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1. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Mbus. Viet Tinh Nguyen

2. COURSE OVERVIEW
Assessment plan:
Assessment
Methods
Weight CLOs Types of
questions
Number of questions How (Summary Description)
Class
participation
and preparation
10% CLO6
Participation grade will be given
based on students' attendance
Individual
homework
10%
CLO1, 2,
3
Homework
Student must finish
provided homework each
week
Individual homework will be
provided each week
Group
assignment
20%
CLO 4, 5,
6
Group written
literature review
Students will choose research topic
and write an extended literature
review
Final research
proposal
50%
CLO
1,2,3,4,5
Final research
proposal
Student will create a complete
research proposal of a chosen
research topic
Total 100%

3. TEXTBOOK
Main textbook
John W. Creswell & J. David Creswell - Research Design_ Qualitative, Quantitative,
and Mixed Methods Approaches (2018, Sage)
Additional material
C. George Thomas - Research Methodology And Scientific Writing (2021, Springer)
All materials are available on the E-learning site of the course for you to download.
Please do not share the provided materials to people outside of this course.
E-learning site: https://elearning.vanlanguni.edu.vn/course/view.php?id=5749

4. CONTENT
1. Acquiring knowledge
2. What is research?
3. Types of research
4. The research process
5. Academic research

5. 1. KNOWLEDGE AND ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE
‘Knowledge is power’ - Francis Bacon (1561–1626)
‘We know very little, and yet it is astonishing that we know so much, and still
more astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power’
- Bertrand Russell (1872–1970)

6. 1. KNOWLEDGE AND ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE
What is known is knowledge. From the day we are born, we begin to
acquire and refine knowledge in many ways. Acquiring knowledge and
sharing it with others are widely recognized as the basis for improving
one’s power, especially reputation and influence in the society.
Knowledge can be implicit knowledge as with practical skills or explicit
knowledge as with the theoretical understanding of a subject

7. 1. KNOWLEDGE AND ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE
What is known is knowledge. From the day we are born, we begin to
acquire and refine knowledge in many ways. Acquiring knowledge and
sharing it with others are widely recognized as the basis for improving
one’s power, especially reputation and influence in the society.
Knowledge can be implicit knowledge as with practical skills or explicit
knowledge as with the theoretical understanding of a subject

8. 1. KNOWLEDGE AND ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE
Charles Sanders Peirce (1839–1914) described four methods of acquiring
knowledge or fixing beliefs:
Method of tenacity: Probably because of our upbringing and socialization
pattern, we believe and accept certain things to be true. These are being
taught or thrust upon us from early childhood.

9. 1. KNOWLEDGE AND ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE
Method of authority: In olden days, nobody was allowed to question the authority.
The authority might be kings, priests, or other leaders. People often take for granted
the information passed on to them based on authority. Even now, the authority has
some sway over the people.
Method of intuition: The method of intuition or a priori method of acquiring
knowledge is considered to be superior to the two already mentioned. As already
discussed, it is called a priori method as reasoning is done from what is ‘prior’ or
‘before’. The propositions accepted by the method of intuition are self-evident.

10. 1. KNOWLEDGE AND ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE
Method of science: The method of science or scientific method is a
practical methodology of acquiring knowledge by framing specific questions
and systematically finding answers. Among the four methods of acquiring
knowledge, scientific method is the most reliable.
The method of science is based on empirical and measurable evidences
rather than beliefs or arguments. Scientific method has also the rare
characteristic of self-correction, which no other method has; in science,
theories and laws are revised based on new evidences

11. 2. WHAT IS RESEARCH?
“Research is a systematized effort to gain new
knowledge”.
-Redman and Mory.
Research is the systematic process of collecting
and analyzing information (data) in order to
increase our understanding of the phenomenon
about which we are concerned or interested

12. 2. WHAT IS RESEARCH?
The purpose of research is to discover answers through the application of scientific procedures.
The objectives are:
To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it – Exploratory or Formulative
Research.
To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group – Descriptive
Research.
To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something
else – Diagnostic Research.
To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables – Hypothesis-Testing Research.

