Research Methods
Chapter 1 Overview of Research what is Research? What are
the Objectives of Research? What Makes People do
Research? Research Approaches Qualitative Quantitative Research
Process
Chapter 2 Research Designs Descriptive Design Co-relational
Design Causal-Comparative Design Developmental Design
Chapter 3 Data Gathering Techniques Interview Observation
Questionnaire Likert Scale, Thurstone Scale, Guttman
Scale, Semantic Differential Scale
Chapter 4 Sampling Techniques Types of sampling Probability
sampling Non-probability sampling Statistical tools in
sampling Slovin formula Lynch formula
Chapter 5 Writing the Parts of a Research Paper
Chapter 1 - INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Statement
of the Problem/Objective Theoretical Framework, Conceptual
Framework/Paradigm Assumption(s)/Hypotheses Scope and
Delimitation Significance of the Study Definition of Terms
Chapter 2- REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND STUDIES Related
Literature Related Studies
Chapter 3- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research Design Sources
of Data Instrumentation and Data Collection Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter 4- FINDINGS, PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND
INTERPRE- TATION OF DATA
Chapter 5- SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Ending Notes
Chapter 1 - Overview of Research
This chapter presents a brief overview and the fundamentals of
research.
What is Research?
Research in general refers to a search for knowledge.
The process of finding solutions to a problem after a thorough
study and analysis of the situational factors. An organized,
systematic, data-based, critical, objective, scientific inquiry
or investigation into a specific problems undertaken with the
purpose of finding answers or solutions to it.
Merriam-Webster. Research is a careful study that is done to find
and report new knowledge about something. It is the activity of
getting information about a subject.
OECD (2002) Frascati Manual. Research comprises “creative
work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the
stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and
society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise
new applications.
Martyn Shuttle worth. In the broadest sense of the word, the
definition of research includes any gathering of data, information
and facts for the advancement of knowledge.
Creswell. “Research is a process of steps used to collect and
analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or
issue”. It consists of three steps: Pose a question, collect data to
answer the
question, and present an answer to the question. Based from the above mentioned definitions,
when someone asks you to research on a certain topic, and then you search for answers, and
found the answers on the web, books, or other literatures, what you have done is not research,
instead, what you have done is called literature review. Looking at the research definitions above,
A research is an activity conducted in order to contributeint
o the existing body or stock of knowledge. For an instance,
you need to determine which among the two brands of cars is
better. When, you use Google or other sources to look for
answers, and you found the answer that Brand A is better than
Brand B, the activity conducted is called literature review. However,
if you verified the truthfulness of the literature, tested the two
brands on the same condition, and document the testing made, the
findings, and you formulated a conclusion, then that's the time it is
called a research. Most likely, a research has findings and
conclusions, and this is how the activity contributes to the
existing body of knowledge because the conditions, the findings, the
date and time it is conducted, and the conclusions derived are new
knowledge that con- tributes to the existing stock of knowledge.
A research is an activity conducted in order to contribute
into the existing body or stock of knowledge. For an instance,
you need to determine which among the two brands of cars is better.
When, you use Google or other sources to look for answers, and you
found the answer that Brand A is better than Brand B, the
activity conducted is called literature review. However, if you verified
the truthfulness of the literature, tested the two brands on the same
condition, and document the testing made, the findings, and you
formulated a conclusion, then that's the time it is called a research.
Most likely, a research has findings and conclusions, and this is how
the activity contributes to the existing body of knowledge because the
conditions, the findings, the date and time it is conducted, and the
conclusions derived are new knowledge that con- tributes to the
existing stock of knowledge.
What are the Objectives of Research?
The prime objectives of research are:
to discover new facts;
to verify and test important facts;
to analyze an event or process or phenomenon
to identify the cause and effect relationship;
to develop new scientific tools, concepts and
theories to solve and understand scientific and
nonscientific problems;
to find solutions to scientific, nonscientific and
social problems; and
To overcome or solve the problems occurring
in our daily life.
What Makes People do Research? This is a fundamentally
important question. No person would like to do research unless there
are some motivating factors.
Some of the motivations are the following:
to get a research degree (Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) along with
its benefits like better employment, promotion, increase in salary,
etc.;
To get a research degree and then to get a teaching position in a
college or university or become a scientist in a research institution;
To get a research or teaching positions;
To solve the unsolved and challenging problems;
To get joy of doing some creative work;
To acquire respectability;
To get recognition;
Curiosity to find out the unknown facts of an event;
Curiosity to find new things; and
To serve the society by solving social problems.
Research Approaches In any form of research, the researcher will
be required to either count things and/or talk to people. Research
approaches can be classified using
this distinction which is Qualitative and Quantitative.
