Introduction to Research Methods - Lecture 1

Introduction to Research Methods

• Significant advancements in society, such as mobile phones, are attributed to research efforts.
• Understanding research is essential for gaining insights and solving problems.

Meaning and Definition of Research

• Research combines two elements: "Re" indicating repetition, and "Search," meaning to find out something.
• Research is systematically investigating problems and finding answers.
• Various definitions highlight research as a structured inquiry, an organized approach, and an intellectual endeavor to discover new knowledge:
  • Burns describes it as systematic investigation.
  • Grinnell emphasizes structured inquiry and scientific methodology.
  • Redman and Mory refer to it as systematized effort for knowledge.
  • C.F. Rummel notes that research aims to discover and verify knowledge through an intellectual process.

Key Components of Research

• Systematic: Follows specific scientific procedures to ensure reliable results.
• Organized: Involves a structured methodology with steps to guide the research process.
• Questions: Central to research; without questions, research lacks focus and purpose.
• Finding Answers: Research seeks to answer questions; receiving "no" is also considered an answer.

Objectives of Research

• The primary goal is to uncover hidden truths and new insights.
• Research objectives can be categorized as follows:
  • Formulative studies for familiarity with new phenomena.
  • Descriptive studies to portray situational characteristics.
  • Diagnostic studies for analyzing frequency of occurrences.
  • Hypothesis-testing studies for examining causal relationships between variables.

Types of Research

• Descriptive vs. Analytical:

  • Descriptive research describes current states without controlling variables, merely reporting observations.
  • Analytical research evaluates existing information critically.

• Applied vs. Fundamental:

  • Applied research aims to solve immediate societal or organizational problems.
  • Fundamental research focuses on generalizations and theory formulation, contributing to the broader scientific knowledge base.

• Quantitative vs. Qualitative:

  • Quantitative research involves measuring quantities and is suitable for data that can be numerically expressed.
  • Qualitative research explores non-numeric data, focusing on understanding phenomena in-depth.

Contact Information

• Stephen Boateng, Dpt. of Management Studies, University of Mines and Technology
• Email: [email protected]