Philosophy of Research PDF

Research Methodology Philosophy of Research/Research Design By Professor Dr Nasir Shafiq © 2013 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,...

Research Methodology Philosophy of Research/Research Design By Professor Dr Nasir Shafiq © 2013 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the permission of the copyright owner. Presentation Outline – Philosophy of Research Purpose of Research  Defining Research and Development  Classification of Research and Development Cycle  Research Onion Research Strategy  Creating R&D Strategy – Fundamental Principles  Aligning R&D with Organizational Business Strategy  Role of Innovation & Creativity in R&D Strategy Learning Objectives 1. Learners should be able to understand the research philosophy and can differentiate between research and development and develop appropriate strategies to align with the research goals. 2. Learners can formulate appropriate research problem and hypothesis, design achievable objective and develop the research process. What does it means by Research? Definition of Research There are many definitions of research could be found from different perspectives, some of them are:  An endeavour to DISCOVER new or collate old facts etc by the scientific study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation. [Oxford Concise Dictionary]  A collection of methods and methodologies that researchers apply systematically to produce scientifically based knowledge about the social world. [Neuman]  According to Clifford Woody research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organising and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating hypothesis. Motivation in Conducting Research  The possible motives for doing research may be either one or more of the following: 1. Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits; 2. Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i.e., concern over practical problems initiates research; 3. Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work; 4. Desire to be of service to society; 5. Desire to get respectability.  However, this is not an exhaustive list of factors motivating people to undertake research studies, many more factors such as directives of government, employment conditions, curiosity about new things, desire to understand causal relationships, social thinking and awakening, and the like may as well motivate people to perform research operations. Motivation in Conducting Research Research Philosophy  The term research philosophy relates to the development of knowledge and the nature of that knowledge.  Your research philosophy contains important assumptions about the way in which you view the world (problems). Research Continuum Model Why is R&D important?  Crucial to survival  Fast changing environment  Continuous technology change  Competition  Changing consumer preferences  Fundamental to “marketing”  Advantage is markets come from:  Understanding what markets need (MR)  In case of technology – selling what is possible to make  Efficient production processes Classification and Evolution of R&D  The R&D model assumes that science has a monopoly over knowledge, technology is an outcome of science, and economic development is due to technology development.  The R&D model confines innovation to technology and then technology to R&D. R&D versus D+D (Design and Development) Three examples serve to underline the main difference between R&D versus D+D: Atomic Bomb, Airplane and Light Bulb. 1. The A-Bomb probably is the best example of an R&D invention.  Basic Research was done by Albert Einstein, who had no clue about it final application. 2. The invention (design) of Aircraft is good example of D+D.  The Wright brothers, from day one knew the final goal, a heavier than air aircraft and they did everything to get it. 3. The invention of the Light bulb by Edison is another example of a D+D case.  The idea was to make a electric-base light source (bulb) that can compete with gas-base light source.  D+D always starts with a product in mind and going back to get it. The Combined Model of IR&D and D+D  The new model combines Basic Research, Industrial Research and Development (IR&D) and D+D (Design and Development).  D+D is one of the key aspects of Technology Innovation/Development and it is not the same or inferior to R&D.  D+D often acts like a link between successful R&D and Production to satisfy Market/Customer needs. Research Onion  The research onion was developed by Saunders et al. (2007) in order to describe the stages through which the researcher must pass when formulating an effective methodology.  First, the research philosophy requires definition.  This creates the starting point for the appropriate research approach, which is adopted in the second step.  In the third step, the research strategy is adopted, and the fourth layer identifies the time horizon.  The fifth step represents the stage at which the data collection methodology is identified. The benefits of the research onion are thus that it creates a series of stages under which the different methods of data collection can be understood, and illustrates the steps by which a methodological study can be described. Ways of Thinking Ways of Thinking Strategic Role of R&D Creating an R&D Strategy…… Strategy  A strategy is nothing more than a commitment to a pattern of behaviour intended to help win a competition.  Apple’s strategy, for instance, is to develop easy-to-use, aesthetically pleasing products that integrate seamlessly with a broader system of devices in the consumer’s digital world.  This strategy provides a guiding orientation for a broad range of Apple’s business decisions such as the selection of new R&D projects, the design of products, the composition of project teams, the choice of suppliers, the focus of marketing campaigns, the layout of Apple’s retail stores, and even hiring of people. Creating an R&D Strategy…… There are three essential purposes (and requirements) of a good strategy.  A good strategy provides consistency, coherence, and alignment. Consistency  A good strategy provides a framework for making consistent decisions over time that build cumulatively toward a desired objective. Coherence  Strategy provides an integrating mechanism to ensure these tactical decisions are coherent. Without a strategy, it is impossible to achieve coherence. Creating an R&D Strategy…… Alignment  An R&D organization needs to have a strategy that is aligned with the broader business strategy of the organization in which it operates.  