RESEARCH

MEANING OF RESEARCH
Research in common practice parlance refers to a search for knowledge. Once can also define
research as a scientific research and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific
topic. In fact research is an art of scientific investigation. The advanced learners dictionary of
current English lays down the meaning of research as a careful investigation or inquiry
especially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge. Redman & Morry defines
research as a movement a movement from known to unknown. It is actually a probe and attain
full and fuller understanding of the unknown confronts us, we wonder and our inquisitiveness
make us probe and attends full and fuller information of unknown. This inquisitiveness is the
mother of all knowledge and the method which man employees for the obtaining the
knowledge of whatever the unknown can be termed as research.

Research is an academic activity and as such the term should be used in a technical sense.
According to Clifford woody research comprises defining and redefining problem, formulating
hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, and are at last carefully testing conclusions to
determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis .D.Slesigner and M.Stepenson in the
encyclopedia and symbols for the purpose of generalizing to extend, correct and verify
knowledge, art.”Research is thus , an original contribution to the existing stock of study,
observation, comparison and experiment. In short, the search for problem is research. The
systematic approach concerning generalization and the formulation of a theory is also research
as such the term ‘ research’ refers to the hypothesis, collecting the facts or data, analyzing the
facts and researching certain conclusions either in form of solutions towards concerned problem
or in certain generalization for some theortical formulation.
OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH
The purpose of research is to discover answers to question through the application of scientific
procedures. The main of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has been not
discovering as yet. Through each research study has its own specific purpose, we may think of research
objectives as falling into a number of following broad grouping:
1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this object
in view are termed as exploratory or formulize research studies);
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or group(studies
with this object in view are known as descriptive studies);
3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which is associated with
something else(studies with the object in view are know as diagnostic research studies);
4. To test a hypothesis of a casual relationship between variables (such studies are known as
hypothesis-testing research studies).

MOTIVATION IN RESEARCH
What makes people to undertake research? This is a question of fundamental importance. The possible
motives may be either one or more of the following.

1. Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits;

2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problem, i.e. concern over practical
problems initiates research;
3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work;
4. Desire to be of service to society;
5. Desire to get responsibility.

However this is not an exhaustive list of factors motivating people to undertake research studies.
Many more factors such as directives of government, employment conditions, curiosity about new
things desire to understand causal relationships, social thinking and awaking , and the like may as
well motivate(or at time compel) people to perform research operations.

TYPES OF RESEARCH
The basic types of research are as follows :
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 exits at the present. In social research and business research we quit often use the term ex
post facto research for descriptive research studies. The main characteristics of this method is
that researcher has no control over the variables; he can only report what has happened or
what is happening.

2. Applied v/s fundamental: Research can be either be applied (or action) research or fundamental
(to basic or pure) research applied aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a
society or an industrial / business organization, whereas fundamental research is mainly concern
with organization and with formulation of the theory . Research concerning some concerning
 some natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics are examples of fundamental
research.

3. 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. Quantitative
research , is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, ideal phenomena investigating the
reasons for human behavior i.e. why people think or do certain things.

4. Conceptual v/s empirical: conceptual research is that related to some abstracts ideas or theory .
it is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret
existing ones. On the alone , often without do regard for system and theory. It is data-based
research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified research. In such a
research it is necessary to get at facts first hand, at their source and actively to go about doing
certain things to stimulate the production of desired information.

5. Some other types of research: All other types of research variation of one or more of the above
stated approaches, based on either the purpose of research, on the experiment in which
research is done, or on the think a research either as one-time research or longitudinal research.
In the former case the research is confined to the single time –period, whereas in the latter case
the research is carried on several time – periods

RESEARCH APPROACHES
The above description the type of research bring the fact there are two basic approaches to research,
viz.

 Quantitative approach
 Qualitative approach

The former involves the generation of data is quantitative form which can be a subjected to rigorous
quantitative analysis in a formal and rigid fashion. This approach can be further sub-classified into
inferential, experimental and stimulation approaches to research. The purpose of inferential approach
to research is to form which to infer characteristics or relationship of population. This usually means
survey research where sample of population is studied (questioned or observed) to determine its
characteristics ,and it is then inferred that the population has the same characteristics. Experimental
approach is characterized by much greater control over research environment and this case some
variables are manipulated to observes their effect on their variables.
Quantitative approach to research is concerned with subjective assessment of attitudes, opinion and
behavior. Research in such a situation is a function of researcher insights and impressions. Such an
approach to research generates results either in non-quantitative or in the form which are not subject to
rigorous quantitative analysis. Generally the techniques of focus group interview, projective techniques
and depth interviews are use
SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH
“ All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than overconfidence for it leads to inquiry, and
inquiry leads to invention” is a famous Hudson Maxim in context of which the significance of research
Can well be understood. Increased amount of research make possible. Research inculcates scientific and
inductive thinking and it promotes the development of logical habit of thinking and organization.

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. The increasingly complex nature of
business and government has focused attention on the use of research in solving operational problems.
Research as an aid to economic policy, has gained importance, both for government or business.

