Research Methodology

1. Research Methodology Prof. Piyadasa Ranasinghe Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya’ 26/02/2011

2. What is research? • “A careful, systematic , patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or princilpes” (Grinnell, 1993:4) • It is a discovery (Rediscovery); A voyage from the known to the unknown • An effort to be closer to the truth

3. Characteristics • It is controlled. In real life for an outcome there could be many affecting factors. In a study of cause and effect relationships one has to link effects with causes and causes with effects. Establishment of this linkage is impossible unless it is a laboratory test. Therefore instead of controlling external factors we have to quantify the impact of such factors.

4. Contd., • It is rigorous. Procedures followed to find answers to a problem must be relevant, appropriate and justifiable. Researcher needs to be very careful about this. • It is systematic. Procedures adopted for a research should follow a logical sequence. Some procedures must follow others. • It should be valid and verifiable. Your research conclusion based on findings should be correct and can be verified by you as well as others.

5. Contd., • It is empirical. The conclusions of the research should be based on evidence gathered from information collected from real life experiences/ observations • It is critical. Research procedures and methods applied should withstand critical scrutiny. They must be foolproof and free from drawbacks

6. Research process- Steps • 1. Formulation a of a research problem • 2. Creation of a research design • 3. Constructing instruments for data collection • 4. Selecting a sample • 5.Writing the research proposal • 6. Collecting data • 7. Processing data • 8. Writing the report

7. Formulating research problem • Tasks: • Literature review • Formulating the research problem • Identifying variables • Constructing hypotheses

8. Literature review • To make your research problem clear and bring focus into it • Develop your methodology • To know where you are • To have a broader knowledge in your area of research

9. Contd., • Search and select literature pertaining to your area • Review selected literature • Develop a theoretical framework (theories and issues related your study) • Develop a conceptual framework (aspects you select from theoretical framework that form the basis of your research)

10. Contd., • Sources: • Books • Journals • Electronic resources: online and offline

11. How to write the literature review • Write under themes • Some may follow chronological order • Highlight your arguments • Provide references

12. Formulating research problem • Any question that needs answer can be a research problem. However, not all questions can be transformed into research problems. • What matters here: • Your knowledge in research methodology • Your knowledge of the subject area • Your understanding of the issues to be examined

13. Contd., • Formation of a research problem is the first step in the research. Identify the destination before you start the journey. It is the foundation of your building. • Sources of research problems: • People (individuals, groups, organizations, communities) • Problems (Issues, situations, associations,, needs, demographic)

14. Contd., • Programmes (contents, structure, outcomes, attributes, satisfaction, users, consumers) • Phenomenon (cause and effect relationships, study of a phenomenon itself) • Research problem is your topic. • Consider the following when selecting a topic: • Your interest • Your level of expertise as well as of your supervisor

15. Contd., • Use concepts that can be measured • Topic should be relevant to your profession/ subject area • Availability of data • Ethical issues

16. Formulation of objectives • Objectives are goals of your study • Main objectives • Secondary or sub-objectives • They must be clear, complete and specific

17. Identifying variables • A concept or perception that takes on different values and that can be measured is a variable. It is something that varies. • Types: • Independent variables (they are responsible for bringing about change in a phenomenon, situation)

18. Contd., • Dependent variables (effects of a change variable, the outcome of the changes brought about by changes in an independent variable) • Extraneous variables (other factors that affect the changes bring about by independent variables) • Intervening variables (those that link the independent and dependent variables)

19. Constructing hypotheses • It is an ‘anticipation of nature’ or a hunch, assumption, assertion • “a tentative statement about something, the validity of which is usually unknown’ (Bailey, 1976:126) • It may be right, partially right or wrong • It should be simple, specific and conceptually clear

20. Research design • It is the plan, structure and strategy of investigating the research problem • It is an operational plan • Procedures to be adopted • Testing the design

21. Constructing an instrument for data collection • Data collection methods: • Primary sources • Observation • Interview • Questionnaire • Use of secondary sources • Establish the validity of the selected instrument

22. Selecting a sample • “Process of selecting a few from a bigger group” • Bigger group is the population and the selected few is the sample • Larger the sample size the more accurate will be the findings

23. Sampling types • Sampling strategies are numerous. They can be categorized into three groups: • Random/probability sampling • Non-random/probability sampling • Mixed sampling

24. Research proposal • It is your plan of research • It reveals what you are going to do, how you plan to do and why you have selected the proposed procedures • It guides you as well as your supervisor • It is an academic piece of writing • It shows the strength of your proposed research

25. Elements • Introduction (an overview of the main area under study, historical background, philosophical issues etc., trends, major theories, main issues under consideration etc.) • Importance (Why you do it? What are the benefits?) • Problem (Your research problem or the research questions) • Literature review

26. Contd., • Objectives ( main and secondary) • Hypotheses • Study design (population, sample, data collection methods etc.) • Setting (brief description of the community, organization or agency in which you are going to carry out the research) • Analysis of data (methods you are going to use)

27. Contd., • Structure of the report or chapterization • Limitations and problems you may encounter • Work plan or schedule • Budget (optional)

28. Collection data • Ethical issues relating to research participants ( their consent, incentives, sensitive information, harm to participants etc.) • Ethical issues relating to the researcher (avoiding bias, using appropriate research methodology, correct reporting etc.)

29. Processing data • Editing data • Coding data • Verifying coded data • Analyzing data • Displaying data (charts, diagrams, tables)

30. Writing the report or thesis • Follow standards (International standards or departmental guidelines) • Use appropriate referencing/citation system • Preparation of a bibliography • Avoid plagiarism

31. Sources: • Kumar, Ranjit (1999). Research methodology : a step by step guide for beginners, 2nd. ed., Sage, London • Kothari, C.R. (1990). Research methodology : methods and techniques, 2nd. Ed., Wishwa Prakashan, New Delhi

32. Thank you!