Introduction to

Research Methods
and Methodology
Introduction
• What actually is a research?
• Why are we studying research as a part of curriculum?
• What is its use in life…….
Meaning of Research
•Research is a process steps used to collect and
analyse information to increase our understanding of a
topic or an issue.
• It consists of three steps:
1) Pose a question
2) Collect data to answer the question
3) Present an answer to the question
What is Research?
Fred N Kerlinger (1970)
Research is a systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation
of hypothetical propositions about presumed relations among natural
phenomena.
Peter D. Leedy (1989)
Research is a procedure by which we attempt to find systematically,
and with the support of demonstrable facts, the answer to a question or
the resolution of a problem.
John W. Best (1992)
Research is a systematic and objective analysis and recording of
observations that may lead to the development of a theory.
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What is research Contd……
Mike Bassey (1998)
Research is a systematic, empirical and critical enquiry which aims
tocontribute to the advancement of knowledge and wisdom.
M. Saunders, P. Lewis and A. Thornhill (2007)
Research is a process of finding out things in a systematic way thereby increasing
knowledge.
Uma Sekaran (2009)
Research is an organized, systematic, data-based, critical and
scientific enquiry or investigation into a specific problem, undertaken
with the objective of finding answers or solutions to it.

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 What is research Contd……
Examples:-
1. A student is undertaking research to study how organizational commitment of
employees is influenced by their age.
2. A manager is carrying out research to identify how many of the savings account
holders had deposited and withdrawn money last month.
3. A housewife is researching ways of piping away excess water in her kitchen
garden.
Here in the above three cases the first one implies the rigorous research process.
The second case is less specific and less formally academic. This implies that the
bank manger is simply planning to gather some data from his records.
The third case in which the word “research” is used in a very everyday sense. This
implies that there is a problem to be solved, and that it is being investigated in
order to find a solution
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 BASIC
RESEARC
H

APPLIED
T YPES OF RESEARCH
RESEARCH
QUALITATI
VE
RESEARCH
.
QUANTITAT
IVE
RESEARC
 Problem Oriented Research
• Problem oriented research is done by industry apex body for sorting
out problems faced by all the companies.

•Eg:-
WTO does problem oriented research for developing countries, in
Nepal agriculture and processed food export development authority
(APEDA) conduct regular research for the benefit of agri-industry.
Basic/Fundamental Research
• It is the research which is done for knowledge enhancement and for
the welfare of human, animal and plant kingdom not for commercial
potential.
• The main motivation is to expand man's knowledge, not to create or
invent something. There is no obvious commercial value to the
discoveries that result from basic research. Basic research lay down
the foundation for the applied research.
Applied Research
• Applied research is designed to solve practical problem of the modern
world. The goal of applied research is to improve the human
condition. It focus on analysis and solving social and real life
problems. It is conducted on large scale basis and is expensive.
• Eg: improve agriculture crop production, treat or cure a specific
disease, improve the energy efficiency homes etc.
• Applied research can be further classified as:
1) Problem oriented research
2) Problem solving research.
Problem solving Research
Problem solving is type of research which is done by an individual
company for the problem faced by it.

Eg:-
•CG conducts research to study customer satisfaction level, it
will be problem solving research.
• Hospital makes the records of the patient
suffering form various diseases.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH.
• Qualitative research presents qualitative type of analysis and is used for collecting,
analyzing and interpreting data by observing what people do and say (subjective)

• It is much more subjective (personal opinions, preferences)and uses very different

methods of collecting information , mainly individual, in depth interviews and
focus groups. The nature of this type of research is exploratory and open ended.

• It can be further classified as:

1) Phenomenology
2) Ethnography
3) Case study
Phenomenology
•It is the type of research in which the researcher attempts to
understand how one or more individuals experience a phenomenon.

•Eg:-
• We might interview 20 Survivors of Covid-19.
• 100 Earthquake survivors in earthquake 2072.
Ethnography ( process of describing the
people and culture)

•This type of research focuses on describing the culture

of a group of people. A culture is the shared attributes,
values, norms, practices, language, and material things
of a group of people.

•Eg:-
•The researcher might decide to go and live with the
Rautey tribal society and study the culture and the
educational practices.
•Westerener People come to Nepal to know our Culture .
Case study
• It is an in-depth investigation into a specific instance or situation to
gain a comprehensive understanding of it.
• It is the form of qualitative research that is focused on providing a
detailed account of one or more cases.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
•This research aim to measure the quantity or amount and compares it
with past records and tries to project for future period.
•The process of measurement is central in it as it provides fundamental
connection between empirical (facts , real events)observation and
mathematical expression(theory) of quantitative relationships.
Statistics is most widely used in it.

• Objective:
•To develop and employ mathematical models, theories or
hypothesis related to a phenomena.
Significance of Research
1) To Gather Necessary Information
2) To Make Changes
3) Improving Standard Of Living
4) For A Safer Life
5) To Know The Truth
6) Explore Our History
7) Understanding Arts
Research Methods versus
Methodology
Research Methods Research Methodology
1)Research methods are the 1)It explains the methods by
methods by which you which you may proceed with
conduct research into a your research.
subject or a topic. 2)It involves the learning of
2)It involves conduct of various techniques that can be
experiments, tests , survey used in the conduct of research
and the like. and the like.
3)It aims at finding the
3)It aims at finding solution to employment of the correct
the research problems procedure to find out solutions.
Research Process
1) It is series of various actions which are necessary to effective
research work.

2) The steps involved in research process are not mutually exclusive

nor they are separate and distinct.
Steps of the research process
1) Formulate your question.
2) Get background information.
3) Refine your search topic.
4) Consider your resource options.
5) Select the appropriate tool.
6) Use the tool.
7) Locate your materials.
8) Analyze your materials.
9) Organize and write.
10) Compose your bibliography
Criteria for Good Research
1) The aim of the research should be clearly mentioned, along with the use of
common concepts.
2) The procedures used in the research should be adequately described, in
order to permit another researcher to repeat the research for further
advancement, while maintaining the continuity of what has already been
done.
3) The research procedural design should be carefully planned to obtain results
that areas objective as possible.
4) The flaws in the procedural design should be sincerely reported by the
researcher to correctly estimate their effects upon the findings.
5) The data analysis should be adequate to reveal its significance.
6) The methods used during the analysis should be appropriate.
7) The reliability and validity of the concerned data should be checked carefully.
8) The conclusions are needed to be confined and limited to only those data,
which are justified and adequately provided by the research.
9) In case, the researcher is experienced and has a good reputation in
the field of research, greater confidence in research is warranted.
Problems encountered by
researchers in Nepal(or South
East Asia)
1) Lack of Scientific Training.
2) Lack of Confidence:
3) Insufficient Interaction.
4) Lack of Code of Conduct.
5) Inadequate Assistance.
6) Improper Library Management.
7) High Cost of Publishing.
Research problems in
management
1. Will your research contribute to knowledge and practice?
 It fills a void or extends existing research
 It replicates a study with new participants or a new site
 Problem has not be studied or understudied
 It gives “voice” to people not heard, silenced, or rejected in society
 It informs practice.

2. Accessed to people & sites.

3. Time, Resources and skills.

4. Therapy.

5. To prove what your already know.

Thank You