Foundation of Research

Prof. (Dr.) Sushant Kumar Roul

Amity Institute of Education (AIE),
Amity University, Lucknow Campus

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 What is Research?
All human beings have curiosity to know about
ourselves, our institutions, our environment and the
universe is inherent in us. Questions are arising in our
mind like:-
Why there is poverty in some countries like India and
African countries?
Why does the performance of similar organizations vary?
When ever such questions arises, we seek to answer to them.
Seeking answer to question and finding solutions to the
problems have been the basis of human progress.
So, a systematic search for an answer to a question or a
solution to a problem is called research.
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 Meaning of Research
Research simply means a search for facts, answer to
questions and solution to the problems.
It is a careful search for solution to the problems.
The term ‘Research’ consists of two words.

RESEARCH = RE + SEARCH
(again & again) (to find out)

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 So, Research………………

Observes Collection of Data

Person Phenomena Conclusion
Again & Again Analysis of Data

So, research is a process of which a person observes the

phenomena again and again and collects the data and on
the basis of the data he draws some conclusion.

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 Classification of Research

1. Types of Research

Basic Applied Action

Research Research Research

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 Classification of Research

2. Approaches of Research

Qualitative Quantitative
Research Research

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 Classification of Research
3. Methods of Research

1. Survey Method
2. Case Study
3. Phenomenological
4. Ethnographic Research
5. Experimental
6. Ex-post facto Research
7. Historical Research
8. Correlational Research

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 Hypothesis
Hypothesis means tentative statement about the solution of the
problem, which is not yet final.
Hypotheses are tentative answers, because they can be verified
only after they have been tested empirically.
According to Kerlinger (1973) define hypotheses are generally
two types:
1) Research Hypothesis: (H1 or +ve)
Ex: There is a difference between male and female teachers in
Amity University, Lucknow Campus in relation to their
effectiveness.
2) Statistical or Null Hypothesis: (Ho or -ve)
Ex: There is no difference between male and female teachers in
Amity University, Lucknow Campus in relation to their
effectiveness.
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 Again Kerlinger classify hypotheses are:

a) Directional Hypothesis:
Ex: In private schools, boys students are more intelligent than
girls in mathematics at class X.
b) Non-Directional hypothesis:
Ex: There is a significant/no significant difference between boys
and girls student in mathematics at class X in private
schools.

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 Population
The Concept:
Population refers to any collective a specified group of human
beings or of non-human entities such as objects, educational
institutions, geographical areas, etc.
A group of objects, materials, humans, etc. having same
characteristics.
Example: Students Enrolled in Amity University, Lucknow
Campus.

Types of Population
1) Finite Population
2) Infinite Population
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 Sample
The Concept:
A sample is a sub-set of a population upon which the
research is conducted.
A sample is the representative portion of a larger
population.
Small portion of a large group which poses the
characteristics of that large group for which it belongs.

Generalization
Population
Sample

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 What is Data Collection?
 The process by which the researcher collects the
information needed to answer the research question or
hypothesis.
 In collecting the data, the researcher must decide:
 Which data to collect?
 How to collect the data?
 Who will collect the data?
 When to collect the data?

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 Tools or Instruments for Data Collection
Research is based on data which is gathered to answer the
research question or to test the hypothesis.
Research tool may be defined as anything that becomes a
means of collecting information for your study is called
a research tool or a research instrument.
Several tools or instruments have been developed for the
collection and acquisition of data. Some of the more
important tools or instruments are listed below:
1. Questionnaire
2. Interview Schedule
3. Observation Schedule
4. Rating Scales
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 1. Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a list of questions arranged in a specific
way or randomly, generally in print or typed and having
spaces for recording answer to the questions.
Questionnaire is a popular means of collecting all kinds of
data in research.
Questionnaire is a list of questions sent to a number of
persons for them to answer.
It is an important instrument to gather information from
widely scattered sources or areas.
It is most flexible tool in collecting both qualitative and
quantitative information in research.

