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Unit-I

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

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KU
CH. Siva Kumar
Dept. of Electrical Engineering
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University College of Engineering (A)

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Osmania University, Hyderabad

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1 CH. Siva Kumar, EED,OU

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Origin of the Word “Research”

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From the French word "recherche"

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which means to travel through or
survey

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§Re : Again,
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§Search : Examine closely and carefully
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CH. Siva Kumar, EED,OU

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Meaning of research

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q The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English lays down
the meaning of research as “a careful investigation or inquiry

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specially through search for new facts in any branch of
knowledge”.

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q Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized effort to

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gain new knowledge.”Some people consider research as a
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movement, a movement from the known to the unknown
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q It is considered as carefully investigation or inquiry to find out new

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facts in any field of knowledge.

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Objectives of Research

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q The purpose of research is to discover answers through the application of
scientific procedures.

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q The objectives are:

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• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it –
Exploratory or Formulative Research.

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• To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation
or a group – Descriptive Research.
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• To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it
is associated with something else – Diagnostic Research.
• To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables –
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Hypothesis-Testing Research.
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MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH

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— What makes people to undertake research? This is a

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question of fundamental importance. The possible motives
for doing research may be either one or more of the

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following:

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• Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential
benefits;
• Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems,

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i.e., concern over practical problems initiates research;
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• Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work;
• Desire to be of service to society;
• Desire to get respectability
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Research Types :

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— Explorative/ Formulative
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— Descriptive Vs Analytical Diagnostic
— Quantitative Vs Qualitative
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— Applied/ Action Vs Fundamental/ Basic/Pure purpose Process

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outcome
— Conceptual Vs Empirical
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Research Types contd….

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Explorative: When you use no earlier study for your reference. When you
study any of the topic in depth and which is done for the first time.
Descriptive Research : aims at facts finding of different kind and is more

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based on surveys. The main purpose of descriptive research is description

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of state of affairs as it exists at present. The main characteristics of this
method is that the researcher has no control over the variables, he can only
report only what has happened or what is happening. (no hypothesis)

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Example: What was the turnover of the organization last year? What are the
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levels of job satisfaction of the employees? What are the number of
complaints of an employee from the customers? What is the absentee rate
amongst a particular group?
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- Frequency of arrival of vehicles for repairs in a workshop

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Research Types contd….

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— Analytical research: On the other hand uses the facts and figures
provided by the descriptive research or which is already available and
analyses and evaluates them critically. An analytical research primarily aims

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at testing hypothesis and specifying and interpreting relationships.

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— Examples On the basis of last year’s figure setting hypothesis: What will be

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the turnover for this year? How can the absentee rate among the employees
be reduced? How can the number of complaints be reduced?
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Research Types contd….

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Quantitative research: Is based on quantity or amount. It is applicable to

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phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity.
This can be expressed in terms of quantity, amount, size, weight etc

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Example: Some organizations give more emphasis on quantity rather than quality.
What are number of complaints of an employee at the work spot.

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Qualitative research: on the other hand is concerned with qualitative phenomena.

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Example: Motivation in research
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Research design to find out how people feel or what they think about particular
subject or institution in quantitative research
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Research Types contd….

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Fundamental research: Is gathering information just for the sake of knowledge. There is no
application or commercial aspect involved.

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It is with generalization with formulation of a theory.
Example: Research concerning some natural phenomena or relating to pure mathematics.

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How does the memory system work. How are language skills developed. Discovery
Channel

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— Applied research: Aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem
facing a society or an industry. It may accidentally contribute to development

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of a new theory.
— The purpose is to test theories and other ideas in the context of naturally
occurring educational settings. Usually focused on a problem that needs to

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be solved to improve educational practice.
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Example: Does computer aided instruction improve student learning?
Administrative plans need actions so as to give perfection. Company adopts
promotional activities. Buy one get one free
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(“ek key sath ek free”)

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Research Types contd….