Research provides a basis for nearly all government policies in our economic system. For instance
government budgets rest in all part on an analysis of the needs and desires of the people and on the
availability of revenues to meet these needs. The cost of needs has to be equated to probable revenues
and these are a field where research is most needed. Through research we can device alternative
policies and can as well examine the consequences of each of these alternative.

Research process:
Before embarking on the details of research methodology and techniques, it seems appropriate to
present a brief overview of research process. Research process consist of serious of actions or steps
necessary to effectively carry out research and the desire sequencing of these steps the following cahrt
shows the research process.

A brief description of this section is given below:

 Formulating the research problem: These are two types of research

problem, vis., those which relates to states of nature and those which relate
to relationship between variables. At the very outset the researcher must
single out the problem he wants to study,i.e he must decide the general area
of interest or problem may be stated in a broad general way and then the
ambiguities, if any relating to the problem be resolved. Then the feasibility
of a particular solution has been considering before a working formulation of
a problem can be set up. The formulation of a general topic into a scientific
research problem, thus, constitutes the first step in research problem, vis.,
understanding the problem thoroughly, and rephrasing the same into
meaningful terms from an analytical point of view.

 Extension literature survey: Once the problem is formulated, a brief

summery of it should be written down. It is compulsory for the research
worker writing a thesis for Ph.d degree to write a synopsis of the topic and
submit it to the necessary committee or the research board approval. At this
juncture the researcher should undertake extensive literature survey
connected with the problem. For this purpose, the abstracting and indexing
 journals and academic journals, conference proceedings, government
reports, books process it should be remembered that once source that lead
to another. The earlier studies, if any, which are similar to the study in hand,
should be carefully studied. A good library will be great help to the
researcher at this stage.

 Development of working hypothesis: after extensive literature survey,

researcher should be state in clear terms the working hypothesis or
hypotheses. Working hypothesis is tentative assumption made in order to
draw out and test its logical or emphirical consequence. As such the manner
in which research hypotheses are develop is particularly important since
they provide the focal point for research. They also affect the manner in
which tests must be conducted in the analysis of data and indirectly the
quality of data which is required for the analysis . In most of types of
research, the development of working hypothesis plays an important role.
Hypothesis should be very specific and limited to the piece of research in
hand because it has to be tested. The role of hypothesis is to guide the
researcher by delimiting the area of research and to keep him on the right
track.

 Preparing the research design : the research design having been formulated
in clear cut terms, the researcher will be required to prepare a research
design, I.e. he will have to state the conceptual structure within which
research would be conducted. The preparation of such a design facilitates
the research to be as efficient as possible yielding maximum information. In
other word the function of research design is to provide for the collection of
relevant evidence with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money.

 Determining sample design : the entire item under consideration in any field
of enquiry constitutes a ‘universe’ or ‘population’ . a complete
enumerations of all the items in the ‘population’ is known as census enquiry.
It can be presumed that in such n enquiry when all items are covered no
element of chance is left and highest accuracy is obtained. But in practice it
may not be true. Even the slightest element of bias in such enquiry will get a
larger and larger as the number of observation increases.
 Collecting the data: in dealing with real life problem it is found that data at
hand are inadequate, and hence, it becomes necessary to collect data that
are appropriate data which differ considerably in contests of money cost,
time and other resources at the disposal of researcher.
Primary data can be collected either through experiment or through survey.
If the researcher conducts an experiment, he observes some quantitative
measurement or the data, with the help of which he survey, data can be
collected by observation, through personal interviews, by mailing of
questionnaires, through schedules etc.

 Execution of the project : execution of the project is a very important step in

research process. If the execution of the project proceeds on the correct
lines, the data to be collected would be adequate and dependable. The
researcher should see that the project is executed in a systematic manner
and in time. If the survey is to be conducted by means of structure
questionnaires, data can be readily machine-proceeds. In such a situation
questions as well as the possible answers may be coded. If data are to be
collected through interviewers, arrangements should be made for selection
and training of the interviewers.The training may be given with help of
instructions manuals which explain clearly the job of the interviewers at
each step. Occasional field checks should be made o ensure that the
interviewers are doing their assigned job sincerely and efficiently.

 Analysis of data : After the data have been collected, the researcher turns to
the task of analyzing them. The analyses of data require a number of closely
related operations such a establishment of categories to raw data through
coding , tabulation and then drawing statistical inferences. The unwieldy
data should be necessarily be condensed into a few manageable groups and
tables for further analaysis. The researcher should classify the raw data into
some purposeful and usable categories.

 Hypothesis –testing : After analyzing the data as stated above ,the

researcher is in the position to test the hypotheses, if any, he had
formulated earlier. Do the facts support the hypotheses or they happen to
be contrary? This is the usual position which should be answered while
testing hypotheses.
  Generalization and interpretations : if a hypotheses is tested and uphold
several times, t may be possible for the researcher to arrive at
generalization, i.e. to build a theory. As a matter of fact, the real value of
research lies in its ability to arrive at certain generalization. If the researcher
had no hypothesis to start with, he might seek to explain his findings on the
basis on some theory.