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 Types of Questionnaire
a) Closed Form Questionnaire:
 When the questions have highly structured answers
and the respondents have to either check mark or say
Yes or No or check an answer from a number of
alternatives given or arrange them in order of
importance.
Example-1: How did you obtain your Master’s degree?
(put a tick mark against your answer):
(a) As a regular student
(b) As a private student
(c) By correspondence course

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 Cont….
Example-2: Is your teacher coming to the school?
(Regularly, Daily, Some Time, Rarely, Not at all)
 It is very suitable for research purpose
 It is easy to fill out, less time for respondents
 More convenient for tabulation and analysis
 The construction of questionnaire requires a lot of
labor and thought

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 b) Open Form Questionnaire:
 It is also called as unrestricted questionnaire.
 The respondent is free to answer a question freely in his
own words in the space provided for.
 No attractive or probable answers are provided.
 The open form questionnaire is good for depth studies
and gives freedom to the respondents to answer the
questions without any restrictions.
 It is difficult to fill and takes more time and returns are
also few.
 The respondents may never be aware of all the possible
answers.
 The information too unwieldly and unstructured and
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hence difficult
Dr. Sushanta Kumar Roul to tabulate, analyze and interpret.
Sunday, May 5, 2019
 For Example:
 Q. 1. According to you what is quality of
Education?
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
………………………………………........................
(Answer may very from person to person or one to
another.)
 Q. 2. Why did you decide to join in the Ph.D.
program in Amity University, Lucknow Campus?
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
…………………………………………….................
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 c) Pictorial Form Questionnaire:
 The pictorial form of questionnaire is useful for
working with illiterate persons, young children and
person not knowing a specific language.
 Pictorial form questionnaires contain drawings,
photographs or other such material rather than the
written statements.
 The respondents will choose answers in terms of the
pictorial material.
 Instruction and directions can be given orally.

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 2. The Interview
 An interview, very often, implies a face to face
communication between two or more persons.
 The person who conducts the interview (or ask the
questions) is called the interviewer and the person who is
interviewed (or answer the questions) is called the
interviewee.
 The interview is probably man’s oldest and most
common method of obtaining (to get) information from
people.
 If we wish to know some thing about some one, we can
ask directly certain questions.
 Interview as an oral questionnaire and maximum
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information collected in less time.
Dr. Sushanta Kumar Roul Sunday, May 5, 2019
 Types of Interview
1. Structured Interview
 Research interviews are generally structured
interview.
 In this type of interview, a complete schedule is used.
 The interview is asked to the answer to the questions
only.
 A structured interview is rigidly standardized and
formal.
 The questions, the order of presentation of the
questions, the form of recording the responses are
systematic.

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 2) Unstructured Interview:
 A completely unstructured interview is response
free.
 There is no definitely pre-planned questions and
no definite format for the response.
 The questions are flexible and focused on past
experiences.
 Example: What are the remedies, you can suggest
for the present examination system?

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 3. The observation
 Observation is the oldest method used by man in
scientific investigation.
 A child gets his first knowledge of the universe around
him begins with observation.
 Gradually he is able to understand their significance and
use.
 Observation stands for a researcher’s seeing and hearing
things and recording what he saw or heard.
 The observer does not depend on subject’s self-report
responses to questions or statements.

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 Uses of Observation:
1. It is useful in case of behavioral study of human being.
2. Observation is helpful for the studies of infants and
older children.
3. Observation is also helpful for backward children, gifted
students, handicapped students.
4. In animal psychology, observation also use the major
tools for investigation and research.
5. Observation is an appropriate tool for deaf and dumb
persons, for serious cases of abnormality or persons who
do not understand the specific language.
6. We observe the behavior of those, who can not read,
write and speak.
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 Types of Observation:
a) Participant Observation
 In participant observation, the observer works his own
way in to the group, he is to observe and becomes a
member of the group.
 In this case the observer must be an active member of
the group.
 He freely mixes with all activities of these subjects or
group.
 Not as an outsider trying to have a critical study which
can be possible by participation of the observer.

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 b) Non-Participation Observation
 Non-participation observation is generally done by
the observer by keeping out of the group or the
activity.
 The observer watching the subjects or activity either
through one-way-glass or one-way-mirror standing or
sitting in other side while the activity is going on.
 The observer can also use CC TV camera for the non-
participation observation.

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 Rating Scales:
 Ratings scales are used frequently in research and
indeed they have already been introduced in
connection with Likert scales.
 A rating scale presents a statement or item with a
corresponding scale of categories.
 Rating scales may have three, four, up to seven points
or options.
 The principal can be asked to rate a teacher’s
“adjustment with school” on the following scales.

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Example:

Rating Scales

Excellent Very Good Average Poor Very Extremely

Adjustm- good adjus- adjust- adjus- poor poor
ent adjus- tment ment tment adjus- adjust-
tment tment ment

 The judge or the rater: The person who give an assessment

or judgment. In our example, the Principal.
 The subjects or ratee: The person, object or the issue
which is being judged or rated. In our example, the
Teacher.
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