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Advance RESEARCH METHODS. Introduction to Research March 12, 2014 Advance Research Methods RG 701 RS and GISc , Institute of Space Technology. Research?. Re Again, anew, over again Search To examine closely and carefully, to test and try or to probe.
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Advance RESEARCH METHODS Introduction to Research March 12, 2014 Advance Research Methods RG 701 RS and GISc, Institute of Space Technology
Research? • Re • Again, anew, over again • Search • To examine closely and carefully, to test and try or to probe
Today we will address the following questions??? • What is Research? OR • Purpose of research? Why do we do research? • Finding a Research theme/topic • Finding Research Problem/Question/objectives? • What is Research Methodology? • What is the difference between Research Methodology and Research Methods?
What is research? • Way of thinking • Examining critically the various aspects of your day-to-day professional work • Understanding and formulating guiding principles that govern a particular procedure • Developing and testing new theories that contribute to the advancement of your practice and profession
What is Research: Definitions • An organized, systematic, data-based critical scientific inquiry or investigation into a specific problem, undertaken with the objective of finding answers or solutions to it • Systematic investigation into and study of materials, sources, etc., in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. • An endeavour to discover new or collate old facts etc. by the scientific study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation. [Oxford Concise Dictionary]
Simple definition Systematic investigation to find answers to a problem. (Burns 1972)
Purpose of Research • Reporting: (elementary level) • provides an account or summation of data or to generate statistics; • simple when data is available; • some inference and conclusion drawing. • Descriptive Study: • Tries to discover answers to the question who, what, when, where, and, sometimes, how.
Purpose of Research (conti….) • Explanatory • Attempts to explain the reasons for the phenomenon that the descriptive study only observed. • The researcher uses theories or at least hypotheses to account for the forces that caused a certain phenomenon to occur. • Predictive • Is just as rooted in theory as explanation. • Control • Being able to replicate a scenario and dictate a particular outcome is the objective of control
Find a good theme • Find your interest ! ! ! • What have other people done about the topic? • literature survey • Library websites • Class discussions • Discussion with your professors and peers • What is the problem? How is it formulated? • How did they solve the problem? • Are there unexpected results? Why it happened? • What is your opinion? • Do you have any idea to improve the research? • Do you have different approach to solve the problem?
Research Question? • A research question is a clear, focused, concise, complex and arguable question around which you center your research. You should ask a question about an issue that you are genuinely curious about. • First formulate your question • Then figure out how you are going to answer it • How have others answered it? • How does your proposal fit in with what others have done? • How will you know when you have answered it? • Then you can present your answer
Research Question: Some Examples • What is the relationship between two variables X and Y? • What are the demographic characteristics of the study area? • Can remote sensing data be used for identifying a specific feature X on earth? • What bands are useful in identifying a specific feature X on earth? • Does resolution of DEM used for terrain processing affect the accuracy of drainage pattern? • What are the environmental factors affecting dengue outbreaks? • Is there a direct relationship between rainfall amount and dengue cases? • Etc.
Research Objectives • Objective is what do you want to achieve from your research State your objectives in clear and concise manner
Research Objectives • Examples: • To determine the factors affecting the change in global weather pattern. • To analyze the impacts of canal improvement work on seepage control. • To model the relationship between the dengue outbreak and environmental factors
Why should research objectives be developed? • To Focusthe study (narrowing it down to essentials); • To Avoidthe collection of data which are not strictly necessary for understanding and solving the problem we have identified; and • To Organizethe study in clearly defined parts or phases.
Research Methodology • Way to systematically solve the research problem • Steps that are generally adopted by a researcher in studying a research problem
Research Methodology vs. Methods • Research methodology is different from research methods • Methodology: Philosophy or the general principle which will guide your research (Overall approach) • Method: Tools
Research Process: characteristics and requirements To qualify as research, the process must be: • Controlled • Exploring causality in relation to two variables, in a way that minimizes the effects of other factors affecting relationship • Rigorous • Ensuring that, the procedures followed to find answers to the question are relevant, appropriate and justified • Logical • Research is based on valid procedures and principles that follow a certain logical sequence
Characteristics of Research (Cont..) • Valid and verifiable • Derived conclusions are correct and verifiable • Empirical • Conclusions are based upon hard evidence collected from real life experiences or observation. • Critical • Must be foolproof and free from any drawbacks. • The procedures used must be able to withstand critical scrutiny
Types of Research: Application • Basic or pure Research • Research done with the intention to generate more knowledge and understanding of the phenomena that occur and to build theories based on the research results. • Applied Research • Research done with the intention of applying the results of its finding to solving specific problems currently being experienced (Real life)
Pure Research • Pure research is also know as basic or fundamental research. It is undertaken out of intellectual curiosity or inquisitiveness. • It may lead to either discovery of a new theory of refinement of an existing theory. • Pure research formed the basis for scientific and technological inventions like steam engine, Machines, Telecommunications, Electronic Gadgets etc.
Pure research offers solutions to many practical problems. • Example of Pure Research 1. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity 2. Newton’s Contributions
Applied Research • Applied research is carried on to find solution to a real life problem requiring an action or policy decision. • It is thus problem oriented and action directed. • Applied research in the fields of ………………… • Example: Market research carried on for developing a new market.
Types of Research: Objectives • Descriptive research • Attempts to describe systematically a situation problem, phenomenon, service or program, or provides information about, say, living condition of a community • Correlation Research • Discovers or establishes relationship, association, interdependence between two or more aspects of a situation.
Explanatory • Attempts to clarify why and how there is a relationship between two aspects of situation or phenomenon. • Exploratory • To explore an area where little is known. • May also be conducted to develop, refine, and/or test measurement tools and procedures
Types of Research: Enquiry mode • Concerns the process being adopted to find answers • Approaches: • 1. Structured - Quantitative • 2. Unstructured - Qualitative
KEEP IN MIND THAT … • Qualitative research in general deals with words, images and the subjective • Quantitative research deals in numbers, logic and the objective
What is Research? • Research is what we do when we have a question or a problem we want to resolve • We may think • we know the answer to our question • the answer is obvious, common sense • But • until we have subjected our problem to rigorous scientific scrutiny, our 'knowledge' remains little more than guesswork or at best, intuition.
Text Book • Ranjit Kumar (Research Methodology- A Step by Step guide for Beginners)