chapter 1 the nature and scope of research

8/10/2019 Chapter 1 the Nature and Scope of Research

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Chapter One

THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF

RESEARCH

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What is research?The systematic investigation and study of

materials and resources in order to

establish and reach at new conclusions.(Oxford dictionary )

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Seeking through methodical processes to

add to ones own body of knowledge andto that of others, by discovery of non trivial

facts and insights.

A scientific and systematic search forpertinent information on a specific topic.( a

systematic effort to gain new knowledge.)

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A research is an organizedand systematic

way of finding answers to questions.

Systematic-Because there is a definite set ofprocedures and steps which you will follow.

Organized: it is a planned procedure, not a

spontaneous one.

It is focused and limited to a specific scope.

Finding answers:- It is the end of all questions.

Whether it is the answer to the hypothesis or even asimple question, research is successful when we findanswers.

Some times the answer may be no, but Still this is theanswer

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Questions: Are central to aresearch.

If there is no question, then theanswer is of no use.

Research is focused on relevant,useful and important questions.

Without a question, research has nofocus, drive or purpose.

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Research is an academic activity

Search for knowledge

An art of scientific investigation

Research comprise

Defining and redefining problems

Formulating hypothesis

Collecting, organizing and evaluating data

Making deductions and reaching

conclusions Carefully testing the conclusions to

determine whether they fit the formulated

hypothesis or not. 6


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Research often makes of various

sources of knowledge:-

Intuitive:- when coming up with an initialidea for a research.

Authoritative:- when reviewing

professional literature.

Logical:- when reasoning from findings to

conclusions.

Empirical:- when engaging in proceduresthat leads to these findings/with new data

sets and experiments findings.

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Objectives of Research

To discover answers to questions through the

application of scientific procedures.

To find out the truth which is hidden/has not

been discovered as yet.

To gain familiarity with the phenomenon or to

achieve new insights in to it

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Objectives of Research

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 the hypothesis of casual relationships

between variables. 9


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Significance of Research

Increased amount of research makeprogress possible.

Promote scientific thinking & development oflogical habits of thinking & organization.

There is more information and knowledge tounderstand the world than before.

Necessary in allocation of recourses or for

optimum resource allocation 10


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Significance of Research

A means of livelihood

An outlet for new ideas & insights

The development of new styles & creativework

The generalizations of new theories

Fountain of knowledge Important source of providing guidelines

for solving for solving different problems.

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Motivations in Research

What makes people undertake research

Desire to get research degree along with itsconsequential benefits.

Desire to solve a challenge in solving the unsolved

problems.

Desire to design appropriate policies.

Desire to contribute to the existing stock of

knowledge

Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creativework

Desire to be of service to the society

Directives of government

Curiosity about new things etc12


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Research and Theory

What is theory?

A statement or set of statements explainingone or more laws, usually including one

indirect concept needed to explain therelationships between variables.

If the statements concern only a single

relationship between variables, we arespeaking of a law. However a number of lawsare tied together in a more general set ofstatements, which is called theory

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Theoretical concepts are not observeddirectly

They can be observed only indirectly byreference that events that are directlyobserved.

A theoretical concept is an invention of thescientist to account laws of behavior.

E.g. In physics ,no one has ever seen an

electron. It is a theoretical conceptinvented to account for particular law ofphysics.

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Research and Theory

Theory may enter in to a Research

in the following ways:

Suggesting a problem for study

Providing hypothesis to be tested

Selection of variables, classes of data

Making research findings intelligible

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Types ofResearch

Can be grouped in to: Exploratory Research

Descriptive Research

Explanatory/Causal Research

Can also be categorized as:

Quantitative Vs Qualitative Research

Conceptual Vs Empirical Research

Cross-Sectional Vs Longitudinal Research 16


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1. Exploratory Research:

undertaken with the aim of clarifying

ambiguous problems

general problems usually known but not

sufficiently understood

the purpose is to get more information, not to

uncover specific courses of action

(subsequent research)

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Determining a specific course of action to

follow is not a purpose of exploratory

research!

