Research Methodology Overview

Research Methodology Lecture Notes

• Research methodologies are diverse, categorized by purpose and data type.
• Hypothesis-testing research aims to verify relationships between variables in a specific framework.
• Diagnostic research determines the frequency of occurrences and associations.
• Descriptive research accurately portrays characteristics of individuals, situations, or groups.
• Exploratory research explores a phenomenon to gain familiarity or new insights.

Research Purposes

• Research is undertaken for various reasons.
• Basic research generates new knowledge without focusing on application.
• Applied research aims to solve problems or develop new technology to benefit humanity or nature.
• Fundamental and basic research aims to improve scientific theories for better understanding phenomena.
• It focuses on expanding knowledge of a certain topic or occurrence.
• This type of research is driven by curiosity.
• It involves investigating theoretical explanations of the phenomenon.
• Basic research forms a foundation for applied research.

Types of Research

• Fundamental/Basic, Longitundinal, Applied, Exploratory, Explanatory, Descriptive, Action, Correlational, Policy-Oriented, Mixed, Quantitative, Qualitative, Primary and Secondary.

Primary Research

• Primarily involves original data collection.
• Data results from the researcher's original experiment or investigation. The study design, methods, and data collection process are meticulously detailed.
• Researchers present collected data in results sections.
• Readers use the detailed methods, analysis, and results to assess the study's quality.
• Researchers conduct an overview of topics and their place within current scholarly conversation.

Secondary Research

• Primarily depends on existing research.
• Researchers use existing data to address a particular research question.
• Researchers include little detail about the methodology of the initial analyses.
• The author may generalize the results of multiple studies or highlight the ones that are important.
• Examples include literature reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.

Research Design

• Primary vs. Secondary: Primary is original research, while secondary involves reviewing existing data/research.
• Exploratory: Investigates unsolved questions. It is often qualitative (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups).
• Conclusive: Aims to confirm or test hypotheses. It frequently employs quantitative methods for large-scale testing (e.g., experiments, statistical analysis).

Nature of Study: Descriptive Research

• Aims to accurately describe a population, situation or phenomenon.
• Answers 'what', 'where', 'when' and 'how' questions.
• Avoids answering 'why' questions.
• Methods for data collection may include survey, observation or case study.

Nature of Study: Analytical Research

• Involves in-depth study/evaluation of existing data to explain complex phenomena.
• Researchers critically evaluate existing information to draw conclusions.
• Examples include historical research, philosophical research, and research synthesis.

Qualitative Research

• Focuses on non-numerical data (e.g., words and feelings).
• Aims to understand situations and meanings.
• Used for exploratory research.
• Qualitative data cannot be presented graphically.
• Used for investigating the 'why' and 'how' behind decision-making processes.

Quantitative Research

• Focuses on numerical data.
• Used to measure and quantify aspects.
• Applies statistics or mathematics.
• Frequently involves conclusions.
• Often used to investigate the 'what', 'where', 'when' of decision-making.
• Investigates the relationship between dependent/independent variables.

Mixed Research

• Combines qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• Utilized various data, including variables, words, and images.
• Offers researchers numerous choices in design (e.g., sequential and concurrent strategies).
• Quality control and ethical considerations are essential aspects of mixed research studies.

Purpose of study, fundamental and basic research

• Involves the generation of new knowledge through the study of a particular phenomenon without focusing on the immediate utility of the findings.
• Aims to improve scientific theories for better insights into natural or similar phenomena.
• It aims to expand existing knowledge.
• Driven by curiosity to discover the 'how', 'what' and 'why'.
• It leads to investigating potential implications of the hypothesis.

Purpose of study, applied research

• Uses scientific theories/principles to develop technologies or techniques that can intervene and change natural/other phenomena for the benefit of humankind.
• Aims to improve and benefit people.
• Helpful in expanding insights from basic research.

Quantitative Research

• Is numerical, non-descriptive.
• Applies statistics or mathematics.
• Iterative process of evidence evaluation.
• Often presents results in tables or graphs.
• Conclusive.
• Investigates the 'what', 'where', and 'when' of decision-making.

Qualitative Research

• Non-numerical, descriptive.
• Applies reasoning; uses words.
• Aims to understand meaning, feelings, and describe a situation.
• Data cannot be graphed.
• Exploratory.
• Investigates the 'why' and 'how' of decision-making.

Mixed Research

• Combines quantitative and qualitative approaches.
• Nature of the data includes mixed variables, words, and images.
• Offers choices in design approaches (sequential or concurrent).
• Defining features, control methods, and ethical concerns are essential parts of the study.

Conclusive Research

• Aims to provide actionable insights for decision-making.
• Verifies and quantifies findings from exploratory studies.
• Usually involves using quantitative methods of data collection and analysis.
• Often follows a deductive approach, testing hypotheses.