RESEARCH METHODS

BY: CHERONO FAITH

Phone number; 0713508171
Email;cheronofaey@[Link]

Course Description:
Research may be defined as a disciplined inquiry or systematic investigation aimed at
providing solutions to problems. The main purpose of research is to advance or discover
new knowledge and improve practice through scientific process. To ensure quality and
timely completion of a research project, clear guidelines and procedures are necessary.
The purpose of this module is to help the student acquire knowledge and skills of
research methods and their applications to the solutions in both academics’ research
and in management decision- making process.

General Objective
This course is intended to help the student to be able to prepare a research proposal,
conduct and submit a comprehensive research project report on a topic in microfinance
using knowledge gained in the course.

Specific Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
 Demonstrate knowledge on the process of conducting research and how to use
findings to inform managerial decision making
 Identify the problem definition and understand the research process
 Have basic understanding of data collection and data analysis.
 Interpret research findings to inform managerial decision making.
 Identify a research problem in a business field and write a research proposal and
research project

Course Content
1: Introduction to Research
2: The Research Process (Steps in the research process)
i. Selecting A Research Topic
ii. Formulating The Research Problem
iii. Defining Concepts and Developing Conceptual Framework
iv. Literature Review
v. Selecting The Research Design
 vi. Selecting The Data Collection Method
vii. Selecting The Survey Method
viii. Preparing Data Collection Instruments
ix. Selecting Data Analysis Tools
x. Report Writing and Dissemination of Results
3: Chapter One: Introduction
4: Chapter Two: Literature Review
5: Chapter Three: Research Methodology
6: Chapter Four: Data Analysis and Presentation of Results
7: Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
8: Miscellenous

Key Learning Points

 Introduction to research
 The research processes
 Preparing the research proposal
 Preparing the final research project report
Training Methods
 Short Lectures
 Small group discussions followed by presentations and panel discussions
 Individual and group home works /assignments.
Student Activity
The major part of this section is to be covered as an independent study. The contact
time will be used for consultations between students and supervisors. Each student will
be required to produce a system and related documentation, and participate in oral
presentation and defense of the research proposal.
Recommended Reading
Author (and year of Title Publisher and place of
publication publication
O.M Mugenda and A.G Research Methods: Acts Press
Mugenda (2003 Quantitative and
Qualitative approaches
M. Saunders, P. Lewis and Research Methods for Dorling Kindersley Pvt. Ltd
A. Thornhill (2005) business student’s 3rd
 Edition
Kate L. Turabian A Manual for Writers of The University of Chicago
Term Papers, Theses, and Press
Dissertations (Chicago
Guides to Writing, Editing,
and Publishing)
Orodho, J.A(2000) Techniques of Writing Masola Publishers, Nairobi
Research Proposals and
Reports in Education and
Social Sciences

Other Support Materials and Resources

Borg, R.W. and M.D. Gall. 1989. Educational Research: An Introduction. New York:
Longman, Inc. Chandran, Emil. 2004. Research Methods: A Quantitative Approach.
Nairobi: Daystar University. Dornan, Edward A. and Charles W. Dawe. 1984. The Brief
English Module. Little: Brown and Company. Higham, Nicholas J.1993. Module of
Writing for the Mathematical Sciences, SIAM Press. Orodho, J.A. 2004. Techniques of
Writing Research Proposals and Reports in Education and Social Sciences. Nairobi:
Masola Publishers. Peil, Margaret. 1995. Social Science Research Methods: A Module for
Africa. Nairobi: EAEP. Strunk, William Jr. and E. B. White. 1972. The Elements of Style.
New York: Macmillan

CONTE
NTS

Preface 6
Chapter 1 – Research 7
Chapter 2 - Research Process 13
Chapter 3 - Research Design 18
Chapter 4 - Research Problem 23
Chapter 5 - Variables and Their Types 29
Chapter 6 - Formulation of Hypothesis 32
Chapter 7 – Sampling 40
Chapter 8 - Tools of Data Collection 57
Chapter 9 - Data Analysis 70
Chapter 10 - Interpretation of Data 75
Chapter 11 - Research Methods 78
Chapter 12 - Descriptive or Survey Method 84
Chapter 13 - Experimental Method 89
Chapter 14 - Research Proposal 101
Chapter 15 - Research Report 110
Bibliography 116
Introduction:

Research is an essential and powerful tool in leading man towards

progress. Without systematic research there would have been
very little progress.
John W. Best has rightly said, “The secret of our cultural
development has been research, pushing back the areas of
ignorance by discovering new truths, which, in turn, lead to better
ways of doing things and better products.”
Scientific research leads to progress in some field of life.
New products, new facts, new concepts and new ways of doing
things are being found due to ever-increasing significant research
in the physical, the biological, the social and the psychological
fields. Research today is no longer confined to the science
laboratory.

