K L University
Research Methodology
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad
K L University
Chapter - 1
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Definitions and Meanings of
Research
1.Research in common parlance refers to a search
for knowledge.
2.Research is actually a voyage of discovery.
3.Redman defined research as a “systematized
effort to gain new knowledge”
4.Research is the pursuit of truth with the help of
study, observation , comparison and experiment.
5.Research is thus, an original contribution to the
existing stock of knowledge making for its
advancement.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Objectives of Research
• The research objective is to gain familiarity
with a phenomenon (trend) or to achieve
new insight into it.
• The main aim of the research is to find out
the truth which is hidden and which has
not been discovered yet.
• To test a hypothesis (assumption/guess) of a
causal (connecting) relationship between
variables (hypothesis testing)
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Motivation in Research
• Directives of the Government and
Organizations
• Curiosity about new things
• Desire to understand causal relationship
• Social thinking, awakening
• Employment and economic conditions
• Desire to get respect in the society
• Desire to get intellectual joy of creativity
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Types of Research
• Descriptive Research
• Analytical Research
• Applied Research
• Fundamental or Basic Research
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research
• Empirical Research
• Conceptual Research
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Descriptive Research
• Descriptive research:-It 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.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Descriptive Research
• 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 e.g.:-
frequency of shopping, preferences of
people, or similar data.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Ex-post-facto Research
• It is an empirical enquiry for situations that
have already occurred. For e.g.. Market
failure for any company's product if
studied or researched later may be
categorized as ex-post-facto-research
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Analytical (INVESTIGATIVE) Research
• 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 subject or material.
• An analytical research paper can examine the effect of an event on
other events. The events can be in the past, present, or future. For
example, you can do a “what if” exercise: imagine how things would
be different if President John F. Kennedy hadn’t been assassinated,
or if women around the world had never been allowed to have more
than one baby.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Applied Research
• Applied Research:- it aims at finding a
solution for an immediate problem facing a
society or an industry.
• In 1948, 3 researchers at AT & T's Bell Laboratories (John Bardeen,
Walter Brattain, and William Shockley) invented the transistor, a
solid state triode that would revolutionize the electronics industry.
• Louis Pasteur successfully inoculated a patient with a rabies
vaccine
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Basic Research
• Fundamental or Basic research:- it is
mainly concerned with generalizations and
with the formulation of a theory. “Gathering
knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed
‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research.
• Many of today's electrical devices (e.g., radios, generators and
alternators) can trace their roots to the basic research conducted by
Michael Faraday in 1831. He discovered the principle of electromagnetic
induction, that is, the relationship between electricity and magnetism.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Quantitative Research
• Quantitative research:-is based on the
measurement of quantity or amount. It is
applicable to phenomena that can be
expressed in terms of quantity.
• Over 76% of all female Quick Stop customers were women under
30 years old, without children, while women with children and with
higher incomes were 5 times less likely to shop at Quick Stop
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Qualitative Research
• Qualitative Research:-is concerned with
qualitative phenomenon, that involving quality or
kind.. For instance, when we are interested in
investigating the reasons for human behavior,
we quite often talk of Motivation Research.
• Women viewed convenience stores to be primarily designed for
men, with little or no consideration for women?
• Result:- Quick Stop was seen as one of the worst of convenience stores
"kind of the place for a man to buy gas, get a six-pack of cheap beer and
cigarettes, but not the kind of place I want to go".
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Conceptual Research
• Conceptual research is that related to
some abstract idea or theory. It is
generally used by philosophers and
thinkers to develop new concepts or to
reinterpret existing ones.
• E.g.:-The conceptual starting point of this research is the economic theory of
human behavior. According to this theory, individuals are rationally
maximizing beings within an institutional framework of norms and rules,
which determine the individual activity scope (Kirchgässner 1993).
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Empirical Research
• 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.
