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Unit 1
Introduction to Research Methodology
Meaning & Significance of Research
Objectives of Research
Motivation in Research
Steps in Research Process
Basic Concepts in Research
Types of Research
Research
Definition and Importance
Definitions of Research
The Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English - a careful
investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any
branch of knowledge.
The Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences - Research refers to a
critical and exhaustive investigation of experimentation having as its
aim the revision of accepted conclusions in the light of new
discovered facts
Redman and Mory - systemized effort to gain new knowledge.
Research encompasses activities that increase the sum of human
knowledge.
C Crawford- starts with a problem, collects data or facts, analyses
them critically and reaches decisions based on the actual evidence.
Significance of Research in
Business
solving operational and planning
problems.
study of employee attitudes and
behaviours,
Significance of Research in
Business
Market research, operations research and
motivational research - considered crucial,
their results assist in taking business
decisions.
Objectives of Research
Motivation in Research
Desire to get a research degree (PhD) with its
consequential benefits.
Characteristics of Research
Types of Research
Exploratory research
Experimental research
Ex post facto research
Correlation research
Descriptive research
Testing research
Case studies
Sociometric research
Interpretative-theoretical research
Micro-study
Macro-study
Longitudinal study
Cross-sectional study
Pilot study
Cooper : Research in
Business Studies
Exploratory Research
Descriptive Research
Predictive Research
Exploratory Research
conducted because problem has not been clearly defined
allows researcher to familiarize with problem or concept to be
studied, and perhaps generate hypotheses to be tested.
is the initial research, before more conclusive research is
undertaken.
helps determine best research design, data collection method
and selection of subjects
tests concepts before they are put in the marketplace
investigates an area on which little information exists. This
includes the use of pilot studies (trial runs of an experiment) to
gain more information before doing more thorough research
often represents a poorly defined problem area. It is difficult to
produce concrete, focused results
Descriptive Research
seeks to depict what already exists in a
group or population
does not seek to measure the effect of a
variable
it seeks only to describe
Two most common types of
descriptive research designs
Observation and Surveys
Descriptive research
Is a statistical research
Descriptive research
lends itself to statistical calculations such as
determining the average number of
occurences or central tendencies.
Observation
Observation- primary method of
collecting data by human, mechanical,
electrical or electronic means.
The researcher may or may not have
direct contact or communication with
the people whose behaviour is being
recorded.
Techniques of Observation
Survey Techniques
involves collection of primary data
about subjects, by selecting a
representative sample of the population
or universe under study, through the
use of :
Interviews
Focus groups
Questionnaires
Phone surveying
E-Mail/Web panel survey
Causal Research
-cause and effect relationship between variables
Simulation
sophisticated set of mathematical formulae
are used to simulate or imitate a real life
situation
by changing one variable in the equation, it
is possible to determine the effect on the
other variables in the equation
simulation design is conclusive research that
is secondary research in nature
simulation is a quantitative research
technique
Predictive Research
- seeks to forecast the likelihood of
particular phenomena occurring in
given circumstances.