Research Methodology

Gopinath Ganapathy
BDU

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 1

 Basic Terminology
 What is Research?

 What is Science?

 What is Technology?

 What is Methodology?

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 2

 Why Methodology?
 Need for methodology for Research?
• Science is a collection and observation
of data for certain questions.
• While to find answers to further the
knowledge we need to have systematic
and universal of
• collecting and observing the data. If
not, it is chaos.

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 3

 Why Methodology - II?
 If systematic methods are followed,
it is easy to Predict events and
behavior of the finding.
 Merits and demerits of the data we
are confronted with every day will be
tabulated and identified easily

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 4

 Types of Research
 BASIC: Foundation upon which the applications
are built. It is not helpful for real world.

 APPLIED: Related to finding solutions to the

practical problems to be used by real world.

 Program Evaluation: of existing programs in

areas of education, criminal justice, etc., and
determine the effectiveness of these programs.
DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 5

 Evaluation Example
 For example - Does capital punishment work?
 Think of all the issues surrounding this program
and how hard it is to examine its effectiveness.
 The most immediate issue, how do you define the
purpose and "effectiveness" of capital
punishment?
 If the purpose is to prevent convicted criminals
from ever committing that same crime or any
other crime, than capital punishment is an
absolute - 100% effective.
 However, if the point of capital punishment is to
deter would-be criminals from committing crimes,
then it is a completely different story.

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 6

 Research Approach
 Gather data
• Non Scientific
 Authority Figures : by Teachers
Larger Brain = Greater Intelligence
 Intuition : women are romantic than men?
• Scientific Approach
 Testable : God exists?
 Provable or Falsifiable : Easy to prove or
disprove – God exists?

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 7

 Scientific Methodology
 Goals
• 1) Description - the citing of the observable
characteristics of an event, object, or individual. begin to
transform it from a general concept or idea into a
specific, testable construct.

• 2) Prediction - here we formulate testable predictions

or HYPOTHESES about behavior. For example, one may
hypothesize that as alcohol consumption increases
driving ability decreases. (usually based on THEORIES).

• 3) Select Methodology & Design - chose the most

appropriate research strategy to address hypotheses.

• 4) Control - method of eliminating all unwanted factors

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 8

 Scientific Methodology - II
• 5) Collect Data - data collection is simply the
execution and implementation of your research
design.
• 6) Analyze & Interpret the Data - use of
statistical procedures to determine the
mathematical and scientific importance
...discovery of the causes of behavior,
cognition, and physiological processes.
• 7) Report/Communicate the Findings -
Psychology is a science that is based on
sharing – Just finding answers to questions is
meaningless -through publications in scientific
journals, books, presentations, lectures, etc.
December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 9
 “How to conduct” Methodology
 Observation of system
 (no intervention- just natural)
 Case study
 investigate, examine thoroughly
 Survey
 questionnaire, verbal interview
 Psychological Testing
 provide a test and then score the answers to
draw conclusions from. I.Q. tests
 Experimental Research
 Cause & Effect
December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 10
 Writing
 Assignments
 Essay /Term papers
 Dissertation – Theses
 Reports

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 11

 Assignments
 Not covered in the lecture
 Critically important area
 Search and select material
 Marshal thoughts
 Independent study (educational value)
 Unlike Essay: Exercise for exam paper.
Not for public library.
 Both will have remarks (for remedial
purpose)
December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 12
 Thesis
 Higher Degree student
 Unlike Essay
 Culmination of REAL OWN WORK
 Study about new invention
 Or refine the existing solution
 Scholarly Style

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 13

 How thesis?
 Good research – marred by bad
presentation
 Talks the requirements of the
department
 Readability and simplicity
 Not pompous, ambiguous
 Standard format
 No personal pronouns
December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 14
 How Thesis?
 Consistency in Language
 Past tense if talks about work
already done
 No cramming of jargons
 No sweeping statements or
exaggerated claims
 Wider scope Unlike assignment

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 15

 Planning
 Limit the scope of problem
• Wheat example
 Choose topic
 More you know the subject, more
you know the gap
 Detect the problems
 Does it make contribution?
 Will it solve by investigation?
December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 16
 Planning - II
 Sources:
• Personal Association with institute, professors
 Selection of area of research (8 points)
• Is there adequate supervision?
• Does it interest you?
• Required time completion?
• Equipment available?
• Library ?
• subjects available?
• Is it scientific?
• Is it fesible?

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 17

 Planning III
 Literature Review
• Should continue till end
• Should not replicate the old
• Lead to ideally new and original
• Review relevant sources
• Tertiary = Book etc
• Secondary = Abstracts, encyclopedia,
articles
• Primary = Journals, Doctoral thesis

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 18

 Planning IV
 What to study (review)?
• Two ways
 Empirical = experimental , Science
 Analytical = Arts
• Common elements of Study
• Clear statement of problem (hypothesis)
• Statement of assumptions
• Statement of limitation
• Clear Definition of newer terms
• Appropriateness of research
• Description of samples
• Control of errors (laboratory experiment)
• Validity

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 19

 Planning - V
 Chapter sample
• Introduction
 Problem statement
 Significance of study
 Limits of study
• Conclusion
 Recommendation
 Directions of future research
 Claims

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 20

 CASE STUDY
 Do we need Computers?

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 21

 GENERAL FORMAT
 The thesis format may include
• Preliminaries
 Title Page
 Preface + acknowledgement
 Table of content
 List of Tables
 List of Figures/Plates/Illustrations
• Main Text
 Introduction
 Main body of thesis divided by Chapters
 Conclusion
• Reference
 Bibliography
 Appendices
 Index if any

December 2006 Research Methodology: Best Practices 22