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Conceptual research: Is related to some abstract ideas or theories. It is

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generally used by the philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts
or to interpret the existing ones.
Empirical research: Relies on daily experiences and observation alone

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often at the cost of neglecting theory or systems. hypothesis formulation

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is there.
Many engineering oriented research works are of empirical type
involving physical experiments or simulation

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In this the experimenter has control over the variables under study and
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can deliberately manipulate any one of them to study its effects.
Evidence gathered through experiments or empirical studies is
considered to be the most powerful support for a given hypothesis
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Example: Boiling point of water.

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Research Types contd….

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Diagnostic research aims to identify the causes of a problem and its possible

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solutions. To test the frequency with which some thing is associated with
something else.

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Historical research: is that which utilizes historical sources like documents to
study events or ideas of the past, including the philosophy of persons and
groups.
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Example: How did Farm Life Schools differ from regular high schools?
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Research Approaches

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qThe above description of the types of research brings to

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light the fact that there are two basic approaches to
research, viz.,

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Quantitative approach and

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Qualitative approach

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— Quantitative approach involves the generation of data in
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quantitative form which can be subjected to rigorous quantitative
analysis in a formal and rigid fashion.
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— Qualitative approach to research is concerned with subjective

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assessment of attitudes, opinions and behavior

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Identifying Research Methodology

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To choose the appropriate research methods, it is necessary

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to clearly identify the research objectives. Here is an example of
some of the research objectives you can take into consideration for

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your business:
•To start with, find out the needs of your clients

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•Know their preferences and understand what is important to them

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•Find an appropriate way to make your customers aware of your
products and services.
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•Find ways to improve your products or services to suit the needs
of your customers.
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After identifying what you need to know, you should then ask what
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research methods will offer you that information.

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Significance of

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— The quality of life of a citizen of a country greatly depends on overall development of
the country achieves.

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— The economic development of many countries is an account of sustained and
substantial investment in Research and Development activities both by state and

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private sectors among other measures.
— Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking and it promotes the development
of logical habits of thinking and organisation.”

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— Research provides the basis for nearly all government policies in our economic
system.
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— The role of research in several fields of applied economics, whether related to
business or to the economy as a whole, has greatly increased in modern times.
— Research is equally important for social scientists in studying social relationships and
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in seeking answers to various social problems.

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§ To those students who are to write a master’s or Ph.D. thesis, research may mean a
careerism or a way to attain a high position in the social structure;
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Research Methods versus Methodology

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It seems appropriate at this juncture to explain the difference between
research methods and research methodology. Research methods may be
understood as all those methods/techniques that are used for conduction of

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research.
— Research methods: the researchers use in performing research

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operations into the following three groups:
1. In the first group we include those methods which are concerned with the collection of

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data. These methods will be used where the data already available are not sufficient to
arrive at the required solution;
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2. The second group consists of those statistical techniques which are used for establishing
relationships between the data and the unknowns;
3. The third group consists of those methods which are used to evaluate the accuracy of the
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results obtained.
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Research Methods versus Methodology

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Research methodology :

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1. It is a way to systematically solve the research problem.
2. It may be understood as a science of studying how research is done scientifically.

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3. In it we study the various steps that are generally adopted by a researcher in studying
his research problem along with the logic behind them.

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— It is necessary for the researcher to know not only the research methods/techniques but
also the methodology.

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• Researchers not only need to know how to develop certain indices or tests,
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• How to calculate the mean, the mode, the median or the standard deviation or chi-square,
• How to apply particular research techniques, but they also need to know which of these
methods or techniques, are relevant and which are not.
• What would they mean and indicate and why.
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Example: An Architect, who designs a building, has to consciously evaluate the basis of his
decisions, i.e., he has to evaluate why and on what basis he selects particular size, number
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and location of doors, windows and ventilators, uses particular materials and not others and
the like.
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Research Methods versus Methodology

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— Research methods may be understood as all those methods /techniques that are used

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for conduction of research.
Library Research

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I. Analysis of historical Records,
II. Analysis of documents

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Field Research
I. Non-participant direct observation

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II. Participant observation
III. Mass observation
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IV. Mail questionnaire
V. Group interview
VI. Telephone survey
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Laboratory Research
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Small group study of random behaviour, play and role analysis

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Scientific method Contd..

