Research seminar

Punjabi University –Patiala
Department of Commerce
Seminar on
Research Methodology-(PH-101)
By
Tadele Habtamu
Aug. 19, 2016 G.C.

Topic
•Research
»Meaning
»Characteristics
»Types

Objectives
At the end of the seminar, We will be able to
• Define the term research
• Explain the motivations for doing research
• Explain the characteristics of research
• Classify research

Flow
Research
• Literal meaning
• Dictionary meaning
• Encyclopedia meaning
• Authors’ definitions
• What research is not
• Why research is carried out
• Motivations in research
• Characteristics of research
• Types /Classifications of research

Literal Meaning
• The term research is made up of two different
words; ‘Re’ and ‘Search’
• “Re” means again, fresh, new etc which
generally shows coming back, repetition
• “Search” Stands for to look for or to dig out,
to find out something missing, lost, concealed
or hidden etc.
• Hence: Searching again and again, over and
over.
Research - Definition.

Research - Definition Contd.
• Dictionary meaning
The Oxford Concise Dictionary defines it
as
A. the systematic investigation into and study
of materials, sources, etc, in order to
establish facts and reach new conclusions.
B. an endeavour to discover new or collate old
facts etc by the scientific study of a subject
or by a course of critical investigation.

• The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of
Current English lays down the meaning
of research as :-
• “a careful investigation or inquiry
specially through search for new facts
in any branch of knowledge.”

• Encyclopedia of Social Sciences, D.
Slesinger and M. Stephension (1930)
• Defined research as “the manipulation of
things, concepts or symbols for the
purpose of generalizing to extend, correct
or verify knowledge, whether that
knowledge aids in the construction of
theory or in the practice of an art”.

• According Authors
• According to Redman and Mory (1923),
research is a “systematized effort to gain
new knowledge”. It is an academic activity
and therefore the term should be used in a
technical sense.

• According to Clifford Woody research
comprises defining and redefining
problems, formulating hypothesis or
suggested solutions; collecting, organising
and evaluating data; making deductions
and reaching conclusions; and at last
carefully testing the conclusions to
determine whether they fit the formulated
hypothesis.

• In short, research is the search for
knowledge through objective and
systematic method of finding a solution to a
problem as well as the systematic approach
concerning generalization and formulation
of theory.
• It is the function of the researcher to
contribute to the understanding of the
phenomenon and to communicate that
understanding to others.

Why research is carried out
From the above definitions one can
generalize that research is undertaken for
two different purposes:
To solve a current problem - applied
research. (To be discussed later)
To generate a body of knowledge about
how to solve potential problems - basic or
fundamental or pure research.
(To be discussed later)

What Research is not
Walliman (2005) states that uses of the term
‘research’ are not research in the true meaning
of the word.
• As part of this, he highlights ways in which the
term is used wrongly:
Research is not mere information gathering.
(Research is not merely rummaging for
information. )
Although research often involves the collection
of information, it is more than just reading a few
books or articles, talking to a few people or
asking people questions.

• If collection of the information is not
undertaken in a systematic way, on its own
and, in particular, with a clear purpose, it
will not be seen as research.
• Just collecting facts or information with no
clear purpose is simply information
discovery; it may be learning reference
skills; but it certainly is not a research.
What Research is not Contd.

• Research is more than rummaging through
files to find what one did not know.
Rummaging, whether in one's personal
records or in the public or college library is
not research. It is accurately termed an
exercise in self-enlightenment.

• Is not Reassembling and reordering facts or
information without interpretation;
• Let’s say data are collected, perhaps from a
variety of different sources, and then
assembled in a single document with the
sources of these data listed. However, if there
is no interpretation of the data collected.
Again, while the assembly of data from a
variety without interpretation it is not
research.
What Research is not contd.

Research is not a catchword used to get
attention.
• If the term ‘research’ is used to get an idea
or product noticed by people and to
suggest that people should have
confidence in it, but when you ask for
details of the research process, these are
either unclear or not forthcoming, then it is
not a research.
(Saunders etal, 2009)

Motivations in Research
• What makes people to undertake
research? The possible motives for
doing research may be either one or
more of the following:
–Desire to get a research degree
along with its consequential benefits;
–Desire to face the challenge in
solving the unsolved problems, i.e.,
concern over practical problems
initiates research;

–Desire to get intellectual joy of doing
some creative work;
–Desire to be of service to society;
–Desire to get respect.
Motivations in Research Cont.