Meaning of Research:
Word ‘Research’ is comprises of two words = Re+Search. It means
to search again. So research means a systematic investigation or
activity to gain new knowledge of the already existing facts.
 Research is an intellectual activity. It 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. Researches are considered as a combination of those
activities which are removed from day to day life
and are pursued by those persons who are gifted in intellect and
sincere in pursuit of knowledge. But it is not correct to say that
the research is restricted to such type of persons, however, it is
correct to say that major contribution of research comes from
highly gifted and committed workers. Thus the research is not at
all mysterious and is carried on by hundreds of thousands of
average individuals.
Research is also considered as the application of scientific
method in solving the problems. It is a systematic, formal and
intensive process of carrying on the scientific method of analysis.
There are many ways of obtaining knowledge. They are intuition,
revelation, and authority, logical manipulation of basic
assumptions, informed guesses, observation, and reasoning by
analogy. One of the branches of research known as empirical
research is highly goal-oriented technique.

Definitions of Research:
The following are the important definitions of research:
“Research is an endeavor / attempt to discover, develop and
verify knowledge. It is an intellectual process that has developed
over hundreds of years ever changing in purpose and form and
always researching to truth.”
J. Francis
Rummel “Research is an honest, exhaustive, intelligent searching
for facts and their meanings or implications with reference to a
given problem. The product or findings of a given piece of
research should be an authentic, verifiable contribution to
knowledge in the field studied.”
P.M.
Cook “Research may be defined as a method of studying problems
whose solutions are to be derived partly or wholly from facts.”
W.S.
Monroes “Research is considered to be the more formal,
systematic intensive process of carrying on the scientific method
of analysis. It involves a
more systematic structure of investigation, usually resulting in
some sort of formal record of procedures and a report of results
or conclusion.”
John W. Best
“Research comprises defining and redefining
problems ,formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions,
collecting ,organizing and evaluating data, making deductions and
reaching conclusions and at last careful testing the conclusions to
determine whether they fit the formulated hypothesis.”
Clifford Woody
“Research is a systematic effort to gain new knowledge.”
Redman & Mori
“Social research may be defined as a scientific undertaking which
by means of logical and systematized techniques aims to discover
new facts or verify and test old facts , analyse their sequences ,
inter- relationships and casual explanation which were derived
within an appropriate theoretical frame of reference , develop
new scientific tools , concepts and theories which would facilitate
reliable and valid study of human behavior.”
P.V. Younge

Purpose of Research:
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions
through the application of scientific procedure. The main aim of
research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not
been discovered as yet. Though each research study has its own
specific purpose, some general objectives of research below:
(i) To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into it. (Studies with this object in view are termed as
exploratory or formative research studies).
(ii) To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or a group.(Studies with this object in
view are known as descriptive research studies).
(iii) To determine the frequency with which something occurs or
with which it is associated with something else. (Studies with
this object in view are known as diagnostic research studies).
(iv) To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between
variables. (Such studies are known as hypothesis-testing
research studies).

Characteristics of Research:
Following are the characteristics of research;
(i) Research is directed toward the solution of a problem.
(ii) Research requires expertise.
(iii) Research emphasizes the development of generalizations,
principles, or theories that will be helpful in predicting
future occurrences.
(iv) Research is based upon observable experience or empirical
evidences.
(v) Research demands accurate observation and description.
(vi) Research involves gathering new data from primary or first-
hand sources or using existing data for a new purpose.
(vii) Research is characterized by carefully designed procedures
that apply rigorous analysis.
(viii) Research involves the quest for answers to un-solved problems.
(ix) Research strives to be objective and logical, applying every
possible test to validate the procedures employed the data
collected and the conclusions reached.
(x) Research is characterized by patient and unhurried activity.
(xi) Research is carefully recorded and collected.
(xii) Research sometimes requires courage.
Types of Research:
There are varieties of ways through which we may classify it
into different categories.
(A) On the basis of nature of information:
On the basis of nature of information we can classify the research
into two types;
(i) Qualitative Research: When information is in the form of
qualitative data.
(ii) Quantitative Research: When information is in the form
of quantitative data.
(B) On the basis of utility of content or nature of subject
matter of research:
On the basis of these criteria we can categorize the research into
two categories.
(i) Basic/ Fundamental /pure or Theoretical Research: Its
utility is universal.
(ii) Experimental or Applied Research: Its utility is limited.
(C) On the basis of approach of research:
We may classify research into two different categories.
(i) Longitudinal Research: Examples of this category are
historical, Case study and Genetic research.
(ii) Cross-Sectional Research: Examples of this
category are Experimental and Survey Research.
(D) On the basis of method of research :
On the basis of research method we may classify a research
into five different categories.
(i) Philosophical Research: It is purely qualitative in nature and
we are focusing on the vision of others on the content of
 research.
(ii) Historical Research: It is both qualitative as well as
quantitative in nature and deals with past events.
(iii)Survey Research: It deals with present events and is
quantitative in nature. It may further be sub-divided into;
discretional, correlational and exploratory type of research.
(iv)Experimental Research: This is purely quantitative in nature
and deals with future events.
(v) Case-Study Research: It deals with unusual events. It may be
qualitative as well as quantitative in nature depending upon
the content.
Research process consists of series of actions or steps
necessary to effectively carry out research. These actions or steps
are;
(i) Formulating the Research Problem
(ii) Extensive Literature Survey
(iii) Developing the Research Hypothesis
(iv) Preparing the Research Design
(v) Determining the Research Design
(vi) Collecting the Research Data
(vii) Execution of the Project
(viii) Analysis of Data
(ix) Hypothesis Testing
(x) Generalization and Interpretation
(xi) Preparing of the Report or Presentation of the Result

(i) Formulation of Research Problem:

At the very outset, the researcher must decide the general area of
interest or aspect of a subject matter that he would like to inquire
into and then research problem should be formulated.

