Dr. Vilas M.

Kadrolkar
Professor and Chairman
Department of Studies and Research in Economics
TUMKUR UNIVERSITY, B. H. ROAD, TUMKUR-572 103
Mobile: 9449112908, 8050933499
E-mail: kmvilas@gmail.com, vilasm@tumkuruniversity.ac.in

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 What is Research ?
1.A voyage of discovery; A journey; An attitude; An experience;
A method of critical thinking; A careful critical enquiry in
seeking facts for principles
2. A systematized effort to gain new knowledge; A movement
from the known to the unknown
Search for (new) knowledge/ facts through objective, systematic
and scientific method of finding solution to a problem

Research is, an original contribution to the existing stock of

knowledge making for its advancement.

It is the pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation,

comparison and experiment.

In short, the search for knowledge through objective and

systematic method of finding solution to a problem is research.
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 Why research ?
1. To get a degree
2. To get respectability
3. To face a challenge
4. To solve a problem
5. To get intellectual joy
6. To serve society

by showing right path to society in case of Social and

Behavioral Sciences
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 Research Methodology
A science of studying how research is done scientifically

A way to systematically solve the research problem by logically

adopting various steps

Methodology helps to understand not only the products of

scientific inquiry but the process itself

Aims to describe and analyze methods, throw light on their

limitations and resources, clarify their presuppositions and
consequences, relating their potentialities to frontiers of
knowledge

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 Characteristics of Research
1. Empirical: Research is based on direct experience or observation by the
researcher.
2. Logical: Research is based on valid procedures and principles.

3. Cyclical: Research is a cyclical process because it starts with a problem

and ends with a problem.

4. Analytical: Research utilizes proven analytical procedures in gathering

the data, whether historical, descriptive, experimental and case study.

5. Critical: Research exhibits careful and precise judgment.

6. Methodical: Research is conducted in a methodical manner without bias

using systematic method and procedures.

7. Replicability: The research design and procedures are replicated or

repeated to enable the researcher to arrive at valid and conclusive results.
Qualities of a Good Researcher
1. Research-oriented

2. Efficient

3. Scientific

4. Effective

5. Active

6. Resourceful

7. Creative

8. Honest

9. Economical
 Characteristics of the Researcher
Intellectual Curiosity. A researcher undertakes a deep
thinking and inquiry of the things, and situations around him.

Prudence. The researcher is careful to conduct his research

study at the right time and at the right place wisely, efficiently,
and economically.

Healthy Criticism. The researcher is always doubtful as to

the truthfulness of the results.

Intellectual Honesty. An intelligent researcher is honest to

collect or gather data or facts in order to arrive at honest
results.

Intellectual Creativity A productive and resourceful

investigator always creates new researches.
 Types of Research
1. Basic Research. This is also called as fundamental
research or pure research. It seeks to discover basic
truths or principles.

2. Applied Research. involves seeking new applications

of scientific knowledge to the solution of a problem.

3. Developmental Research. This is a decision-

oriented research involving the application of the steps
of the scientific method in response to an immediate
need to improve existing practices.
 Classification of Research
Library Research. This is done in the library where
answers to specific questions or problems of the study are
available.

Field Research. Here, research is conducted in a

natural setting.

Laboratory Research. The research is conducted in

artificial or controlled conditions by isolating the study
in a thoroughly specified and equipped area.
 Research Purpose
The purpose of your research can be exploratory, descriptive,
explanatory or policy oriented.

Exploratory Research: It might involve a literature search or

conducting focus group interviews.

The exploration of new phenomena, may help the researchers

need for better understanding, may test the feasibility of a more
extensive study.

It is broad in focus and rarely provides definite answers to specific

research issues.

The objective of exploratory research is to identify key issues and

key variables.
 Descriptive Research
It seeks to provide an accurate description of
observations of a phenomena.

The object of the collection of census data is to

accurately describe basic information about a national
population at a particular point in time.

The objective of much descriptive research is to map the

terrain of a specific phenomenon.

Such descriptive comparisons can produce useful

insights and lead to hypothesis-formation.
 Explanatory Research
Explanatory studies look for explanations of the nature
of certain relationships.

Hypothesis testing provides an understanding of the

relationships that exist between variables.

The degree of uncertainty about the research problem

determines the research methodology,
 Diagnostic Study
A diagnostic procedure is an examination to identify
an individual's specific areas of weakness and
strength in order determine a condition, disease or
illness.

It demonstrates a sufficient degree of reliability and

validity
 Evaluation Studies (ES)
Evaluative research is undertaken to assess
the worth or success of something: a programme, a policy
or a project.

