Introduction to Research:

Meaning of Research: When people faces problems, he or she sooner or later seeks a solution. Research is born of these problems and of peopless determination to solve them. People's progress over the years has depend on research. Today virtually every field of life has been touched by the research process- Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Medicine, Space Exploration, Nuclear Welfare, the Social fields and many others.

Introduction to Research:
What is Research? Research is a process of scientific thinking that leads to the discovery or establishment of new knowledge or truth, which is not a subjective expression of ideas or opinion. According to various scientist, scientific thinking has four common characteristics, such as: (1) It is based on facts, (2) It starts from a complex of problems, (3) It is free from personal bias or opinion, and (4) It uses objective measurements

Kerlinger (1973) defines: Research as a systematic, controlled, emperical and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relations among natural phenomena. Parel (1973) defines: Research is a systematic study or investigation of something for the purpose of answering questions posed by the researcher.

What is good research?

Generates dependable data that are derived by professionally conducted practices and that can be used reliably for decision making: Criteria's of good research :
Purpose

clearly defined Research process detailed Research design thoroughly planned High ethical standards applied Limitations frankly revealed Analysis adequate for decision makers needs Findings presented with integrity Conclusion justified Researchers experience reflected

Objectives of Research
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures. The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered as yet. Though each research study has its own specific purpose, we may think of research objectives as falling into a number of following broad groupings: To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this object in view are termed as exploratory or formulative

research studies);

Objectives of Research
To

portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group (studies with this object in view are known as descriptive

research studies);
To

determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else (studies with this object in view are known as diagnostic research studies); To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as

hypothesis-testing research studies).

What makes people to undertake research? This is a question of fundamental importance. 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 respectability.

Motivation of Research

Significance of Research
All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention. Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking and it promotes the development of logical habits of thinking and organization. The role of research in several fields of applied economics, whether related to business or to the economy as a whole, has greatly increased in modern times.

Research

is equally important for social scientists in studying social relationships and in seeking answers to various social problems.

In addition the significance of research can also be understood keeping in view the following points: (a) To those students who are to write a masters or Ph.D. thesis, research may mean a careerism or a way to attain a high position in the social structure; (b) To professionals in research methodology, research may mean a source of livelihood; (c) To philosophers and thinkers, research may mean the outlet for new ideas and insights;

(d) To literary men and women, research may mean the development of new styles and creative work; (e) To analysts and intellectuals, research may mean the generalizations of new theories.

Business Research?
Business research is a systematic and organized effort to investigate a specific problem encountered in the work setting that needs a solution. The business research provides the needed information that guides managers to make informed decisions to successfully deal with problems.

Scientific Business Researchers Operate at Two Levels

Abstract level of concepts (propositions) Propositions are statements concerned with the relationships among concepts. Explain the logical linkage among certain concepts.

Empirical level of variables (hypotheses) Empirical means verifiable by observation, experimentation, or experiences.

Types of Research (Schematically)

from the view point
Application Objectives Inquiry mode

Basic or Pure Research

Applied Research

Descriptive Research

Exploratory Research

Quantitative Research

Causal Research

Qualitative Research

Types of Research
Research can be classified from three perspectives:
1. 2. 3.

Application of the research study Objective in understanding the research Inquiry mode employed

APPLICATION
Examine a research endeavor from the perspective of its application with two broad categories. 1. Basic or Pure research and 2. Applied research
Basic or Pure research testing theories and intellectually challenging or may not have practical time or in the future. involves developing and hypotheses that are to the researcher but may application at the present

Pure research is also concerned with the development, examination, verification, and refinement of research methods, procedures, techniques and tools that from the body of research methodology. Example: include Developing a sampling technique to a particular situation Developing methodology to assess the validity Developing an instrument to measure stress level Finding the best way of measuring peoples attitudes

Most of the research in the social sciences is applied. In other words the research techniques, procedures and methods that form the body of research methodology are applied to the collection of information about various aspects of a situation, issue, problem or phenomena so that information gathered can be used in other ways-such as for policy formulation, administration and the enhancement of understanding of a phenomena.

OBJECTIVE

Business research classified as

1. 2. 3.

Descriptive research (DR) Exploratory research (ER) Causal Research (CR)

Descriptive Research
DR describe systematically a situation, problem, phenomena, service, or program or provides information about, say, the living conditions of a community or describes towards about attitudes. Determine answers to: who, what, where, and how questions. Conduct in the form of current population survey.

ER usually conducted during the initial stage of the research process. Management may have discovered general problems but research is needed to gain better understanding of the dimensions of the problems.

Exploratory Research

ER provides information to use in analyzing a situation. Usually is conducted with the expectation that subsequent research will be required to provide conclusive evidence.
When a study is carried out to determine the feasibility it is also called a feasibility study or a pilot study.

Casual Research
The main goal of casual research is to identify Cause and Effect relationship among variables. DR and ER normally lead cause and effect relationship studies. CR predicts about the price, packaging, advertising and the like of sales but a casual relationship is impossible to prove.

Research study from the view point of objectives

Descriptive research: Aim: To describe what is prevalent or established regarding: a group of people a community a phenomena a situation a program an outcome Main theme: To describe what is prevalent?

Example:
Socio-economic

characteristics of a community Attitudes of students towards quality of teaching Types of service provided by an agency Needs of a community Sale of a product Attitude of nurses towards death and dying Attitude of workers towards management Problem faced by new comers Consumers likes - dislikes with regard to product Effects of living in a house with domestic violence Strategies put in place by a company to increase productivity of workers.

Exploratory research
Aim: To explain: Why a relationship, association or interdependence exists? Why a particular even occurs? Main theme: To explain why the relationship is formed? Example: Why does stressful living result in heart attacks?

How do maternal and child health services affect infant mortality? How do some people have a positive attitude towards an issue while others do not? How does a particular intervention work for some people and not for others? Why do some people use a product while others do not? Why do some people migrate another country while others do not? Why do some people adopt a program while others do not?

Causal Research
Aim: To establish or explore: A relationship An association An interdependence Main theme: To research if there is a relationship Example: Impact of a program Relationship between stressful living and incident of heart attacks

Impact of technology on employment

Impact of maternal and child health services on infant mortality Effectiveness of a marriage counseling services on extent of marital problems Impact of an advertising campaign on sale of a product
Impact of incentives on productivity of workers Effectiveness of an immunization program in controlling infectious disease

INQUIRY MODE Research Approaches

There are two basic approaches to research: Quantitative (structured) approach and Qualitative (unstructured) approach

Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount. It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity. Forms the research process: Objectives Design Sample and The questions that you plan to ask of respondents-it is predetermined

Quantitative approach:
Inferential,

Experimental

and Simulation approaches

Inferential approach to research is to form a data base from which to infer characteristics or relationships of population. This usually means survey research where a sample of population is studied (questioned or observed) to determine its characteristics.

Experimental approach is characterized by much greater control over the research environment and in this case some variables are manipulated to observe their effect on other variables.
Simulation approach involves the construction of an artificial environment within which relevant information and data can be generated.

Qualitative approach to research is concerned with subjective assessment of: Attitudes, Opinions and Behavior.

Research Methods versus Methodology

Research methods may be understood as all those methods/techniques that are used for conduction of research. Research methods, refer to the methods the researchers use in performing research operations. Research methods can be put into the following three groups: 1. In the first group we include those methods which are concerned with the collection of data. These methods will be used where the data already available are not sufficient to arrive at the required solution;

2. The second group consists of those statistical techniques which are used for establishing relationships between the data and the unknowns; 3. The third group consists of those methods which are used to evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained. Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem. It may be understood as a science of studying how research is done scientifically.