RM

Lecture 1
Objectives
• At the end of the course
• To get introduced to research philosophy and process in general
• To formulate the research problem and prepare research plan
• To apply various numerical/qualitative techniques for data analysis
• To communicate the research findings effectively
Objectives
• At the end of the course
• To get introduced to research philosophy and process in general
• Syllabus
• To formulate the research problem and prepare research plan
• Do your project?
• To apply various numerical/qualitative techniques for data analysis
• Graphs/ plots – results to display
• To communicate the research findings effectively
• Paper publication?
Outcome- Lecture 1
• Research methodology- introduction
• What to study, from where to study
• Look at RM globally (for research) and locally (syllabus)
• Evaluation
Syllabus
Marks?
• 100
• Test 1
• Test 2
• Literature Survey-60
• Presentation
• Report
RESEARCH
• Search for knowledge
• Scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a
specific subject
Objectives
• To gain familiarity with a certain phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into it (exploratory/ formulative)
• Portray the characteristics of an individual/group/situation
(descriptive)
• Frequency of occurrence of an event/ with which it is associated
(diagnostic)
• Test the causal relationship between two variables (hypothesis-
testing/experiment)
Motivation
• Degree (with consequential benefits)
• Concern over practical problems
• Intellectual joy of doing creative work
• Service to society
• Desire to get respectability
Objectives
• Types of research
• Approaches
• Significance
• Methods and methodology
• Research process
• Criteria for good research
• Research problem-definition?
Types of research
• Descriptive Analytical
• Ex post facto research critical evaluation
• State of affairs/no control over variables
• Comparative and correlational
• Applied Fundamental
• Solution to immediate problem generalisation leading to theory formulation
• Social, political, economic, marketing knowledge for knowledge gathering, pure maths
• Qualitative Quantitative
• Why humans think this way quantitative measurement of variables
• Depth interviews, questionnaire
• Attitude / opinion research
• Conceptual Empirical
• Abstract ideas/theory experimental, hypothesis, control over variables
• New concepts/reinvent proof
• Other types
• One time/ longitudinal
• Field/Laboratory / Simulation
• Clinical or Diagnostic
• Exploratory
• Historical
Approaches

• Qualitative
• Subjective assessment of attitudes opinions and behaviour
• Quantitative
• Generation of data
• Inferential- to infer characteristics of relationships
• Experimental- manipulation of variables
• Simulation- artificial environment-dynamic behaviour under controlled
conditions– numerical model
Significance
• Inculcation of scientific and inductive thinking leading to logical habits of
thinking and organisation
• Economic policies
• Operational and planning problems of business
• Social relationships and solutions
• also
• Career
• livelihood
• Outlet for new ideas
• Creative work
• New theories
• Methods
• Library research
• Field research
• Laboratory research
• Methodology
• Systematic way to solve a research problem
Research process
• Formulation of research problem
• Literature survey
• Hypothesis
• Research design
• Sample design
• Data collection
• Execution
• Data analysis
• Hypothesis testing
• Interpretation
• Report-thesis
Criteria for good research
• Purpose
• Description of procedure
• Planning
• Frank report
• Data analysis and its validity
• Conclusions
• Experience

• Systematic, logical, empirical, replicable

Research Problem
• I- individual group or organisation
• Environment –N uncontrolled variables yj
• C- course of action – C1 C2
• O- possible outcome –O1 O2
• P(O1|I,C1,N)  P(O1|I,C2,N)
• Unequal efficiencies of desired outcomes
• I does not know what is the best plan
Research problem components
•I
•O
• Means
• Doubt
•N
Selection
• Not overdone
• Not Controversial
• Not be too narrow and vague
• Familiar and feasible
• Importance, guide, cost and time
• Preliminary study
Techniques
• Statement of the problem
• Understanding the nature
• Available literature survey
• Developing ideas through discussions
• Rephrasing the problem
What we had
• Types of research
• Approaches
• Significance
• Methods and methodology
• Research process
• Criteria for good research
• Research problem-definition?
• Selection and techniques