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• ‘Science’ refers to the body of systematic and organized

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knowledge which makes use of scientific method to acquire
knowledge in a particular field of enquiry.

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• Scientific method is the systematic collection of data (facts)

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and their theoretical treatment through proper observation,
experimentation and interpretation.

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• Scientific method attempts to achieve a systematic
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interrelation of facts by experimentation, observation, and
logical arguments from accepted postulates and a
combination of these three in varying proportions.
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Scientific method Contd..

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Scientific method is, thus, based on certain basic postulates which can be

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stated as under:
q It relies on empirical evidence;

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q It utilizes relevant concepts;

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q It is committed to only objective considerations;
q It presupposes ethical neutrality, i.e., it aims at nothing but making only

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adequate and correct statements about population objects;
q It results into probabilistic predictions;
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q Its methodology is made known to all concerned for critical scrutiny are for
use in testing the conclusions through replication;
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q It aims at formulating most general axioms or what can be termed as scientific

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theories.
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RESEARCH PROCESS

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Review the FF
literature FF

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Review

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Concepts Analyse
Design
And Collect Data
Research Interpret
Define theories Formulate Data (Test
(Including and

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Research hypothesis (Execution) Hypothesis
Problem Sample report
if any)
Review Design)
Previous
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I Research III IV V
findings VI VII
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IV

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F
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F Feed Back
Feed Forward
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Criteria of Good Research

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— Whatever may be the types of research works and studies, one thing that is important is
that they all meet on the common ground of scientific method employed by them.
• The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and common concepts be used.

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• The research procedure used should be described in sufficient detail to permit another
researcher to repeat the research for further advancement, keeping the continuity of

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what has already been attained.
• The procedural design of the research should be carefully planned to yield results that
are as objective as possible.

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• The researcher should report with complete frankness, flaws in procedural design and
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estimate their effects upon the findings.
• The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its significance and the
methods of analysis used should be appropriate. The validity and reliability of the data
should be checked carefully.
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• Conclusions should be confined to those justified by the data of the research and
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limited to those for which the data provide an adequate basis.

• Greater confidence in research is warranted if the researcher is experienced, has a
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good reputation in research and is a person of integrity.

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Criteria of Good Research

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we can state the qualities of a good research as under

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Systematic

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Logical

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Empirical KU
Replicable
Creative
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Problems Encountered by Researchers in India
Researchers in India, particularly those engaged in empirical research, are facing

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several problems. Some of the important problems are as follows:

§ The lack of a scientific training in the methodology of research is a great impediment for

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researchers in our country.
§ There is insufficient interaction between the university research departments on one side
and business establishments, government departments and research institutions on the

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other side.
§ The need for generating the confidence that the information/data obtained from a business
unit will not be misused.

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§ Research studies overlapping one another are undertaken quite often for want of adequate
information. KU
§ Library management and functioning is not satisfactory at many places and much of the
time and energy of researchers are spent in tracing out the books, journals, reports, etc.,
rather than in tracing out relevant material from them.
§ There is also the problem that many of our libraries are not able to get copies of old and
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new Acts/Rules, reports and other government publications in time.

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There may, at times, take place the problem of conceptualization and also problems
relating to the process of data collection and related things
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Major Limitations in Conducting a Research

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— Time
— Costs
— Access to resources

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— Approval by authorities
— Ethical concerns

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— Expertise

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Benefits to the society in general
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• Individuals in general and research participants in particular, gain self knowledge
which can help them improve their autonomous decision-making.

• The community gains collective self-knowledge that, once shared, can play a role
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in shaping education.
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• Informing policies in general creating a more efficient and it can help society find
ways to avoid injustices.
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Definition of a Research Problem

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The Research Problem is one which requires a researcher to find

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out the best solution for the given problem, i.e., to find out by
which course of action the objective can be attained optimally in

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the context of a given environment.

