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RESERACH

• Re ---------------- Search• Re means (once more, afresh,

anew) OR (back; with return to a previous state)

• Search means (look thorough or go over thoroughly to look something) OR (examine to find anything concealed)

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A CEO wants to launch its company in INDIA?

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He is in a process of

Decision Making

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Decision making Needs…

CONVICTION

There should be no doubts

Knowledge to justify

your decisions

Goals achievement

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Research?

Research is an ORGANIZED and SYSTEMATIC way of FINDING

ANSWERS to QUESTIONS.

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• SYSTEMATIC because there is a definite set of procedures

and steps which you will follow. There are certain things in the research process which are always done in order to get the most accurate results.

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• ORGANIZED

in that there is a structure or method in going about doing research. It is a planned procedure, not a spontaneous one. It is focused and limited to a specific scope.

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• FINDING ANSWERS is the end of all research. Whether it is the

answer to a hypothesis or even a simple question, research is successful when we find answers. Sometimes the answer is no, but it is still an answer.

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• QUESTIONS are central to research. If there is no question,

then the answer is of no use. Research is focused on relevant, useful, and important questions. Without a question, research has no focus, drive, or purpose.

Definitions of Research• The main goal of research is the gathering and interpreting of

information to answer questions (Hyllegard, Mood, and Morrow, 1996).

• Research is a systematic attempt to provide answers to questions (Tuckman, 1999).

• Research may be defined as the systematic and objective analysis and recording of controlled observations that may lead to the development of generalizations, principles, or theories, resulting in prediction and possible control of events (Best and Kahn, 1998).

• Research is a systematic way of asking questions, a systematic method of inquiry (Drew, Hardman, and Hart, 1996).

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Defining Research

1). A collection of methods and methodologies that researchers apply systematically to produce scientifically based knowledge about the social world.

(Neuman)

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• Methodology:»Methodology & methods, two terms are

often treated as synonyms. Methodology is broader and envelops methods. It is understanding the social-organizational context, philosophical assumptions, ethical principals and political issues of the enterprise of researchers who use methods.

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• Methods:»Methods are set of specific techniques

for selecting cases, measuring and observing aspects of social life, gathering and refining data, analyzing data and reporting on results.

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Defining Research

2). Research must be systematic and follow a series of steps and a rigid standard

protocol. These rules are broadly similar but may vary slightly between the different fields of science.

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Research is used as

Basis of knowledge

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Types of Research

1. Quantitative Research2. Basic Research3. Applied Research4. Longitudinal Research5. Qualitative Research6. Descriptive Research7. Classification Research

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Types of Research

1. Comparative Research2. Explorative Research3. Explanatory Research 4. Causal Research5. Theory-testing Research6. Theory-Building Research7. Action Research

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1). Quantitative Research

• It is based on methodological principals of positivism and neo-positivism

• It adheres to standards of strict research design.

• Statistical analysis is used in it.

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2). Basic Research

• Purpose of gaining knowledge• It advanced understanding about social

world • Help in supporting & rejecting existing

hypothesis & theories

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3). Applied Research

• Aims at solving specific problems• Aims at establishing policy programs that will

help to improve social life• Types of applied research are action research,

social impact studies, cost-benefit analysis, evaluation research

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4). Longitudinal Research

• It involves study of sample at more than one point in time or occasion

• e.g. Trend studies, Panel studies

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4A). Cross sectional Research

• It involves study of many cases at one point in time or occasion

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5). Qualitative Research

• It is based on methodological principals of phenomenology, symbolic interactionism, hermeneutics.

• It aims at exploration of social world.• Lazarsfeld: following elements are

there….exploration, relationship discovery, establishing construct, testing hypothesis.

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6). Descriptive Research

• Usually it forms preliminary study of a research project.

• It aims at describe social events, relations and events.

• It provides background information about an event in question.

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7). Classification research

• It aims at categorization of units into groups• To demonstrate differences• To explain relationships

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8). Comparative Research

• To identify similarities and differences between units at all levels.

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9). Exploratory Research

• It aims at gaining information about an issue in hand.

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10). Explanatory Research

• It aims at explaining social relations and events.

• To build, test or revise a theory.

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11). Causal Research

• It aims at establishing cause and effect relationship among variables.

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12). Theory testing Research

• It aims at testing validity of a theory

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13). Theory building Research

• To establish and formulate theory

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14). Action Research

• It is application of fact findings to practical problem solving in a social situation with a view to improve quality of action within it, involving collaboration and cooperation of researchers, practitioners and laymen.

