Unit One

(I) Meanings, Objectives and Motivation of research

A) Meaning of Research :-

Research, the word commonly means the search of knowledge. It’s also called as Art of
scientific investigation. Research is an academic activity and the term is usually used very
technically. Research is also considered as a movement, a movement from the
known to the unknown. It is actually a voyage of discovery. We all possess the vital
instinct of inquisitiveness for, when the unknown confronts us, we wonder and our
inquisitiveness makes us probe and attain full and fuller understanding of the unknown.
This inquisitiveness is the mother of all knowledge and the method, which man employs
for obtaining the knowledge of whatever the unknown, can be termed as research.
Conclusively, the purpose of research is to enhance society by advancing knowledge
through the development of scientific theories, concepts and ideas.

Definitions of Research :

Redman & Mory:- It is defined as a “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.”

The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English :- Lays down the meaning of
research as “a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any
branch of knowledge.”

Clifford Woody:- “Research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating

hypotheses or suggested solutions; collecting, organising and evaluating data; making
deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to
determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis”.

Research is, thus, an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for its
advancement. It is the pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation, comparison and
experiment. In short, the search for knowledge through objective and systematic methods
of finding solutions to a problem is research. The systematic approach concerning
generalisation and the formulation of a theory is also research.
B) Objectives of Research:-

From weather forecasts to the discovery of antibiotics, researchers are constantly trying to
find new ways to understand the world and how things work – with the ultimate goal of
improving our lives.

The purpose of research is therefore to find out what is known, what is not and what we
can develop further. In this way, scientists can develop new theories, ideas and products
that shape our society and our everyday lives.

Talking about objectives of research, in general terms it means that why are we doing this
research, what is it that we want to find out and why?

Each research has its own very specific objective. However, we may think of them falling
in broad categories of the following:-

1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it.

2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or
a group.
3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is
associated with something else.
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables.

C) Motivation Of Research :-

Why do you want to do the research? What is making you do that or commit to research
for a long period of time along with so much focus and dedication?

Honestly, it could be anything. A compulsory research project, Master’s thesis, the thought
“if you do it abhi, it will look good on CV”.

These are all expected and very personal aspects that may motivate us to do a research.

However, technically :-
 1. You want to get intellectual satisfaction by doing something unique and
differently solved in nature.
2. You would want to really help the society by using your understanding of the
subject matter and explore a new angle about it.
3. You know that this sort of research would help you gain an immense amount of
respect.
4. You want to get a research degree!
5. You want to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i.e., concern
over practical problems initiates research.

Moreover, these are not the only reasons for any one of us to be motivated to do research.
There could be multiple, there could be according to government directives, employment
conditions, number of people being aware about so and so what makes them not avail the
services and a lot more. Sometimes, these reasons, more than motivating it could also
compel us to do research.

II) Types of Research

Variables- Independent and Dependent

Independent variable- This is the element or aspect that can be changed or manipulated
by the researcher.

Dependent Variable- This is the one that is to be measured or tested.

For example, in a class of 150 students- a professor is interested in knowing how many
students have actually watched the previously given lectures by viewing the number of
times the video has been watched (dependent variable), however, how many students did
not receive or joined the group later does not matter (independent variable). The number
of times the video has been watched is not dependent on how many students joined the
group, attended the classes, received the link etc.

For further reference, you can look upto the link:

https://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/help/user_guide/graph/variables.asp

(It’s the easiest explanation, I promise).

1. Descriptive V/s Analytical

Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds.

The major purpose of descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it
exists at present. In social science and business research we quite often use the
term Ex post facto research for descriptive research studies. The main
characteristic of this method is that the researcher has no control
over the variables; he can only report what has happened or what is
happening. Most ex post facto research projects are used for
descriptive studies in which the researcher seeks to measure such
items as, for example, frequency of shopping, preferences of people, or
similar data. Ex post facto studies also include attempts by
researchers to discover causes even when they cannot control the
variables.

In analytical research, on the other hand, the researcher has to use facts or
information already available, and analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the
material.

2. Quantitative V/s Qualitative

Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount. It is

applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity. Qualitative
research, on the other hand, is concerned with qualitative phenomena, i.e.,
phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind. For instance, when we are
interested in investigating the reasons for human behavior (i.e., why people think or
do certain things), we quite often talk of ‘Motivation Research’, an important type of
qualitative research. This type of research aims at discovering the underlying
motives and desires, using in depth interviews for the purpose. Other techniques
of such research are word association tests, sentence completion tests, story
completion tests and similar other projective techniques. Attitude or opinion
research i.e Research designed to find out how people feel or what they think about
a particular subject or institution is also qualitative research. One of the major
differences between the two is that quantitative research involves
 close-ended questions while qualitative research involves open-ended
questions.

3. Conceptual V/s Empirical

Conceptual research is related to some abstract idea(s) or theory. It is generally

used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret
existing ones. On the other hand, empirical research relies on experience or
observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory. It is data-based
research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by
observation or experiment. We can also call it an experimental type of
research. In such a research it is necessary to get at facts firsthand, at their
source, and actively to go about doing certain things to stimulate the production of
desired information. In such a research, the researcher must first provide himself
with a working hypothesis or guess as to the probable results. He then works to get
enough facts (data) to prove or disprove his hypothesis. He then sets up
experimental designs which he thinks will manipulate the persons or the materials
concerned so as to bring forth the desired information. Such research is thus
characterized by the experimenter’s control over the variables under study and his
deliberate manipulation of one of them to study its effects. Empirical research is
appropriate when proof is sought that certain variables affect other variables in
some way. Evidence gathered through experiments or empirical studies is today
considered to be the most powerful support possible for a given hypothesis.

4. Applied V/s Fundamental

Research can either be applied research or fundamental research. Applied research

aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an
industrial/business organisation, whereas fundamental research is mainly
concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of a theory. “Gathering
knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research.” Research
concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics are examples
of fundamental research. Similarly, research studies, concerning human behaviour
carried on with a view to make generalisations about human behaviour, are also
examples of fundamental research, but research aimed at certain conclusions (say, a
solution) facing a concrete social or business problem is an example of applied
 research. Research to identify social, economic or political trends that may affect a
particular institution or the copy research (research to find out whether certain
communications will be read and understood) or the marketing research or
evaluation research are examples of applied research. Thus, the central aim of
applied research is to discover a solution for some pressing practical problem,
whereas basic research is directed towards finding information that has a broad base
of applications and thus, adds to the already existing organized body of scientific
knowledge.

5. Others

Based on either the purpose of research, or the time required to accomplish

research, on the environment in which research is done, or on the basis of some
other similar factors, other types of research are highlighted.

Time:-

a. One-time Research - Research is confined to a single-time period.

b. Longitudinal Research - Research is carried over several time periods.

Environment:-

a. Field-setting research
b. Laboratory research
c. Simulation research