A strategy should help drive alignment. Elements an R&D Strategy  R&D strategies, like all strategies, must start with the devilishly simply question: “how do we intend to win?”  The “game plan” for an R&D organization can be broken down into 4 strategic levers: architecture, processes, people, and portfolio. Role of Creativity & Innovation in R&D Presentation Outline – Research Design Process of Research  Introduction to Research Process  Research Design Basics  Common Issues and Problems in Research Research Design Methods  Formulating Research Problem Statements  Development of Hypothesis and Research Objectives  Rules of Writing Good Research Proposals Examples and Case Studies Design The Research Process Introduction Research Design Basics Problems and Issues in Research Design Introduction to Research Process The research types  Exploratory  Description  Explanatory What are you trying to find out? Exploratory (the explorer)  To find out what is happening  To seek now insights  To ask questions  Case studies often used for exploratory research – the questions asked: how / why What are you trying to find out? Description (the detective)  To portray accurate profile  Requires previous knowledge  Surveys are often used for descriptive research.  The questions asked often relate to who / what / where What are you tr ying to find out? Explanatory (the doctor)  Seeks explanation usually in the form or causal relationships  Experiments are often used for this  form of research.  The questions relating to this research often ask how / why Inquiry Model Research Design Basics  A Research Design provides a framework for the collection and analysis of data.  Choice of research design reflects decisions about priorities given to the dimensions of the research process.  A Research Method is simply a technique for collecting data.  Choice of research method reflects decisions about the type of instruments or techniques to be used. Research Design Basics  What - What will studied? Introduction, Research Problems/  What about - What aspects of Objectives, & Justification the subject to be studied?  What for - What is the significance of the study?  What did prior lit./research say? Literature Review  What was done - How will the study conducted? Methodology: Research sample, data collection, measurement, data analysis  What will be found? Results & Discussion  So what? Implications  What now? Conclusions and Recommendations for Future Research Research Design Basics Research Design Basics Research Design Basics Common Problem and Issues in RD Common Problem and Issues in RD Formulating Research Problem Statement  According to Kerlinger, ‘A problem is an interrogative sentence or statement that asks what relation exists between two or more variable.  The answer to question will provide what is having sought in the research.  R.S. Woodworth defines problem as ‘a situation for which we have no ready & successful response by instinct or by previous acquired habit.  We must find out what to do’, i.e. the solution can be found out only after an investigation. Formulating Research Problem Statement Formulating Research Problem Statement Formulating RP Development of Hypothesis and Research Objectives  Hypothesis is the research’s prediction of the outcome of the research study. That is the expected relationship between the study variables.  Thus, RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS translates the research purpose into a clear prediction of the expected results or outcome of the study.  It provides direction for the type of research (i.e. design, sampling, data collection .. etc.).  Suggests the type of statistical analysis to be used in the study.  Identifies the variables to be manipulated and/or measured. Research hypothesis should be stated clearly, concisely, measurably, and in the present tense. Development of Hypothesis and Research Objectives Three criteria should be considered in developing hypothesis: 1. A relationship should be addressed in each hypothesis. 2. The variable/condition/relationship must be testable or measurable. 3. The aim of the research guides what is included in the research hypothesis. Development of Hypothesis and Research Objectives Research objective is a concrete statement describing what the research is trying to achieve.  A well-worded objective will be SMART, i.e. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, & Time-bound.  Research objective should be Relevant, Feasible, Logical, Observable, Unequivocal & Measurable.  Objective is a purpose that can be reasonably achieved within the resources. expected timeframe & with the available Six assumptions of qualitative designs (Merriam 1988: 19-20) 1. Qualitative researchers are concerned primarily with process, rather than outcomes or products. 2. Qualitative researchers are interested in meaning. 3. The qualitative researcher is the primary instrument for data collection and analysis. Data are mediated through this human instrument, rather than through inventories, questionnaires, or machines. Six assumptions of qualitative designs (Merriam 1988: 19-20) 4. Qualitative research involves fieldwork. The researcher physically goes to the people setting, site, or institution to observe or record behavior in its natural setting. 5. Qualitative research is descriptive in that the researcher in interested in process, meaning and understanding gained through 6. words or pictures. The process of qualitative research is inductive in that the researcher builds abstractions, concepts, hypotheses, and theories from details. Quantitative Methods  Quantitative Descriptive  Descriptive statistics: graphical and numerical techniques for summarizing data.  Quantitative Analytic  Inferential statistics: procedures for making generalizations about characteristics of a population based on information obtained from a sample taken from that population Quantitative vs. Qualitative Methodological Assumption (Cresswell 1994: 5) Quantitative Qualitative Deductive process Inductive process Cause and effect Mutual simultaneous shaping of factors Static design – categories isolated before study Emerging design – categories identified during research process Generalization leading to prediction, explanation, and understanding Patterns, theories developed for understanding Accurate and reliable through validity and reliability Accurate and reliable through verification