• It can be situational (diagnose a problem and attempts to solve it), collaborative, participatory (researcher take part in implementation of findings) and self-evaluation (it involves constant evaluation and adjustment of research and practice)

Research Classifications

• System #1:– Basic research– Applied research

• System #2:– Quantitative research– Qualitative research

• System #3:– Experimental research– Nonexperimental research

Basic vs. Applied Research

• Basic– Pure, fundamental

research– Discovery of new

knowledge; theoretical in nature

– Takes many years for the results of basic research to find some practical utility

• Applied– Central purpose to solve

an immediate problem– Improved products or

processes– Infers beyond the group

or situation studied– Interpretation of results

relies upon Basic research

Quantitative vs. Qualitative• Quantitative

– Numerical, measurable data– Traditional or positivist

approach• Clearly stated questions• Rational hypotheses• Developed research

procedures• Extraneous variable controls• Large samples• Traditional, statistical

analyses

• Qualitative– Generally non-numerical data– Typically anthropological and

sociological research methods

– Observations of a “natural” setting

– In-depth descriptions of situations

– Interpretive and descriptive

Experimental vs. Nonexperimental

• Experimental– IVs and DVs – Cause-and-effect– Extraneous variable

controls– 3 fundamental

characteristics1. At least 1 active IV2. Extraneous var controls3. Observation of the DV

response to the IV

• Nonexperimental1. Causal-comparative2. Descriptive3. Correlational4. Historical

Steps to Experimental Research

1. Identifying the research question or problem area2. Initial review of literature3. Distilling the question to a specific research

problem4. Continued review of literature5. Formulation of hypotheses6. Determining the basic research approach7. Identifying the population and sample

Steps to Experimental Research

8. Designing data collection plan9. Selecting or developing specific data collection

instruments or procedures10. Choosing the method of data analysis11. Implementing the research plan12. Preparing the research report

Development of Research Skills

• Learning how to conduct good research:– New skills (that many people do not have)– Better understanding and interpretation of the

literature– Recognize new questions that need investigation

• Objectivity is the key element of research

Search for Truth

• Five sources of evidence in the pursuit of truth:

1. Custom and tradition2. Authority3. Personal experience4. Deductive reasoning5. Scientific inquiry

Identifying the Problem

• First, and arguably the most important, step– Several sources• Theoretical basis• Professional practice• Personal experience• Shear curiosity

– Starts as a broad question that must be narrowed– Problem statement; experimental approach to the

problem; etc.

Identifying the Problem

• Three categories when selecting a research problem– Those who know precisely what they want to do

and have a well conceived problem– Those who have many interest areas and are

having difficulty deciding exactly what they want to study

– Those who do not have any idea about a worthwhile research problem

Formulating a Hypothesis

• Hypothesis:– A belief or prediction of the eventual outcome of

the research– A concrete, specific statement about the

relationships between phenomena– Based on deductive reasoning– 2 types of hypotheses:• Null hypothesis (HO)

– All is equal; no differences exist

• Alternative (research) hypothesis (HA)– Usually specific and opposite to the null

Developing the Research Plan

• A strategy must be developed for gathering and analyzing the information that is required to test the hypotheses or answer the research question– Four parts:• Selection of a relevant research methodology• Identification of subjects or participants• Description of the data-gathering procedures• Specification of the data analysis techniques

– Pilot studies, IRB,…all must be determined in advance!

Collecting and Analyzing the Data

• Following all the pre-determined protocols– Time in the lab collecting data– Analyzing the composite data– Controlling the environment

• Easiest part of the process…– However, sometime the most time-consuming

part of the process…

Interpreting Results and Forming Conclusions

• DATA ANALYSIS IS NOT AN END IN ITSELF!• Does the evidence support or refute the

original hypotheses?– Accept or reject the hypotheses– Conclusions should be drawn:• Develop new hypotheses to explain the results• Inferences are typically made beyond the specific study

New Questions Arise

Results Interpreted

Data Collected

Question Identified

Hypotheses Formed

Research Plan

Closed-loop conceptualization of the research process (Drew, Hardman, and Hart, 1996)

Types of Research Questions

• 3 Types– Descriptive questions– Difference questions– Relationship questions

Descriptive Questions

• Purpose:– To describe phenomena or characteristics of a

particular group of subjects being studied• Survey research• Qualitative research

Difference Questions

• Purpose:– To make comparisons between or within groups.– Is there a difference?• Experimental research

– Treatment vs. control– Pre- vs. post-test comparisons

• Nonexperimental research– Compare one group to another based on existing

characteristics

Relationship Questions

• Purpose– To investigate the degree to which two or more

variables covary or are associated with each other• Rather than analyzing the differences between groups,

researchers characterize the relationships among them.• Extent to which variables are related• Not to establish cause-and-effect

Theory vs. Hypothesis

• Hypothesis– A belief or prediction of the eventual outcome of the

research– A concrete, specific statement about the relationships

between phenomena– Based on deductive reasoning

• Theory– A belief or assumption about how things relate to each

other– A theory establishes a cause-and-effect relationship

between variables with a purpose of explaining and predicting phenomena

– Based on inductive reasoning

Hypotheses

Theories

Laws

In an ideal world…

Empiricism

• Acquiring information and facts through the observation of our world– Pragmatic observations– Developing theory through experience and

observation– Non-scientific– Quick and practical solution to a problem• With little interest in explaining when, how, or why

– Example: Anabolic steroid use (abuse)…