RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Meaning of Research

Kanchan Paira
Assistant Professor
Department of Geography
Hijli College
 WHAT IS RESEARCH
MEANING:
 Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge.
 Reasearch as a movement from the known to unknown.
 It is a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information
on a specific topic/ subject/issue etc…
 It is a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for
new information or facts or actuality in any branch of knowledge.
 According to D. Slesinger and M. Stephenson in the Encyclopaedia
of social sciences : “The manipulation of concepts, things or symbols
for the purpose of generalising to extend, correct and verify
knowledge, whether that knowledge aids in construction of theory or
in the practice of an art.
Defining and Redefining of problems (Statement of problem/ Background of the study)

Formulation of hypothesis (Suggested solutions)

Data collection Data Organising Data Evaluation/ Analysis

(Most important stage)***

Making Deduction and reaching conclusion

Careful testing of conclusions (To visualize or to determine the propritey/

consistency of formulated hypothesis)

(According to Clifford Woody)

Geographic research is the critical objective study,
investigation and explanation of specific cultural and
physical phenomenon.
 Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and
control the observed phenomenon. It involves inductive and
deductive methods. (According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie)
 mena,
• Area st
udies o
f places
and
regions
, 
• Studies
The  of
four human-
hist land
oric relation
al ships,
tradi • Finally,
tion the
s
in g study
eogr of
aphi Earth
cal science
rese s. 
arch • (Geogr
 are: aphy "t
he
world
discipli
ne"
and
"the
bridge
betwee
Objectives:

To gain familiarity with a

phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into it. (Exploratory or
formulative
To portrayresearch studies)
accurately the
characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or a group
(Descriptive
To determine research
the studies/ Ex
frequency
post facto research)
with which something occurs
or with which it is associated
with something else.
To test a hypothesis
(Diagnostic of a
research studies)
causal relationship between
variables (Hypothesis testing
research studies)
To discover the truth and fact

To understand social life and gain a control

over social behavior.
 Other objectives:

To know old conclusions with new data.

• To identify new conclusion with old data

To reach more conclusions from available data.

• To explain unexplained horizon of knowledge.

To put forward an entirely new theory.

• To study and resolve contradiction in the area of a study.

Motivation in research:

 Desire to get a research degree along with its

consequential benefits.
 Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved
problems.
 Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative
work.
 Desire to be of service to society.
 Desire to get respectability.
According to Siraj Ahmed (RDSW)