ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH

METHODS
Areas for Discussion
Meaning of Research.
Definitions of Research.
Significance of Research.
Aims and Objectives of Research.
Motivation for Research.
Research as Method of Science.
Characteristics of Research.
Functions of Research.
Scope of Research.
Classification of Educational Research.
Meaning of Research
A search for knowledge.
A scientific and systematic search for pertinent
information on a specific topic.
A careful search or inquiry, endeavour to
discover new ideas by scientific study, - a
course of critical investigation.
A careful search for solutions to the problems
that plague and puzzle the mankind.
Definitions of Research
Advanced Learners Dictionary
A careful investigation or inquiry specially
through search for new facts in any branch of
knowledge
Redman and Mory
A systematized effort to gain new knowledge.
Clifford Woody
A careful inquiry or examination in seeking
facts or principles, a diligent investigation to
ascertain something.
Definitions of Research
C.C. Crawford
A systematic and refined technique of thinking,
employing specialized tools, instruments and
procedures in order to obtain a more adequate
solution of a problem than would be possible
under ordinary means. It starts with a problem,
collects data or facts, analyses them critically
and reaches decisions based on the actual
evidence.

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. Hudsons Maxim
1.For educationists in studying various educational
problems and in seeking answers to various
educational problems.
2.For social scientists in studying social
relationships and in seeking answers to various
social problems.
3.Provides the basis for nearly all government
policies in our economic system.
Significance of Research
4.For solving various operational and planning
problems of business and industry.
5.It inculcates scientific and inductive thinking.
6.It promotes the development of logical habits of
thinking and organization.
7.To understand the new developments in ones
filed in a better way.
**Significance of Research**
An outlet for new ideas and insights to
philosophers and thinkers.
For the development of new styles and creative
work to literary persons.
For the generalizations of new theories to
analysts and intellectuals.
For research scholars it is a way to attain a high
position in the social structure.
A source of livelihood to professionals in
research methodology.

Aims and Objectives of Research
General Aims
+To find out the truth which is hidden and
which has not been discovered as yet.
+To discover answers to questions
through the application of scientific
procedures.


Objectives of Research
+To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to
achieve new insights into it. (Exploratory or
Formulative)
+To portray accurately the characteristics of a
particular individual, situation or a group.
(Descriptive)
+To determine the frequency with which
something occurs or with which it is
associated with something else. (Diagnostic)
+To test hypothesis of a casual relationship
between variables. (Hypothesis-testing)

Motivation for Research
Desire to get a research degree.
Desire to face the challenge in solving the
unsolved problems.
Desire to get intellectual joy of doing
some creative work.
Desire to be of service to society.
Desire to get respectability.

Motivation for Research.
Desire to understand casual relationships.
Directions from government.
Employment conditions.
Curiosity about new things.
Social thinking and awakening.

Research as Method of Science
Evolution of Human Thinking
Man has appealed to the following sources of evidence
in his search for truth.
Custom and tradition.
Authority.
Personal experience.
Reasoning from self-evident propositions.
Scientific inquiry.
Inductive thinking.
Deductive thinking.
Research as Method of Science.
Characteristics of Scientific Thinking
Science is based on facts.
Science employs the method of analysis.
Science employs hypotheses.
Science is free from emotional bias.
Science employs objective measurement.
Science uses quantitative methods in the
treatment of data.

Research as Method of Science
Steps in the Process of Scientific Thinking
1. Location of a problem.
2. Survey of past experiences with the problem.
3. Formation of hypothesis.
4. Collection of data for checking hypothesis.
5. Analysis, classification and summarization of
the data collected.
6. Formulation of new generalizations, or scientific
law.
Characteristics of Research
Research is expert, systematic and accurate
investigation.
Research is logical and objective.
Research gathers knowledge or data from
primary or first had sources.
Research endeavours to organize data in
quantitative terms as far possible.
Research is highly purposive.
Research maintains rigorous standards.
Characteristics of Research
Research places emphasis upon the discovery of
general principles and scientific generalizations.
Research requires courage.
Research is patient and unhurried.
Research usually involves, as a step, a hypothesis
or a set of hypotheses.
Research is carefully recorded and reported.
Specific Characteristics of Educational
Research
A sound philosophy of education forms the
basis of educational research.
It needs imagination and insight as much as
scientific attitude of mind.
It requires an interdisciplinary approach.
It usually employs deductive reasoning.
It is not as exact as research in physical
science.

