Process of research

Research

• Research has assumed a prominent place in our society. Government, Industries and Business organizations have started specialised wing called Research and Development (R&D) wing.

• Research is basic ingredient for development. Provision of enormous funds by all countries - extending the boundaries of knowledge is an endless process.

• Social needs:

Development of technology – adoption of it for purposeful use is unending.

Research is not an exclusive preserve of the chosen few, now any individual, group, belonging to any subject can lay their hands in discovering new ideas.

• Research is a problem solving tool – involving an open mind -

• Positive attitude

• Curiosity to know the unknown is the best guide.

• It is actually a movement towards advancement

What of Research

• “Research is an honest, exhaustive, intelligent searching for facts and their meaning or implications with reference to a problem”.

• “ … Research per see constitutes a method for discovery of truth which is really a method of critical thinking.”

• Research represents a critical and exhaustive investigation to discover new facts, to interpret them in the light of known laws and theories.

• Action words –

Research is a specific type of – methodical search

– thinking

– an investigation

• How this specific work is done– exhaustive search– critical thinking– honest and intelligent investigation.

• The aim and purpose of research is;– Discovery of facts and truths,– Their meaning, interpretation in the light of the known

ideas, theories and laws.

The Sanskrit equivalents of English word ‘RESEARCH’ are;

• Nirupana = Ascertaining, determination

• Anvesana =searching after

• Anusandan = close inspection

• Vicharana = Reflection

• Jignasa = Inquisitiveness

Research in the remote past was not an organized activity

Any act of creation was;• a matter of chance• trial and error method.• generalizing from experience

­ Knowledge about fire – is a matter of chance.­ Classification of herbs / insects – trial and error­ Accumulation of body of knowledge –

Experience.

Types of Research

- Pure Research

- Applied Research

- Action Research

1. Pure Research: – Basic Research, Fundamental Research,

Theoretical Research are invariably used terms for pure research.

– These suggest that no immediate application or use of their findings.

– Carried out for sake of understanding and comprehending a phenomena

– It is for the sake of knowledge (Albert Einstein)– Pure research is like an infant – some one will

develop application or modify it

– The use of basic research is not of immediate consequence.

Applied Research :

• It is aimed at solving a social or technical problem.

• Applied Research need not be any technical and engineering marvel, any evaluation or assessment can be an applied study.

Action Research• It is an interpretation of any aspects of human

activities, social practices and needs• It is almost like an applied research but with

some difference• It is finding local solution for a global problem.

‾ Ex: Discovery of Electricity is a pure research‾ Its conversion into a Mechanical energy is also pure research‾ Invention of electric fan, bulb, and electric motor is an applied

research.‾ Discovery of regulator is an action research

Why of Research

• Social pressure in the form of population pressure emphasizes the need to increase the production of all kinds of commodities and services to keep the teaming millions going. New methods of production of commodities and services have to be found out by applying advanced technology.

• Basic Human Wants: – Food– Shelter– Clothing &– Transport

• Scarcity of Natural Resources – • Intensification of Agriculture,

• Artificial forming, good yield etc.,• Conversion of raw materials into consumable form• Application of technology of complex nature

• Progress as we see today would be impossible without research. Each year new products, facts, concepts and ways and methods of doing are the results of research.

• “Research produces knowledge, knowledge is needed for understanding and understanding combined with skill leads to effective action.”

-Martin Lowell

• Advances of Knowledge does not just happen, it requires constant efforts by intelligent and highly trained people who spend their lives pushing back the boundaries of human ignorance. The rapid development of extraordinary nature, which characterizes our day to day improvement and perfections which are taking place at offices, factories, schools, fields and homes all over the world.

• Application of scientific mind to the research activity developed hardly from 300 years. It is a gradual growth of pains taking study of facts accumulated checked, empirically verified over a period of time until the plausible evidence and demonstrable relation of facts, consistent generalizations or logical principles can be formulated.

• This converted intellectual pursuit inspired accidental curiosity into a systematic development with specialized techniques of its own.

• In this way objectives are formulated, techniques invented and new sciences are evolved. This is to say that research is attempting to construct a pattern in which valuable facts are fitted with specifying consistency.

• Ex: Newton’s Contributions.

