NAME : Mahida Bhumika Prakashbhai
M A Sem - 4
ROLL NUMBER : 4
ENROLLMENT NUMBER :3069206420200021
SUBJECT: Paper 209:
Research Methodology
"Research and its types"
Introduction:
Research is an activity that leads us to finding new facts, information, assisting us in verifying the available knowledge and in making us question things that are difficult to understand as per existing data. To be a successful manager it is important for you to know how to go about making the right decisions by being knowledgeable about the various steps involved in finding solutions to problematic issues.It may be understood in the following terms also:
Research is a continuous activity in the majority of disciplines and professions.
It is helpful in critical assessment of the way we work, execute policies, and give instructions in our professions.
It is systematic observation of processes to find better ways to do things and to reduce the effort being put in to achieve an objective and identifying the validity of the targets.
In fact research is a subconscious activity that we are involved in at all times whether it is purchase of daily use articles , a car, an electronic good or planning a holiday.
MEANING OF RESEARCH:
Research is a process to discover new knowledge to find answers to a question. The word research has two parts re and search which denote that we are taking up an activity to look into an aspect once again or we want to look for some new information about something. E.g Front Office Executive has to learn about the facilities, timings, key features of products and services available at the hotel if one wants to become a wonderful sales professional other than being a host. "All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention" is a famous Hudson Maxim in context of which the significance of research can well be understood.
Clifford Woody states that research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulation of hypothesis; collection, organizing and evaluation of data; and reaching conclusions. Here it is emphasized that all research has to be systematic and logical to arrive at the expected outcome. D. Slesinger and M. Stephenson in the Encyclopedia of Social Sciences Research define research as "The manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose of generalizing to extend , correct or verify knowledge, whether that knowledge aids in the construction of theory or in the practice of an art." The authors have a different view of research as they suggest that it can be taken up by modifying, challenging and changing; available knowledge either to prove a process being appropriate or to develop it in entirety. E.g. A standard recipe to prepare a particular dish may be modified by an enterprising chef to introduce the dish in new taste, flavor or aroma by using a different method of cooking, or by twisting the combination of spices used in the original recipe, . At the At the same time the chef may create an entirely new dish with the use of the same ingredients. As per another school of thought research has to be undertaken under defined parameters and it should satisfy the following conditions if you want to term the process as research activity. This ascertains adherence to three criteria that research:
1 . is undertaken by making a framework within certain philosophies; Philosophy here means approach e.g. qualitative, quantitative and the academic discipline in which you have been trained. Assessing and finalizing the team size of a pre opening hotel is quantitative but developing the pre-requisites,job specification and job descriptions to hire trained professionals may be termed as qualitative. Also, simply specifying number of participants and time constraints in a cross country race is quantitative but defining winning criteria like fairness, completion of race, assisting a fellow participant in trouble, following the rules and regulations, not taking assistance on the way are qualitative aspects.
2. Makes use of procedures, methods and techniques that have been tested for their validity and reliability; Validity means that correct procedures have been applied to find answers to a question. If a large plot of land has to be measured the results should be the same whether we use a meter scale or measuring tape once we put the values obtained; in the formula being used to calculate the area. Reliability refers to the quality of a measurement procedure that provides repeatability and accuracy. This is understood by the example of preparing the bill of purchase using a software which has inbuilt details of taxes and charges levied, the formulas to be used and a format in which it would be printed. This ensures that all the bills shall have values calculated as per standard set.
3. Has been planned to be unbiased and objective Unbiased and objective means that you have taken each step in an unbiased manner and drawn each conclusion to the best of your ability and without introducing your own vested interest. The researcher does not. attempt to change the procedure as per their understanding of facts and information.
DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH:
Research has been interpreted and defined by various scholars as per their fields of study and availability of resources at the given time. You will find out that the basic meaning and the context of these definitions are the same. The difference between these definitions lies only in the way the author has undertaken research in his discipline.