Example:Child-Care support programme for

employees

Major emphasis:- Discovery of ideas &

insights

Research Design: must be flexible enouph to

provide opportunity for considering different

aspects of a problem under study.

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2. Descriptive Research:

Include surveys & fact finding enquiries of different kinds

undertaken with the aim of determining the

characteristics of a population or phenomenon

Previous knowledge of problem exists

High degree of precision or accuracy required

Major Purpose:- description of the state of affairs as it

exists at present.

Main Characterstics: research has no control over the

variables, can only repot what has happened & what is

happening. 19


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Examples:

Who are the main consumers of organic foods?

How many students read the prescribed course

literature?

Where do most holiday-makers travelling overseas

go?

When do petrol stations tend to raise their prices?

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3 C l/E l t R h


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3. Causal/Explanatory Research:

undertaken with the aim of identifying cause and

effect relationships amongst variables

Often difficult to determine because of the

influence of other variables (concommitant

hidden variables)

Purpose: fnding the Reasons why? Desire to know how the cusal factors relate to the

effects under predictions.

Usually refered as hypothesis-testing

Such studies require procedures that: Reduce bias & increase reliability

Permit drawing inference about causality

Design of research in such kind of studies

means Design of Experments 21


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Example: slow connection speed

cauases underutilization of

internet (indicative of a causalrelationship (?))

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Quantitative Research

Based on the measurement or amount

Applicable to phenomenon that can be expressed in terms

of quantity.

Qualitative Research:- Concerned with qualitative

Phenomenon/ related to quality or kind

Applied Research:- aims at finding a solution for animmediate problem facing a society/a business

organization.

Fundamental Research:- concerned with

generalizations & with the formulations of a theory Examples:- research relating to pure mathematics like

Driving Formulas

Research carried out to make generalization about human

behavior. 23


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Conceptual Research

Related to some abstract idea/theory

Generally used by philosophers & thinker todevelop new concepts or to re-interpret

existing once.

Empirical Research:-

Relies on experience or observation

It is data based research, coming up with

conclusions which are capable of being

verified. Tried to prove a given hypothesis with new

data

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From the point of view of TIME, we may

have:-

Cross Sectional Research:- where the

research is confined to a single time period. Also called one time research

Longitudinal Research:- where the research

is carried out several time periods

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The Scientific Approach

The Scientific

Methodinvolves a

series of steps thatare used to

investigate anatural occurrence.

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Steps of a Scientific method

1. Problem description /Question

2. Observation/Research

3. Formulate a Hypothesis

4. Experiment

5. Collect and Analyze Results

6. Conclusion

7. Communicate the Results 27


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1. Problem/Question: Develop a

question or problem that can besolved through experimentation

2. Observation/Research: Makeobservations and research your

topic of interest.

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3. Formulate a Hypothesis: Predict a

possible answer to the problem orquestion.

Example: If soil temperaturesrise, thenplant growthwill increase

4. Experiment: Develop and follow aprocedure.

Include a detailed materialslist.The outcome must be measurable(quantifiable).

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5. Collect and Analyze Results:

Modify the procedure if needed.

Confirm the results by retesting.

Include tables, graphs, and

photographs.

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6. Conclusion: Include a statement thataccepts or rejects the hypothesis.

Make recommendations for further study

and possible improvements to the

procedure.

7. Communicate the Results: Be

prepared to present the project to an

audience. Expect questions from the audience.

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Conclusions

and Report

Gathering

the Data

Planning

a Sample

Planning a

Research Design

Define

Problem

Stages in the Research

Process

Processing and

Analysing the Data

Conclusions

and Report

Gathering

the Data

Planning

a Sample

Planning a

Research Design

Define

Problem

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Stages of the Research Process

Problem identification and its justification

State of the Art/ Literature Review

Context definition

Questions/Hypothesis Planning the Research Design/ Methodology

Data Collection

Data Analysis Hypothesis Testing

Report Writing

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chapter 1 the nature and scope of research

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