2 Research: Process and Design

Mr. Laishram Ibohal Meitei

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Contents:

 

1. Introduction

 

2. Research

 

2.1 Definition

 

2.2 Types of Research

 

3. Research Process

 

3.1 Methods of Data Collection

 

4. Research Design

 

4.1 Types of Research Design

 

5. Summary

 

 

Learning Objectives:

  •  To understand the concept of research and its purpose;
  •  To discuss the types of research;
  •  To enlighten the process of research and
  •  To highlight the conceptual structure of a research design.
  1. Introduction

Challenge to solve an unsolved problem is human nature. Man cannot tolerate facing an unknown stimulation which subjects to affect his existence for long, he or she always tries to find a solution for the problem which he or she meets. Any kind of scientific effort to find a solution for a problem is a part of research and the whole effort of searching, gathering and analyzing for finding solution of problem is a research. Research always begins with a question and the question usually arises from known unsolved problem. Some people consider research as a movement, a movement from the known to the unknown. It is actually a voyage of discovery. Collection and analysis of relevant data to answer the question for unsolved problem are the fundamentals of research.

 

  1. Research

 

2.1 Definition

 

There are various definitions of “Research” presented by various scholars and authors. Some of the definitions of research are given below –

  • (i) Clifford Woody (1927) – Research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.
  • (ii) Redman and Mory (1923) – Research is defined as a “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.” Research is, thus, an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for its advancement.
  • (iii) Creswell (2002) – “Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue”.

Research consists of three steps such as

  •  pose a question,
  •  collect data to answer the question, and
  •  present an answer to the question.

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.

 

2.2 Types of Research

 

Various research works are being taken up across the globe of today’s world. Some of the basic types of research are discussed as follows:

  1. Descriptive Research: Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds. The major purpose of descriptive research is to make description of the state of affairs as it exists at present and the researcher has no control over the variables. Researchers can only report what has happened or what is happening.
  2. Analytical Research: It uses facts or information already available, and analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the material. It does not include any surveys or fact-finding enquiries of different kinds.
  3. Applied Research: Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/business organization. It tries to discover a solution for some pressing practical problem.
  4. Fundamental (Basic or Pure) Research: Fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalizations and with the formulation of a theory. It is also defined as “Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed ‘pure’ or ‘basic’ research” (Pauline V. Young, 1966). Research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics are examples of fundamental research.
  5. Quantitative Research: Research carried out through measurement of quantity or amount is known as quantitative research. Those phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity are tested or verified by the quantitative research.
  6. Qualitative Research: It is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind. For example, qualitative research is especially important in the behavioural sciences where the aim is to discover the underlying motives of human behaviour Motivation Research is an important type of qualitative research which aims at discovering the underlying motives and desires, using in depth interviews for the purpose.
  7. Conceptual Research: It concerns with abstract, idea(s) or theory. It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.
  8. Empirical Research: Empirical research relies on experience or observation and it is data-based research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by observation or experiment. It is also known as experimental type of research.
  1. Research Process

All the actions involved in finding solution of problem or actions involve in answering a research question can be divided into different steps. Such systematic series of steps that are necessary for carrying out a research effectively can be termed as “Research Process”. Hence, research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry out the research. An illustration of research process is shown in Figure 2.

(i)  Identification of Problem

In every research, the first and foremost step is to identify a problem that he or she wants to study. Area of interest or aspect of a subject-matter is identified and there are two essential steps involved in formulating the research problem, viz., understanding the problem thoroughly, and rephrasing the same into meaningful terms from an analytical point of view.

 

(ii) Review of Literatures

It is the examination of available literatures related with the research problem. Critical review of relevant literatures are made to present the documentation of the existence of the problem and to know how it is manifested, who it affects and involves, what roles and interests the involved actors have, the historical background to the problem (including what has led to the actual situation), and the problem’s complexity (what it consists of and what it is a part of) 6 (Dahl et al., 1999). Review of literature are made from the available data such as abstracting and indexing journals, published or unpublished bibliographies, conference proceedings, government reports, books and so on.

 

(iii)Framing of Objectives

Objectives of the study are made after critically reviewing the relevant literatures. The choice of objectives should be relevant and justified to the research problem. Moreover, the objectives of the research should focus on concepts and problems mentioned in the literature review or problem analysis.

