Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
(Autonomous)
1
UNIT I
Research
Research generally refers to a search for knowledge. One can define research as a
scientific and systematic search for significant information on a specific topic. In fact,
research is an art of scientific investigation. Dictionary definition of research is a careful
investigation or inquiry especially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.
Some people consider research as a movement from known to unknown. It is actually a
voyage of discovery.
Features of Research
Research involves the discovery of new knowledge
It is essentially an investigation
It is concerned with the solution of a problem
It is based on observation or experimental evidences.
It demands accurate observation or experimentation.
In research, the researchers try to find out answers for unsolved questions
It should be carefully recorded and reported
2
and policies everywhere around the universe. It also solves particular existing problems of
concern. Research is important because we are able to learn more about things, people, and
events. In doing research, we are able to make smart decisions.
Marketing research is important because it allows consumers and producers to
become more familiar with the products, goods, and services around them. Research is
important to society because it allows us to discover more and more that might make are
lives easier, more comfortable, and safer. It presents more information for investigation.
This allows for improvements based on greater information and study. It is very important.
Research encourages interdisciplinary approaches to find solution to problems and to make
new discoveries. Research is a basic ingredient for development and therefore serves as a
means for rapid economic development.
The main importance or uses may be listed as under:
It provides basis for government policies
Helps in solving various operational and planning problems of business and industry
Research helps in problem solving
It is useful to students, professionals, philosophers, literary men, analysts and
intellectuals.
Business Research
3
related problem, such as determining how to decrease the amount of excess inventory on
hand.
When deciding whether business research is to be conducted or not, the firm keeps
in mind factors like the availability of data, time constraints and the value of the research
information to the company. Adequate planning and information-gathering are essential to
derive results for business.
Types of Research
Basic Research (Or Fundamental) and Applied Research (Or Action Research)
Basic or Fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalization with the
formulation of a theory. It is a research concerning principles or laws or rules. It aims at the
achievement of knowledge and truth. Research studies concentrating on examining the
financial statements, determining likely mergers and acquisitions, analysing the market
competition, assessment of factors influencing leadership style in a company are the
examples of fundamental research. It aims at some theoretical conclusions. It may verify the
old theory or establish a new one. It tries to explain the cause and effect relationship in
social phenomena. It is essentially positive and not normative. That is, it explains the
phenomena as they are and not as they should be.
4
In Analytical research one has to use facts or information already available and
analyse these to make a critical evaluation of the material.
Examining the fluctuations of U. S. International Trade Balance is a descriptive
research and explaining why and how U.S. Trade Balance moved is an analytical research.
5
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
Scientific Method
The scientific method is based on certain elements which are mentioned below-
People experience a number of facts through senses. Facts are things which actually
exist. In order to deal with them, people use concepts with specific meanings.
6
The concept of "education" has all sorts of things we observe in the world around us in it--
like schools, libraries, life experience, and so on. If we change the concept to "formal
education," the box gets smaller, including only institutions that document what is learned
in some way and award degrees of some kind, like Degree, Post-Graduate Degree and
colleges, tech schools.
Verifiability
Generalisations
Scientists are not concerned with isolated events, but with the commonality
(generalization) of a series of events.
The scientific method involves the logical process of reasoning. This reasoning
process is used for drawing inference from a finding of a study or for arriving at conclusion.
This process consists of Induction and Deduction.
Induction
This method is followed when new facts are studied and new generalizations are
formulated from a research project.
Ex: The application of recommended dosage of chemical fertilizers results in increase in the
yield per hectare. A sample of experiments farms and control farms are selected in an area,
and then the experiments are conducted to draw conclusions.
7
1. Observations must be correctly performed and recorded. Data collected should be
accurate.
2. Observations must cover representative cases drawn from a universe.
Ex: For instance a survey of job satisfaction of Bank executives is undertaken. The
universe from which a sample has to be drawn should be defined exactly, say officers
of public sector bank, specific geographical area etc.,
3. Observations must cover an adequate number of cases.
4. Conclusions must be confined to inferences drawn from the findings.
Deduction
Ex: Major premise [argument] All men are intelligent; Minor premise Varshith is a
man
Use of Deduction
This deductive method of moving from the general assumption to the specific
application is useful for solving problems, but it is not useful in arriving at new truth.
8
LANGUAGE OF RESEARCH
1. Concepts: To understand and communicate information about objects and events, there
must be a common ground on which to do it. Concept is an accepted collection of meanings
or characteristics associated with certain events, objects, conditions, situations and
behaviours.
The researchers gather data using these measurement concepts. The success of
research depends on
A concept is best defined as an abstract label that represents an aspect of reality (usually
in the form of an object, policy, issue, problem, or phenomenon). Every discipline has its own
concepts. For example, common concepts in criminal justice and criminology include
criminality, law, rehabilitation, and punishment.
Concepts are viewed as the beginning point for all research endeavors, and are often very
broad in nature. They are the bases of theories, and serve as a means to communicate,
introduce, classify, and build thoughts and ideas. To conduct research, the concept must
first be taken from its conceptual or theoretical level to an observational level. In other
words, one must go from the abstract to the concrete before research can occur. This
process is often referred to as conceptualization.
2. Constructs
3. Definitions
Confusion about the meaning of concepts can destroy research study value without the
researchers or client even knowing it. If words have different meanings to the parties
9
involved, then there is every scope that they may mis-understand the concepts. Definitions
are one way to reduce this danger. Researchers struggle with two types of definitions
namely Dictionary definitions and Operational definitions.
4. Variables
There are two types of variables: dependent and independent. A dependent variable is
a factor that requires other factors to cause or influence change. Dependent variables are
factors over which the researcher has no control.
The independent variable is the influential or the predictor factor. These are the
variables believed to cause the change or outcome of the dependent variable, and are
something the researcher can control. Some better-known independent variables used in
criminal-justice and criminological research are gender, race, marital status, and education.
Identifying and recognizing the difference between the variables is important in research,
but sometimes may get lost. Therefore, it is important for research to specifically call
attention to the variables.
10