CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS

What is research?
Word ‘Research’ is comprises of two words = Re + Search. It means to find again. So research
means a systematic investigation or activity to gain new knowledge of the already existing facts
which is responsible for bringing to light new knowledge. It is also responsible for
correcting the present mistakes, removing existing misconceptions and adding new
learning to the existing fund of knowledge
It is a systematic process of collecting, analyzing and evaluating information to
understand the world.
It is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict and control the observed
phenomenon
A structured enquiry that utilizes acceptable scientific methodology to solve
problems and create new knowledge that is generally applicable. Scientific
methods consist of systematic observation, classification and interpretation of data.
 Con…
scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic
(a systematic effort to gain new knowledge). In fact, research is an art of
scientific investigation.
Research is an academic activity and as such the term should be used in a
technical sense. Which comprises defining and redefining problems,
formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organizing and
evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last
carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating
hypothesis.
Seeking through methodical processes to add to one’s own body of
knowledge and to that of others, by discovery of non trivial facts and insights.
A scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific
topic.( a systematic effort to gain new knowledge.)
 Con…
A research is an organized and systematic way of finding answers to
questions.
Systematic- Because there is a definite set of procedures and steps which
you will follow.
Organized: it is a planned procedure, not a spontaneous one.
It is focused and limited to a specific scope.
Finding answers :-
It is the end of all questions.
Some times the answer may be no, but Still this is the answer
Questions: Are central to a research.
If there is no question, then the answer is of no use.
Research is focused on relevant, useful and important questions.
Without a question, research has no focus, drive or purpose.
Research is an academic activity
Search for knowledge
An art of scientific investigation
Concerns with what(facts and conclusions), and how(scientific ,
critical components)
Corner stone of every science
Research comprises
Defining and redefining problems
Formulating hypothesis
Collecting, organizing and evaluating data
Making deductions and reaching conclusions
Carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit
the formulated hypothesis or not.
 Objectives of Research


To discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures.

To find out the truth which is hidden/has not been discovered as yet.

To gain familiarity with the phenomenon or to achieve new insights in to it

To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a
group.

To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is
associated with something else.

To test the hypothesis of casual relationships between variables
 Significance of research
Research provides the basis for nearly all government policies in our economic system.

Which facilitates the decisions of the policy maker.

Research has its special significance in solving various operational and planning problems
of business and industry.

Research is equally important for social scientists in studying social relationships and in seeking
answers to various social problems

Increased amount of research make progress possible.

Promote scientific thinking & development of logical habits of thinking &

organization.
Significance…..con….

There is more information and knowledge to understand the world than

before.
Necessary in allocation of recourses or for optimum resource allocation
A means of livelihood
An outlet for new ideas & insights
The development of new styles & creative work
The generalizations of new theories
Fountain of knowledge
Important source of providing guidelines for solving for solving different
problems.
 con…

 Research adds to our knowledge.

– Addresses gaps in knowledge
– Expands knowledge
– Replicates knowledge
– Adds voices of individuals to knowledge
– Review or synthesize existing knowledge
– Generate new knowledge
 Research helps improve practice.
– gain new ideas, insights and approaches for their job.
 Research helps inform policy debates.
– Research allows people to weigh different perspectives on policy issues.
– Research enables people to make informed decisions regarding policy.
 use to solve problems
– Investigate existing situations or problems
– Provide solutions to problems
– Explore and analyze more general issues
– Construct or create new procedures or systems
– Explain new phenomenon
– or a combination of any of the above!
Motivations in Research
What makes people undertake research
to get research degree along with its consequential benefits.
to solve a challenge in solving the unsolved problems.
to design appropriate policies.
to contribute to the existing stock of knowledge
to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work
to be of service to the society
Directives of government
Curiosity about new things … etc.
Research and Theory
What is theory?
A statement or set of statements explaining one or more laws, usually
including one indirect concept needed to explain the relationships
between variables.
If the statements concern only a single relationship between variables,
we are speaking of a law. However a number of laws are tied together
in a more general set of statements, which is called theory
Theoretical concepts are not observed directly
They can be observed only indirectly by reference of events that are
directly observed.
A theoretical concept is an invention of the scientist to
account laws of behavior.
E.g. In physics ,no one has ever seen an electron. It is a
theoretical concept invented to account for particular law of
physics
Theory may enter in to a Research in the following ways:
Suggesting a problem for study
Providing hypothesis to be tested
Selection of variables or classes of data
Making research findings intelligible
 The Scientific approach