 

(iv) Formulation of Hypothesis

Hypothesis of the research study are formulated in order to draw out and test the logical or empirical consequences of the research problem. It is the statement of prediction, tentative guesses and assumptions. The role of the hypothesis is to guide the researcher by delimiting the area of research and to focus on the important facets of the problem. Hypothesis also helps in indentifying the type of data required and the type of methods of data analysis to be used.

 

(v) Data Collection

Sample designing are done before the commencement of data collection to obtain a sample from the given population. It is a definite plan determined to select the sample before any data are actually collected. Samples can be either probability samples or non-probability samples. The probability samples are those with each element has a known probability of being included in the sample. Such samples are base on simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, cluster or area sampling. In contrast, non-probability samples do not allow the researcher to determine the probability of being included in the sample and it is based on convenience sampling, judgment sampling and quota sampling techniques.

 

(vi) Data Analysis

The analysis of data requires a number of closely related operations such as coding of the raw data, establishment of categories, tabulation, and drawing statistical inferences using well defined statistical formulae. In the process of analysis, findings should be subjected to tests of significance to come up with significant conclusion.

 

(vii) Hypothesis-testing

The hypotheses may be tested through various tests such as Chi square test, t-test, or F-test depending upon the nature and object of research inquiry. Hypothesis-testing will result in either accepting the hypothesis or in rejecting it.

 

(viii) Generalizations and interpretation

Generalization is to build a theory from the findings after testing the hypothesis. As a matter of fact, the real value of research lies in its ability to arrive at certain generalizations. On the other hand researchers might also seek to explain the findings on the basis of other available theory. Such explanation is known as interpretation. The process of interpretation may quite often trigger off new questions which in turn may lead to further researches.

 

(ix) Preparation of the report

A  report   has   to   be   prepared   after   generalizations   and   interpretation   of  the   findings. Preparation of a report requires careful considerations keeping in view the following points:

 

Layout of the report – it includes the preliminary pages; the main text, and the end portion. Preliminary page of the report should include research title, time and duration, acknowledgements, foreword table of contents followed by a list of tables and list of graphs and charts, if any, given in the report. The main text of the report may be divided into the following parts viz. introduction, materials and methods, summary of findings, discussion and conclusion. At the end of the report, appendices, reference or bibliography (i.e. consulted list of books, journals, reports, etc.) and index should be enlisted in the end of the report..

 

Report should be written in a concise and objective style in simple language avoiding vague expressions such as ‘it seems,’ ‘there may be’, and the like. Charts and illustrations in the main report should be used only if they present the information more clearly and forcibly. Calculated ‘confidence limits’ must be mentioned and the various constraints experienced in conducting research operations may as well be stated.

 

(x) Submission of Report

Submission of report is the final step in research process. The final report is to be submitted to the concerned authorities or agencies for necessary action. On the other side, the final findings can also be communicated for publication in newspapers, magazines or journals.

 

3.1 Methods of Data Collection

 

Methods of data collection depend on the type of data to be collected that is either primary or secondary or both. Mostly, primary data are collected through field work (surveys) and experiments whereas secondary data are obtained from earlier records. Usually in field survey (Field work), data can be collected by any one of the following ways –

  1. Observation: This method implies the collection of information by observation, without interviewing the respondents. The information obtained relates to what is currently happening in the studied population. Only limited information can be obtained by this method and it is not suitable in inquiries where large samples are concerned. This observation method of data collection can be approached in two ways such as participant observation and non-participant observation. In participant observation method the researcher observes and collects data from issues or events or occasions by directly participating as a member of the society or an agent of the issues. On the other hand researcher observes and collects data from the issues of society without participating as a member of the society. Data obtained from participant observation are much more reliable than that of non-participant observation.
  2. Personal interview: This method follows a rigid procedure and seeks answers to a set of pre-conceived questions through personal interviews. This method of collecting data is usually carried out in a structured way where output depends upon the ability of the interviewer to a large extent.
  3. Telephone interview: This method of collecting information involves contacting the respondents on telephone itself. This is not a very widely used method but it plays an important role in industrial surveys in developed regions, particularly, when the survey has to be accomplished in a very limited time.
  4. Mailing of questionnaires: In this method, questionnaires are mailed to the respondents with a request to return after completing the same. It is the most extensively used method in various economic and business surveys. Questionnaire are prepared very carefully and pretested to understand its weakness (if any) before applying this method to get relevant information.
  5. Schedules: In this method, information is collected by filling up the schedules containing relevant questions by the investigators on the basis of replies given by respondents.
  1. Research Design

A research design is the set of methods and procedures used in collecting and analyzing measures of the variables specified in the research study. It is a plan that specifies the sources and types of information relevant to the research problem. Research design is a strategy specifying which approach will be used for gathering and analyzing the data. It also includes the time and cost budgets since most studies are done under these two constraints. The design of a study defines the study type such as descriptive, co-relational, experimental, descriptive-longitudinal case study, experimental design and so on. Moreover, research design also defines the data collection methods and a statistical analysis plan according to the nature of the research problem or hypothesis. It is the framework or blue print for conducting research in an efficient manner that has been created to find answers to research questions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_design).