Characteristics of Research
• Systematic
This implies that the procedures adopted to
undertake an investigation follow a certain
logical sequence. The different steps cannot
be taken in a haphazard way. Some
procedures must follow others
Valid and verifiable
This concept implies that whatever you
conclude on the basis of your findings is
correct and can be verified (confirmed) by
you and others.

Characteristics of Research Contd.
Critical
• Critical scrutiny of the procedures used and
the methods employed is crucial to a
research enquiry. The process of
investigation must be full proof and free from
any drawbacks.
• The process adopted and the procedures
used must be able to withstand critical
scrutiny. ( Kumar)
Characteristics of Research Cont.

Rigorous
• Done carefully and in detail.
• You must be scrupulous in ensuring that the
procedures followed to find answers to
questions are relevant, appropriate and
justified.
• Again, the degree of rigour varies markedly
between the physical and the social sciences
and within the social sciences.
Characteristics of Research Cont.

Controlled
• In real life there are many factors that affect
an outcome. A particular event is seldom the
result of a one-to-one relationship.
• Most outcomes are a result from the interplay
of multiple relationships and interacting
factors.
• In a study of cause and-effect relationships it
is important to be able to link the effect(s)
with the cause(s) and vice versa.

• The concept of control implies that, in exploring
causality in relation to two variables, you set up
your study in a way that minimises the effects of
other factors affecting the relationship.
• This can be achieved to a large extent in the
physical sciences, as most of the research is done
in a laboratory.
• However, in the social sciences it is extremely
difficult as research is carried out on issues
relating to human beings living in society, where
such controls are impossible. Therefore, in the
social sciences, as you cannot control external
factors, you attempt to quantify their impact.

Other Characteristics
• Is directed toward the solution of a problem
• Requires expertise
• Is Objective i.e. Is based upon observable
experience or empirical evidence;
• Demands accurate observation and description;
• Involves gathering new data from primary or
first-hand sources or using existing data for a
new purpose

• is characterized by patient and unhurried
activity;
• is carefully recorded and reported;
• Sometimes requires courage;

Types of Research
There are different ways of classifying
research.
• Some classify it as theoretical and applied,
descriptive and explanatory, quantitative
and qualitative, conceptual and empirical,
and other types of research.
• Others classify from various angles.For
example based on objective, based on
design, based on the area etc.
• The list is not exhaustive

Types of Research Contd.
It should also be noted that there is no clear
dividing line between one method and the
other. There are always overlaps in a sense
that one method somehow includes the
other.
Some researchers rather prefer to treat each
type of research separately instead of
looking at a method as a subset of a broad
category.

Descriptive vs. Analytical
Descriptive (Ex post facto) research
–Includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries
of different kinds.
–The major purpose of descriptive research
is description of the state of affairs as it
exists at present.
–The main characteristic of this method is
that the researcher has no control over the
variables; he can only report what has
happened or what is happening. E.g. Who
is homeless, how many are there?

• Majority of the ex post facto research projects
are used for descriptive studies in which the
researcher attempts to examine phenomena,
such as the consumers’ preferences, frequency
of purchases, shopping, etc.
• Despite the inability of the researchers to
control the variables, ex post facto studies may
also comprise attempts by them to discover the
causes of the selected problem.

• The methods of research adopted in
conducting descriptive research are
survey methods of all kinds, including co
relational and comparative methods.

Types of Research Cont.
Analytical research
• In Analytical research, the researcher has
to use the already available facts or
information, and analyze them to make a
critical evaluation
• processes the data obtained by the
descriptive research to make further
inference (conclusion, suggestion).
• Manipulation (Some control) over the
variables

• Applied vs. Fundamental:
Applied /Action research
Aims at finding a solution for an immediate
problem facing a society or an
industrial/business organization
Aims at drawing conclusions confronting a
concrete social or business problem
• Most of the researches in the social
sciences are applied.

