1

NUST Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (NIPCONS)

MAS Dept

Defining Futures

7th Semester
Research Methodology
RM – 1
Introduction to Research

Sponsor: Brig Aslam Rana (Retd)

 2

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

What is Research?

1. Research is a logical and systematic Search for new and useful information on a
particular topic. In the well-known nursery rhyme,TwinkleTwinkle Little Star, How I
Wonder What You Are, the use of words How andWhatessentially summarizes what
research is. It is an investigation of finding solutions to scientific and social problems
through objective and systematic analysis. It is search for knowledge, that is, a discovery
of hidden truths. Here, knowledge means information about matters. The information
might be collected from different sources like, experience, human beings, books,
journals, nature, etc. A search can lead to contributions to the existing knowledge. Only
through research it is possible to make progress in a field. Research indeed is civilization
and determines the economic, social, and political development of a nation. The results
of scientific research very often force a change in the philosophical view of problems
which extend far beyond the restricted domain of science itself.Research is not confined
to science and technology only there are vast areas of research in other disciplines such
as languages, literature, history and sociology. Whatever might be the subject, the
research has to be an active, diligent and systematic process of inquiry in order to
discover, interpret and revise facts, events, behaviours and theories. Applying the
outcome of research for the refinement of the knowledge in other subjects, or enhancing
the quality of human life also becomes kind of research and development. Research is
done with the help of study, experiment, observation, analysis, comparison and
reasoning. For example, we know that cigarette smoking is injurious to health: heroine is
addictive: Malaria is due to the virus protozoon plasmodium: AIDS is due to the virus
HIV. How did we know all these? We became aware of all these information only through
research. More precisely, it seeks the prediction of events, explanations, relationships
and theories for them.
What are the Objectives of Research?
2. The prime objectives of research are:-
a. To discover new facts.
b. To verify and test important facts.
c. To analyse an event or process or phenomenon and to identify the cause and
effect relationship.
d. To develop new scientific tools, concepts, and theories to understand scientific
and non-scientific problems.
e. To overcome or solve the problems occurring in our everyday life.

Importance of Research

3. Research is important both in scientific and non-scientific fields. In our life new
problems, events, phenomena and processes occur every day. Practically,
implementable solutions and suggestions are required for tackling new problems that
arise. Scientists have to undertake research on them and find their causes, solutions,
 3

explanations and applications. Precisely, research assists us to understand nature and

natural phenomena.Some important avenues of research are:-
a. A research problem refers to a difficulty which a researcher or a scientific
community or an industry or a government organization or a society
experiences. It may be a theoretical or a practical situation. It calls for a
thorough understanding and possible solution.
b. Research on existing theories and concepts help us identify the range and
applications of them.
c. It is the fountain of knowledge and provides guidelines for solving problems.
d. Research provides basis for many government policies. For example,
research on the needs and desires of the people and on the availability of
revenues to meet the needs helps a government to prepare a budget.
e. It is important in industry and business for higher gain and productivity and to
improve the quality of products.
f. Mathematical and logical research on business and industry optimizes the
problems in them.
g. It leads to the identification and characterization of new materials, new living
things, new stars, etc.
h. Only through research inventions can be made; for example, new and novel
phenomena and processes such as superconductivity and cloning have been
discovered only through research.
i. Social research helps find answers to social problems. They explain social
phenomena and seek solution to social problems.
j. Research leads to a new style of life and makes it delightful and glorious.

4. Role of Research in Management Decision Making. Through research, an

executive can quickly get a synopsis of the current scenario which improves his
information base for making sound decisions affecting future operations of the
enterprise. The following are the major areas in which research plays a key role in
making effective decisions.
a. Marketing. Marketing research has become very crucial in taking sound
marketing decisions. Marketing research involves the process of systematic
collection, compilation, analysis-based interpretation of relevant data for
marketing decisions. Research tools are applied effectively for studies
involving demand forecasting, consumer buying behavior, measuring
advertising effectiveness, media selection, test marketing, product
positioning, and new product potential.
b. Production. Research enables an organization to decide on what to
produce, how much to produce, and for whom to produce in the field of
production. Research tools are also of immense help in quality control, and
setting up optimum inventory level.
c. Banking. Banking institutions have found it useful to setup research
departments for the purpose of gathering and analyzing information both for
their internal operations and for making in depth studies of economic
 4

conditions of business. Reserve Banks setup excellent research department

for planning and management reporting.
d. Materials. The materials department uses research to frame suitable
policies regarding where to buy, how much to buy, when to buy, and at what
price to buy.
Thesis Research
5. A degree is a passport to a research career. The Ph.D. period often influence a
research scholar to make or to break in a scientific career. Here one reaches the frontier
of knowledge and begins in earnest the lifelong task of learning how to do research. As
pointed out by Beasley and Jones during Ph.D. course ideally one learns how to pick a
research problem, how to carry out it, how to extract new information from the results
and how to publish the findings to the scientificCommunity. Thesis or Ph.D. research
inherently involves those aspects of subject that cannot be actually learned from
textbooks or from lecture courses. It is the point where the values, traditions and styles
of science are transmitted from one generation to another.
Research Methods and Research Methodology
6. Is there any difference between research methods and research methodology?
a. Research Methods.These are the various procedures, schemes and
algorithms used in research. All the methods used by a researcher during a
research study are termed as research methods. They are essentially planned,
scientific and value-neutral. They include theoretical procedures, experimental
studies, numerical schemes, statistical approaches, etc. Research methods
help us collect samples, data and find a solution to a problem. Particularly,
scientific research methods call for explanations based on collected facts,
measurements and observations and not on reasoning alone. They accept
only those explanations which can be verified by experiments.
b. Research Methodology.It is a systematic way to solve a problem. It is a
science of studying how research is to be carried out. Essentially, the
procedures by which researchers go about their work of describing, explaining
and predicting phenomena are called research methodology. It is also defined
as the study of methods by which knowledge is gained. Its aim is to give the
work plan of research.
 5

