Research Methodology Dr. Chowdhury Saleh Ahmed

1. Research MethodologyDr. Chowdhury Saleh Ahmed

2. Meaning of Research • Objectives of Research • Motivation of Research • Types of Research • Research Approaches • Significance of Research • Research Methods and Research Methodology • Criteria of good Research • Problems of research in countries like Bangladesh Lecture 1

3. Meaning of Research Research means an objective and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. Example of Research: • Carbon di oxide emission due to traffic jam • Causes of crimes by slum dwellers etc • Effectiveness of Educational incentive system for controlling drop-outs

4. Cont.. • Research has to be an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge. Thus Research involves: • Enunciating the problem • Formulating the hypothesis • Collecting data/ facts/information • Analyzing the data/ facts/ information • Reaching at conclusions

5. Meaning of Research: Example • Problem: CO2- Traffic Jam is a health hazard- • Hypothesis – within tolerable limit • Collecting CO2 data through a sampling • procedure • Analyzing data whether within tolerable limit • Making Conclusion

6. Objectives of Research • To achieve new insights into a phenomenon • To know about the existing phenomenon • To know extent of a cause or effect variables • To establish relationship between variables

7. Motivation of Research: What makes people undertake research • Desiring solution to the problem/ hazard • Desire to do a social / national / organizational service • Inner satisfaction of a creative job

8. Types of Research Descriptive versus Analytical : Descriptive research means describing state of affairs – Mostly involves primary data – ex-post research Analytical research means carrying out analysis on a phenomenon – Mostly involves secondary data – ex-ante research- before contemplated change

9. Cont. • Applied versus Fundamental Research • Applied research aims to find a solution to an immediate problem facing a country/ society/ organization etc. • Fundamental research is a basic research mainly concerned with generalizations

10. Cont. • Quantitative versus Qualitative Research ```Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount ```Example CO2 emission ` ```Qualitative research is concerned with subjective attitude/ quality/ attributes / desires / feelings/ etc ```Example : Feeling about Dhaka city air pollution ( intolerable / Mildly intolerable / tolerable

11. Cont.. Conceptual versus Empirical Conceptual research is about abstract ideas or theory Attack from ghosts, Empirical Research is data-based and subject to verification

12. Research Approaches • According to types of research discussed: • There can be two approaches to research: • Quantitative approach: • Qualitative approach

13. Cont….Research Approaches • Quantitative approach can be further divided into 3 groups: • Inferential approach – infer characteristics of a phenomenon through collection of data –example CO2 emission. • Experimental approach – Researcher deliberately changes some variables to know the causal effect- example – effect of temperature rise on plant growth under open sky

14. Cont… Research Approaches • Simulation approach – Researcher artificially construct an environment and collects data • A greenhouse is constructed and impact of temperature rise on plant growth is measured

15. Significance of Research “ Doubt is often better than overconfidence as doubt leads to enquiry and enquiry leads to invention” “ Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking that promotes development of logical thinking”

16. Cont… Research Approaches • Research provides the basis of all government / international policies • Research is used for solving various problems of Businesses, NGOs, Societies etc.

17. Research Methods and Research Methodology Research methods refer to use of instruments for a research technique Example:

18. Cont… Research Methodology. • Research methodology is a way to systemically solve the research problem • Research methodology has a broader dimension than research methods

19. Cont.. Research Methodology • Elements of Research Methodology are: Defining objective • Reviewing Literature • Formulating Hypothesis • Designing sample • Collecting data • Analyzing of data • Arriving at conclusions

20. Criteria of good Research • The objective of the research clearly defined • The research methodology used should be described in sufficient detail to permit another researcher to repeat the research for further advancement • The sampling design should be such as to yield least error • The writing should be done with complete frankness – nothing which has bearing on the result should be hidden

21. Cont. Criteria of good Research. • The validity and reliability of data as a well as calculations should be re-checked to avoid mistakes • Conclusions should be confined to those justified by data and analysis • Researcher should be a person of integrity

22. Problems encountered in countries like Bangladesh • Insufficient interaction between Academics and Practitioners • Lack of training on the part of researchers • Fear that information provided to researchers may be used against them • Secondary sources of data are not timely available

23. Way forward to overcome research problems in Bangladesh • Greater interaction between academic institutions and practicing organizations/ government/ NGOs etc. • More education and training on research methodology • National Policy on Research mentioning that research data can not be used against the person • Timely publication of secondary data and enforcement of Act on “Right to Information”

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25. Lecture 2 Defining the Research Problem Defining the Research problem is the first step of Research Methodology or Research process:

26. Research problem arises only when: There must be group/individuals facing the problem to be researched. There must be some objectives to be achieved from the solution of the problems There may be alternative means of obtaining the objectives Researcher must have some doubts about the relative efficacy of the alternatives

