RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

UNIT-1

BY
SUBHASHREE
 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research is an essential and powerful tool in leading mankind towards progress.

Scientific research leads to progress in the fields 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.
 MEANING AND DEFINITION OF RESEARCH

Research= Re + Search, i.e. search again.

Meaning: A careful investigation for new facts in any branch of knowledge.
Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge.
Definition: Scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic.
Research is an art of scientific investigation.
Redman and Mory- Systematized effort to gain new knowledge.
Clifford Woody- Defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested
solutions.
D. Slesinger and M. Stephenson- Manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose
 OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH

To find out truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered yet
To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it
To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a
group
To determine the frequency with something occurs or associated with something
else
To test a hypothesis of a casual relationship between variables
 MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH

Research degree along with its consequential benefits

Face the challenge in solving the unsolved problem
Get intellectual joy of doing some creative work
Service to society
Get respectability
TYPES OF RESEARCH

Descriptive Research

Analytical Research

Applied Research

Fundamental Research

Quantitative Research

Qualitative Research

Conceptual Research
 TYPES OF RESEARCH
Empirical Research

One-time/ Longitudinal Research

Field-Setting Research/ Laboratory/ Simulation Research

Clinical/ Diagnostic Research

Historical Research

Conclusion-Oriented Research

Decision-Oriented Research
 TYPES OF RESEARCH

Descriptive Research
Surveys and fact-findings enquiries
Description of state of affairs as it exists at present
Ex-post facto research- social science and business research
Has no control over variables
Can only report what has happened or what is happening

Analytical Research
Has to use facts/ information already available
Analyze these to make critical evaluation of material
 TYPES OF RESEARCH

Fundamental Research
Generalization
Formulation of a theory
Gaining knowledge for knowledge’s sake is ‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research
Finding information
E.g. with view to make generalization about human behavior
Applied Research
Finding a solution for an immediate problem/ for pressing practical problem
Society/ Industrial/ Business organization
Aimed at certain conclusions
 TYPES OF RESEARCH

Quantitative Research
Based on measurement of quantity or amount
Expressed in terms of quantity

Qualitative Research
 Concerned with qualitative phenomenon
Motivation research- an important type
E.g. how people feel or what they think about a particular subject or institution
To discover underlying motives
Seek guidance
 TYPES OF RESEARCH

Conceptual Research
 Related to abstract ideas/ theory
To develop new concepts/ re-interpret existing ones
That is verified by empirical research
Empirical Research
 Data-based research
Relies on experience/ observation alone
Verified by observation/ experiment
Works to get enough facts to prove/ disprove hypothesis
Evidence gathered by this is most powerful support possible for a given hypothesis
 TYPES OF RESEARCH

Some Other Types of Research

 Cross-sectional research/ 1 time- Research is confined to a single time-period
Longitudinal research- Carried over several-time periods
Field-Setting/ laboratory/ simulation research- Depends upon the environment
Clinical research- case-study method
Diagnostic research- In depth approaches to reach basic casual relations
Historical research- Utilizes historical sources like documents, remains, etc.
 RESEARCH APPROACHES

Research Approaches

Quantitative Approach Qualitative Approach

Inferential

Experimental

Simulation
QUANTITATIVE APPROACH
The generation of data in quantitative form which can be subjected to rigorous quantitative
analysis in a formal and rigid fashion
Inferential Approach: To form a data base from which to infer characteristics or
relationships of population. It usually means survey is studied to determine its
characteristics.
Experimental Approach: Some variables are manipulated to observe their effect on other
variables. It is much greater control over the research environment.
Simulation Approach: It involves construction of an artificial environment within which
relevant information and data can be generated.
QUALITATIVE APPROACH

Subjective assessment of attitudes, opinions and behavior.

Not subjected to rigorous quantitative analysis.
The techniques of focus group interviews, projective techniques and depth
interviews.
 SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH
The role of research has greatly increased in modern times
Basis for nearly all government policies in our economic system
Solving various operational and planning problems of business and industry
Social scientists in studying social relationships and in seeking answers to various social
problems
Helps in finding the solution
To the students who are to write a Ph.D. in their career
To professionals in research methodology, research means a source of live hood
To philosophers and thinkers research may mean the outlet for new ideas and insights
To literary man research means the development of new styles and creative work
To the intellectuals research mean the generalization of new theories
 RESEARCH METHODS VS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Methods Research Methodology