 

According to Claire Selltiz and others (1962), “A research design is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure.” The function of research design is to provide the collection of relevant evidence with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money. Some important characteristics of a good research design are flexibility, adaptability, efficiency, appropriate, economical and so on. The research design which minimizes bias and maximizes the accuracy and reliability of the collected data and analyzed to have minimum errors as possible is considered a good research design. The most important requirement of a good research design is that it should provide adequate information so that the research problem can be analyzed on a wide perspective. Some of the major questions that one should keep in mind while designing a new good and well planned research includes – appropriate type of study design, objective of the study, type of data, sample size, method of data collection, time-place-duration of the study, appropriate analysis of the collected data, interpretation, expected outcomes and its application, expenditure and feasibility of the study etc. In brief, a research design must, at least, contain a clear statement of the research problem; procedures and techniques to be used for gathering information; the population to be studied; and methods to be used in processing and analyzing data.

 

 

4.1 Type of Research Design

 

(i) Descriptive

 

Descriptive research designs provide answers to the questions of who, what, when, where, and how associated with a particular research problem. However, it is not able to give a definitive answer. It is used to obtain information concerning the current status of the phenomena and to describe what exists with respect to the variables. It includes case study, observation and surveys.

 

(ii) Correlation

 

It is a specific type of non-experimental design used to describe the relationship between or among variables. It provides empirical evidence suggesting two or more variables are – or are not – related. (iii) Cross Sectional and Longitudinal

 

Cross sectional study design measure different subjects only once at a particular time period to understand the process of change in a short time period. On the other hand, longitudinal studies follow the same subject over time and makes repeated observations. Cross sectional study design provides a clear snapshot of the outcome and characteristics associated with it, whereas, longitudinal study design describe patterns of change and establish the direction and magnitude of causal relationships.

 

(iv) Experimental

 

It is concerned with examination of the effect of independent variable on the dependent variable where the independent variable is manipulated through treatment or intervention(s) and the effect of those interventions is observed on the dependent. It consists of three important characteristics such as manipulation, control, and randomization.

 

(v) Semi-Experimental

 

It involves the manipulation of independent variable to observe the effect on dependent variable. However, it lacks at least one of the two characteristics of the experimental research design that is randomization or a control group.

(vi) Meta Analytic

It is an analytical methodology designed to systematically evaluate and summarize the results from a number of individual studies, thereby increasing the overall sample size and the ability of the researcher to study effects of interest. It is not simply summarize existing knowledge but to develop a new understanding of a research problem using synoptic reasoning. The main objectives of meta- analysis include analyzing differences in the results among studies and increasing the precision by which effects are estimated.

 

(vii) Review

It is a systematic and explicit method to identify, select and critically analyses relevant research studies. It helps in providing comprehensive summary of literatures relevant to a research question.

 

(viii) Action Research Design

Action research design is a collaborative and adaptive research design that is directly applied in the society. It focuses on pragmatic and solution-driven research outcomes rather than testing theories.

 

Summary

 

Research is a systematic scientific searching, gathering and analyzing for finding solution of a problem. It is a movement from the known to the unknown. Actually it is a voyage of discovery. It consists of three steps such as to pose a question, collect data to answer the question, and present an answer to the question. 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. Research has been classified into different types based on the nature of data as well as the research problem viz. descriptive, analytical, applied, fundamental, quantitative, qualitative, conceptual, and empirical research. The above researches are carried out effectively through systematic series of steps called research process. Such series of steps in research process includes identification of problem, review of literatures, framing of objectives, formulation of hypothesis, data collection, data analysis, hypothesis-testing, generalization and interpretation, preparation of report and submission of report. Research needs to be plan and design before carrying out the work. A research design is a set of methods and procedures used in collecting and analyzing measures of the variables specified in the research problem. It constitutes the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data. The function of a research design is to ensure that the evidence obtained enables effectively address the research problem logically and as unambiguously as possible.

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