Research Methodology

What is Research?

It is all about search of knowledge or search for knowledge.
Research is scientific and systematic search for related information about specific topics and its study.
It consist of defining and redefining the problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solution(s), collecting, organizing and evaluating data making deductions and reaching conclusions (Reference: Clifford Woody).

Purpose of Research

To discover answers to questions through application of scientific processes.

Types of Research Studies and Their Objectives

Exploratory research studies: Objective is to get familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it.
Descriptive research studies: Objective is to portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, group or situation.
Diagnostic research studies: Objective is to determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else.
Hypothesis testing research studies: Objective is to test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables.

Research Methodology Steps

Study and review of existing literature.
Formulation of hypothesis and identification of objectives.
Pilot study through
- Questionnaires.
- Interviews.
- Observations.
Data collection, analysis and conclusions of pilot study.
Detailed study through
- Questionnaires.
- Interviews.
- Observations.
Data collection from the detailed study.
Data analysis from detailed study.
Findings and conclusions of the research study and suggestions.

Primary and Secondary Data

For research work, data is collected.
Data can be primary data or secondary data.
Secondary data is the data that already exists somewhere. This was not collected specifically for the research work being now undertaken by the researcher. This may have been collected by someone or some organization under different context for different purposes.
Researcher can always look into the available secondary data to see if the research problem can be partially or fully solved by using the secondary data.
When the problem cannot be solved only by the existing secondary data, primary data collection is a must.
Many times, the secondary data may be old, incomplete, unreliable or inaccurate and may not be useful.
Primary data is the freshly collected data by the researcher for his specific purpose for his specific research project.
Collection of primary data consumes more resources and therefore, is more expensive.
Most research projects necessarily involve collection of some primary data using appropriate research approaches.

Research Report

Research report is a written report on research work done.
It must be presented in a satisfactory and acceptable form.
Therefore, one must learn how to present collected data and analysis.
Principal aim of research report is for others to understand what the new study is all about; what is says and what the conclusions are.
Research report is not meant for self but is for communication with the readers, the audience.

Organization of Research Report

Research report can be written and presented in three parts:

Preliminaries.
Body.
Accessory.

Preliminaries

They contain:

Front fly leaf (blank).
Title page giving title of research topic, researcher’s name, guide’s name, institute’s name (if applicable).
Approval page.
Acknowledgements.
Dedication (optional).
Table of contents.
List of tables.

Body
There is no hard and fast rule about the number of chapters or their classifications. The researcher can use his creativity here. A rough guideline for organization of the body of the report is given below:

Chapter 1- Introduction: Conceptual frame work and purpose of the research project etc.
Chapter 2- Review of Existing Literature: Summary of the current state of researches in the area if available.
Chapter 3- Research Design: Statement of the problem, sample, method of data collection etc.
Chapter 4- Results and Discussion: presentation of data through narration, tables, pictorial presentations and arriving at inferences applying relevant statistical reasoning.
Chapter 5- Conclusions: Recommendations and suggestions. Also suggestions, if any, for further research work on the subject.

Accessory

It contains:

Bibliography.
Appendix.
Questionnaire(s).

General Tips for Research Report

Report should be produced on superior quality (say, bond) paper.
The material should be only one side of the paper.
Spacing used between two lines: double spacing.
Make adequate copies of the report as necessary.
Take guidance from knowledgeable experts/ persons.
Decent binding of the report.
Number of pages: as required to make a comprehensive presentation.

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Research Methodology

Monday, March 16, 2009

Research Methodology

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