 Put into three groups:  A systematic way to solve the research

• Methods which are concerned with data problem
collection  Science of understanding how research is
• Statistical techniques for establishment of done
relationship between data and unknown  Study varies steps adopted by a researcher
• Evaluating the accuracy of results obtained  Researchers should know the relevant
method and which are not
 RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Basic postulates for scientific method are:

It relies on empirical evidence
It utilizes relevant concepts
It is committed to only objective considerations
It presupposes ethical neutrality, i.e., it aims at nothing but making only adequate and
correct statements about population objects
It results into probabilistic predictions
Its methodology is made known to all concerned for critical scrutiny are for use in testing
the conclusions through replication
It aims at formulating most general axioms or what can be termed as scientific theories.
RESEARCH PROCESS
 RESEARCH PROCESS

Define the Problem

The first step of research process is to define the problem
There are two types of research problem:
i. Those which relates to state of nature
ii. Those which relates to relationship between variables
Essentially two steps are involved in define research problems:
a. Understanding the problem thoroughly
b. Rephrasing the same into meaningful terms from an point of view
Review the Literature
Once the problem is define, a brief summary of it should be written down. It is compulsory
for a research worker writing a thesis for a Ph.D. degree to write a synopsis of topic and
submit it to necessary committee or the research board for apporval.
 RESEARCH PROCESS

Formulate Hypothesis
It is tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or empirical
consequences.
Hypothesis should be very specific and limited to the piece of research in hand because it
has to be tested.
The role of the hypothesis is to guide the researcher by delimiting the area of research and
to keep him on the right track.
Design the Research
The function of research design is to provide for the collection of relevant evidence with
minimal expenditure of effort, time and money.
Research purpose may be grouped into four categories: Exploration, Description, Diagnosis
and Experimentation.
 RESEARCH PROCESS

Collect the Data

There are several ways to collect the data are:

i. By observation

ii. Through personal interview

iii. Through telephone interview

iv. By mailing of questionnaires

v. Through schedules
 RESEARCH PROCESS

Analysis the Data

After the data have been collected, the researcher turns to the task of analyzing them. 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 inferences.

Interpret and Report

Researcher has to prepare the report of what has been done by him.

Writing of report includes: The preliminary pages, The main text, The end matter
 CRITERIA OF GOOD RESEARCH

Appropriate statistical test of significance

Reliable outcome measures
Limitation of data
Experienced researcher
Systematic
Logical
 ACCESSING RESEARCH LITERATURE

Definition
Review of literature is defined as a recap of what has already been researched on a
topic from books, journals, articles or other sources. The review should enumerate, describe
summarize, objectively evaluate and clarify the previous research.
Importance
To find out for yourself what’s already known about the topic.
To give reader critical overview of what you found.
To find out what’s missing (gap).
 USES OF DATABASE AND OTHER SOURCES

Useful Databases to Search for Journal

Chemistry Literature Databases

• SciFinder

• ChemIDplus

• PubChem

• DrugBank

• Reaxys

Drug Information
• Micromedex
 USES OF DATABASE AND OTHER SOURCES
Biology Literature Databases
• Biosis Citation Index
• Web of Sciences
• Faculty of 1000
• OMIM
Clinical Health Sciences Literature Databases
• PubMed@USC
• International Pharmacological Abstract (Ovid)
• ToxNet
• Google Scholar
• PsycINFO
• Embase
 USES OF DATABASE AND OTHER SOURCES
Herbal Databases
• Natural Medicines
• Phytochemical and ethnobotanical databases
• Dietary Supplements Labels Databases (DSLD)
Additional Databases
• U. S. Patent and Trademark Office
• DrugBank
• Drug Industry Document Archive (DIDA)
• Clinical Trials.gov
• Protein Data Bank (PDB)
• Google Patents
• Scopus
• NIH RePORTer- Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools
• JSTOR
 USES OF DATABASE AND OTHER SOURCES
Other Sources of Information
• Online Dictionaries
• Subject Dictionaries
• Online Encyclopedias
• Subject Encyclopedias
• Thesaurus
• Online Books- Google Books
• Free E-Books
• Book Chapters
• Open Access Journals- DOAJ
• Open Access Books- DOAB
• Grey Literature- Unpublished
• Shodhganga-INFLIBNET
 USES OF DATABASE AND OTHER SOURCES
Other Sources of Information
• Shodhgangotri-INFLIBNET
• Academic Websites
• Special Libraries-
• NCL Pune- Chemistry
• IUCAA Pune- Physics
• Political Science, Economics- GIPE Pune
• Web OPACS of Libraries and Info.Centres
• Translation Centres- NISCAIR
• Translation Experts of Subject