Evaluation is the systematic acquisition and assessment of

information to provide useful feedback about some
object

Basically is used to provide feedback on an event,

organization, program, policy, technology, person,
activity, etc.
 Action research
Action research is a research that ANY of us can do on his/her
own practice to improve it.

It can be conducted with the assistance or guidance of

professional researchers in order to improve strategies,
practices, and knowledge of the environments within which
they practice

Action research is a process in which participants examine

their own educational practice, systematically and carefully,
using the techniques of research.
 The experimental method
It is a systematic and scientific approach to research in
which the researcher manipulates one or more variables,
and controls and measures any change in other variables.

It has a control group, the subjects have been randomly

assigned between the groups, and the researcher only tests
one effect at a time.

Experiments are conducted to be able to predict

phenomenons. Typically, an experiment is constructed to
be able to explain some kind of causation.

Experimental research is important to society - it helps us

to improve our everyday lives.
 Continue..
After deciding the topic of interest, the researcher tries
to define the research problem. This helps the researcher to
focus on a more narrow research area to be able to study it
appropriately.

Defining the research problem helps you to formulate

a research hypothesis, which is tested against the null
hypothesis.

Sampling groups correctly is especially important when we

have more than one condition in the experiment.

An experiment is typically carried out by manipulating a

variable independent variable, affecting the experimental
group. The effect that the researcher is interested in,
the dependent variable(s), is measured.
 Analytic studies
Analytic studies are then undertaken to test specific
hypotheses. Samples of subjects are identified and information
about exposure status and outcome is collected.

The essence of an analytic study is that groups of subjects are

compared in order to estimate the magnitude of association
between exposures and outcomes.

Statistical evaluation of a hypothesized cause-effect (causal)

linkage, such as in a cohort study

Analytical research is a specific type of research that involves

critical thinking skills and the evaluation of facts and
information relative to the research being conducted.
 Continue..

A variety of people including students, doctors and

psychologists use analytical research during studies to find the
most relevant information.

From analytical research, a person finds out critical details to

add new ideas to the material being produced.

Data and other important facts that pertain to a project are

compiled; after the information is collected and evaluated, the
sources are used to prove a hypothesis or support an idea.

Using critical thinking skills a person is able to effectively pull

out small details to form greater assumptions about the
material.
 Historical Research
The systematic collection & evaluation of data to describe,
explain, and understand actions or events that occurred
sometime in the past.

An attempt is made to reconstruct what happened during a

certain period of time as completely and accurately as possible.

To make people aware of what has happened in the past in

order to:
Learn from past failures and successes
Apply them to present-day problems
Make predictions
Understand present educational practices and policies more
fully
 Sources of Historical Research

Documents
Written or printed materials that have been produced in some
form or another.

Numerical records
Considered as a separate type of source in and of themselves or
as a subcategory of documents.

Oral Statements
Are stories or other forms of oral expression that leave a
record for future generations.

Relics
Are any objects whose physical or visual characteristics can
provide some information about the past.
 Criteria of Good Research
The purpose of the research is clearly defined. A research study with
clearly defined purpose finds a wider acceptance and acknowledgement

Research method should be defined in a clear manner with sufficient detail.

This will allow the repetition of the study in future for further advancement.

Limitations and assumptions made by the researcher during the course of

the study should be clearly highlighted in the research. This will support the
findings of the research study.

The research design should be planned in a way that the results generated
are as objective as possible.

There should be sufficient data to investigate the research topic. And the
researcher should carefully check the reliability and validity of the data.

A researcher should confine the conclusions to those justified by the data.

The integrity and commitment of the researcher.

 Ethics in Research
People think of ethics (or morals right and wrong,
"ethics": norms for conduct that distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable
behavior.
Most people learn ethical norms at home, at school, in church, or in other social settings
Most societies also have legal rules that govern behavior, but ethical norms tend to be
broader and more informal than laws.
Ethics' focuses on the disciplines that study standards of conduct, such as philosophy,
law, psychology, or sociology.
Reasons for Ethics in Research
1) Norms promote the aims of Rsesearch, such as knowledge, truth, and avoidance of
error.
2) Research often involves a great deal of cooperation and coordination, ethical standards
promote the values that are essential to collaborative work,
3) Help researchers to be held accountable to the public.
4) Help to build public support for research.
5) Promote a moral and social values
 Ethical principles in Research
Honesty: scientific communications.

Objectivity: Strive to avoid bias in experimental design

Integrity: Keep your promises and agreements.

Carefulness: Avoid careless errors and negligence

Openness: Share data, results, ideas, tools, resources. Be open to criticism and new ideas.

Respect for Intellectual Property: Honor patents, copyrights, and other forms of

intellectual property.