Research at the moment enabled us to have

1. Better and faster transportation

2. More comfortable and cheaper housing

3. Effective medicines to cure our most critical diseases.

4. Improved methods and materials for educating our children

5. Through understanding of the past history

6. Most effective control over mental processes

7. Different subject areas to study and derive benefits.

8. All emerging, converging and cutting edge technologies.

9. A networked society where both distance and time have no meaning.

Research Process

• Nature does not reveal all its secrets at one go. • Nor is the human wants for fresh knowledge is

one time activity• New facts are observed, assessed in the light of

the established realities and fresh truths are evolved.

Research Process contd…

– Research is about establishing facts

– Research is objective

– Research is scientific and time consuming

Research Process involves 3 phases;

– Formulation of the research plan

– Implementing research plan

– Implementation of research results.

First Phase: Formulation of the Research plan

1. Selection and identification of research topic

2. Review of the related literature

3. Formulation of objectives

4. Formulation of hypotheses

5. Selection of sampling techniques,

6. Selection of methods for data collection,

7. Designing the appropriate tools and techniques for recording and organizing the data,

8. Identifying suitable methods of data analysis.

9. Terminology.

Second phase: Implementation of the research plan

1. Application of selected methods of data collection and analysis

2. Using appropriate mathematical/ statistical tools and techniques.

3. Using appropriate logical methods to make meaningful observation and conclusion

4. Presentation methods

5. Research reporting

Third Phase: Implementing Research Results

• Research will not end by collecting the data and analyzing the same for yielding the results.

• It is equally connected with implementing the results

• Publications• Propagation of research results• Insisting the concerned authorities for

implementation etc.

Qualities of a Researcher:

• “The men of experiment are like the ant; they only collect and use: The reasoners resemble spiders, who make cobwebs out of their own substance. But the bee takes a middle course; it gathers its material from the flowers of the garden and of the field, but transforms and digests it by a power of its own”.

– Clearly to be an effective researcher, one must resemble bee, purposeful, industrious and imaginatively selective in assembling the evidence.

– “A true scientist possesses the devotion of a mother, the poise of a judge, the objectivity of a philosopher, courage of a soldier and fervor of a patriot and the vision of a prophet.”

Research-Why?

• Social pressure in the form of population pressure emphasizes the need to increase the production of all kinds of commodities and services to keep the teaming millions going. New methods of production of commodities and services have to be found out through advances in technology.

• Basic Human Wants: F.S.C.T.

• Natural Resources-Scarcity

• Intensification of Agriculture, Artificial forming, good yield etc., Raw materials - Consumable form - Technology of complex nature - Transport facilities.

• Research is an essential tool used to solve problems. It has occupied the rightful place in Educational Institutions, Govt. Departments, Industries, and Business Organisations, R& D wings.

• “Research is nothing but a Systematic Quest for Knowledge ”.

• Research is a basic ingredient for development and therefore serves as a means for rapid socio-economic development of the country.

• Progress as we see today would be impossible without research. Each year new products, facts, concepts and ways and methods of doing are the results of research.

• Advances of Knowledge does not just happen, it requires constant efforts by intelligent and highly trained people who spend their lives pushing back the boundaries of human ignorance. The rapid development of extraordinary nature, which characterizes our day to day improvement and perfections which are taking place at offices, factories, schools, fields and homes all over the world.

• “Research produces knowledge, knowledge is needed for understanding combined with skill leads to effective action.”

-Martin Lowell

• Application of scientific mind to the research activity developed hardly from 300 years. It is a gradual growth of pains taking study of facts accumulated checked, empirically verified over a period of time until the plausible evidence and demonstrable relation of facts, consistent generalizations or logical principles can be formulated.

• This converted intellectual pursuit inspired accidental curiosity into a systematic development with specialized techniques of its own.

• In this way objectives are formulated, techniques invented and new sciences are evolved. This is to say that research is attempting to construct a pattern in which valuable facts are fitted with specifying consistency.

• Ex: Newton’s Contributions.

IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM

• Environment with which the research worker is concerned.

• Cognizance of and/or existence of unsolved problems is the first step in locating the Research Problem.

• Constructive imagination and Reflective thinking are the two essential pre-requisites for identification.

• Recognizing the mystery or controversy of a subject, intensify or kindle the curiosity of Research Worker.

• New comer faces lot of difficulty where as an experienced does not.