• The term empirical was originally used to refer to certain ancient Greek
practitioners of medicine who rejected adherence to the dogmatic doctrines
of the day, preferring instead to rely on the observation of phenomena as
perceived in experience. Later empiricism referred to a theory of knowledge
in philosophy which adheres to the principle that knowledge arises from
experience and evidence gathered specifically using the senses
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Other types of research
• Longitudinal / One Time Research:-
• Simulation /Field setting/Laboratory
Research
• Clinical or Diagnostic Research
• Historical Research
• Decision Oriented Research
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Significance of Research
• All progress is born of inquiry.
• Doubt is better than over-confidence, for it leads to inquiry, and
inquiry leads to invention. (famous Hudson Maxim).
• Research provides the basis for all Govt policies in our economic
system.
• Research is “For Prognosis” (for the prediction of future.)
• To understand the problems and plights of farmers, labors, small
business people, consumers, students, political issues, defense
forces, Space, Health, Social Reforms.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Approaches to Research
• There are two types of approaches to
research, i.e. quantitative approach and
qualitative approach.
• The Quantitative approach be further
classified into inferential, experimental,
simulation approach to research.
• Qualitative approach to research is
concerned with subjective assessment of
attitudes, opinions and behavior.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Research methods
• All those methods which are used by the
researcher during the course of studying
his research problem, are termed as
research methods.
• E.g.:-mean, mode, standard deviation, chi-
square test, t-test, f-test, z-test, dispersion,
etc.,
• The scope of research methodology is
wider than that of research methods
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Research methodology
• RM has many dimensions and answers
the following questions:
• Why the research study has undertaken
• How the research problem has defined
• How the hypotheses has formed
• What data have been collected
• What methods have been adopted
• Why particular analysis of data has used
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
R. Methods and R. Methodology
• Research methods are the methods or
techniques employed by researcher in
conducting research operations.
• Research methodology is a scientific and
systematic way of applying methods and
techniques to solve research problems.
• The scope of Research methodology is
wider than research methods.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Research process
1. Formulating the research problem
2. Extensive literature survey
3. Developing the hypotheses
4. Preparing the research design
5. Determining sample design
6. Collecting the data
7. Execution of the project
8. Analysis of data
9. Hypotheses testing
10. Generalization and interpretation
11. Preparation of report
12. Formal presentation of write-up of conclusions recorded.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
The Research Process in
Review Flow Chart
Define Concepts
Research And
Problem Design
Theories
Research
Formulate (including
Hypotheses Sample
Review
1 Previous Design)
Research 3
findings 4
Collect
Interpret and Analyze data Data
Report (test hypotheses) (execution)
7 6 5
Importance of knowing Research
• The study of RM gives the student the necessary
• Training in Gathering material and arranging them,
• Training in Participation in the field work when required,
• Training in Techniques for the collection of data,
• Training in Use of statistics,
• Training in Preparation of questionnaires,
• Training in Conducting controlled experimentation,
• Training in Recording evidence,
• Training in Sorting out result,
• Training in Interpreting result there of.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Qualities of Good Research
• Good research is systematic- steps taken in a
specified sequence in accordance with the well
defined set of rules.
• Good research is logical- makes research more
meaningful in the context of decision making
• Good research is empirical- that provides a
basis for external validity to research results
• Good research is replicable- can be verified by
replicating the study, building a sound basis for
decisions.
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Problems faced by RS in India
• Lack of training in scientific research
methodology.
• Insufficient interaction between research
departments of universities and Industrial
houses.
• Research studies overlapping one another
• Does not exist code of conduct for researchers.
• Library functioning is not satisfactory
• Problems of getting copies of old and new
articles, gazettes, etc
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
Conclusion
• Thus, research is the fountain of
knowledge for the sake of knowledge and
an important source of providing
guidelines for solving different business,
governmental and social problems. It is a
sort of formal training which enables one
to understand the new development in
one’s field in a better way
Prof. Lawyer. Puttu Guru Prasad – K L University – Vijayawada – A.P
