RESEARCH PLANNING & REPORT WRITING

1. RESEARCH PLANNING & REPORT WRITING (Bch-517) Course Instructors: Dr. Samina Shakeel

2. Course Outlines • Research topic • Literature survey • Conduct research • Write a proposal • Deliver seminar 25marks • Start collecting Data • Data Interpretation • Paper writing and submission 25marks • Thesis Writing

4. Important Information for Course Participants • You MUST read the course literature from the beginning of the semester. The purpose of these slides is to provide you with a broad and general introduction to research. The project work to be undertaken in this course will be assigned by me . • It is essential that primary data is collected, analysed, evaluated and recorded by the participant in his or her project report. • Plagiarism will NOT be tolerated!

5. Highlights • Primary and Secondary Data • Analyzing primary and secondary data (quantitative techniques) • Communicating Research Results • Undertaking Research Project by the course participants • Introduction to research methodology • Research Terminology and the Scientific Method • Designing and implementing a research project • Ethics in Research • Types of Research • Measurements in Research

6. Concept of Research Reasons for conducting research, • Where , How , and by whom. • Why research • Quality research and kinds of research Qualitative and Quantitative • Research Ethics • LiteratureReview • Tools for collecting and analyzing data • Academic writing • Your role as a supervisor.

7. Research • Research has different meanings to different people. The following definitions will help you in understanding the research concept. • According to Oxford English Dictionary (2002), research is defined as “the systematic study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach to new conclusions.” • McMillan and Schumacher (1997) define research as “a systematic process of collecting and analyzing information (data) for some purpose.” • Kerlinger (1986) defines scientific research as, “Systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of natural phenomena guided by theory and hypotheses about the presumed relations among such phenomena.”

8. Science and the Scientific Method Science has been defined as “the methodological and systematic approach for acquisition of new knowledge” (Geoffrey Marcyzk, David DeMatteo, David Festinger, Essentials of Research Design and Methodology, John Wiley & Sons, 2005, p. 4) The scientific method, which has evolved since the 13th century, concerns the set of tools, techniques and procedures used by basic and applied researchers to analyze and understand phenomena and prove or disprove prior conceptions

9. The Essence of the Scientific Method Characteristics of the Scientific Method Objectivity Systematic Analysis Logical Interpretation of Results Elements of the Scientific Method Empirical Approach Observations Questions Hypotheses Experiments Analysis Conclusion Replication General Laws Basic Research Scientific Method Applied Research Information or Ideas for alternative Courses of action

10. Why do research? # We conduct research because we want to explore ideas and find solutions that make sense. #In doing so a person thinks, constantly assesses, reassesses and makes decisions about the best possible means of obtaining information that is trustworthy. #We may like to call this process a person’s thinking game or whole brain activity and the psychologists call it right and left brain attributes (Cherry et.al. 1993).

11. When Should Research be Undertaken? Is sufficient time available? NO Yes Is information inadequate? Do not Undertake Research Yes High importance of decision? Yes Research benefits greater than costs? Undertake Research

12. Where does research can be done? Research can be conducted in many settings: • Educational institutes, laboratories, classrooms, libraries, the city streets, local & foreign cultures, etc. Research can be of different duration. -spread over a long period of time. It can be done in various formats which fall under the categories of qualitative and quantitative research, the details of which will follow later in the module. Research is done by researchers from education, natural sciences or social sciences, experts, and students of graduate or undergraduate programs from related and multiple disciplines.

13. What do researchers use? • The information gathered through research recommendations provides an insight to the researchers for future course of action to be taken for better implementation and application. • Some businesses, industry and departments of Education spend vast amounts of money for research activity for improvement and advancement in their programs. • Funds from funding agencies

14. Blend of information, experience and in-sights that provides a framework that can be thoughtfully evaluated when assessing new information or evaluating relevant situations KNOWLEDGE Determination of relationship amongst data with a view to facilitating understanding of the phenomena, their relationships and decision-making (e.g. past and predicted future sales trends) INFORMATION DATA Measurements of phenomena (e.g. sales statistics of a department store) The Building Blocks of Research

15. Research Types • When carrying out research, our purposes are different. Therefore research types will vary according to our purposes. The major research method will fall under • application, • objectives, • inquiry mode, • and sometimes we may use mixed method research.

16. Application (Pure and applied research) • Applied research is "hands-on", which means that the researcher is actually working with the topic/subjects while conducting the research. Generally, applied research focuses on "practical problems" such as climate change in order to come up with solutions to better or improve an existing condition. • Basic research is often considered researching for the sake of increasing knowledge as opposed to applied where the research truly is intended to solve a problem. • Basic Research is often called "pure" research and is considered the foundation for applied research.

