Chapter1

Communication and Communication and Research Skills (C&RS) Research Skills (C&RS)

SyllabusSyllabusofof

Research MethodologyResearch Methodology5.5. Introduction to Research and Introduction to Research and

Research Design Research Design

6.6. Measurement and Scaling, Data Measurement and Scaling, Data Source and Data Collection Source and Data Collection

7.7. Data Analysis and Presentation Data Analysis and Presentation

8.8. Technical WritingTechnical Writing

Research methodologyResearch methodology

Research may be define as a Research may be define as a documented prose work.documented prose work.

Documented prose work means Documented prose work means organized analysis of the subject organized analysis of the subject based on borrowed material with based on borrowed material with suitable acknowledgement and suitable acknowledgement and consultation in the main body of the consultation in the main body of the paper.paper.

Meaning Research Meaning Research Research has been Research has been

defined by various defined by various authors in different authors in different ways. It always begins ways. It always begins with a question or a with a question or a problem. Its purpose is problem. Its purpose is to find answer to to find answer to question through the question through the application of systematic application of systematic and scientific methods. and scientific methods. Thus, research is the Thus, research is the systematic approach systematic approach towards purposeful towards purposeful investigation.investigation.

Objective of ResearchObjective of Research To obtain familiarity of To obtain familiarity of

a phenomenon.a phenomenon. To determine the To determine the

association or association or independence of an independence of an activity.activity.

To determine the To determine the characteristics of an characteristics of an individual or a group individual or a group of activities and the of activities and the frequency of its frequency of its occurrence.occurrence.

Features of good research Features of good research studystudy

ObjectivityObjectivity ControlControl GeneralisabilityGeneralisability Free from personal Free from personal

biasbias SystematicSystematic ReproducibleReproducible

Types of research studiesTypes of research studies Fundamental researchFundamental research Applied researchApplied research Descriptive researchDescriptive research Historical researchHistorical research Exploratory researchExploratory research Experimental researchExperimental research Ex-post-facto researchEx-post-facto research Case study approachCase study approach

Role of research in Role of research in business/industrybusiness/industry

Marketing researchMarketing research Govt. policies and economic systemGovt. policies and economic system Solving various operation and Solving various operation and

planning problems in businessplanning problems in business Social relationshipSocial relationship

Research processResearch process

1.1. Defining the research problem and Defining the research problem and reviewing the literaturereviewing the literature

2.2. Formulation of hypothesisFormulation of hypothesis

3.3. Research designResearch design

4.4. Collecting dataCollecting data

5.5. Analyzing data and testing hypothesisAnalyzing data and testing hypothesis

6.6. Preparation of report and preliminary Preparation of report and preliminary analysisanalysis

7.7. Interpreting and reporting the findingsInterpreting and reporting the findings

Research processResearch process Defining the research Defining the research

problem:-problem:-Formulation of problem:Formulation of problem:How problem can be formulateHow problem can be formulate1.1. Statement of the problem in a Statement of the problem in a

general waygeneral way2.2. Understanding the nature of Understanding the nature of

the problemthe problem3.3. Surveying the available Surveying the available

literatureliterature4.4. Developing the idea through Developing the idea through

discussion.discussion.5.5. Rephrasing the research Rephrasing the research

problem into a working problem into a working proposition.proposition.

Formulation of HypothesisFormulation of Hypothesis Concept of hypothesis:

– A hypothesis is a proposition-a tentative assumption which a researcher wants to test for its logical or empirical consequences.

– Hypothesis are generally concerned with the causes of a certain phenomenon or a realtion ship between two or more variables under investigation.

– HYPOTHESIS TESTING:-1. formulate a hypothesis.2. Set up a suitable significance level. (type-I &II

error)3. Choose a test criterion.4. Compute the statistics.5. Make decision.

Hypothesis testingHypothesis testing

Type of errorsType of errors

Type I error: an error made in Type I error: an error made in rejecting the null hypothesis, when in rejecting the null hypothesis, when in fact it is true.fact it is true.

Tyep II error: an error made in Tyep II error: an error made in accepting the null hypothesis when accepting the null hypothesis when in fact it is untrue.in fact it is untrue.

Research Design A research design is the arrangement of A research design is the arrangement of

condition for collection and analysis of condition for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose with relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure.economy in procedure.

Research design is in fact the conceptual Research design is in fact the conceptual structure within the research is conducted.structure within the research is conducted.

Research design as a “Blue print for the Research design as a “Blue print for the collection, measurement and analysis of collection, measurement and analysis of data”data”

Types of research designTypes of research design

Exploratory research studiesExploratory research studies Descriptive research studiesDescriptive research studies Hypothesis testing studiesHypothesis testing studies

Exploratory research Exploratory research studiesstudies

““to explore a subject”to explore a subject” Features:Features:

– The small sample size.The small sample size.– Non probability sampling design.Non probability sampling design.– Data requirements are vague.Data requirements are vague.– Objective is general rather than specific.Objective is general rather than specific.– No recommendation are made.No recommendation are made.

Descriptive studiesDescriptive studies

Features:Features:– Study describes the phenomena.Study describes the phenomena.– Collected data are related to Collected data are related to

demographic or behavioural demographic or behavioural respondents.respondents.

– For specific objectiveFor specific objective– Use large sample Use large sample – Probability sampling designProbability sampling design– Recommendation are provided.Recommendation are provided.

Casual research studiesCasual research studies

Used to provide a stronger basis for Used to provide a stronger basis for the existence.the existence.

Create relation between variables.Create relation between variables. Control influence of variables.Control influence of variables. If not possible to control variable, its If not possible to control variable, its

call confounded variables.call confounded variables.

Difference between research Difference between research designdesign

RESEARCH DESIGN EXPLORATORY DESCRIPTIVE

Sampling design Non probability Probability

Statistical design No pre planned Pre-planned

Observational design Unstructured Structured

Operational design No fixed decision Advance decision

Overall design Flexible Rigid

What is experimentation?What is experimentation?

Experiments are studies involving Experiments are studies involving intervention by the researcher intervention by the researcher beyond, measurement.beyond, measurement.

There is one (IV) and (DV) in a casual There is one (IV) and (DV) in a casual relationship.relationship.

Correlation of IV and DV, the time Correlation of IV and DV, the time order of occurrence of variables must order of occurrence of variables must be considered. They may occur be considered. They may occur almost simultaneously.almost simultaneously.

What is experimentation?What is experimentation?

Controls are important, further Controls are important, further precaution are needed so that the precaution are needed so that the results achieved reflect the influence results achieved reflect the influence of the IV alone on the DVof the IV alone on the DV

Formal types of Formal types of experimentsexperiments

Conducting ExperimentConducting Experiment

1.1. Select relevant variablesSelect relevant variables

2.2. Specify the level of treatmentSpecify the level of treatment

3.3. Control the experimental designControl the experimental design

4.4. Choose the experimental designChoose the experimental design

5.5. Select and assign the subjectsSelect and assign the subjects

6.6. Pilot-test, revise and testPilot-test, revise and test

7.7. Analyze the data.Analyze the data.

Thank youThank you