13. 2.CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
The characteristics of research are:
Research is directed towards the solution of a problem.
Research is based upon observable experience or
empirical evidence.
Research demands accurate observation and
description.
Research involves gathering new data from primary
sources or using existing data for a new purpose.
Research activities are characterized by carefully
designed procedures.

14. 2. CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
Research requires expertise i.e., skill necessary to
carryout investigation, search the related literature and
to understand and analyze the data gathered.
Research is objective and logical – applying every
possible test to validate the data collected and conclusions
reached.
Research involves the quest for answers to unsolved
problems.
Research requires courage.
Research is characterized by patient and unhurried
activity.
Research is carefully recorded and reported.

15. 2. MOTIVES FOR DOING RESEARCH
One or more of the following may be the motives in doing research:
•Excitement of discovery
•Pursuit of prestige
•In depth knowledge on a subject
•Service to society
•Need for publications
•Obtaining a higher degree
•Better management
…….

16. 3. TYPES OF RESEARCH
Descriptive vs Analytical Research
Descriptive Research is a fact-finding investigation which is aimed at
describing the characteristics of individual, situation or a group (or)
describing the state of affairs as it exists at present.
Analytical Research is primarily concerned with testing hypothesis and
specifying and interpreting relationships, by analyzing the facts or
information already available.

17. 3. TYPES OF RESEARCH
Applied vs Fundamental Research
Applied Research or Action Research is carried out to find solution to a
real-life problem requiring an action or policy decision.
Fundamental Research which is also known as basic or pure research
is undertaken for the sake of knowledge without any intention to apply
it in practice. It is undertaken out of intellectual curiosity and is not
necessarily problem-oriented.

18. 3. TYPES OF RESEARCH
Quantitative vs Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research is employed for measuring the quantity or
amount of a particular phenomena by the use of statistical analysis.
Qualitative Research is a non-quantitative type of analysis which is
aimed at finding out the quality of a particular phenomenon.

19. 3. TYPES OF RESEARCH
Conceptual vs Empirical Research
Conceptual Research is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop
new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.
Empirical Research is a data-based research which depends on experience or
observation alone. It is aimed at coming up with conclusions without due
regard for system and theory.

20. Some other types of research..
 One-time Research – Research confined to a single time period.
 Longitudinal Research – Research carried on over several time
periods.
 Diagnostic Research – It is also called clinical research which aims at
identifying the causes of a problem, frequency with which it occurs
and the possible solutions for it.
 Exploratory Research – It is the preliminary study of an unfamiliar
problem, about which the researcher has little or no knowledge. It is
aimed to gain familiarity with the problem, to generate new ideas or
to make a precise formulation of the problem. Hence it is also known
as formulative research.

21.  Experimental Research – It is designed to assess the effect of one particular
variable on a phenomenon by keeping the other variables constant or controlled.
 Historical Research – It is the study of past records and other information
sources, with a view to find the origin and development of a phenomenon and to
discover the trends in the past, inorder to understand the present and to
anticipate the future.
Some other types of research..

22. 3. TYPES OF RESEARCH
Quantitative vs Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research is employed for measuring the quantity or
amount of a particular phenomena by the use of statistical analysis.
Qualitative Research is a non-quantitative type of analysis which is
aimed at finding out the quality of a particular phenomenon.

23. HOMEWORK
Read this paper and:
- Identify the type of research.
- Identify the problem that the researchers are trying to solve (1 or 2 lines)
- How did they solve the problem (under 5 lines)
- What is the result of the research (under 5 lines)
(16) (PDF) A Spherical Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (SF-AHP) and
Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) Algorithm in Distribution Center
Location Selection: A Case Study in Agricultural Supply Chain
(researchgate.net)