Research !!

1. Research !!

2. Philosophy • The foundation of human knowledge • A search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means • The most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group • Particular set or system of beliefs resulting from the search for knowledge about life and the universe

3. Search • To look into carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something • To investigate

4. Research • Careful and diligent search • Systematic investigation aimed at the discovery of and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws • Logical reasoning • Scientific process

5. Knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method .Knowledge gathered by observation and experimentation, critically tested, systemized and brought under general principles • Science

6. Why research • We are curious by nature and want to find out the truth about the universe, humans and their lives and processes • We love to gain more and more knowledge • We do not want to believe in anything that is not logical but is told by authorities and hence we want to test and challenge the authority by research • We want to test and challenge the theories by conducting researches

7. Research Applicable in both • Natural sciences • Social sciences ……only methods may be different Research in natural sciences is more sensitive or social sciences??

8. Types of research • Basic research – concerned with basic principles • Action research – utility of basic principles in natural settings, to give solution of a problem • Evaluative research – involves decision making

9. Approaches to inquiry • Qualitative versus quantitative • Historical • Qualitative (ethnographic) • Descriptive • Correlational • Experimental

10. Research • A process……..a series of actions or operations leading to some results!! • Based on previous observations and theories • Test the theories • A theory is a set of facts in their relation to one another or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena

11. Process of research • Thought process concerning the topic of interest • Reading relevant literature • Agreeing or disagreeing with different theories • Making new assumptions • Testing the assumptions or challenging the theories • Deciding a method of conducting the research

12. Process • Conducting the research • Reaching to results • Interpretation of results and concluding the • research

13. Steps involved in research • Focus on the area of interest • Read the relevant material • Define the problem statement, formulate research questions • Literature review including books, journals, magazine articles, documentaries… • Formulation of hypothesis/hypotheses

14. Steps involved in research • Operational definitions- define the terminologies, variables • Assessing the practical feasibility of research • Decide a research design: exploratory, co relational or causal • Decide upon the method- choose the target population

15. …steps involved in research • Choose the sample size and sampling technique such as random, convenient or any other • Decide upon how to collect data – interviews, questionnaires or any other • Data collection-on individual basis or in group form? • Equipment/material required for research • Pilot work

16. …steps involved in research • Identify the statistical analysis needed • Formulating a timetable • Ethical feasibility of research • Conduct the research • Data analysis • Interpretation of results • Report writing • Dissemination

17. Conclusion Research is a continuous process Research tries to answer research questions and at the same time leads to new research questions Never useless even if the hypothesis is rejected, always a useful process !!