Observation– data collection
4. Analysis– find meaning what data implies
5. Testing-- relationship between research questions or
hypotheses and result of the analysis
6. Generalisations-- basis for theory
7. Theory-- This generalised set of statements describes and
explains the relationship among different aspects of a
particular phenomenon.
8. Law-- The theory is then subjected to prolonged tests and
retests so as to validate or invalidate the theory; if OK
Relationship between theory and research
• A theory is a statement concerning the relationships between
or among concepts/facts.
• Theories helps to better understand the process allow to
predict relationship, help to organize and interoperates data
and in many cases generates new research
• Theories act as blue print for action
• A theory is thus used to plan and direct the line of study.
• Theories narrows the range of facts we need to study
• Suggests which research approaches likely yield the greatest
meaning
• Suggest a system for the researcher to impose on data in
order to classify them in the most meaningful way
 • Can be used to predict further facts that should be found
• Provides the basis for establishing the hypothesis to be
tested
• It provides basic concepts and directs us to the important
questions.
• Theory enables us to connect a single study to the
immense base of knowledge to which other researchers
contribute.
• Theory increases a researcher’s awareness of
interconnections and of the broader significance of data.
• Theory provides a conceptual framework for research.
Research in turn contributes to the development of theory.

Based on Neuman, WL 1997. Social Research methods. Qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Boston,
Motivation in Research
• To achieve a research degree/higher
education, e.g. MSc/PhD
• To face the challenges in solving problems
• To enjoy with creative intellectual jobs
• To serve the society
• To achieve respect from the society
• To formulate new plan and policies
Problems in research work
1. Lack of scientific training in the methodology of
research work,
2. Lack of adequate interaction between researchers,
government agencies, industrialists and
businessmen and difficult to get information from
them
3. No proper data keeping system in the government
and private sectors
4. Overlapping of research due to improper official
system
5. There is no code of conduct for researchers
Research Process
Define Formulate
Review the
research the
problem literature hypothesis

Design
Research

Interpret and
Report Analyze Data Collect Data
Steps of scientific research
Step I: Formulate the Research Idea/Problem.

Step II: Conduct a Literature Review.

Step III: Identify and define your key concepts

Step IV: Formulate Research Questions, Objectives and

Hypotheses as appropriate

Step V: Collect your Data

Step VI: Analyse and Discuss your Data

Step VII: Draw Appropriate Conclusion(s)

Step VIII: Write the Research Report (thesis/article).

Research Process
These 6 steps can be broadly divided into 3 steps
• Proposal writing
• Conducting research
• Report writing

Writing a Research Proposal

 An intellectual scholastic contract between a student
and advisory committee that describes:
• What you will do?
• Why it should be done?
• How you will do?
• What you expect from it?
Suggested Format (nec-CPS)
1. Title page
Format/outline of a
2. Introduction
research proposal
• Background Dependson the institutional or
• Statement of problem organizational guidelines
• Research questions
• Research objectives
• Scope and limitation of the
study
3. Literature review
4. Research methodology
5. Research plan
6. Budget
7. References
Research entry
My supervisor

Renowned I am blank
researchers In research Local library
Local research
Google Scholar/Research gate/
Linkdin

Publication house (internet)

Global Research
Step I: Formulate the Research Idea/Problem.
This can emanate from:

the researcher’s interest/experience/observation;

the researcher’s ongoing work;

matters arising from the work of others.

Most important step in research

Improper idea = waste of money= waste of time = stopper in career
Use of online library for new idea
1. Science direct
2. Wiley
Google Scholar/
Research gate/
3. Elsevier
4. Springer link
5. American Chemical Society
Linkdin etc
6. Royal Chemical society
7. Nature publishing group
8. Science {AAAS)
and many more…………

Research trend and new Idea

How to go through the articles of your interest
Lets go through Science direct

Search field/researcher names/journal name/volume/issue/page

How to read articles

How to get new idea from studied articles
Useful Not Useful (Yet!)
Contains unanswered Proclaims research has
questions which you think you explained everything (does not
have means of addressing contain unanswered questions)

Formulate Hypothesis! Note Results for future use in confirming/denying your

hypothesis (once your hypothesis is found)!
Best Idea from best journals
High impact factor = good journals
H-index

1. Local Journals

2. National journals
3. International journals
• SCI/SSCI Journals
(Social Science Citation Index)
• SCIE Journals
• Scopus Journal
Check your idea is already published by others or not

Make tentative title of your idea with key words

Search it using different online library home page/google search

If it seems to new

Go for further steep

 General Contents of an Journal
 Title
 Abstract
 Keywords
 Introduction (why did you start?)
 Research methods/research design/materials and
methods (what did you do?)
 Results and discussions (what did you find and
what
does it mean)
 Conclusions and recommendation(s)
 Acknowledgements – optional
 References
 Supplementary Material or Annex(es) - optional
 Where to start?
• Develop
Snow
Glaciers
a list of keywords that describe your
interest in a particular research area
Climate change
Arctic
Himalaya
Water resources
VOCs
Adaption
Socio-economic impacts
Remote sensing
Sensor webs
 Science direct
https://www.sciencedirect.com/

Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.com/

https://sci-hub.mksa.top/