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There are several factors which may result in making the
problem complicated.
For instance, the environment may change affecting the

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efficiencies of the courses of action or the values of the
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outcomes; the number of alternative courses of action may be
very large; persons not involved in making the decision may be
affected by it and react to it favourably or unfavourably, and
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similar other factors. All such elements (or at least the important
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ones) may be thought of in context of a research problem.

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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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Decide on the general

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area of study
or
investigation

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Generally influenced by
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your own experiences
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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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General area of investigation –

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• Sustain your interest & stimulate your imagination

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• Within your range of competencies
• Manageable in size

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• Potential to make a contribution to body of knowledge
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• Based on obtainable data
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• Demonstrate your independent mastery of both the

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• subject and method

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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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General area of investigation, continued

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• “My study is about…….” or “the purpose of …….”
• Using Creswell’s example of scripting a single

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sentence that
• completes the above thought

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• Make it twelve words or less if possible
• Becomes a working title for your research.
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• Is it researchable?
• Example – My study is about the effect of size and
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color of screen icons on user perceptions

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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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Narrow the general topic down
• To a specific statement of

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the research problem

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• Use a single paradigm if
possible
• Difficulty -- the topic &

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research question must be
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formulated before you have a
thorough understanding of
research
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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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Narrow the general topic down
• Literature review usually limited at this point
• Must make wise choices about what to investigate,

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study, explore

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• Is the topic better suited to a qualitative or
quantitative

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• paradigm?
• Nature of the problem
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• Previously studied, much literature – quantitative
• Exploratory study, lacking theory base -- qualitative
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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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Understand sources from

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which you define the
problem

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• Experience
• Experts that you know

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• Deductions from theory
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• Readily available problem
• Review of literature
• Limits of sources
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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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• Evaluate the potential of

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the problem
• Important enough to merit
investigation or study?

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• Does it meet criteria?
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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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Evaluate the potential of the problem
Criteria:

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• Will findings make a contribution to body of

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knowledge?
• Will findings make a difference for others?
• Lead to definition of new problems or other

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research? KU
• Really researchable?
• Knowledge & experience in the problem area?
• Information or data available to you?
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• Complete in the allotted time frame?

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• Simple enough for your first study?

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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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A good problem
statement

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• Clarify exactly what you
want to determine or solve

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• Scope limited to a specific
question; sub-questions
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• Operationally defines key
terms
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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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A good problem statement
• Operational definition (quantitative study)

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• Defines the variables operationally
• Defines a concept in terms of the operations or

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processes that will be used to measure or
manipulate the concept

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Tentative definition (qualitative study)
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• Emerge from data collection
• Not usually included in a list of definitions but
is/are tentative pending visiting the field setting to
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gather info
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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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Balance between general

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& specific in problem
statement

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• Avoid trivial problems that
are meaningless

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• Broad enough to be
significant according to
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the criteria you establish
• Specific enough to be
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• feasible for the research

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• situation
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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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Format of problem
statement – how you

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state the problem

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• Question – implies
relationship between two

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or more variables
• Statement – describes the
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scope of your work
• Hypothesis -- relationships
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• Objective – achieve,
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measure
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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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Problem stated in a way

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that it is researchable
• Is research into the

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“question” possible?
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Steps to Defining the Research Problem

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Clear & feasible problem

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statement
• Can it be understood by

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others?
• Can you describe it

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concisely, clearly?
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• Do you demonstrate
understanding of the area
being investigated,
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studied?
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Steps to Review in Future

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We will spend time in upcoming

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classes on:
• Population or audience

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Concepts, constructs,
variables

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• Methods
• Analysis techniques
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• Synthesizing findings
• Defining outcomes
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• Defining future research

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PROBLEM FORMULATION

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Defining a Researchable Problem

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PROBLEM FORMULATION:

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SOURCES OF IDEAS

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Ø News Stories

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Ø Personal Experiences
Ø Review of Research

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— Electronic Databases
— Library Indexes