Research and scientific method are closely related. The Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to investigate
a natural occurrence. The scientific approach is, thus, based on certain basic postulates which can be stated as:

1.It relies on empirical evidence i.e. verifiable;

2.It utilizes relevant concepts;

3.It is committed to only objective considerations;

4.It is ethically neutral i.e. it aims at nothing but making only adequate and correct statements about population objects related

to confidentiality and privacy;

5.It results into probabilistic predictions;

6.Its methodology is made known to all concerned for critical scrutiny are for use in testing the conclusions through replication;

7.It aims at formulating most general axioms or what can be termed as scientific theories.

8.Share and made public

Stages of the research process
 Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry out research
and the desired sequencing of these steps. For a research journey there are two
important decisions to make-
1) What you want to find out about
or what research questions (problems) you want to find answers to;
2) How to go about finding their answers
Con…
Problem identification and its justification
State of the Art/ Literature Review
Context definition
Questions/Hypothesis
Planning the Research Design/ Methodology
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Hypothesis Testing
Report Writing
 Types of Research
• Applied research
Applied research: an action research that used to
Based on • Basic/pure research • find solution for real life problem or practical
purpose problems requiring an action or policy decision.
• is designed to answer specific questions aimed at solving
• quantitative practical problems.
• Qualitative • find solutions for every day problems like cure
Based on • mixed
data analysis illness, improve power efficiency of mobiles develop
innovative technologies, improve academic
• Exploratory performance etc.
Research
• Descriptive • Applied research is solution-driven, practical
other • Predictive oriented, action oriented
• Evaluation--- >>action----->>social impact
 Con…
Basic research : Also called fundamental or pure research
• acquisition of new knowledge and it also expands existing
knowledge 
• hat is entirely theoretical and aimed at improving or expanding
the knowledge-base of a particular field of study
• a systematic investigation  set  to achieve a better and more
detailed understanding of a research subject or phenomenon, not
to solve  a specific problem. 
• Basic research is knowledge-specific, theory
oriented. 
 Based on data analysis
a.Quantitative approach
• A type of research in which the researcher decides what to study; asks
specific, narrow questions; collects quantifiable data from participants;
analyzes these numbers using statistics; and conducts the inquiry in an
unbiased, objective manner.
 Is the collection and analysis of numerical data to describe, explain,
predict or control phenomena of interest. However, this method entails
more than just the use of numerical data.
 It concentrates on measuring the scale, range, frequency etc. of
phenomena. This type of research, although harder to design initially, is
usually highly detailed and structured and results can be easily collated
and presented statistically.
•This approach can be further sub-classified into inferential, experimental
and simulation approaches to research.
 inferential approach the purpose is to form a data base from which to
infer characteristics or relationships of population. This usually means
survey research where a sample of population is studied (questioned or
observed) to determine its characteristics, and it is then inferred that the
population has the same characteristics.
 Experimental approach is characterized by much greater control over the
research environment and in this case some variables are manipulated to
observe their effect on other variables.
 Simulation approach involves the construction of an artificial
environment within which relevant information and data can be generated.
This permits an observation of the dynamic behavior of a system (or its
sub-system) under controlled conditions.
 2. Qualitative approach

generates results either in non-quantitative form or in the form which are not subjected
to rigorous quantitative analysis.
focus group interviews are used.
the researcher relies on the views of participants; asks broad and general questions;
collects data consisting largely of words (or text) from participants; describes and
analyzes these words for themes; and conducts the inquiry in a subjective and biased
manner.
Is a collection, analysis and interpretation of compressive narrative and visual (ie. non
numerical data to gain insights in to a particular phenomena of interest).
Qualitative research is more subjective in nature than Quantitative research and
involves examining and reflecting on the less tangible aspects of a research subject, e.g.
values, attitudes, perceptions. Although this type of research can be easier to start, it can
be often difficult to interpret and present the findings; the findings can also be
challenged more easily.
 3. A Mixed Approach

