Research Methodology

What is research?
A careful, systematic , patient study
and investigation in some field of
knowledge, undertaken to establish
facts or princilpes (Grinnell, 1993:4)
It is a discovery (Rediscovery); A
voyage from the known to the
unknown
An effort to be closer to the truth

Characteristics
It is controlled. In real life for an
outcome there could be many
affecting factors. In a study of cause
and effect relationships one has to
link effects with causes and causes
with effects. Establishment of this
linkage is impossible unless it is a
laboratory test. Therefore instead of
controlling external factors we have
to quantify the impact of such

Contd.,
It is rigorous. Procedures followed to find
answers to a problem must be relevant,
appropriate and justifiable. Researcher needs
to be very careful about this.
It is systematic. Procedures adopted for a
research should follow a logical sequence.
Some procedures must follow others.
It should be valid and verifiable. Your research
conclusion based on findings should be correct
and can be verified by you as well as others.

Contd.,
It is empirical. The conclusions of the
research should be based on
evidence gathered from information
collected from real life experiences/
observations
It is critical. Research procedures and
methods applied should withstand
critical scrutiny. They must be
foolproof and free from drawbacks

Research process- Steps

1. Formulation a of a research problem
2. Creation of a research design
3. Constructing instruments for data
collection
4. Selecting a sample
5.Writing the research proposal
6. Collecting data
7. Processing data
8. Writing the report

Formulating research
problem

Tasks:
Literature review
Formulating the research problem
Identifying variables
Constructing hypotheses

Literature review
To make your research problem clear
and bring focus into it
Develop your methodology
To know where you are
To have a broader knowledge in your
area of research

Contd.,
Search and select literature
pertaining to your area
Review selected literature
Develop a theoretical framework
(theories and issues related your
study)
Develop a conceptual framework
(aspects you select from theoretical
framework that form the basis of
your research)

Contd.,

Sources:
Books
Journals
Electronic resources: online and
offline

How to write the literature

review

Write under themes

Some may follow chronological order
Highlight your arguments
Provide references

Formulating research
problem
Any question that needs answer can
be a research problem. However, not
all questions can be transformed into
research problems.
What matters here:
Your knowledge in research
methodology
Your knowledge of the subject area
Your understanding of the issues to
be examined

Contd.,
Formation of a research problem is
the first step in the research. Identify
the destination before you start the
journey. It is the foundation of your
building.
Sources of research problems:
People (individuals, groups,
organizations, communities)
Problems (Issues, situations,
associations,, needs, demographic)

Contd.,
Programmes (contents, structure,
outcomes, attributes, satisfaction,
users, consumers)
Phenomenon (cause and effect
relationships, study of a phenomenon
itself)
Research problem is your topic.
Consider the following when
selecting a topic:
Your interest

Contd.,
Use concepts that can be measured
Topic should be relevant to your
profession/ subject area
Availability of data
Ethical issues

Formulation of objectives

Objectives are goals of your study

Main objectives
Secondary or sub-objectives
They must be clear, complete and
specific

Identifying variables
A concept or perception that takes
on different values and that can be
measured is a variable. It is
something that varies.
Types:
Independent variables (they are
responsible for bringing about
change in a phenomenon, situation)

Contd.,
Dependent variables (effects of a
change variable, the outcome of the
changes brought about by changes
in an independent variable)
Extraneous variables (other factors
that affect the changes bring about
by independent variables)
Intervening variables (those that link
the independent and dependent
variables)

Constructing hypotheses
It is an anticipation of nature or a
hunch, assumption, assertion
a tentative statement about
something, the validity of which is
usually unknown (Bailey, 1976:126)
It may be right, partially right or
wrong
It should be simple, specific and
conceptually clear

Research design
It is the plan, structure and strategy
of investigating the research problem
It is an operational plan
Procedures to be adopted
Testing the design

Constructing an instrument
for data collection

Data collection methods:

Primary sources
Observation
Interview
Questionnaire
Use of secondary sources
Establish the validity of the selected
instrument

Selecting a sample
Process of selecting a few from a
bigger group
Bigger group is the population and
the selected few is the sample
Larger the sample size the more
accurate will be the findings

Sampling types
Sampling strategies are numerous.
They can be categorized into three
groups:
Random/probability sampling
Non-random/probability sampling
Mixed sampling

Research proposal
It is your plan of research
It reveals what you are going to do,
how you plan to do and why you
have selected the proposed
procedures
It guides you as well as your
supervisor
It is an academic piece of writing
It shows the strength of your
proposed research

Elements
Introduction (an overview of the main
area under study, historical
background, philosophical issues
etc., trends, major theories, main
issues under consideration etc.)
Importance (Why you do it? What are
the benefits?)
Problem (Your research problem or
the research questions)
Literature review

Contd.,
Objectives ( main and secondary)
Hypotheses
Study design (population, sample,
data collection methods etc.)
Setting (brief description of the
community, organization or agency
in which you are going to carry out
the research)
Analysis of data (methods you are
going to use)

Contd.,
Structure of the report or
chapterization
Limitations and problems you may
encounter
Work plan or schedule
Budget (optional)

Collection data
Ethical issues relating to research
participants ( their consent,
incentives, sensitive information,
harm to participants etc.)
Ethical issues relating to the
researcher (avoiding bias, using
appropriate research methodology,
correct reporting etc.)

Processing data

Editing data
Coding data
Verifying coded data
Analyzing data
Displaying data (charts, diagrams,
tables)

Writing the report or thesis

Follow standards (International
standards or departmental
guidelines)
Use appropriate referencing/citation
system
Preparation of a bibliography
Avoid plagiarism

 Sources:
Kumar, Ranjit (1999). Research
methodology : a step by step guide
for beginners, 2nd. ed., Sage, London
Kothari, C.R. (1990). Research
methodology : methods and
techniques, 2nd. Ed., Wishwa
Prakashan, New Delhi

 Thank you!