Q. What is Research? What are the objectives of Research?
What is motivation in
Research? Define good Research. Discuss the various types of Research. Clarify the
difference between method and methodology in Research.
Ans: Research in general refers to a search for knowledge. Research can be defined as a
scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. The Advanced
Learner’s Dictionary of Current English lays down the meaning of research as “a careful
investigation or inquiry especially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.
Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.” Some
people consider research as a movement, a movement from the known to the unknown. It is
actually a voyage of discovery. Research is, thus, an original contribution to the existing stock of
knowledge making for its advancement. In short, the search for knowledge through objective and
systematic method of finding solution to a problem is research.
The main objectives of research are mentioned below in brief.
1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it.
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a
group.
3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is
associated with something else.
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables.
In order to undertake research motivation is required. The possible motives for
doing research may be either one or more of the following:
1. Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits;
2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i.e., concern over
practical problems initiates research;
3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work;
4. Desire to be of service to society;
5. Desire to get respectability.
A good Research may be defined in the following ways.
1. Good research is systematic: It means that research is structured with specified steps
to be taken in a specified sequence in accordance with the well defined set of rules
2. Good research is logical: This implies that research is guided by the rules of logical
reasoning and the logical process of induction and deduction are of great value in
carrying out research.
3. Good research is empirical: It implies that research is related basically to one or more
aspects of a real situation and deals with concrete data that provides a basis for
external validity to research results.
4. Good research is replicable: This implies that research results to be verified by
replicating the study and thereby building a sound basis for decisions.
There are various types of Research. These are as follows.
1. Descriptive vs. Analytical: 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. In analytical research, on the other hand,
the researcher has to use facts or information already available, and analyze these to
make a critical evaluation of the material.
2. Applied vs. Fundamental: Research can either be applied (or action) research or
fundamental (to basic or pure) research. Applied research aims at finding a solution
for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/business organization,
whereas fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalizations and with the
formulation of a theory.
3. 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, on the other hand, is concerned with qualitative
phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind.
4. 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. On the other hand, empirical research relies on
experience or observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory.
There are certain differences between method and methodology in research. These
differences may be clarified in the following way.
Research methods may be understood as all those methods/techniques that are used for
conduction of research. In other words, all those methods which are used by the researcher
during the course of studying his research problem are termed as research methods. Research
methodology, on the other hand, is a way to systematically solve the research problem. It may be
understood as a 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. From what has been stated above, we can say that research methodology has
many dimensions and research methods do constitute a part of the research methodology. The
scope of research methodology is wider than that of research methods. 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.
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