INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND PROBLEMS IN RESEARCH

 

Report writing: - A report is written for a clear purpose and to a particular subject. Specific information and evidence are presented, analysed and applied to a particular problem or issue which is been studied.

SIGNIFICANCE OF REPORT WRITING     :-

Ø  Research report is been considered as the major component for the research study. Research task is been incomplete till the report is been written or presented.

Ø  As a matter of fact it must be most brilliant hypothesis ,highly well designed and conducted research study  and find must have a little values unless they are effectively communicated to others .

Ø  The purpose of report is not well served till the findings are known to all.

Ø  All this explains the significance of writing research report.

Ø  There are some person who do not consider a writing of report as an integral part of research process.

Ø  But the general opinion is in favour of treating the presentation of research result or writing a report for research project.

Ø  “All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention”

Ø  the significance of research can also be understood keeping in view the following points

Ø  :(a) To those students who are to write a master’s or Ph.D. thesis, research may mean a careerism or a way to attain a high position in the social structure;

Ø   (b) To professionals in research methodology, research may mean a source of livelihood;

Ø  (c) To philosophers and thinkers, research may mean the outlet for new ideas and insights;

Ø  (d) To literary men and women, research may mean the development of new styles and creative work;

Ø   (e) To analysts and intellectuals, research may mean the generalisations of new theories.

 

Ø  Thus, research is the fountain of knowledge for the sake of knowledge and an important source of providing guidelines for solving different business, governmental and social problems. It is a sort of formal training which enables one to understand the new developments in one’s field in a better way.

 

RESEARCH METHODS VERSUS METHODOLOGY:-

METHOD:-

As mentioned above, research methods are the methods used for data collection in research.

 Research methods involve surveys, interviews, case studies, observation, experiments, etc.

It can be said that research methods are mainly used to gather information so that the researcher can find answers to his research problem.

When speaking of research methods whether it is the natural sciences or else the social sciencesthere is a vast range of methods that can be used.

In the natural sciences, the researcher is mostly interested in gaining quantitative data that will allow him to provide specific conclusions

. But in the social sciences the research methods mostly provide the researcher with quantitative data. However, this does not mean that in social sciences qualitative data is ignored. On the contrary, a combination of data can be used for social research.

METHODOLOGY:-

Research methodology explains the overarching theoretical and philosophical frameworks which guide the research. 

Research methodology works as a framework within which the researcher works. It is even accurate to consider it as the inception of the research.

For various researches, the researcher can employ different methodologies. This will allow him to look at the research problem from different angles and use different methods, techniques and even perspectives.

Let us take an example and comprehend the difference between research methods and research methodology. A research that is being conducted on the stigmatization of HIV patients can employ a variety of research methods.

They are interviews, observation and even case studies. These allow the researcher to collect data from the participants. This allows him to find answers to his research questions and overall research problem.

When paying attention to the research methodology, it refers to the broader framework that is used by the researcher to conduct the research.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY RESEARCHERS IN INDIA 

Lack of Scientific Training: The research methodology is not systematic. Many researchers undertake research work without having actual knowledge of the research methods. They just look for similar studies and copy the methodologies listed in it. Even the research guides do not have a thorough knowledge of the various methodologies. This scenario warrants the need for some sort of short-term training to be imparted to researchers prior to undertaking research activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insufficient Interaction: There is no proper interaction between researchers and the business establishments, government institutions, etc. This leads to a great deal of data going untapped. Interaction programs should be organized between researchers and other institutions on a regular basis.

 

Lack of Confidence: Most of the business establishments are of the opinion that, researchers can misuse the data provided by them. This affects the research studies for which that particular data may be of utmost importance. Thus, confidence-building measures should be adopted, which will convince the business units that their data will be put to productive purposes, and will not be misused in any manner by the researcher.

 

Lack of Code of Conduct: No specific code of conduct exists for the researchers, which leads to inter-departmental and inter-university rivalries.

 

Inadequate Assistance: Researchers in India have to cope with the non-availability of adequate and timely secretarial assistance, which affects the schedule of their research study.

 

Improper Library Management: The libraries are not managed systematically. Much of the precious time of the researchers is spent in looking for books, reports, newspapers, etc. rather than searching relevant information from them.

 

High Cost of Publishing: Once their research is completed, the researchers have to look for a means to publish it. Publishing in international journals is highly expensive. This discourages most of the researchers from taking up research work.

 

TYPES OF RESEARCH:-

The basic types of research are as follows:

Research in common refers to a search for knowledge. Once can also define research as a scientific and systematic search for  information on a specific topic. In fact, research is an art of scientific investigation.

There are different types of research and they are as follows:-

(i)                 Descriptive vs. Analytical:

 Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds. The major purpose of descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it exists at present. In social science and business research we quite often usethe term Ex post facto research for descriptive research studies

In analytical research, on the other hand, the researcher has to use facts or information already available, and analyze these to make a critical evaluation of the material.

 

(ii)               Applied vs. Fundamental:

Research can either be applied (or action) research or fundamental (to basic or pure) research.

Applied research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/business organisation, whereas fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of a theory.

(iii)             Quantitative vs. Qualitative:

Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount. It is applicable to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity.

Qualitative research, on the other hand, is concerned with qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind. we quite often talk of ‘Motivation Research’, an important type of qualitative research.

(iv)             Conceptual vs. Empirical:

Conceptual research is that related to some abstract idea(s) or theory. It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret existing ones.

 On the other hand, empirical research relies on experience or observation alone, often without due regard for system and theory. It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions which are capable of being verified by observation or experiment.

(v)               Some Other Types of Research:

All other types of research are variations of one or more of the above stated approaches, based on either the purpose of research

They are as follows

• ·         one-time research or longitudinal research
• ·         field-setting research or laboratory research
• ·         clinical or diagnostic research.

And many more ....

TECHNIQUE INVOLVED IN DEFINING A PROBLEM

 

Statement of the problem in a general way:

 First of all the problem should be stated in a broad general way, keeping in view either some practical concern or some scientific or intellectual interest.

For this purpose, the researcher must immerse himself thoroughly in the subject matter concerning which he wishes to pose a problem.

In case of social research, it is considered advisable to do some field observation and as such the researcher may undertake some sort of preliminary survey or what is often called pilot survey.

Understanding the nature of the problem: 

The next step in defining the problem is to understand its origin and nature clearly.

The best way of understanding the problem is to discuss it with those who first raised it in order to find out how the problem originally came about and with what objectives in view

Surveying the available literature: 

All available literature concerning the problem at hand must necessarily be surveyed and examined before a definition of the research problem is given.

This means that the researcher must be well-conversant with relevant theories in the field, reports and records as also all other relevant literature. 

Rephrasing the research problem:

Finally, the researcher must sit to rephrase the research problem into a working proposition.

 Once the nature of the problem has been clearly understood, the environment (within which the problem has got to be studied) has been defined, discussions over the problem have taken place and the available literature has been surveyed and examined, rephrasing the problem into analytical or operational terms is not a difficult task.