• “…the beginner is likely to select a problem that is much too broad in scope. This may due to lack of understanding of the nature of the research and systematic problem solving activity. It may also be due to his enthusiastic but naïve desire to solve an important problem quickly and immediately. Those who are more experienced now that research is often tedious, painfully slow and rarely spectacular. They realize that the search for truth and solution of important problems take a great deal of time and energy and the intensive application of logical thinking”.

• -John Best, Research in Education, P.S.

• For a beginner selection of a problem is really a problem. It requires a considerable amount of time to acquaint with relevant channels of research.

• Curiosity about the unknown is the best guide for them.

• “The natural curiosity is the best guide in selecting a problem. The scholar usually decides to investigate a problem, because it interests him, because he wants to know the solution. Further more he is likely to do a better job of research with a topic he selects, because of the interest he holds from him than with one that is arbitrarily imposed”.

• A Caution:

• -Not to select the problem in a hurry.

• -It wastes the further operation.

• -Failure of project, Shock of failure- not easily relieved.

• -Pave the way for breakdown of his research career.

• Resources are imperative1.Physical Resources

2.Monetary Resources

3.Library Resources

Pre-cautions• Familiar field, field of depth understanding.• It should be time bound and cost bound.• With in the limits of the resources stated above.• The basis of selection of the topic itself should be as

strong as the foundation of a building which requires enormous reading, reference and discussion.

• One should not be in a hurry. Carefully considered and objectively selected problems will imbibe confidence in a research worker.

• Spending considerable time in selecting the topic wont be a waste at all. It could well save time at latter stages.

• One should not be over-enthusiastic, must be balanced, must be ready to face the unexpected twist, unreasonable delay, incompletion of data and subsequent visit to field.

Problems in Selection

• --Science and Social Science

The selected problems should have:

1. Purpose and application value

2. Intensity

3. Should provide the scope for deep analysis

4. Must take smooth and orderly course of action

5. It must be a running stream and not a stagnant pool

Conditions:

1. Worth studying, i.e., it must have variability or potentiality to stand as a research problem.

2. Social relevance, i.e., the study must catch the attention of experts, policy makers, academics etc.

3. Should be a “felt need” for research over a problem. There should be need for further elaboration.

4. Should not be touched by others even if it is touched, there must be need to further research possibility.

5. Research problems must be up to date or relevant to the current social happenings.

Suggestions

• The topic chosen must be neither too vague nor too broad in scope.

• To make the problem clearer and more understandable, state it as a question which requires definite answer.

• Carefully state the limits of the problem, eliminating all aspects and factors which will not be considered in the study.

• Define any special terms that must be used in the statement of your problem.

RESEARCH ATTITUDE

• Scientific Attitude-Synonym of an open mind-In the research process collection of data, facts or interpretation, all depends on the maximum freedom of mind-free from prejudices and pre-conceptions.

Prejudices:

1. Personal

2. Derived

1) Personal Prejudices

Lifelong habit-many varieties

• Temperamental weakness-over crudality i.e., inclination to accept the statements without proof .

Which tends to: unlimited results Remedy: Questioning attitude If this is over done, again it becomes

weakness. A skeptical attitude demands an undue

amount of proof.Close the mind tight to any

suggestions.

• Remedy:

• To develop tolerance Forming opinions, either too hastily or too positively.

This is due to the lack of balance in the research worker.

Remedy:

Cultivate the habit of deferring judgement till the facts are adequate and fully weigh the pros & cons in every case.

Research worker requires imaginative thinking-while it is undesirable to have an

• over-active imagination instead of controlled and constructive one.

Otherwise it leads to coloured interpretations and remains far away from truth.

Remedy: Paying close attention to the details and

emphasizing accuracy and precision.Emotional Thinking: which is not having

any place in research work.Because the researcher is a human

being, he cannot do with that.

Derived Prejudices

Developed through the contacts with the persons outside the scientific fraternity.

Improper training-longer the person is in improper groove, incorrect habits are deep-rooted.

Custom and Tradition

Example: - Indian Social Institutions-caste system engenders the prejudices.

This is more often seen in an under-developed set-up.

• Remedy:

• It can be neutralized by a research scholar considering every investigation as a new piece of work, attacking it from fresh and wider angle, reminding himself that he is representing a new approach to the problem.

• It is difficult to eradicate the prejudices completely but can be reduced to a certain extent if the research worker follows some points.

