RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

BINOY J FRANCIS
NIMITHA P.B
NEETHU JOHNSON

CONTENTS

WHAT IS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY?

WHAT IS RESEARCH?
DEFINITION OF RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
TYPES OF RESEARCH
APPROACHES TO RESEARCH
SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH

WHAT IS RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY?

The method of conducting research is called

research methodology

WHAT IS RESEARCH ?
defined as a search for knowledge.
composed of two syllables Re and Search.
Re
again ; over again ; new
Search
to examine closely and carefully
Together they form a careful , systematic , patient
study and investigation in some field of knowledge to
establish principles or policies.
An ORGANIZED and SYSTEMATIC way of FINDING
ANSWERS to QUESTIONS

DEFINITION OF RESEARCH
The systematic method consisting of enunciating the
problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting the facts or
data, analysing the facts and reaching certain conclusion
either in the form of solutions towards the concerned
problem or in certain generalisations for some theoretical
formulation.

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 which something occurs
or with which it is associated with something else.
to test a hypothesis of a casual relationship between variables.

TYPES OF RESEARCH

DESCRIPTIVE / ANALYTICAL
APPLIED / FUNDAMENTAL
QUANTITATIVE / QUALITATIVE
CONCEPTUAL / EMPIRICAL
OTHER TYPES which include:
- One-time / Longitudinal
- Field-setting /Laboratory/Simulation
- Clinical / Diagnostic
- Historical
- Conclusion-Oriented / Decision-Oriented

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH

Surveys & fact-finding enquiries

Description of state of affairs as it exists at present
Ex post facto research social science & 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
Analyse these to make critical evaluation of material

FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH
Generalisation
Formulation of a theory
Gaining knowledge for knowledges sake is pure or
basic' research
Finding information
E.g. Research concerning natural phenomenon and
research with view to make generalisation about human
behaviour

APPLIED RESEARCH

Finding a solution for an immediate problem / for pressing

practical problem
Society / industrial / business organisation
Aimed at certain conclusions
Subtypes :
- Marketing research
- Evaluation research

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Based on measurement of quantity or amount

Expressed in terms of quantity

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Concerned with qualitative phenomenon

Motivation research is an important type for discovering
underlying desires and motives
Attitude or Opinion research - another type
Eg: how people feel or what they think about a particular
subject or institution

CONCEPTUAL RESEARCH

Related to abstract ideas / theory

Generally used by philosophers and thinkers
To develop new concepts / reinterpret existing ones

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

OTHER TYPES OF RESEARCH

Cross-sectional research/One - time

- Research is confined to a single time-period
Longitudinal Research
- Carried over several-time periods
Field-setting/Laboratory/Simulation
- 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.

 Exploratory Research
- Hypothesis development, rather than hypothesis testing
Conclusion-oriented Research
- Picking a problem, redesign enquiry, conceptualize
Decision-oriented Research
- For the need for a decision maker, researcher cannot
embark upon research his own inclination

APPROACHES TO RESEARCH
There are 2 basic approaches to research
Qualitative approach
Quantitative approach

QUANTITATIVE APPROACH
Data generated in a quantitative form
Results are subjected to quantitative analysis
Quantitative approach is further subdivided into
a) Inferential Approach
b) Experimental Approach
c) Simulation Approach

Inferential Approach
Used to infer the characteristics of a population
Survey research carried out
Characteristics of sample population studied
Final inference is that the whole population has same
characteristics

Experimental Approach
Researcher conducts an experiment intentionally
During the course of experiment, datas are collected
Some variables are manipulated to change their effects on
other variables
Has greater control over research environment
Most sophisticated exacting and powerful approach

Simulation Approach
Artificial environment is created intentionally
Relevant information and data are generated within the
environment
Behaviour of system is studied under controlled
conditions
Used for building models for understanding future
conditions

QUALITATIVE APPROACH

The attitudes , opinions and behaviour are assessed

depends on researchers impressions
Results are not subjected to rigorous quantitative analysis
Relatively tough job and requires the guidance of a expert
psychologists.
Techniques used are interview method , projection
techniques , depth interview etc.

Interview Method
Collection of data involves oral-verbal stimuli and
responses
Can be through personal interview i.e., face to face
contact with the interviewer and the person or telephonic
interview i.e., contacting person on telephone

Projection Techniques
also called indirect interviewing technique
Used to infer the underlying motives , urges and
intentions of the respondents unconsciously
Techniques used are :
- Word association test
- Sentence completion test
- Story completion test
- Verbal projection test etc.

Depth Interview
similar to projection technique
Used to infer the underlying motives , urges and
intentions of the respondents unconsciously
Requires great skill and more time

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH

All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than

over confidence, for it leads to inquiry and inquiry leads to
invention.
- Hudson Maxim
Increase amount of research makes progress possible.

SIGNIFICANCE OF REASEARCH ON
GOVERNMENT
Government Budgets To analyze needs & desires of peoples
and to check the availability of revenues to meet them.
To device alternative policies & to check its consequences.
Research helps in decision making
Government can find programmes for dealing with all facets of
countrys various operations.
Research helps to know what is happening in the economy and
what changes are taking place, which is necessary for economy
& social structure of the nation.

IN CONTEXT OF GOVERNMENT,
RESEARCH AS A TOOL TO ECONOMIC
POLICY HAS 3 DISTINCT PHASES OF
OPERATION.
Investigation of economic structure through continual
compilation
Diagnosis of events that are happening & analysis of
forces underlying them.
Prediction of future developments

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH ON
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
Research is crucial and their results assist in taking
business decisions.
Market Research is important for the structure &
development of market for formulating efficient policies
for purchasing, production & sales
Operations Research is the application of mathematical,
logical & analytical techniques to the solution of business
problems (Optimization Problems).
Motivational Research is to find out the consumer
behaviour.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH ON
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
Research helps industry to predict future demands and to
adjust the supply schedule.
Helps in business budgeting which ultimately results in
profit loss accounts.
Helps in business forecasting for planning efficient
production & investment programme.
Research is required in business for more logical &
scientific decisions.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH IN SOCIAL

PROBLEMS
Research is important for studying social relationships
and seeking answers to various social problems.
Helps research scientists to do something better or in an
efficient manner on social problems.
Helps in development of a body of principles that helps in
understanding the whole range of human interactions.
It is a practical guidance in solving immediate problems
of human relations.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH
For students, research is careerism or to attain high
position in social structure.
For professionals, research is livelihood.
For philosophers & thinkers, research is an outlet of new
ideas & insights
For literary men & women, research is development of
new styles & creating work
To analysts & intellectuals, research is development of
new theories.

CONCLUSION
Research is the fountain of knowledge for the sake of
knowledge and an important source of providing
guidelines for solving different business, governmental, &
social problems.
It is a sort of formal training which enables one to
understand the new developments in ones field in a better
way.

THANK YOU