CONTENTSWhat is research methodology?What constitutes a research topic?How to select a research topic?The limitations of a researchWhat is a literature review?How to select an appropriate methodology?What is qualitative methodology?What is quantitative methodology?What and how to collect data?How to analyze data?How to draw conclusions from data?How to present research findings?

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What is Research Methodology?There are number of ways in which one could express the definition of

RM, however mostly agreed definition could be:RM: a highly intellectual human activity used to investigate the

manner in which a problem is to be solved by the means of conducting experiments or the analysis and interpretation of collected data.

RM is an art of systematic and scientific investigation of a problem statement.

A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.

A systematized effort to gain new knowledge.The art of manipulating 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.

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Word RESEARCH May be described asR=Rational (based on reasoning) way of thinkingE= Expert of domainS= Search for solutionE=ExactnessA= Analytical Analysis of DataR= Relationship of FactsC=Careful recording, Critical observation,

Constructive Attitude, Condensed GeneralizationH=Honesty and Hardwork

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Types and Objectives of researchExploratory or Formulative Research where researcher

has: to gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights

into it.

Descriptive Research where researcher has:to portray accurately the characteristics of a particular

individual, situation or a group.Diagnostic Research where researcher has:

to determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else.

Hypothesis Testing Research where researcher has: to test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between

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Types and Objectives of researchThis can be subcategorized as:

One time research or Longitudinal research (rel b/w var)

Field setting or Laboratory or simulation based researchClinical or diagnostic researchHistorical researchConclusion oriented or Decision oriented research

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Research Method vs MethodologyRMethod: is a technique used by a researcher for the conduct of

research operation i.e Questionnaires, Interviews, Experiments etc.Methodology: refers to a scientific and systematic way for the

solution of a research problem such as:why a research has been undertakenhow a research problem is identifiedin what way and why hypothesis has been formulated (rational of

research)what data has been collected and what method is used for

collecting it etc.Methodology: is considered as the logic behind the methods a

researcher use in the context of research work carried out.

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What Constitutes a Research Topic?

Unanswered ProblemUnsolved ProblemConcernQueryStatement of inquiry

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How to Select a Research Topic?Researchers personal interestSocial problemTesting theoryPrior research review

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Limitations of a Research Work

Time constraintsFinancial considerationAnticipating and avoiding problemsEquipment limitationsHuman resource limitations

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Why Literature ReviewReview of available resources/literature

Theoretical and conceptual backgroundIdentification of Independent and Dependent variablesMeasurement and Operational definitionsSelecting an appropriate research methodologySampling strategyStatistical techniqueFindings and conclusions of related studies reviewed

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Selecting an Appropriate MethodologyHighly depends on the nature of the problemNature of the problem subjective or objectiveFour main Research Methods:

Qualitative (in which a preliminary question(s) is defined and addressed adequately)

Quantitative (determine’s the relationship between one thing (an independent variable) and another (a dependent or outcome variable) or generates numerical data or data that can be converted into numbers etc.

Mixed (qualitative and quantitative)Critical and action oriented

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Qualitative MethodologyTypes of Qualitative Methodology:

Surveys LongitudinalExperimentalQuasi-experimental Ex-post facto research (from what is done afterwards)

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Data CollectionTypes of data:

Continuous Observations that can be counted or measured

Categorical nominal-observations that can be coded ordinal-observations that can be ranked

Mixed matrix of categorical and continuous data

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Data CollectionHow to collect data?

ObservationsInterviewsReportsRecords

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Analysis of DataInvestigate the type of data whether it is:

-categorical -continuous-mixed

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Common Approaches Used to test the Categorical Data

to determine the relationship between variables to compare two unpaired groupsto analyze a matched case-control study to compare one group to a hypothetical value to compare three or more groupsto compare association between variables

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Common Approaches Used to test the Continuous Data

to compare one or two groups to compare three or more groups (ANOVA)to compare the association between variables

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How to Draw Conclusions? Use of graphical presentationsUse of statistical analysesSharing data among colleagues and receiving

constructive feedbackCritically analyzing data and results

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Research b/w B & EWhat is between Begin and End:

Identification of the Research ProblemReview of LiteratureFormulation of Hypothesis or Problem statementPreparation of Research frameworkData CollectionAnalysis of DataTesting of HypothesisGeneralization and InterpretationsPreparation of ReportPresentation of ReportReview and Follow UP

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