Research Methodology

Research is an art of scientific investigation. It refers to a search for knowledge. It is a scientific andsystematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. It is actually a voyage of discovery, amovement from the known to the unknown.

According to Clifford Woody, research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulatinghypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organising and evaluating data; making deductionsand reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fitthe formulating hypothesis.

Research is, thus, an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for itsadvancement. It is the pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation, comparison andexperiment.

Every letter of the term ΓÇÿRESEARCHΓÇÖ has a special and dignified meaning as
R : Rational way of thinking
E: Expert and exhaustive treatment
S: Search for solution
E: Exactness
A: Analytical analysis of adequate data
R: Relationships of facts
C: Careful recording, Critical observation, Constructive attitude, Condensed generalisations
H: Honesty and hardwork

The basic steps or procedural guideline regarding the research process may be summed up as01. Formulating the research problem02. Extensive literature survey / Review of literature03. Developing the hypothesis04. Preparing the research design05. Determining the sample design06. Collecting the data07. Execution of the project08. Analysis of data09. Testing of the hypothesis10. Generalisations and interpretation & 11. Presentation of the results / Formal write-up of the conclusions reached

Good research is systematic, logical, empirical and replicable.

Descriptive Research
Descriptive research includes surveys and fact finding enquiries. In this method, the researcher hasno control over the research variables. He can only report what has happened or what is happening.It is also known as ΓÇÿex-post facto research.ΓÇÖ
 
Analytical Research
Under this type of research, the researcher has to use facts or information already available, andanalyse these information to make a critical evaluation of the material.

Fundamental Research
Fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of atheory. Discovery and the development of an organised set of scientific knowledge is the subjectmatter of fundamental research. It can be experimented in a laboratory. It does not involve anyresults of immediate application or practical value. It is also known as ΓÇÿpure researchΓÇÖor ΓÇÿbasicresearch.ΓÇÖ

Applied Research
Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem. The central aim is to discovera solution for an immediate practical problem. It is not concerned with the development of anytheory. It is also known as ΓÇÿaction research.ΓÇÖ

Quantitative Research
Quantitative research is applicable to a phenomenon that can be expressed in terms of quantity. Itis based on the measurement of quantity or amount.

Qualitative Research
Qualitative research is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, that is, the phenomena relating toor involving quality or kind. It aims at discovering the underlying motives, desires and attitudes of qualitative phenomenon. It is specially important in behavioural sciences.

Conceptual Research
This type of research is related to some abstract ideas or theory. It is generally used to develop newconcepts or to reinterpret existing ones.

Empirical Research
Empirical research is data-based research, coming up with conclusions which a re capable of beingverified by observation or experiment. The evidence gathered through experiments or empiricalstudies is considered to be the most powerful support for a given hypothesis.

Clinical or Diagnostic Research
This type of research follows case study methods or in-depth approaches to reach the basic causalrelations. Such studies usually go deep into the causes of things or events that interest us, usingvery small samples and very deep probing data gathering devices.

Exploratory Research and Formalised Research
Exploratory research is primarily concerned with the development of hypotheses rather than theirtesting where as Formalised research studies are those with substantial structure and with specifichypotheses to be tested