As per the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the word research is derived from the Middle French recherche, which means to go about seeking, the term itself being derived from the Old French term recerchier a compound word from re-cerchier, or searcher, meaning search. The earliest recorded use of the term was in 1577. Research is a structured enquiry that utilizes acceptable scientific methodology to solve problems and create new knowledge that is generally applicable. (Dawson, Catherine) According to (Rocco, 2011), "Research is a careful investigation or inquiry especially through searching for new facts in any branch of knowledge." Research is a movement, a movement from the known to the unknown. Research is manipulation of 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 (Kothari,C.R) According to (Creswell, 2008), "Research is systematic investigation to establish the facts."
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH:
Characteristics of research determine whether a research is free of biases,prejudices, and subjective errors or not. The terms are very commonly used in research and the success of any research depends on these terms. They can be summarised as:
1.Generalized 2.Controlled.
3. Rigorous.
4. Empirical.
5. Systematic
6. Reliability.
7. Validity.
8. Employs hypothesis
9. Analytical & Accuracy.
10. Credibility.
11. Critical
Generalised: The researcher usually divides the identified population into smaller samples depending on the resource availability at the time of research being conducted. This sample is understood to be the appropriate representative of the identified population therefore the findings should also be applicable to and representative of the entire population. The analytical information obtained from studying these samples should give a fair idea of the total population of followers of a particular ideology, beliefs, social stigmas, driving force, etc.
Controlled: The concept of control implies that, in exploring causality in relation to two variables, you set up your study in a way that minimizes the effects of other factors affecting the relationship. Some variables are classified as controlling factors and the other variables may be classified as possible effects of controlling factors. Laboratory experiments as in pure sciences like chemistry can be controlled but any study that involves societal issues that cannot be controlled. E.g. Destination studies are not controllable as they have variables like geography, climate, accessibility, seasonality, etc but studying the effects of standard operating procedures in a hotel applied in a particular service can be controlled.
Rigorous: One must be careful in ensuring that the procedures followed to find answers to questions are relevant, appropriate and justified. Again, the degree of rigor varies markedly between the physical and social sciences and within the social sciences.
Empirical: The processes adopted should be tested for the accuracy and each step should be coherent in progression. This means that any conclusions drawn are based upon firm data gathered from information collected from real life experiences or observations. Empirical nature of research means that the research has been conducted following rigorous scientific methods and procedures. Quantitative research is easier to prove scientifically than qualitative research. In qualitative research biases and prejudice are
easy to occur.
Systematic: The procedure or process being developed to undertake a study should be carefully drafted to ensure that resources utilization is optimized. Chaotic or disorganized procedures would never yield expected outcomes.
Reliability: This is the degree to which the result of a measurement, calculation, or specification can be depended on to be accurate. It is difficult to be measured accurately, but now there are instruments which can estimate the reliability of a research.
Validity & Verifiability: It is the extent to which a concept, conclusion or measurement is well-founded and likely corresponds accurately to the real world. The The word "valid" is derived from the Latin validus, meaning strong.
Employs Hypothesis: Any research definitely begins with formulation of a hypothesis. It is a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. A hypothesis can be defined as an educated guess about the relationship between two or more variables.
Analytical & Accurate : A research should be focussed not only about what is happening but also on how and why a particular phenomenon, process draws certain conclusions.
Credibility: The extent to which an analysis of finding can be treated to be trustworthy is termed as credibility. This can only be assured by the use of the best source of information and best procedures in research. Researches based on secondary data are not reliable as such data may have been manipulated or distorted by earlier researchers to suit their work.
Critical: Critical scrutiny of the procedures used and the methods employed is crucial to a research enquiry. The process of investigation must be foolproof and free from drawbacks.
