Definitions of research
o Research is a an art of scientific investigation
o According to advance learner’s dictionary of English research is a careful investigation or inquiry
specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge
o According to Redman and Mory; “Research is a systemized effort to gain new knowledge.”
o According to Clifford woody; research comprises defining defining and redefining problems
,formulation hypothesis ,collecting ,organizing and evaluating data, making deductions and
reaching conclusion and at last carefully testing the conclusion to determine whether they fit
the formulating hypnosis.
o Dr. Slinger and M. Stephenson define 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 construction of theory or in the practice of an art.
o Research is an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for its
advancement.
o Research is an objective and systematic method of finding solution of problems.
Question: What do you know about the research methods?
Answer
o Research method is a systemic plan for conducting research
o It involves conduct of experiments, tests, surveys and the like.it aims at finding solution.
Question: What is research methodology?
o Research methodology is systemic way to solve a problem. It is a science of studying
how research is to be carried out, i.e. what is the suitable method for the chosen
problem?
o It aims at finding the employment of correct procedure to find out solution .
What are the objectives of research?
Answer: The objectives of research are
o To discover new facts
o To verify and test Important facts
o To analyze an event or problem to identity the cause and effect relationship
o To develop new scientific tools, concepts and theories to solve and understand scientific and
nonscientific problems
o To solve problems occurring in our daily life
Question: What are the motives that make people to do research?
Answer:
o To get a research degree along with its benefits like better employment, promotion, increment
in salary etc.
o To solve unsolved and challenging problems
o To get joy of doing some creative work
o To acquire respectability
o Curiosity to find new things
o To serve society by solving problems
Question: What is difference ex post facto and ex fecto terms?
Answer
What are different types of research explain each of it?
Answer: Types of research with detail are listed below
Descriptive research
o Descriptive research deals with everything that can be counted and studied, which has an
impact of the lives of the people it deals with.
o Surveys and fact finding enquiries of different kinds.
o Purpose is the description of the state of affairs as it exists in present
o Researcher has no control over the variables; he can only report what has happened or what is
happening.
Analytical research
The researcher has to use facts or information already available and analyze these to make a critical
evaluation of the material.
Applied research
o It is also called action or Practitioner research is designed to solve practical problems of the
society. Such as overpopulation, floods, diseases etc.
Fundamental research
o It is also called Basic, Pure or Theoretical research which is mainly concerned with
generalizations and the formulation of theory
o It is driven by curiosity or interest in a subject .The main motivation is to expand man’s
knowledge, not to create or invent something
Quantitative research
Qualitative research is subjective and uses very different methods of collecting information, including
individual, in-depth interviews and focus groups. It is unquantifiable elements. It cannot be
analyzed by means of mathematical techniques.
Qualitative research
Conceptual research
o Conceptual research is that related to some abstract ideas or theory.
o It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret
existing
Empirical research
Describes data or a study that is based on objective observation
One time research
o One time research is a kind of research that is carried out over a single time period.
For example: population research
Longitudinal research
A longitudinal study is a research design that involves repeated observations of the same variables
over short or long periods of time.
Diagnostic research
Exploratory research
Historical research
It describes what occurred in the past and then makes a critical inquiry into the truth of what had
occurred.
o It is concerned with the past events or facts
o Data are collected by original documents or interviews of eyewitness.
Operational research
o Operations research is an analytical method of problem-solving and decision-making
that is useful in the management of organizations.
o In this research problems are broken down into basic components and then solved in
defined steps by mathematical analysis
Motivational research
o It deals with wishes, desires, needs,etc.
o It is attempts to determine the behavior of customers.
Conclusion oriented research
Decision oriented research
o For the need for a decision maker, researcher cannot embark upon research his own inclination
Approaches to research are
Quantitative approach:
Qualitative approach:
Inferential approach :
o It usually means survey research where a sample of population is studied to determined its
character and then it is inferred that the population has same characteristics
Experiential approach
Simulation approach
o Involves the construction of an artificial environment within with relevant information and data
can be generated under control conditions
Question: What are the significance of research?
Answer:
Some important avenues of research are
o It is the fountain of knowledge and provides guidelines for solving problems.
o To gather necessary information
o Improving living standard of life
o To know the truth
o Explore our history
o Understanding arts
Question: what is meant by scientific method? Are scientific methods relate to research?
Answer