 Preparation of the report or the thesis : finally the researcher has to prepare
the report of what has been done by him. Writing of report must be done
with great care keeping.
At the end of the report, appendices should be enlisted in respect of all
technical data. Bibliography i.e. list of books, journals, reports, etc.,
consulted should also be given in the end . index should also be given
specially in a published research report.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Meaning of research design:

The formidable problem that follows task of defining the research problem is the preparation of the
design of the research project , popularly known as the “research design”. Decisions regarding what
where, when, how much, by what means concerning an enquiry or a research study constitute the how
will analysis of economy with procedure. In fact the research design is the conceptual structure within
which research is conducted; it constitutes the blueprint for the collection, the researcher will do from
writing the hypotheis and its operational implications to the final analysis of data. More explicity the
design decision happen to be in repect of:

 What is study about?

 Why is the study being made?
 Where will the study be carried out?
 What type data is required?
 Where can be the required data be found?
 What periods of time will the study include?
 What will be sample design?
 What techniques of data collection will be used?
 How will the data be analyzed?
 In what style will the report be prepared?
Need for research design
Research design is needed because it facilitates the smooth sailing of the various research
operations, thereby making research as efficient as possible yielding maximal information with
minimal expenditure of effort, time and money. Just as for better, economical and attractive
construction of a house, we need a blueprint(or what is commonly called the map of the house)
well though out or prepared by an expert architect, similarly we need a research design or a
plan in advance of data collection and analysis for our research project. Research Design stand
for advance planning of the methods to be adopted for collecting the relevant data and the
technique to be used their analysis, keeping in view the objective of research and the availability
of the staff, time and money. Preparation of the research design should be done with great care
as any error in it may upset the entire project. Research design in fact has a great bearing on
the reliability on the results arrived at and as such constitutes the firm foundation of the entire
edifice of the research work.
 Sampling Design
IMPLICATION OF A SAMPLE DESIGN

A sample Design is a definite plan for obtaining a sample from a given population. It refers to the
technique or the procedure the researcher would adopt in selecting items for sample. Sample design
may as well lay down the number of items to be included in the sample i.e. the size of the sample,
sample design is determined before data are collected. There are many sample design from which a
researcher can choose. Some designs are relatively more praises and easier to apply than others.
Researcher must select/prepare a sample design which should be reliable and appropriate for his/her
study.

Steps in sample design

While developing a sampling design, the researcher must pay attention to the following points:

 Type of Universe: The first step in developing any sample design is to clearly define the set of
objects, technically called the Universe, to be studied. The Universe can finite or infinite.
Infinite universe the number of items is certain, but in case of infinite universe the number of
items is infinite, i.e. we cannot have any idea about the total number of item.

 Sampling unit: A decision has to be taken concerning a sampling unit before selecting sample.
Sampling unit may be geographical one such as state, district, village, etc. or a construction
unit such as home, flat, house, etc. or a construction unit such as family, club, school, etc. or it
may be individual. The researcher will have to decide one or more of such units that he has to
select for his study.

 Source List: It is also known as ‘sampling frame’ from which sample is to be drawn. It contains
the names of all items of a Universe. If source list is not available, researcher has to prepare it.
Such a list should be comprehensive, correct, reliable and appropriate. It is extremely
important for the source list to be representative of the population as possible.

 Size of Sample: This refers to the number of items to be selected from the universe to
constitute sample. This is the a major problem before the researcher. The size of sample
should be optimum. An optimum sample is one which fulfills requirements of efficiency,
representativeness, reliability and flexibility. While deciding the size of Sample, researcher
must determine the desired precision as also an acceptable confidence level for the estimate.
 The parameters of interest in a research study must be kept view, while deciding the size of
the sample.Costs too dictate the size of sample that we can draw.

 Parameters of interest: In determining the sample design, one must consider the question of
the specific population parameters which are of interest. For instance, we may be interested
in estimating the proportion of persons with some characteristics in the population, or we
may be interested in knowing some average or the other measure concerning the population.
There may also be important sub-groups in the population about whom we would like to
make estimates. All this has a strong impact upon the sample design we would accept.

 Budgetary constraint: Cost consideration, from practical point of view, have a major impact
upon decisions relating to not only the size of the sample but also to the type of sample. This
fact can even lead to the use of non-probability sample.

 Sampling procedure: Finally, the researcher must decide the type of sample he will use i.e. he
must decide about the technique to be used in selecting the items for the sample. In fact this
technique or procedure stands for the sample design itself.There are several sample designs,
out of which the researcher must choose one for his study. Obviously, he must select that
design which,for a given sample and for a given cost, has a small sampling error.

Characteristics of good sample design:

 Sample design must result in a truly representative sample.

 Sample design must be such which result in a small sampling error.
 Sample design must be viable in the context of funds available for the research
study.
 Sample design must be such so that systematic bias can be controlled in a better
way.
 Sample should be such that the result of the sample study can be applied,in
general for the universe with a reasonable level of confidence.