Applied Research Examples
• Should McDonalds add Italian pasta dinners to
its menu?
• Business research told McDonald’s it should
not?
• Should Procter & Gamble add a high-priced
home teeth bleaching kit to its product line?
• Research showed Crest Whitestrips would sell
well at a retail price of $44

• Fundamental (basic or pure) research
“Gathers knowledge for knowledge’s sake.
• Is mainly concerned with generalizations and
formulation of theory.
• It is designed to extend the bases of
knowledge in a discipline for the sake of
understanding it.
• Research concerning some natural
phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics
are examples of fundamental research.

Basic Research Example
• Is executive success correlated with high need
for achievement?
• Are members of highly cohesive work groups
more satisfied than members of less cohesive
work groups?
• Do consumers experience cognitive
dissonance in low-involvement situations?

• Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Quantitative research
• is based on the measurement of quantity or
amount. It is applicable to phenomena that
can be expressed in terms of quantity.
• Creswell (1994) “a type of research that is
`explaining phenomena by collecting
numerical data that are analyzed using
mathematically based methods (in
particular statistics).”

• Qualitative research
Is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e.,
phenomena relating to or involving quality or
kind.
• It is concerned with developing explanations
of social phenomena
It aims to help us to understand the world in
which we live and why things are the way
they are.
• It is concerned with finding the answers to
questions why? how? in what way?

For instance, when we are interested in
investigating the reasons for human behaviour
(i.e., why people think or do certain things),we
quite often talk of ‘Motivation Research’, an
important type of qualitative research

It is concerned with the social aspects of our
world and seeks to answer questions about:
• Why people behave the way they do
• How opinions and attitudes are formed
• How people are affected by the events that go
on around them
• How and why cultures have developed in the
way they have
• The differences between social groups

The difference between quantitative and
qualitative researches is a function of one
of the following:
Focus of the research
 Level of the researcher involvement
The research design
The data type
Lets see them one by one

Qualitative Quantitative
Focus Understanding Description
Interpretation Explanation
Researcher
Involvement
High Limited
Participation-
based
Controlled
Research
Design
Longitudinal Cross-sectional or
longitudinal
Multi Method Single Method

Sample
Design and
Size
Non-
probability
Probability
Small sample Large Sample
Data type and
preparation
Verbal or
pictorial
Verbal descriptions
Reduced to
verbal codes
Reduced to
numeric codes

Data Analysis Human judgment
mixed with fact
Computerized
analysis
Facts distinguished

Conceptual vs. Empirical (experimental
type of research)
Conceptual research
Is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory.
It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to
develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing
ones.
Empirical research
Relies on experience or observation alone, often
without due regard for system and theory. It is
data-based research, coming up with conclusions
which are capable of being verified by observation
or experiment.

Explanatory research
In explanation, the researcher is interested in
exploring the reasons or the causes of the
occurrence of certain behavior or event.
It involves understanding the cause – and –
effect relationship between phenomena.
Attempts are made to answer the question
“why?”

Exploratory
• Exploratory research is defined by Burns and
Groove (2001:374) as research conducted to gain
new insights, discover
new ideas, and for increasing knowledge of the
phenomenon.
• Is also conducted for a problem that has not
been clearly defined.
• Investigates an issue or phenomena.
• It can be a stand alone study or it can be used as
a means to define a problem before engaging in
actual research
Eg. Challenges of prospects of establishing capital
market in Ethiopia.

• Evaluation Research
• Is the formal, objective measurement and
appraisal of the extent to which a given
activity, project, or program has achieved
its objectives.

Performance-monitoring Research
• Research that regularly provides feedback
for evaluation and control
• Indicates Whether or not things are going
as planned
• The research may be required to explain
why something “went wrong”

References
• Kothari, C.R.,2004, Research Methodology-
Methods and Techniques, New Delhi, Wiley
Eastern Limited.
• Kumar, Ranjit, 2005, Research Methodology-A
Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners, (2nd.ed),
Singapore, Pearson Education.
• Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill
(2007)Research method for Business students
fifth edition
• BEVERLEY HANCOCK (2004) An Introduction to
Qualitative Research
• Ranjit Kumar (2011) Research methodology a
step-by-step guide for beginners- 3rd edition
• Various articles from the internet

THANK YOU
አመሰግናለሁ
(AMESEGINALEHU)
The End

Research seminar

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