A mixed methods research design is a procedure for collecting,

analyzing, and “mixing” both quantitative and qualitative research
methods in a single study to understand a research problem.
It helps to:
 successfully explain social events & r/ships in their full complexity,
 better understand the context and reality in breadth & depth,
 obtain a variety of information on the same issue,
 use the strength of each of the qul&qut approaches to overcome the
deficiencies of the other, & achieve a higher degree of validity and
reliability (Schulze, 2003;Sarantakos ,1998)
 When to Use Mixed Methods Designs
When both quantitative and qualitative data, together, provide a better
understanding of your research problem than either type by itself
When one type of research (qualitative or quantitative) is not enough to
address the research problem or answer the research questions
To incorporate a qualitative component into an otherwise quantitative
study
To build from one phase of a study to another
Explore qualitatively then develop an instrument
Follow-up a quantitative study qualitatively to obtain more detailed
information
 Exploratory
Attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two aspects of a
situation or phenomenon.
Conducted for a problem that has not been clearly defined

undertaken with the aim of clarifying ambiguous problems

general problems are usually known but not sufficiently understood so, the purpose is
to get more information, not to uncover specific courses of action (subsequent
research)
 Is undertaken when few or no previous studies exist
 example, to explain why stressful living results in heart attacks; or how technology affects children’s level of academic

achievement.
Descriptive Research Also called statistical research Predictive research
•Undertaken to Provides accurate portrayal of characterstics of partcular • Used to speculate
individual, situation, or group intelligently on future
•Means of descovering new meaning, describing what exists, determining the
possibilities, based on
close analysis of
frequency, with which something occuur, and catagorizing information
available evidence of
•attempts to describe systematically a situation, problem, phenomenon, service cause and effect
or provide information about the living conditions of a community, or describe • e.g. predicting when
attitudes towards an issue. and where future
•Main Characterstics research has no control over the variables, can only repot industrial action might
what has happened & what is happening.
take place
•Used to identify and classify the elements or characteristics of the subject,
• E.g. Who are the main consumers of apple phone products?

• Finding the most frequent disease affect the children in Debretabor

Components of a Research Proposal
1. The Research Topic or Title
• The topic should be explanatory of the research problem/ the study
• Clear and understandable
2. Introduction and background of the study
• Brief overview of the general area
• Introduce readers about the topic area
3. Statement of the problem & its justification
• Describe the problem & Explain the severity of the problem at hand
• Describe the problem & suggest possible solutions
• Explain opportunities behind the problem
• Justify the reasons why you study selected it
4. Objective of the study- goals
• General- broad objective/high level
• Specific – list of objectives to achieve the general objective
5. Research Question/ Hypothesis
• Question- research focus to be answered
• Hypothesis- potential answer for the study
6. Scope/delimitation of the Study
• Defining the research focus/concern
• Limiting the research boundary:
• physical & Logical boundaries
7. Methodology of the Research
• Defining the ways/procedures to be followed
• Research type
• Data collection tools to be used
• Sample design/ methods
• Data collection procedure
• Data analysis tools & techniques

8. Benefits/ significance of the Research

• What are importance of the study
• Potential beneficiaries at different levels
• Individual level
• Organizational level
• National level
9. Budget schedule
• Resources needed
• Money required for each activity
10. Time Schedule
• Beginning time for each activity and/or study
• Ending time for each activity and/or study
 Writing a Research Proposal and Research Report and Evaluating a Research
Proposal

• Research Proposal: Where you express your intentions and plans

(Future)
• It should be Written in future tenses
• Research Report: Where you present what you have done (past).
• It should be written in past tenses.
• Evaluating a Research Proposal: Any proposal should offer a plan to fill
a need, - your reader will evaluate your plan according to how well your
written presentation answers questions about
• WHAT you are proposing,
• HOW you plan to do it,
• How long it is going to take, and
• HOW MUCH it is going to cost.
Thank You!!