Research

Methodology
Authors
Dev Raj Adhikari
Dhruba Lal Pandey

Asmita Books Publishers & Distributors

(P) Ltd.
Chapter 1
The Nature and
Context of Social
Research
 Concept
• Collecting and analyzing of data and information's for
finding solution of the problem (traditional approach).
• Currently research, refers to a systematic inquiry or
investigation into two board areas;
- Enhancing the existing knowledge or developing new
theory.
-Testing the existing theory and utilizing it to solve the
existing problem.
Features/ Nature of Research
• Objective: Should give concrete answer not the explanation.
• Controlled: Control over the research environment i.e. variables
• Generalizability: should be able to apply in population
• Free from personal biases: should not use the personal thoughts of
researcher
• Systematic: Should follow certain steps while conducting research

• Reproducible: A researcher should be able to get approximately the

same results by using an identical methodology
• Directed towards solution of a problem
• Logical: Results are to be proved using logics
• Replicable: Finding of other researchers under similar condition
should be the same.
 Types of Research
• Basic or Fundamental Research: A research method
that is used in social science research which helps
to contradict, alter or modify any existing theory or
developing new theories is known as basic research.

• Applied or Action Research: A research which is

conducted to find out a solution for an immediate
problem faced by the society or industry/business
organization is known as applied research.
Purpose or Role of Research in
Management
• Providing information
• Identifying problem
• Formulating strategy
• Supporting organizational change
• Helps to control
Scientific Research

Scientific research is an investigation followed by

experimentation, observation and logical
arguments from accepted postulates.
Features of Scientific Research
• Rigorous: Use of good theoretical base and a sound
methodological design
• Purposive: Should have specific objective of
conducting research
• Replicability: can be copied
• Objective: should give answer of the research
question in exact form
• Testability: Relationships are to be tested developing
hypotheses
• Precision: the high degree of exactness of the results.
• Operational definitions: Every variables are to be
defined with measuring factors
• Generalizability: Results of the results should be
applicable in the population
• Parsimony: Simplicity in design and findings
Process of Scientific Research
• Identification of problem: Realizing a problem Know
the real problems
• Review of literature: previous studies and books are
to be revisited
• Hypothesis formulation: Develop estimated results
• Research design formulation: Develop overall plan
of the research work
• Sampling design: Develop plan of deciding and
selecting sample
• Collection of data: After taking decision on
sample, develop data collection tool and
implement it into field and collect data
• Data analysis and interpretation of findings
• Reporting and generalization: Develop report and
use that research in the population
Social Science Research

• Social science research is the systematic method

of discovering the new facts or verifying old facts,
their sequences, interrelationship, causal
explanations and the natural laws which govern
them.
Difficulties in Applying Scientific
Methods to Social Science
Research
• Complexity of subject matter : Behavioral dimension
of people is difficult to understand because it differs
• Difficult to obtain accurate measurement: behavioral
domains can not be measured exactly
• Misconceived impression of society: In some of the
issue of the social aspects are considered negatively
• Subjectivity of social events: Social activities are
explanatory more
• Emotional tendencies: Behaviour and method of doing
work of a person depends on the emotional tendencies.
• Vested interest of the researcher: Intension of researcher
to draw expected results
• Qualitativeness of social events: Social events are more
explanatory
• Lack of universality of social events: Same social events are
understood in different way at different places.
Management Research

• Management research is a systematic activity

directed towards investigating managerial or
business problems, which may result in or
discovery of management tools for problem
solving and decision making
Types of Management Research

•
• 1. Policy research: If a research is conducted to formulate the
managerial policy and its implementation is known as policy
research.
• 2. Action research: A research that is conducted to find out
the problem, its solution and procedures of implementing
solution to solve the problem is known as action research.
• 3. Evaluation research: A research that is conducted to check
whether the organizational works and programs are able to attain
the predetermined goal is known as evaluation research.
Importance of Research for
Decision Making
• Identify problems: Helps to find out the real problems
• Diagnosing and assessing problems and opportunities: analyses
the problems and assess the opportunities available in the
market
• Selecting course of action: Evaluates and selects the best course
of action
• Implementing a course of action: Suggests derivative plan for the
implementation of selected options
• Evaluating the course of action: Evaluates the performance and
provides feedback
Ethical Issues in Research

1. Ethics to participants
• Voluntary participation: no force to participation
• Informed consent: Taking approval before collecting data
• The right to be informed: Give information about purpose, use etc
• The right to be safe:
• No deception of participants: no hiding of information
• Assuring privacy of information: Guarantee of secrecy of information
• Rewarding: can offer small incentive
2. Ethics to the sponsor
• Competency: Show capability to do assigned work
• Confidentiality: Maintaining confidentiality of report
• Quality work: maintain high quality in the process of
conducting research
• No fabrication: No change in data with intention
• Professional practice: should use correct tools for survey
and analysis
3. Ethics to the team members
• Safety and security: should provide tools that are
essential to maintain safety
• Open relation: should be open to meet research
team members
• Co-operation: should provide every support to a
large extent
4. Ethics towards society
• Be objective: should provide exact result
• Maintain scientific rigour: should follow the
scientific process
• Report results: should provide full information of
research results to the society