Specific Characteristics of Educational
Research..
It comes out of a desire to do things better.
It is not the field of the specialist only.
It generally requires inexpensive material.
It is incapable of being dealt through empirical
methods. (Qualitative)
It is based on interdependence of causes and
effect.
Educational research cannot be a mechanical
process.
Functions of Educational Research


General Functions
1 Help the man to enhance his abilities and
powers freeing him from the limitations imposed
by ignorance.
1 Development and reconstruction of the theories.
1 Test the validity of the theories.
1 Generate knowledge and promote educational
practice.



Functions of Educational Research

Functions for a teacher
Increase the efficiency of the teachers.
Make the teachers aware of the ways in which
psychological laws governing educational
practices.
Enable the teachers to understand and evaluate
the professional literature critically.
Keep the teachers abreast of new trends in the
field of education.



Functions of Educational Research
Functions for a teacher..
Help in making wise educational decisions.
Improvement of the over-all system of education.
Invention of and testing new educational
experiments.
Realization of the goal of universalisation of
education.
Bringing a new social order.
Scope of Educational Research
Two questions to determine the scope;
a) What are the limits of its field of
operations?
b) What is to be included in its study?

Scope of Educational Research can be
viewed from;
1. Types of Research
2. Area of Education
Scope of Educational Research
Types of Research
I. Classification based on goal or objective
1. Fundamental Research.
2. Applied Research.
3. Action Research.
II. Classification based on methodology.
1. Historical Research.
2. Descriptive Research.
3. Experimental Research.
Scope of Educational Research
Types of Research
Classification based on goal or objective
Fundamental Research (Basic/Pure)
Aims at obtaining empirical data that can be
used to formulate, expand or evaluate a theory.
Creation of knowledge solely for the sake of
knowledge.
Not concerned with the solution of immediate
practical problems.

Scope of Educational Research
Types of Research..
Classification based on goal or objective
Applied Research. (Field)
Directed towards the solution of a specific
and practical problem.
Testing of theories or laws in the actual field
setting.
Devoted to the solution of the problems of
filed workers or other affected individuals.




Scope of Educational Research
Types of Research..
Classification based on goal or objective
Action Research
Focused on the immediate application and not
on the development of a theory.
Purpose:- Improvement of institutional practices.
Emphasis on decentralization of decision
making and action.
Scope of Educational Research
Types of Research..
Classification based on methodology.
Historical Research
Describes What was.
Purpose:- to arrive at an exact account of the
past, to build a perspective about the present,
to predict and control our future activities.
Process:- Investigation Analyzing --
Interpretation Generalization -- Recording.

Scope of Educational Research
Types of Research..
Classification based on methodology
Descriptive Research
_Describes What is.
_Purpose:- To discover the relationship between
the existing variables.
_Process:- Description Analysis Interpretation -
Recording.

Scope of Educational Research
Types of Research..
Classification based on methodology
Experimental Research
EDescribes What will be when certain variables
are carefully controlled or manipulated.
EPurpose:- Examine the impact of one set of
variables on another set of variables.
EProcess:- Experiments Analysis
Interpretation Generalization Recording.


Scope of Educational Research
II. Area of Education
Pre-primary education.
Primary education.
Secondary education.
Higher Secondary education.
Higher Education.
Professional Education.
Technical Education.
Vocational Education.
Distance Education.
Teacher Education.


Scope of Educational Research
Area of Education..

Psychology of Education.
Philosophy of Education.
Technology of Education.
Sociology of Education.
Economics of Education.
Language Education.
Science Education.
Mathematics Education.
Social Science Education.
Commerce Education.
Adult Education.
Continuing Education.
Women Education.
Comparative Education.
Scope of Educational Research
Area of Education..
Special Education.
Guidance and Counseling.
Educational
administration.
Curriculum.
Instruction.
Learning.
Evaluation.


Non-Formal Education.
Moral Education.
Art Education.
Physical & Health
Education.
History of Education.
Environment Education.