Research

Methodology
Lec 2
 Content

• What is research ?
• What is the purpose research ?
• What are the qualities of good research ?
• What are the types of research ?
What is RESEARCH?
• A careful, systematic, patient study and
investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to
establish facts or principles.

• A structured inquiry that utilizes acceptable

scientific methodology to solve problems and create
new knowledge that is generally applicable.

• A systematic investigation to find answers to a problem.

The definition of research can be summarized as,

“the objective and unbiased search for answers to questions or

solutions to problems and the interpretation of the answers or
solutions”.
 Research

Investigation of the problem Preparation of the written report.

factual
actual data
unbiased
objective interpretation
Undertaking a research means,

it is being undertaken within a framework of a set of

philosophies.

it uses procedures, methods and techniques that have been

tested for their validity and reliability.

it is designed to be unbiased and objective.

Adherence to the three criteria mentioned above enables the process

to be called ‘Research’.
subjectivity bias
Is an integral part of Is a deliberate
attempt to either
your way of thinking
conceal or highlight
that is ‘conditioned’ by
something.
your educational
background, discipline,
philosophy, experience
and skills.

Example : A psychologist
may look at apiece of
information differently from
the way in which an
anthropologist or a historian
looks at it.
What is the PURPOSE
of research?
• Discovering new information.

• Expanding existing knowledge.

• Validating past information to determine the need to

change, discard or accept existing hypothesis or theories
or to develop new rationales for explaining or supporting
them.

• Investigating specific questions or problems in order to

establish new information that may help support
hypothesis.

• Investigating existing phenomenon in order to provide

added information and insight into a solution.

• Determining new uses of and applications for existing or

new goods and services.
What are the
QUALITIES of a good
research ?
 Valid
Controlled Rigorous Systematic and Empirical Critical
verifiable

The concept of control implies that, in

exploring causality in relation to two
variables, the study is set in a way that
minimizes the effects of other factors
affecting the relationship.

T he procedures followed to find answers

to questions should be relevant,
appropriate and justified.

The procedures adopted to undertake an

investigation follow a certain logical
sequence. The different steps cannot be
taken in a haphazard way.
 Valid
Controlled Rigorous Systematic and Empirical Critical
verifiable

Valid and verifiable implies that whatever

is concluded on the basis of the findings is
correct and can be verified by anyone.

Empirical means that any conclusions

drawn are based upon hard evidence
gathered from information collected from
real-life experiences or observations.

The process of investigation must be

foolproof and free from any drawbacks.
The process adopted and the procedures
used must be able to withstand critical
scrutiny.
What are the TYPES
of research ?
Types of research can be looked at from three different perspectives:

applications of mode of
the findings of objectives enquiry used
the research of the study in conducting
study the study

not mutually exclusive

Eg : a research project may be classified as pure or applied research (from the

perspective of application), as descriptive, correlational, explanatory or exploratory
(from the perspective of objectives) and as qualitative or quantitative (from the
perspective of the enquiry mode employed).
applications of objectives of mode of enquiry
the findings of the the study used in conducting
research study the study
descriptive,
to describe structured approach
pure research, systematically a
situation, problem, everything that
phenomenon, service forms the research
involves process – objectives,
developing and or programme.
design, sample, and
testing a the questions that
hypothesis correlational,
to discover or establish you plan to ask of
eg : developing respondents – is
an instrument to the existence of a
relationship/association predetermined.
measure stress
level /interdependence quantitative research
between two or more
aspects of a situation. unstructured approach
applied research,
it allows flexibility in
mostly involved in explanatory
everything that forms
social sciences. to clarify why and how
the research process.
eg : policy there is a relationship
formulation, between two aspects qualitative research
administration of a situation or
phenomenon.

exploratory
to explore an area
where little is known or
to investigate the
possibilities of
undertaking a
particular research
study
 quantitative qualitative

The study is classified as The purpose of the

quantitative if you want study is primarily to
to quantify the variation describe a situation,
in a phenomenon, phenomenon, problem
situation, problem or or event.
issue.
The information is
The information is gathered through the
gathered using use of variables
predominantly measured on nominal
quantitative variables or ordinal scales .

Possibility of relatively Mainly used in social

complete control and behavioral
research.
The use of statistics is Qualitative research is
not an integral part of very flexible: researcher
a quantitative study. may make new
hypothesis during the
Seldom deviates from research process. He
research plan. may deviate from the
research plan.
eg : Laboratory
experiments. eg : a description of
the living conditions of
a community, group.
 Recap
• What is research ?
• What is the purpose research ?
• What are the qualities of good research ?
• What are the types of research ?
thank you