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KU — Web pages
— Internet Libraries – NCJRS, NLM…
Ø Authorities
— Opinion Leaders
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— Funding Sources
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PROBLEM FORMULATION:

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FOCUSING (DEFINING) THE PROBLEM

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— Ways of Defining Problem
— Formal (nominal), defining with words

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— Example (epistemic), defining by example
— Procedural (operational), defining a method to

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recognize examples
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SOURCES OF DEFINITIONS: 1

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— Articles in Professional Journals
— Electronic Abstracts and Indexes

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— Web Searches

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— Books, Monographs, Government
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Reports
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SOURCES OF DEFINITIONS: 2

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— Professional Standards

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— Legislation

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— Regulations
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— Journalistic Sources
— Advocacy Groups
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WHAT MAKES A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION? 1

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— Focused
— Empirical

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— Clear KU
— Based on prior research or
theory
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WHAT MAKES A GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION? 2

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— Important to answer
— Does not use “should”

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— Has intuitive appeal
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PROBLEM FORMULATION:

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TYPES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS

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— Exploratory

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— Descriptive
— Explanatory

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— Predictive
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— Evaluative
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EXPLORATORY QUESTIONS

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AR
— Clarifying Questions
— Clarifying Populations

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— Clarifying Ideas
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— Open-ended
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DESCRIPTIVE QUESTIONS

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— Obtaining specific facts

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— Obtaining facts to describe issue
— Summarizing population characteristics

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— Examining non-causal relationships
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EXPLANATORY QUESTIONS: 1

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— Examines causal relationships

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— Tests causal hypotheses
— Explains relationships

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KU — Builds theories
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EXPLANATORY QUESTIONS: 2

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PREDICTION

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— Predicts events

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— Predicts characteristics
— Uses Theory and Description

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KU — Develops predictive equations
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MIXED QUESTIONS

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— Triangulation

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— Multi-measures
— Multi-methods
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What is the Necessity of defining a Research Problem
explain ?

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Necessity of defining a research problem is important to formulate a research problem
properly. Quite often we all hear that a problem clearly stated is a problem half solved.

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This statement signifies the need for defining a research problem. The problem

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to be investigated must be defined unambiguously for that will help to discriminate
relevant data from the irrelevant ones.
A proper definition of research problem will enable the researcher to be on the

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track whereas an ill-defined problem may create hurdles.
Questions like: What data are to be collected?
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What characteristics of data are relevant and need to be studied?
What relations are to be explored. What techniques are to be used
for the purpose?
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and similar other questions crop up in the mind of the researcher who can well plan his
strategy and find answers to all such questions only when the research problem has been
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well defined..
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Thus, defining a research problem properly is a prerequisite for any study

ED
and is a step of the highest importance.
In fact, formulation of a problem is often more essential than its

,E
solution.

AR
It is only on careful detailing the research problem that we can
work out the research design and can smoothly carry on all the

M
consequential steps involved while doing research
KU
A
IV
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What are the techniques involved in defining a Research

,O
Problem ?

ED
The techniques Involved in defining a Research Problem is a crucial part of a
research study and must in no case be accomplished hurriedly. However, in

,E
practice this a frequently overlooked which causes a lot of problems later on.

AR
Hence, the research problem should be defined in a systematic manner, giving
due weightage to all relating points. The technique for the purpose involves the

M
undertaking of the following steps generally one after the other:
KU
[Link] of the problem in a general way;
[Link] the nature of the problem;
A

[Link] the available literature

IV

[Link] the ideas through discussions; and

.S

[Link] the research problem into a working proposition.

H

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Statement of the problem in a general way:

ED
First of all the problem should be stated in a broad general way, keeping in view
either some practical concern or some scientific or intellectual interest.

,E
For this purpose, the researcher must immerse himself thoroughly in the

AR
subject matter concerning which he wishes to pose a problem.
In case of social research, it is considered advisable to do some field

M
observation and as such the researcher may undertake some sort of preliminary
KU
survey or what is often called pilot survey.
Then the researcher can himself state the problem or he can seek the
A

guidance of the guide or the subject expert in accomplishing this task.