• Tolerance, attempt to keep open mind, power of analysis, viewing the evidence from all the sides-habit of suspending the judgement till all the essential facts are gathered, and analyzing them closely.

• Qualities of a research Worker

• Professional and Personal

Professional

1) Working knowledge of the subject

2) Principles of investigation

• Ability to make use of practical data –should know where the information can be got and how to use the sources. This is obtained by training over the years.

General and Specific General1) Scientific attitude2) Imagination and insight3) Perseverance4) A quick grasping power5) Clarity of thinking

• Specific• 1) Knowledge of the subject• 2) Knowledge of the techniques of research• 3) Personal taste in the study• 4) Familiarity about the informants• 5) Unbiased attitude

“ A scientist avoids personal and emotional interpretation of data. He is not the debater taking the issue with a side. He maintains an open mind and test his findings and assumptions. He looks for the facts which would substantiate and give theory a new meaning and vitality”

P.V.Young

• Analytical ability to tear down propositions to its vital elements, ability to synthesise the details into a new and meaningful form-this can be acquired through continuous study and actually working at problems.

Practical experience

Proper emphasis to be placed on the details-varies according to the problem of investigation.

Features of the under-developed countries

Narrow outlook Brain drain Cost-benefit awareness

Personal Qualities 1) Ability to assess the adequacy,

relevance, value of the data, To collect and interpret, To collect more and co-ordinate them andTo draw upon apt inferences

2) Integrity, honesty, sincerity of purpose.

It has been well-said that facts must be faced, analysis must supplant guess-work, and surmise must give place to absolute knowledge and reason must prevail and natural law must be obeyed.

3) Need for balance, the mental, moral and physical qualities of the research worker what may be called poise.

4) To carry out research successfully one should have perseverance. In the opinion of the scholar, a rough value scale of the following qualities:

• Knowledge 15%• Experience 20%• Special Qualifications 5% • Judgement 10%• Integrity 15%• Poise 5%• Vision 10%

Perseverance 10%• Mix 10%

• A true scientist possesses the devotion of a mother, the poise of a judge, the objectivity of a philosopher, courage of a soldier and fervor of patriot and the vision of a prophet.

• “The men of experiment are like ant, they only collect and use. The reasoners resemble spiders who make cob-webs out of their own substance. But the bee takes a middle course, it gathers its material from the flowers of the garden and of the field, but transforms and digests by a power of its own”. Clearly to be an effective research worker one must resemble the bee-purposeful, industrious and imaginatively selective in the assembling evidence”.

Francis Bacon: Scientific Mind

• 1) A mind at once discursive enough to size resemblances

• 2) A mind steady enough distinguish differences• 3) A mind eager to search• 4) A mind patient of doubt• 5) A mind fond of meditation• 6) A mind slow to assert• 7) A mind ready to re-consider• 8) A mind careful to dispose and set-in-order• 9) A mind not carried away by a love of novelty or

by administration of antiquity.

10) A mind heating every kind of imposture.

(Fraudulent, deception)

Sidney & Brentice Webb(Methods of Social Study)

Develop keen power of concentration, be deliberate, patient through going in his collection, mastery of facts bearing upon the problem conscious enough to eliminate bias and a constant endeavour to throw a new light.

• To sum up, to be an effective investigator, one should have

Attitude of mind

Common honesty

Desire to face facts, no matter where they lead

Point of view which is indispensable to a reliable enquiry.

Qualities of Good Research

• Research is systematic Research is pursued with organized

specified steps and set of rules. It is creative in thinking which sets aside are the guesswork, beliefs and feelings in arriving at conclusions.

• Research is logical• Research is guided by logical reasoning

which makes it more meaningful with regard to decision making.

• Research is empirical

• Research is based on facts, observable data forms a sound basis for validity of research. Inductive and deductive investigations lend greater support for research findings.

• Research is replicable

• The results of the research can be verified by repeating the study so as to substantiate basis for decisions.

• Research at the moment enabled us to have

1. better and faster transportation 2. more comfortable and cheaper housing 3. effective medicines to cure our most critical

diseases.4. improved methods and materials for educating our

children5. thorough understanding of the past history6. most effective control over mental processes7. different subject areas to study and derive

benefits.8. all emerging converging and cutting edge

technologies9. a networked society where both distance and time

have no meaning.

THANK YOU