Confidentiality: Protect confidential communications

Responsible Publication: Publish in order to advance research and scholarship,

Social Responsibility: Strive to promote social good and prevent

Non-Discrimination: Avoid discrimination against colleagues or students

 Limitations of Research
1. Social scientist is part of human society and their judgments
are subjective and colored by researchers own experience.

2. The subject matter of social science research is too complex.

All propositions are limited particular social groups and
contexts.

3. All members of the society have different values, social

researcher will unconsciously influenced by their values.

4. Social scientist fails to achieve objectivity because the

respondents are human beings have certain human problems.
e.g. refusal of respondent, improper understanding,
reluctance etc.
 Scientific Method
Scientific method refers to a standardized set of techniques for building scientific
knowledge, such as how to make valid observations, how to interpret results.
It allows researchers to independently and impartially test preexisting theories and
prior findings.
Four characteristics:
a) Replicability: Others should be able to independently replicate or repeat a
scientific study and obtain similar
b) Precision: Theoretical concepts, which are often hard to measure, must be
defined with such precision that others can use.
c) Falsifiability: A theory must be stated in a way that it can be disproven.
Theories that cannot be tested or falsified are not scientific theories and any such
knowledge is not scientific knowledge.
d)Parsimony: When there are multiple explanations of a phenomenon, scientists
must always accept the simplest or logically most economical explanation.

The scientific method, as applied to social sciences, includes a variety of research

approaches, tools, and techniques, such as qualitative and quantitative data,
statistical analysis, experiments, field surveys, case research, and so forth.
 Survey research
Survey research a research method involving the use of standardized
questionnaires or interviews to collect data about people and their
preferences, thoughts, and behaviors in a systematic manner.
This method is a very popular method for quantitative research
It can be used for descriptive, exploratory, or explanatory research.
Best suited for studies that have individual people as the unit of analysis.
It has inherent strengths
1.Excellent vehicle for measuring a wide variety of unobservable
data,
2.Suited for remotely collecting data about a population that is too
large
3.Ability to respond at ones convenience, surveys are preferred.
4.Interviews are only way of reaching certain population groups.
5.Large sample surveys may allow detection of small effects
6.It is economical in terms of researcher time, effort and cost.
 Survey continued..
Disadvantages. It is subject to a large number of biases such as non-
response bias, sampling bias, social desirability bias, and recall bias.

Survey research can be two types:

1. questionnaire surveys (which may be mail-in, group-administered, or
online surveys), Questionnaires are instruments that are completed in
writing by respondents
2. Interview surveys (which may be personal, telephone, or focus group
interviews). Interviews are completed by the interviewer based on verbal
responses provided by respondents.
A second type of survey is group-administered questionnaire. A
sample of respondents is brought together at a common place and time, and
each respondent is asked to complete the survey questionnaire.
A more recent type of questionnaire survey is an online or web survey.
These surveys are administered over the Internet using interactive forms.
 Case Study
Case study, is a method of intensively studying a phenomenon over time.
Multiple methods of data collection, such as interviews, observations,
prerecorded documents, and secondary data, may be employed.
It can be employed in a positivist manner for the purpose of theory testing.
This method is more popular in business research than social science.
Strengths
1.Used for either theory building or theory testing.
2.Research questions can be modified during the research process
3.It can help derive richer, more contextualized, and authentic
interpretation
4.It can be studied from the perspectives of multiple participants and
using multiple levels of analysis

Weakness
No experimental control, internal validity of inferences remain weak.
Inferences depends heavily on the integrative powers of the
researcher.
 Subjectivity v/s Objectivity in Social Research
Objectivity is personal neutrality; it allows the facts to speak for
themselves and not be influenced by the personal values and
biases of the researcher. It can also be interpreted as mind-
independent. E.g. when looking at a painting, a person would
use objectivity to describe the texture, color, and form.

Subjectivity is judgment based on individual personal

impressions and feelings and opinions rather than external
facts. This can be considered mind-dependent, because one is
not using a fact, they are using their personal opinion. For
example, if your favorite color is blue, then you are more likely
to buy a blue sweater versus a purple sweater.
 Comparison

Objective Subjective

Based upon Observation of Personal opinions,

measurable facts assumptions,
interpretations and beliefs
Commonly Encyclopedias, Newspaper editorials,
found in textbooks, news blogs, biographies,
reporting comments on the Internet
Suitable for Yes (usually) No (usually)
decision
making?
 Problems in Research
1. Lack of scientific training

2. Insufficient interaction with stakeholders

3. Misuse of information

4. Studies overlapping

5. Does not exists code of conduct

6. Difficulty in timely assistance

7. Libraries are satisfactory

8. Not able to get old copies of books and reports

9. Difficulty of timely availability of secondary data

10. Problem of conceptualization