(ii) Extensive Literature Survey:

Once the problem is formulated the researcher should undertake
extensive literature survey connected with the problem. For this
purpose, the abstracting and indexing journals and published
or
unpublished bibliographies are the first place to go to academic
journals, conference proceedings, government reports, books etc.
must be tapped depending on the nature of the problem.

(iii) Development of Working Hypothesis:

After extensive literature survey, researcher should state in clear
terms the working hypothesis or hypotheses. Working hypothesis
is tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its
logical or empirical consequences. It’s very important or it
provides the focal point for research.

(iv) Preparing the Research Design:

After framing hypothesis we have to prepare a research design i.e.
we have to state the conceptual structure within which research
would be conducted. The preparation of such a design facilitates
research to be as efficient as possible yielding maximal
information. In other words, the function of research design is to
provide for the collection of relevant evidence with optimum
effort, time and expenditure. But how all these can be achieved
depends mainly on the research purpose.

(v) Determining Sample Design:

A sample design is a definite plan determined before any data is
actually collected for obtaining a sample from a given
[Link] census inquiry we involve a great deal of time,
money and energy so it it not possible in practice under many
circumstances. Sample designs can be either probability or non-
probability. With probability samples each element has a known
probability of being included in the sample but the non-
probability samples do not allow the researchers to determine
this probability.
(vi) Collecting the Data:
There are several ways of collecting the appropriate data which
differ considerably in context of cost, time and other resources at
the disposal of the researcher. Primary data can be collected
either through experiment or through survey. In case of survey,
data can be collected by any one or more of the following ways;
By observation,
 Through personal interview,
 Through telephonic interviews,
 By mailing of questionnaires or
 Through schedules.

(vii) Execution of the Project:

Execution of project is a very important step in the research
process. If the execution of the project proceeds on correct lines,
the data to be collected would be adequate and dependable .A
careful watch should be kept for unanticipated factors in order to
keep the survey realistic as much as possible.

(viii) Analysis of Data:

The analysis of data requires a number of closely related
operations such as establishment of categories, the application of
these categories to raw data through coding, tabulation and then
drawing statistical inference. Analysis work after tabulation is
generally based on the computation of various percentages;
coefficients etc., by applying various well defined statistical
formulae. In the process of analysis, relationships of differences
supporting or conflicting with original or new hypothesis should
be subjected to tests of significance to determine with what
validity data can be said to indicate any conclusions.
(ix) Hypothesis Testing:
After analyzing the data, the researcher is in a position to test the
hypothesis, if any, he had formulated earlier. Do the facts support
the hypothesis or they happen to be contrary? This is the usual
question which is to be answered by applying various tests like ‘t’
test, ’F’ test etc. F test have been developed by statisticians
for the purpose
.Hypothesis testing will result in either accepting the hypothesis or
in rejecting it. If the researcher had no hypothesis to start with,
generalizations established on the basis of data may be stated.

(x) Generalizations and Interpretation:

If a hypothesis is tested and upheld several times, it may be
possible for the researcher to arrive at generalization i.e. to build
a theory. As a matter of fact, the real value of research lies in its
ability to arrive at certain generalizations. If the researcher had no
hypothesis to start with, he might seek to explain his findings on
the basis of some theory. It is known as interpretation.

(xi) Preparation of the Report or the Thesis:

Finally, the researcher has to prepare the report of what has been
done by him. The layout of the report should be as follows; the
preliminary pages, the main text and end matter. The preliminary
pages carry title, acknowledgements and forward and then index.
The main text of the report should have introduction, review of
literature and methodology.

Criteria of Good Research:

One expects scientific research to satisfy the following criteria:
(a) The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and
common concepts be used.
(b) The research procedure used should be described in sufficient detail
to permit another researcher to repeat the researcher for further
advancement, keeping the continuity of what has already been
attained.
(c) The procedural design of the research should be carefully planned to
yield results that are as objective as possible.
(d) The researcher should report with complete frankness, flaws in
procedural design and estimate their effects upon the findings.
(e) The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its
significance and the methods of analysis used should be appropriate.
The validity and reliability of the data should be checked carefully.
(f) Conclusions should be confined to those justified by the data of the
research and limited to those for which the data provide an adequate
basis.
(g) Greater confidence in research is warranted if the researcher is
experienced, has a good reputation in research and is a person of
integrity.