TYPES OF RESEARCH:
Research can be classified into various categories depending on the perspective under which the research activity is initiated and conducted. The categorization depends on the following perspectives in general:
Application of research study
Objectives in undertaking the research
Inquiry mode employed for research
1 . Classification based on Application:
A . Fundamental Research: As the term suggests a research activity taken up to look into some aspects of a problem or an issue for the first time is termed as basic or pure. It involves developing and testing theories and hypotheses that are intellectually challenging to the researcher but may or may not have practical application at the present time or in the future. The knowledge produced through pure research is sought in order to add to the existing body of research methods.
B . Decisional Research: Applied research is done on the basis of pure or fundamental research to solve specific, practical questions; for policy for mulation, administration and understanding of a phenomenon. It can be exploratory, but is usually descriptive.
Classification based on Objectives :
A .Descriptive Research:
This attempts to explain a situation,problem, phenomenon, service or programme, or provides information viz. living condition of a community , or describes attitudes towards an issue but this is done systematically. It is used to answer questions of who, what, when, where, and how associated with a particular research question or problem. This type of research makes an attempt to collect any information that can be expressed in quantifiable terms that can be used to statistically analyze a target audience or a particular subject. Descriptive research is used to observe and describe a research subject or problem without influencing or manipulating the variables in any way. Thus, such studies are usually correlation or observational.
Correlational Research:
This is a type of non-experimental research method, in which a researcher measures two variables, understands and assesses the statistical relationship between them with no influence from any extraneous variable. This is undertaken to discover or establish the existence of a relationship/ interdependence between two or more aspects of a situation.
Explanatory: is the research whose primary purpose is to explain why
events occur, to build, elaborate, extend or test a theory. It is more concerned with showcasing, explaining and presenting what we already have.
Exploratory Research: Exploration has been the human kind‘s passion since the time immemorial. Looking out for new things, new destinations, new food, and new cultures has been the basis of most tourist and travel journeys. In the subjective terms exploratory research is conducted to find a solution for a problem that has not been studied more clearly, intended to establish priorities, develop operational definitions and improve the final research design. Exploratory research helps determine the best research design, data collection method and selection of subjects.
Classification based on Inquiry Mode:
A . Structured approach:
The structured approach to inquiry is usually classified as quantitative research.Here everything that forms the research process objectives, design, sample, and the questions that you plan to ask of respondents is predetermined.
Unstructured approach:
The unstructured approach to inquiry is usually classified as qualitative research. This approach allows flexibility in all aspects of the research process. It is more appropriate to explore the nature of a problem, issue or phenomenon without quantifying it.
METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH:
Method plainly means a particular procedure for accomplishing or approaching something, especially a systematic or established one. Thus methodology can be understood as a set of specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and analyze information about a topic. It is the systematic, theoretical analysis of the methods applied to a field of study. It comprises the theoretical analysis of the body of methods and principles associated with a branch of knowledge. The most important methodological choice researchers make is based on the distinction between qualitative and quantitative data i.e whether it would collect descriptive data or quantifiable data.
Before the research begins it is important to decide the methods of data collection would be qualitative or quantitative. Verifying existing theories or hypothesis, questioning them or measurement of variables conveys that quantitative methods be adopted whereas any attempt to collect statistical data, numbers or relative data means that one has to adopt quantitative methods.
The process of research addresses two major questions i.e. what is to be found and how it can be found. It is like planning a journey where we first decide where we are going and then we decide how we shall be travelling. We have to identify important stopovers and routes, check points, modes available to reach the destination.
The steps involved in finding responses to the research questions comprise research methodology. At each operational step in the research process one is required to choose from a variety of methods, procedures and models of research methodology which help you to best achieve the objectives.
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Works Cited :
Fleetwood, Dan. “What Is Research: Definition, Methods, Types and Examples.” Dan Fleetwood, 17 Apr. 2014, www.questionpro.com/blog/what-is-research/amp.
“Research: Definition, Characteristics, Goals, Approaches.” EduNote 2022, 4 Apr. 2022, www.iedunote.com/research-definition-characteristics-goals-approaches.
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