IV
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,O
Often, the guide puts forth the problem in general terms, and it is then up

ED
to the researcher to narrow it down and phrase the problem in operational
terms.

,E
In case there is some directive from an organizational authority,

AR
the problem then can be stated accordingly.
The problem stated in a broad general way may contain various

M
ambiguities which must be resolved by cool thinking and rethinking over
KU
the problem.
At the same time the feasibility of a particular solution has to be
A

considered and the same should be kept in view while stating the problem.
IV
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Understanding the nature of the problem:

,O
ED
The next step in defining the problem is to understand its origin and
nature clearly.

,E
The best way of understanding the problem is to discuss it
with those who first raised it in order to find out how the problem

AR
originally came about and with what objectives in view.
If the researcher has stated the problem himself, he should

M
consider once again all those points that induced him to make a
KU
general statement concerning the problem.
For a better understanding of the nature of the problem
involved, he can enter into discussion with those who have a good
A

knowledge of the problem concerned or similar other problems.

IV

The researcher should also keep in view the environment

within which the problem is to be studied and understood.
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Surveying the available literature:

ED
All available literature concerning the problem at hand must necessarily be
surveyed and examined before a definition of the research problem is given.

,E
This means that the researcher must be well-conversant with

AR
relevant theories in the field, reports and records as also all other relevant
literature.

M
He must devote sufficient time in reviewing of research already
KU
undertaken on related problems.
This is done to find out what data and other materials, if any, are
A

available for operational purposes. “Knowing what data are available often
IV

serves to narrow the problem itself as well as the technique that might be
used.”.
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,O
This would also help a researcher to know if there are certain gaps in the
theories, or whether the existing theories applicable to the problem under study

ED
are inconsistent with each other, or whether the findings of the different studies

,E
do not follow a pattern consistent with the theoretical expectations and so on.
All this will enable a researcher to take new strides in the field for

AR
furtherance of knowledge i.e., he can move up starting from the existing premise.

M
Studies on related problems are useful for indicating the type of
KU
difficulties that may be encountered in the present study as also the possible
analytical shortcomings.
At times such studies may also suggest useful and even new lines of
A
IV

approach to the present problem.

.S
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Developing the ideas through discussions:

ED
Discussion concerning a problem often produces useful information. Various

,E
new ideas can be developed through such an exercise.

AR
Hence, a researcher must discuss his problem with his colleagues and
others who have enough experience in the same area or in working on similar

M
problems. This is quite often known as an experience survey.
KU
People with rich experience are in a position to enlighten the
researcher on different aspects of his proposed study and their advice and
A

comments are usually invaluable to the researcher.

IV
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ED
They help him sharpen his focus of attention on specific aspects within the
field.

,E
Discussions with such persons should not only be confined to the

AR
formulation of the specific problem at hand, but should also be concerned
with the general approach to the given problem, techniques that might be

M
used, possible solutions, etc.
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IV
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Rephrasing the research problem:

,O
ED
Finally, the researcher must sit to rephrase the research problem into a working
proposition.

,E
Once the nature of the problem has been clearly understood, the

AR
environment (within which the problem has got to be studied) has been defined,
discussions over the problem have taken place and the available literature has

M
been surveyed and examined, rephrasing the problem into analytical or
KU
operational terms is not a difficult task.
Through rephrasing, the researcher puts the research problem in as
A

specific terms as possible so that it may become operationally viable and may
IV

help in the development of working hypotheses

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,O
In addition to what has been stated above, the following points must also be
observed while defining a research problem:

ED
•Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in the

,E
statement of the problem, should be clearly defined.
•Basic assumptions or postulates (if any) relating to the research problem

AR
should be clearly stated.

M
•A straight forward statement of the value of the investigation (i.e., the criteria
KU
for the selection of the problem) should be provided.
•The suitability of the time-period and the sources of data available must also
be considered by the researcher in defining the problem.
A
IV

•The scope of the investigation or the limits within which the problem is to be
studied must be mentioned explicitly in defining a research problem.
.S
H

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