Qualitative. This approach is concerned with the quality of
information as it attempts to gain an understanding of the
underlying reasons and motivations for actions. It establishes how
people interpret their experiences and the world around them and
provide insights into the setting of a problem, generating ideas
and/or hypotheses. Most likely, qualitative relies on the perceptions
of someone on given or observed facts.
Quantitative. This approach is concerned with trying to quantify things as it
asks questions such as ‘how long’, ‘how many’ or ‘the degree to which’. It
quantifies data and generalizes results from a sample of the population of
interest. Researcher may look to measure the incidence of various views and
opinions in a chosen sample or aggregate results. To make things clearer,
let's go back to the example about determining which among the two brands
of cars is better. Let's say, we tested both car's driving performance on the
same road condition. First, it is essential to define the car models. The car
models that should be used must be of the same year and as much as
possible their release dates is close to each other. In this process, the scope
and coverage of the research is being specified. In qualitative approach, if
the two cars is tested by one driver, and the driver states that Brand A is
better over Brand B which is based from the driver's perception on his/her
convenience in driving, acceleration, steering, brakes, etc., and the findings
and conclusions derived are based from these, thus, the research conducted
is called qualitative approach. The problem with qualitative research is that
mostly, it relies on one's perception, hence in the example; the driver's
perception can vary from driver to driver, hence making the reliability
of the
research output questionable. Typically, the data gathering tools
used in qualitative approach includes questionnaire and
interview. Now, to make the research output more reliable, we
should include quantitative approach. In quantitative approach,
we can use a more structured questionnaire that has the
same criterion but should be quantified into numbers, having
1 as poor performance, and 5 as best performance for each of
criterion given which includes the convenience in driving,
acceleration, steering, breaks, etc. Also, we ought to consider
more drivers as test subjects. For instance, 10 drivers undergone the
testing, and 8 out of 10 states that Brand A is better than Brand B.
This gives more reliability on the research results. If you notice, in
quantitative, it covers counting things and involves
statistical treatment, hence, this may lead to a more accurate and
reliable result. Moreover, a good research may cover both approaches
to make things more reliable.
Table 1.1 presents the difference of qualitative and
quantitative.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Definition: Research is the journey of known to unknown; from problem to
solution. Methodology bridged gap between problem and
solution. Methodology consisted of Scientific or systematic process where
every element of the process based on thought reasoning simply called logic.
OBJECTIVES
To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into
it (studies with this object in view are termed as exploratory or for
mulative research studies);
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);
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);
To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables
(such studies are known as hypothesis-
testing research studies).
TYPES OF RESEARCH
A. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH
B. DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
C. CAUSAL RESEARCH
Research Methodology
Chapter I: Introduction -
Meaning, Objectives and Types of research, Research Approach,
Research Process, Defining research problem,
problem identification process, Formulation of research
hypothesis. Procedure for hypothesis testing; Communication and
presentation of research, Types of research reports, formulation,
Layout, format and guidelines for effective report.
Chapter II: Research Design - Features of good Design, Types
of Research Design – exploratory, descriptive, experimental,
Research design process, Classification of research designs –
exploratory, secondary source analysis, two-tiered and
descriptive; Basic principles of experimental Design, Causality,
Validity in experimentation, factors affecting internal and external
validity of experiment Classifications of experimental designs –
pre, quasi, true and statistical designs.
Chapter III: Data Collection: Primary and secondary data, Data
collection methods – observation, interview, schedules, focus group,
personal inter- view method, projective techniques – sentence
completion, word association, story completion, verbal projection
tests, Pictorial techniques; play techniques, quizzes, tests and
examinations, Socio-metric analysis, Content analysis. Use of
mechanical devices.
Chapter IV: Scaling and Questionnaire design: Introduction,
types of measurement scales, classification of scales, Scaling and
scale construction technique. Measurement error criteria for good
measurement Criteria for questionnaire design, types of
questionnaire, design procedure, types of questions, structure of
questionnaire, physical characteristics, pilot testing, administering
the questionnaire, reliability and validity of questionnaire,
a questionnaire – salient features. Data coding; Editing and
Tabulation.
Chapter V: Parametric and Non-Parametric testing:
Cross tabulation, Use of correlation and regression Analysis, Test of
significance of regression parameters, application of regression
analysis in various functional areas of management. Z, t, goodness of
fit and F test, Small and large sample concept, Practical problems
involving parametric and non-parametric tests.
Chapter VI: Advanced Data Analysis Techniques- Multivariate
technique, Factor Analysis, Cluster Analysis, Discriminant Analysis,
Conjoint Analysis, Multi-Dimensional Scaling. Application of
advanced techniques in decision making, decision situations and
application suitability of these techniques.
