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Unit I
Introduction to Research and Project Work
1.1
Meaning of Research
How does the researcher proceed? Few social scientists have been interested in
that problem although every elementary textbook is full of advice regarding
what the researcher should do: bring a theory out of his hat, formulate
hypothesis in advance, test reliability and validity of his instruments, draw a
representative sample, find something useful for his society report his findings
so that other researchers can replicate investigation.
The literal meaning of research is investigation or to search again. The first look
may not be sufficient and prone to error. The word research refers to the
systematic investigation towards increasing the sum of knowledge. The word is
derives from the French word researche which means to search or to seek
again. Therefore research is a process of verifying and testing the old facts or
theories (deductive approaches) and discovering new facts (Inductive
approach). So, there are various meaning as:
A careful investigation or enquiry specially through search for new facts
in any branch of knowledge
Systematized effort to gain new knowledge
A research is systematic, controlled, and empirical and critically
investigation of hypothetical propositions (statements of relationship
between two or more variables) about the presumed relations among
natural phenomenon. Fred N Kerlinger
Research is a systematic and organized effort to investigate a specific
problem that needs a solution (Sekaran, 1992).
As a whole research is the application of scientific method to the study of a
problem. The scientific method involves;
a. Careful logical analysis of the problem, and formulating hypothesis.
b. Formulating research design
c. Observation or data collection
d. Generalizations or drawing conclusions
Therefore, the process of investigation involves a series of well known activities
gathering information, recording, analyzing and interpreting the results with the
1.2
Types of research
1.3
What is science?
Science as a systematized knowledge derived through observation,
experimentation or any other method or procedure in order to determine the
nature of phenomena being studied or the causes behind specific events.
In science, an understanding is made through logico-empirical process. The
logico-empirical process means reasoning and direct experience or observation.
A scientific theory is dealing with the logical aspect of science; and research is
dealing with observation aspect of science.
The scientific process includes the methodology of understanding things. There
are two approaches of logico- empirical process.
a.
Deductive Approach
b.
Inductive Approach
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Theory
Hypothesis
Empirical generalization
Observations
INDUCTIVE PROCESS
Observation
Setting or
Realizing
problem
Problem
Identification
Theoretical
Framework
Deduction
Reasoning
Hypothesis Formulation
Research Design
Data Collection
Analysis of Data
Library search
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1.4
Managers need to ask the following questions to help to provide what research
to carry out to collect the required information and solve business problem.
They are:
2. Planning
3. Execution
4. Control
standards.
Performance against plans
Policy Research
Managerial Research
Action Research
Evaluation Research
This policy research studies how policy formulation occurs with a view to
understanding and improving the process.
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Research output
Policy options
Identification of policy
priorities for the
organization
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Managerial Research
To study the on-going
operation or projects
To help in improving
managerial
effectiveness
To help in decision
making
Action Research
To feed information into
the organization to
improve the functioning
To improve the
managerial actions
To suggest future
courses of action
Evaluation Research
To measure
achievements against
the objectives
To identify gaps and
problem areas
To suggest
improvements required.
To recommend the
actions to be taken
with regard to:
a) Organizational
structure
b) Rules
c) Reward and
punishment system
d) Performance
evaluation criteria
e) Work environment.
Identification of
programme strengths
and weaknesses
Recommendation for
programme
improvement
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1.5
Project Work
Drawing conclusions
Writing report
Major activities involved in project work
Defining the Topic and research questions
The research topic should be introduce clearly raised the research questions
which were not answered before. Some potential problems in this process may
be:
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This involves selecting a methodology for obtaining the relevant and their
analysis to draw inferences.
Both raw and secondary data (reviewing)
Misinterpretation (bias)
1.6
1.6.1
1.6.2
1.6.3
1.6.4
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Comprehend the nature of problem and very few studies have been
conducted to the related phenomena
Approaches
For instances
a. The trend of employment during the last twelve months in an organization:
Gender composition, educational level, no. of absent days, ethnic groups,
etc.
b. A profile of bank borrowers of outstanding of loans for six months and
above: describe the defaulter's age, earnings, employment, occupation and
the like. You can recommend loan payment issues for management
decision to types of individuals for loan extending, etc.
c. Marketing Areas: pricing, sales, distribution method of company, etc.
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Survey studies are usually more extensive and involve the careful
identification of the population, selection of the sample for the study and
collection of comparable data to make qualified generalizations.
For instance, survey study of the business describes location of business,
employees, products, prices, and markets, other competitive business,
customers, etc.
Methods of survey
1. Telephone interviews- collection of information from respondents via
telephone.
2. Mail surveys- collection of information from respondents via mail or similar
other techniques.
3. Personal interviews- collection of information in a face-to-face situation.
Home interviews- personal interviews in the respondents or office.
Intercept interviews- personal interview in a central location like shopping
certres, haat bazaar, etc.
Surveys can be done within organization and in the field.
1.
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17
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INTRODUCTION
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
2.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1
2.2
3.
Research design
Population and sample size
Sampling procedure
Data collection technique
Statistical procedure
Data analysis procedure
5.
Conceptual/Theoretical Framework
Review of related study
METHODOLOGY
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
4.
Background Information
Problem of the study
Objective of the study
Importance of the study
Limitation of the study
Organization of the study
Summary
Conclusion
Recommendation
REFERENCES
APPENDICES