Research Methodology
Research
• In common language refers to a search for knowledge.
• A scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic.
• A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.
• Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.
Technical definition
• According to Clifford Woody research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or
suggested solutions; collecting, organising and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and
at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.
• D. Slesinger and M. Stephenson in the Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences define research as “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 practice of an art.
Research’ refers to the systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting
the facts or data, analysing the facts and reaching certain conclusions either in the form of solutions(s) towards the
concerned problem or in certain generalisations for some theoretical formulation.
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
• Formulative research: To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it.
Ex Suppose scientists discover a new 2D material with unusual magnetic properties. Initially, they might
conduct small-scale experiments to simply observe its behavior under different conditions (temperature,
magnetic field) without aiming to prove a specific hypothesis.
• Descriptive research: To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group.
Ex. Measuring and recording the temperature dependence of resistivity in a specific metal across a range
of temperatures, and presenting it as a well-documented dataset.
• Diagnostic research: To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated
with something else.
Ex. A study examining how often defects appear in single-crystal silicon wafers during production, and
whether the defect rate is associated with the furnace temperature profile used in fabrication.
• Hypothesis-testing research: To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables
Doping strontium hexaferrite with aluminum increases its magnetic coercivity
Types of research
• Descriptive vs. Analytical 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.
• Ex post facto research term is used for descriptive research studies.
• The main characteristic of this method is that the researcher has no control over the variables; he can only report what
has happened or what is happening.
• Ex post facto studies also include attempts by researchers to discover causes even when they cannot control the
variables.
• In analytical research the researcher has to use facts or information already available, and analyze these to make a
critical evaluation of the material
Applied vs. Fundamental:
• Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/business
organisation.
• Fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of a theory.
• Research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics are examples of fundamental
research.
• The marketing research or evaluation research are examples of applied research.
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 is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving
quality or kind.
• Qualitative research is specially important in the behavioural 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.
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.
Empirical research relies on experience or observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory.
Empirical research is data-based research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by
observation or experiment. It is also called experimental type of research.
Starts with a working hypothesis to predict probable results.
Then get enough facts (data) to prove or disprove his hypothesis.
Then sets up experimental designs which will manipulate the persons or the materials concerned so as to bring forth
the desired information.
Empirical research is appropriate when proof is sought that certain variables affect other variables in some way
Some Other Types of Research
Based on Time Frame
•One-time research – Conducted during a single time period.
•Longitudinal research – Conducted over several time periods
Based on Research Environment
•Field-setting research – Conducted in a natural environment.
•Laboratory research – Conducted in a controlled environment.
•Simulation research – Conducted in an artificial environment that mimics reality.
Based on Nature of Investigation
•Clinical or diagnostic research – Uses case studies or in-depth approaches to determine basic causal relationships.
•Exploratory research – Focused on developing hypotheses (not testing them).
•Formalized research – Has substantial structure and specific hypotheses for testing.
Based on Data Source
•Historical research – Uses historical sources (documents, remains, archives) to study past events or ideas.
Based on Research Orientation
•Conclusion-oriented research – Researcher is free to choose the problem, redesign the enquiry, and conceptualize
freely.
•Decision-oriented research – Conducted to aid decision-makers; researcher works within constraints of the decision-
making need.
Research Methods versus Methodology
Research methods refers to all those methods/techniques that are used for conduction of research. Research methods
can be put into the following three groups:
• In the first group we include those methods which are concerned with the collection of data. These methods will be
used where the data already available are not sufficient to arrive at the required solution;
• The second group consists of those statistical techniques which are used for establishing relationships between the
data and the unknowns;
• The third group consists of those methods which are used to evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained.
Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem. It is the science of studying how
research is done scientifically. In it we study the various steps that are generally adopted by a researcher in studying his
research problem along with the logic behind them. it is necessary for the researcher to design his methodology for his
problem as the same may differ from problem to problem.
Thus, when we talk of research methodology we not only talk of the research methods but also consider the logic
behind the methods we use in the context of our research study and explain why we are using a particular method or
technique and why we are not using others so that research results are capable of being evaluated either by the
researcher himself or by others.