Types of Research
7. Research is broadly classified into following main classes:-
a. Fundamental or basic research.
b. Applied research.
Fundamental or Basic Research
8. It is an investigation on basic principles and reasons for occurrence of a particular
event or process or phenomenon. It is also called theoretical research. Study or
investigation of some natural phenomenon or relating to pure science is termed as basic
research. Basic researches sometimes may not lead to immediate use or application. It
is not concerned with solving any practical problems of immediate interest. But it is
original or basic in character. It provides a systematic and deep insight into a problem
and facilitates extraction of scientific and logical explanation and conclusion on it. It helps
build new frontiers of knowledge. The outcomes of basic research form the basis for
many applied research. Researchers working on applied research have to make use of
the outcomes of basic research and explore the utility of them.Attempts to find answers
to the following questions actually form basic research:-

a. Why are materials like that? What are they?

b. How does a crystal melt?
c. Why is sound produced when water is heated?
d. Why do we feel difficult when walking on seashore?
e. Why do birds arrange them in ‘>’ shape when flying in a group?

9. Fundamental research leads to a new theory or a new property of matter or even the
existence of a new matter, the knowledge of which has not been known or reported
earlier. For example, fundamental research on;

a. Astronomy may lead to identification of new planets or stars in our galaxy.

b. Elementary particles results in identification of new particles, complex
functions may leads to new patterns or new properties associated with
them.
c. Differential equations results in new types of solutions or new properties of
solutions not known so far; chemical reactions leads to development of
new compounds, new properties of chemicals, mechanism of chemicals
reactions, etc.
d. Medicinal chemistry leads to an understanding of physiological action of
various chemicals and drugs.
 6

e. Structure, contents and functioning of various parts of human body helps

us identify the basis for certain diseases.
Applied Research
10. In an applied research one solves certain problems employing well known and
accepted theories and principles. Most of the experimental research, case studies and
inter-disciplinary research are essentially applied research. Applied research is helpful
for basic research. A research, the outcome of which has immediate application, is also
termed as applied research. Such a research is of practical use to current activity. Thus,
the central aim of applied research is to find a solution for a practical problem which
warrants solution for immediate use, whereas basic research is directed towards finding
information that has broad base of applications and thus add new information to the
already existing scientific knowledge. Some of the differences between basic and
applied research are summarized in table I. Thus, the central aim of applied research is
to find a solution for a practical problem which warrants solution for immediate use,
whereas basic research is directed towards findinginformation that has broad base of
applications and thus add new information to the already existing scientific knowledge.
11. Other Types of Research. On the basis of the fundamental objectives of
the research we can also classify research into two types:-

a. Exploratory research.
b. Conclusive research.

Exploratory Research

12. Many times a decision maker is grappling with broad and poorly defined
problems. Attempts to secure better definitions by analytic thinking may be the wrong
approach and may even be – counterproductive in the sense that this approach may
lead to a definitive answer to the wrong question. Exploratory research uses a less
formal approach. It pursues several possibilities simultaneously, and in a sense it is not
quite sure of its objective. Exploratory research is designed to provide a background, to
familiarize and, as the word implies, just "explore" the general subject. A part of
exploratory research is the investigation of relationships among variable without knowing
why they are studied. It borders on an idle curiosity approach, differing from it only in that
the investigator thinks there may be a payoff in application somewhere in the forest of
questions.
 7

Conclusive Research
17. Exploratory research gives rise to several hypotheses which will have to be tested
for drawing definite conclusions. These conclusions when tested for validity lay the
structure for decision making. Conclusive research is used for the purpose of testing the
hypotheses generated by exploratory research. Conclusive research can be classified as
either descriptive or experimental.
18. Research Process The research process, a system for recording and processing
data, can be divided into five specific steps as summarized below: -
a. Step-1. Identify, select and define a research problem in clear, accurate and
precise terms.
b. Step-2. Conduct selective research and collect information (data) critical to
the determined problem.
c. Step-3. Analyze information (data) objectively and creatively and identify
possible solutions to the problem.
d. Step4. Select logically the optimal solution to the problem from several
alternative solutions.
e. Step-5. Communicate effectively the results of the problem solving process
by producing a formal research paper.

QUESTIONNAIRE TD – RM 1

Q – 1. Define research. Explain why do people research?

Q – 2. What is the difference between Research Methods and Research Methodology?

Q – 3. What are different types of research? Differentiate between Basic Research and
Applied Research.

Q – 4. Briefly explain the role of research in various avenues of life?

Q - 5. Name and briefly explain the five steps of research process?

REFERENCES FOR FURTHER STUDY

1.  "What is Original Research? Original research is considered a primary

source". Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida. Archived
from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
2.  "Research". Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, Inc. Retrieved 20
May 2018.
 8

3. "OECD Glossary of Statistical Terms – Research and development

UNESCO Definition". stats.oecd.org. Archived from the original on 19 February
2007. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
4. Creswell, J.W. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, conducting, and
evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River:
Pearson.