1) Understanding Social Research 1a) Main types of social enquiry Define research: Research can be defined as a process of studying,

observing and evaluating facts in order to arrive at suitable appropriate results (Brown, 2000). Research helps us understands the processes easily. Burns (1942):2 define research as, a process of systematic investigation for finding the answers to a problem. Thus, with the help of research we can find answers to questions like how, when, what and why in a social enquiry. i) Case study: Yen 1984, p.23, opines that, a case study research simply investigates a contemporary process in an actual life condition, at the times when the line between the phenomenon and context are not clearly defined with the use of various evidence sources. Through case study, we can understand a complex issue in a systematic manner and it also adds more knowledge that has come out of experience in similar subject. This method is especially and widely used by social scientists in order to understand the contemporary actual life conditions and give ideas and methods that are practically applicable. Case study focuses on a single unit and a single instance only and conducts detailed analysis on the subject on selected events and their relationship with each other. ii) Cross sectional research Cross sectional research is normally used in developmental psychology, education and social sciences. This study uses people with different interests however belonging to same origin, region, ethnicity, education, social status etc. Descriptive research is also a name of cross sectional study as it is observational in nature. Researcher records the data from a population without manipulating the variables. This research brings out the features within a group or population however it cannot determine the causes and effects that relate between the variables. This methodology helps in knowing the probable relationships between the variables or it can help in collecting facts and data that may be useful for future or further research (Beri, 2008).

iii) Longitudinal research method Relationship between different variables which are not related to background variables is studied using longitudinal research method. It is an observational study that involves researching on a group for a prolonged period of time. In exceptional cases, longitudinal research can last for more than a decade due to the prolonged observation of study over a population (Zikmund, 2009). This study is broadly classified into panel study, cohort study and retrospective studies. Major limitation of this method is that it is a time taking and an expensive method thus creates inconvenience for researchers and useful only to researchers focusing on single object or group of people. 1b) Research objectives Research objectives clearly represent what is to be studied and achieved in the form of facts and information (Zikmund, 2009). Objectives must go with the problem statement. They should be logical, clear and well-developed so that they lead to formation of research hypotheses that becomes the basis of researchs analytic phase. A well-developed hypothesis provides improvement in existing theory by proposing processes, laws, rules and further allows investigation of newer problems or gaps in theoretical understandings.

Research objectives are developed by a review of academic literature and earlier studies on the desired area of research. By setting research objectives, a researcher intends to improve existing knowledge over a subject and add new findings in a particular subject. Through research objectives, a researcher can drive the other components of a project report i.e. hypothesis, research strategy i.e. survey or experiment, etc., the comparable behaviors, sample population, needed data, and needed statistical analysis.

Objectives can be general and specific. The general objectives of research show what the researcher wants to know in general terms of study. A general objective can be broken into parts of small and logically connected links which are knows as specific objectives. Specific objectives must speak about the problem statement in specific terms in a more detailed manner about the key elements that cause the problem. It must answer what, how and where questions of the research study.

Research objectives help in, focusing the study, avoiding unnecessary data or information irrelevant for study, organizing the study in a proper manner; it helps in developing research methods and it also helps in proper collection of facts, analysis, interpretation and usage of gathered data. 1c) Research Philosophies It is Research Onions first layer as given by Saunders et al (2009). It involves the development of research background, its nature and knowledge which in itself is defined as Research Philosophy. It gives a way to conduct the research (Saunders et al, 2009). Research philosophies are crucial for any management and business research (Beri, 2008). Positivism philosophy Developed by Auguste Comte (1907), Positivism believes that knowledge is about the description rather than just questioning. Positivist considers only those facts that are measurable and which are tangible in nature. This system very closely equates the traditional and scientific perspectives of the world. In fact, Comte took the scientific facts and applied them on the perceptions of sociological world. This system does not recognize the existence of beliefs and feelings and requires and relies only on the facts. Objectivism and Truth are directly associated with Positivism. Scientists make use of objectivism for their analysis and on the basis of objectivism they evaluate the world. A positivist makes use of objectivism and rational thinking in order to understand the world. This approach believes that everything can be understood and proved. Research can be same as any of the natural sciences and combined or associated with law. However, it would not be right to conduct a research on human behavior as it is an extremely vast and complex subject. Positivism gives ample importance to science and also considers quantitative research. Data is taken from experiments and observations.

Interpretivism (Phenomenology) philosophy Edmund Husserl (1859-1938), began this theory in 1980, which in itself is a very different way of seeing this world as compared to Positivism. Phenomenologists mainly check for the

meanings of things rather than classifying or identifying them. They firmly believe that the experiences of humans are in itself a source of information or data. It deals with qualitative research and thinks that the world is subjective. It considers real facts and figures. It is very helpful in knowing the business situations. Researchers use small data in order to evaluate the perspectives of a larger population. Researcher finds that in depth analysis of the subject will enable him to understand the inner instincts of the participant subjectively. The aim of this research is subjective such as performance appraisals, experiences, expectations etc. This is in contrast to positivism.