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Quality of Research
Quality of research depends upon the nature of data
Quality of solutions to the problem on hand is higher if
data collected is primary data
Research that uses secondary data is to some extend
subject to suspect and may not be completely
dependable
It is many times difficult to obtain first-hand primary
data
Even at times first hand data may not be accurate
Researcher must state the limitations right the outset and
acknowledge that the research may be weak in certain
aspects
Written accounts
Descriptive observations
Numerical observations
Comparative observations
Written Accounts
This is historical data
It describes what happened in the past
Written accounts data is also known as
literary or critical data
Descriptive Observations
This is similar to written accounts.
The observer observes something and
writes a description.
Observations have a direct research purpose
unlike written accounts which may have
been written by people who may not have
any direct research purpose in their mind.
Descriptive observations are also called as
normative survey or descriptive survey.
Numerical Observations
These are observations which have been
quantified and exist in numerical form.
These observations result from the application of
measurement techniques
The surveys wherein numerical observations are
collected are called analytical surveys and the data
is called statistical data
Comparative Observations
These result from a careful comparison or contrast
of one set of observations with another set of
observations
The two observations may be made under different
conditions, one strictly controlled and the other
not controlled
These data are usually called experimental data
Choice of Methodology
Do the data result from application of methodology or
exist independent of it?
It is obvious that data, as facts, are something over the
existence of which you do not have any control
Only to extract the data for your own use, you will
have to use an appropriate method for data collection
Classification of Research
Action Research
This approach tries to find out if something actually
works
e.g., playing music during working time will
improve the performance of workers
Case-And-Field-Study Research
This is a descriptive research in which data are
gathered directly from the individuals in their
natural environment for studying interactions,
attitudes etc.
e.g., medical studies
Classification of Research
Correlational Research
This is a statistical investigation of the relationship
between one factor and certain other factors. This
research does not necessarily look at the causal
connections, but it simply establishes the relationship
between two factors
Descriptive or Normative Survey
This refers to observations with insight through
research instruments such as questionnaires, interviews
and so on, assemble the collected data, examine and
ascertain the data through a sample
Classification of Research
Developmental Research
This is similar to the descriptive-normative
research but stretches over a period of time
and so it is called the longitudinal study
Causal-Comparative Research
This is a type of experimental research. In
this, we observe existing conditions and
search back through the data for causal
factors
Classification of Research
Historical Research
In this research, we examine the records left behind by people who
have lived during certain times
These may be books, diaries and so on
The researcher tries to find out which events took place and attempts
to establish why they took place from these records
Classification of Research
Quasi-Experimental Research
The experimental method attempts to account for the
influence of one factor or of multiple factors in a given
situation
In any good research design, randomization is
extremely important, however, proper randomization is
impossible
The experimental method used in reality is called as
quasi-experimental method
Lesson-11: Exercise
Discuss with examples nature and role of
data in research
Discuss different research methodologies
with hypothetical situations