17. Objectives can be • 1) Descriptive research (statistical research). To describe the data and characteristics about what is being studied. The idea behind this type of research is to study frequencies, averages, and other statistical calculations. Although this research is highly accurate, it does not gather the causes behind a situation. • 2) Correlation research To measure the relationship between two or more variables or gives an indication of how one variable may predict another. • 3) Exploratory research To conduct research because a problem has not been clearly defined. Exploratory research helps determine the best research design, data collection methods, and selection of subjects. The fact that it is fundamental in nature, exploratory research often concludes that a perceived problem does not actually exist.Explanatory research explores "why," and attempts to explain as the purposes of explanatory research

18. Inquiry mode • The inquiry mode of research can be categorized as qualitative and quantitative: • Qualitative research is research undertaken to gain insights concerning attitudes, beliefs, motivations and behaviors of individuals, to explore a social or human problem. • Qualitative research methods include focus groups, in-depth interviews, observation research, and case studies. You can use qualitative research to study past events or current events. When you use it for past events, it is specifically called historical research. The salient features of qualitative research are: ‘

19. Features of qualitative research • Conducted to have an insight and better understanding of not only about the current situation is but also why it is so. • More open and responsive to the research participants. • Uses a variety of methods and data collection strategies, • Offers opportunities for descriptive and exploratory studies.

20. Quantitative research • Quantitative research is research concerned with the measurement of attitudes, behaviors and perceptions. It includes interviewing methods such as telephone, intercept, and door-to-door interviews, as well as self-completion methods such as mail outs and online surveys.

21. Continued------------ • Means the data is analyzed in terms of numbers. • Involves the collection of numerical data. • Predicts and explains data in the form of statistical analysis. • Uses the numerical method to analysis and interpret the results. • Finds out the relationship among quantifiable variables and the results are inferred.

22. Teaching Approaches • The introductory part of Research Methods and Skills was delivered Ice breaking activity • Lectures based on key points • Participant discussions and • Activity based worksheets

23. Learning Activity 1 • Activity 1: Ice-breaking Activity • Objectives of the activity: •  The activity aims at making participants feel comfortable about research in Pakistan in general. • Lets Plan for buying a car but , •  You have only 5 lacs to buy a car •  You can buy only one car; and have to spend all the money; however, you can not over spend. •  You may buy a new or an old car.

24. What we have to do------- • 1) Check your personal and social context, personal and family needs, likings /choices, limitations etc. • You have 5min to plan • Involves a complete research process • One has to see the problem and needs. One has to do literature review by gathering information from relatives, friends, or family who have already bought car. The process also involves research methodology. For instance, you can directly go to the market and survey; some would contact a dealer in cars; and some would go for the newspaper advertisements. • Get information, analysis and share that leads to conclusions and decision making.

25. Activity 2: Identify the Research Types from the Following • 1. If you are going to study the relationship between job opportunities and your field of graduations , this is an example of _________________________________. • 2. If you are going to find out causes of failures of educated persons in the markete, this is an example of ____________________________. • 3. If you are dealing a biological problem.------------------

26. The end

27. 1.Research • Meaning of research • Objectives of research • Motivation in research • Types of research • Research approaches • Significance of research • Research methods versus methodology

28. 3.Research process • Formulating the research problem • Extensive literature survey • Developing the hypothesis • Preparing the research design • Determining sample design • Collecting the data • Execution of the project • Analysis of data • Hypothesis testing • Generalizations and interpretation • Preparation of the report • 4.Research Ethics • Codes and Policies for Research Ethics • Promoting Ethical Conduct in Science • Animal Used In Research • Ethical Issues In Agricultural Research • Motivation in research; • Objectives of research; • Criteria of good research; • Research and scientific method.

29. INSTRUCTION FOR THE ASSIGNMENT TO BE SUBMITTED FOR THIS UNIT • 1.Followings are the questions for assignment to be answered and submitted • 1. Definitions of „Research”. • 2. Steps involved in a research process • 3.What do you mean by research? • Significance in modern times. • Difference between Research methods and Research methodology. • 5.Describe the different types of research, clearly pointing out the difference between an experiment and a survey. • 6.Write short notes on: Design of the research project; Ex post facto research;

30. 7.“Empirical research in Pakistan in particular creates so many problems for the researchers”. State the problems that are usually faced by such researchers. • 8.“A research scholar has to work as a judge and derive the truth and not as a pleader who is only eager to prove his case in favour of his plaintiff.” Discuss the statement pointing out the objectives of research. • 9.“Research is much concerned with proper fact finding, analysis and evaluation.” Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons in support of your answer. • 10.It is often said that there is not a proper link between some of the activities under way in the world of academics and in most business in our country. Account for this state of affairs and give suggestions for improvement.