Research methodology Chapter 1

Research Methodology Chapter 1

Nagendra AmatyaAssociate ProfessorScience and Humanities DepartmentCentral Campus Pulchowk [email protected]

Introduction

• Conceptualization of Research • Nature of research types of research• Qualities of research• Place of theory in research• Relationship of theory and facts• Research process

Introduction YOUR RESEARCH

Research can be one of the most interesting features of any degree course as it offers you a measure of control and autonomy over what you learn. It gives you an opportunity to confirm, clarify, pursue – or even discover – new aspects of a subject or topic you are interested in.

RESEARCH IS…

…….. a process of enquiry and investigation; it is systematic, methodical and ethical; research can help solve practical problems and increase knowledge.

Introduction cont..

THE PURPOSE OF RESEARCH IS TO… Review or synthesize existing knowledge Investigate existing situations or problems Provide solutions to problems Explore and analyse more general issues Construct or create new procedures or systems Explain new phenomenon Generate new knowledge…or a combination of any of the above!

(Collis & Hussey, 2003)

DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESEARCH:Exploratory Descriptive Analytical Predictive

Exploratory researchis undertaken whenfew or no previousstudies exist. Theaim is to look forpatterns, hypothesesor ideas that can betested and will formthe basis for furtherresearch.Typical researchtechniques wouldinclude case studies,observation andreviews of previousrelated studies anddata.

Descriptive researchcan be used toidentify and classifythe elements orcharacteristics ofthe subject, e.g.number of days lostbecause ofindustrial action.Quantitativetechniques are most often used tocollect, analyze andsummarize data.

Analytical researchoften extends theDescriptiveapproach tosuggest or explainwhy or howsomething ishappening, e.g.underlying causesof industrialaction.An importantfeature of this typeof research is inlocating andidentifying thedifferent factors(or variables)involved.

The aim ofPredictive researchis to speculateintelligently onfuture possibilities,based on closeanalysis ofavailable evidenceof cause andeffect, e.g.predicting whenand where futureindustrial actionmight take place

Qualities of Good Researcher

• A good researcher manifests thirst for new information.

• A good researcher has a keen sense of things around him.

• A good researcher likes to reflect or think about the things he encounters.

• A good researcher must be intelligent enough to express his ideas.

• A good researcher applies a systematic approach in assessing situations.

..\Qualities of a Good Researcher.docx(source : P. A. Regoniel .2012” “http://simplyeducate.me/2012/10/24/5-qualities-of-a-good-researcher” )

Deductive Thinking

Deductive Logic

• Working from the general to the more specific• Think up a theory > Narrow down to specific

hypotheses > Narrow down even further to collect observations > Test the hypotheses with specific data -- a confirmation (or not) of original theory.

• Use and development of deductive logic > attributed to Greek philosophy (Aristotle)

Deduction

The Deductive approach begins explicitly with a theory (which could provide a possible answer or explanation for a particular problem) used to postulate tentative hypothesis or set of hypotheses, then proceeds to use observations to rigorously test the hypotheses.

The Deductive argument moves from premises, at least one of which is a general or universal statement, to a conclusion that is a singular statement. •Deductive propositions form a hierarchy from theoretical to observational; from abstract to concrete. •The Deductivist accepts that observation is guided and presupposed by the theory.

Deduction -Falsification

•Attempts are made to refute the hypotheses through rigorous criticism and testing. If the data derived by testing the hypothesis is not consistent with the predicted conclusions, the theory must be false. •Surviving theories are corroborated, but are never proved true despite withstanding testing and observation. •A current theory is superior to its predecessors only because it has withstood tests which falsified its predecessor.

Inductive Thinking

Inductive Approach

• Working from the specific to the general (theories)

• Specific observations >> patterns and regularities >> tentative hypotheses >> tests (further observations) >> extended to general conclusions or theories

• Perfect induction >> Baconian induction

• Imperfect Inductions >> limited observations and generalization >> certainty of the generalization and concept of probability >> continuous reassessment.

Induction

The Inductive approach to enquiry builds generalizations out of observations of specific events. It starts with singular or particular statements and ends up with general or universal propositions.

It presupposes that explanations about the workings of the world should be based on facts gained from pure, dispassionate and neutral observation, rather than on preconceived notions; that nature will reveal itself to a passively receptive mind.

Induction (Continued)

•The Inductive strategy assumes that all science starts with observations which provide a secure basis from which knowledge can be derived and claims that reality impinges directly on the senses.

•The conclusion of an inductive argument makes claims that exceed what is contained in the premises and so promises to extend knowledge by going beyond actual experience.

•The more observations that demonstrate, say, a relationship between phenomena, the higher the probability that the general statement is true.

Mix of Inductive and Deductive Logic

• Natural sciences > usually deductive and also objective (greater store of theories?) > Mathematics is almost totally deductive

• Social sciences > inductive and also normative in many instances.

• These days: Research methods use both types of logics in their procedure and methodologies

• Methods specific to nature of discipline, problem and objectives of research.

Combined approach

A scheme has been proposed by Wallace (1971) that combines Inductive and Deductive strategies to capitalize on their strengths and minimize their weaknesses creating a cyclic process that allows for movement between theorizing and doing empirical research while using both Inductive and Deductive methods of reasoning.

The Research Wheel

Retroduction

Retroductive research logic involves the building of hypothetical models as a way of uncovering the real structures and mechanisms which are assumed to produce empirical phenomena. The model, if it were to exist and act in the postulated way, would account for the phenomena in question. In constructing these models of mechanisms that have usually never been observed, ideas may be borrowed from known structures and mechanisms in other fields.

A phenomena or range of phenomena is identified, explanations based on the postulated existence of a generative mechanism is constructed and empirically tested, and this mechanism then becomes the phenomenon to be explained and the cycle repeats.

Astronomical examples: heliocentric model/Geocentric model, earth’s tilt and rotation and changing length of

daysmotion/s of earth, moon and sun and eclipses

Retroduction has 'hypothesis formulation' as the first stage of an enquiry. Here, a hypothesis must eliminate puzzlement as a necessary first step.

The hypothesis must be tested using both Deduction and Induction; in the second stage of an enquiry, consequences are deducted from the hypothesis and, in the third stage, these consequences are tested by means of Induction.

Retroduction differs from Induction which infers from one set of facts, another set of facts, whereas Retroduction infers from facts of one kind, to facts of another.

FF

Define researc

h problem

Review Previous research Findings

Review Concept & Theories

Formulate Hypothesi

s

Design Research ( including sample

DesignCollect Data

Analyze data( Test Hypothesis

if any

Interpret

FF

RESEARCH PROCESS IN FLOW CHART

F: Feed back ( Helps in controlling the sub system to which it is transmitted

FF: Feed forward( Serves the Vital function of providing criteria for evaluation