27. Points to be observed in selecting a Research Problem Subject on which research has been done should not be chosen Controversial issues should be avoided Narrow or too wide issues should be avoided Research problem selected should be feasible within means available Researcher should have some background information on the research problems

28. Techniques of defining Research problem • Statement of the Problem in a general way • Deep understanding the nature of the problem • Surveying the available Literature • Developing the idea further through discussion • Finally, Rephrasing the Research Problem

29. Techniques Involved in Defining a Research Problem Statement of the Problem First of all the problem should be stated in a general way

30. Understanding the nature of the problem The researcher should be thoroughly knowlegible in the subject The researcher should first discuss the problem with those who first raised the issue/ problem. The researcher than should discuss the issue with the resource persons excelling in the subject

31. Surveying the available Literature All available research concerning the problem at hand must necessarily be surveyed and examined before formulating the research problem. This means, the researcher must be well conversant with available reports, records and literature.

32. Developing the idea through discussion Discussion concerning a problem often produces useful information. People with rich experience are in a position to enlighten the researcher on different aspects of the proposal. It helps sharpen the focus on specific aspects of the research.

33. Rephrasing the Research Problem Finally the researcher must rephrase the research problem into a working proposition. Once the nature of the problem has been clearly understood, literature has been reviewed, discussion over the problem has taken place, this rephrasing the research problem into analytical / operational terms become relatively easy.

34. Additional Points • Technical terms and phrases with special meanings should be clearly defined for general readership. • Basic assumptions relating to the research problem should be clearly stated. • Aim or value of the research should be stated. • The suitability of the time period and the source of data availability should be considered. • The scope of investigation or the limits within which the problem will be studied need to be mentioned.

35. Example of a too broad /non-specific topic: Why is labour productivity lower in Bangladesh compared to Vietnam • Vague in terms of which sector • Vague in terms of time frame • Non-analytical – labour productivity depends on certain factors -

36. Cont. • Rephrasing: • Factors responsible for productivity differentials in Bangladesh and Vietnam’s RMG sectors between 2005-10.

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38. Lecture 3 Research Design • Research design is “decisions” regarding what, where, when, how much, by what means etc. • It is management of conditions for collection of data, analysis of data and report preparation on the research problem.

39. Meaning of Research design • What is the study about? • Why the study is being undertaken? • Where will the study be carried out? 4. Where can the required data be found? 5. What will be the sample design 6. What period of time the study will include? cont…

40. What type of data is required? What techniques of data collection will be used? How many items will be observed? How will the data be analyzed? In what format, the report will be prepared within given time and budget? Cont… Meaning of Research design

41. Components of Research Design • From last two slides, it follows that Research Design has five components: • Problem formulation and objective • Sampling design: design which deals with method of selecting items to be observed in the given study. (3-6) • Observational design: design which relates to the conditions under which the observations are to be made on the selected items. (7- 8) • Statistical design: design that deals with how many items will be observed and how information collected will be analyzed. (9 - 10)

42. Cont..Components of Research Design • Operational design: design which deals with the techniques by which procedures specified in the sampling, observational and statistical designs can be carried out. Within given cost and time (11)

43. Research design must have: • Statement of the problem and objectives • Sources of information to be collected (Sampling designs) • Types of information to be collected (Observational designs) • Approach to be used for collecting and analyzing data (Statistical designs) • Estimates of time and cost for the research (Operational designs)

44. In Summary, Research design must have • Clear Statement of the Research Problem and the objectives of research • Sampling design • Observational design • Statistical design • Operational design

45. Important Concepts Relating to Research Design

46. Important Concepts Relating to Research Design • Dependent and Independent Variables • Extraneous variable • Control variable • Research hypothesis • Testing significance of the result on Research hypothesis

47. Dependent and Independent variable • Variable – A concept/ entity that can take different quantitative values is called a variable • Continuous vs. discrete variable • Example: • Individual’s earning depends on his/her knowledge and skill • Here knowledge and skill is independent variable • Individual’s earning is dependent variable

48. Extraneous variable • Variables not related to the study but affect the dependent variable. • Example - Measuring Dependency of Rice yield to fertilizer doze in different districts. • But soil types of different district would affect yield- Soil types are extraneous variables.

49. Control Variable • Control variables are used to overcome the effects of extraneous variables. • Example: BRRI’s sub-stations in different districts have experimental stations with normal soil types and temperature – These are used as control fields.

50. Research Hypothesis • When a prediction or a hypothesized relationship is tested by scientific methods, it is termed as research hypothesis. • The opposite of Research hypothesis is known as null hypothesis.