Research Methodology Prof. Piyadasa Ranasinghe Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya’ 26/02/2011 What is research? • “A careful, systematic , patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or princilpes” (Grinnell, 1993:4) • It is a discovery (Rediscovery); A voyage from the known to the unknown • An effort to be closer to the truth Characteristics • It is controlled. In real life for an outcome there could be many affecting factors. In a study of cause and effect relationships one has to link effects with causes and causes with effects. Establishment of this linkage is impossible unless it is a laboratory test. Therefore instead of controlling external factors we have to quantify the impact of such factors. Contd., • It is rigorous. Procedures followed to find answers to a problem must be relevant, appropriate and justifiable. Researcher needs to be very careful about this. • It is systematic. Procedures adopted for a research should follow a logical sequence. Some procedures must follow others. • It should be valid and verifiable. Your research conclusion based on findings should be correct and can be verified by you as well as others. Contd., • It is empirical. The conclusions of the research should be based on evidence gathered from information collected from real life experiences/ observations • It is critical. Research procedures and methods applied should withstand critical scrutiny. They must be foolproof and free from drawbacks Research process- Steps • • • • • • • • 1. Formulation a of a research problem 2. Creation of a research design 3. Constructing instruments for data collection 4. Selecting a sample 5.Writing the research proposal 6. Collecting data 7. Processing data 8. Writing the report Formulating research problem • • • • • Tasks: Literature review Formulating the research problem Identifying variables Constructing hypotheses Literature review • To make your research problem clear and bring focus into it • Develop your methodology • To know where you are • To have a broader knowledge in your area of research Contd., • Search and select literature pertaining to your area • Review selected literature • Develop a theoretical framework (theories and issues related your study) • Develop a conceptual framework (aspects you select from theoretical framework that form the basis of your research) Contd., • • • • Sources: Books Journals Electronic resources: online and offline How to write the literature review • • • • Write under themes Some may follow chronological order Highlight your arguments Provide references Formulating research problem • Any question that needs answer can be a research problem. However, not all questions can be transformed into research problems. • What matters here: • Your knowledge in research methodology • Your knowledge of the subject area • Your understanding of the issues to be examined Contd., • Formation of a research problem is the first step in the research. Identify the destination before you start the journey. It is the foundation of your building. • Sources of research problems: • People (individuals, groups, organizations, communities) • Problems (Issues, situations, associations,, needs, demographic) Contd., • Programmes (contents, structure, outcomes, attributes, satisfaction, users, consumers) • Phenomenon (cause and effect relationships, study of a phenomenon itself) • Research problem is your topic. • Consider the following when selecting a topic: • Your interest • Your level of expertise as well as of your supervisor Contd., • Use concepts that can be measured • Topic should be relevant to your profession/ subject area • Availability of data • Ethical issues Formulation of objectives • • • • Objectives are goals of your study Main objectives Secondary or sub-objectives They must be clear, complete and specific Identifying variables • A concept or perception that takes on different values and that can be measured is a variable. It is something that varies. • Types: • Independent variables (they are responsible for bringing about change in a phenomenon, situation) Contd., • Dependent variables (effects of a change variable, the outcome of the changes brought about by changes in an independent variable) • Extraneous variables (other factors that affect the changes bring about by independent variables) • Intervening variables (those that link the independent and dependent variables) Constructing hypotheses • It is an ‘anticipation of nature’ or a hunch, assumption, assertion • “a tentative statement about something, the validity of which is usually unknown’ (Bailey, 1976:126) • It may be right, partially right or wrong • It should be simple, specific and conceptually clear Research design • It is the plan, structure and strategy of investigating the research problem • It is an operational plan • Procedures to be adopted • Testing the design Constructing an instrument for data collection • • • • • • • Data collection methods: Primary sources Observation Interview Questionnaire Use of secondary sources Establish the validity of the selected instrument Selecting a sample • “Process of selecting a few from a bigger group” • Bigger group is the population and the selected few is the sample • Larger the sample size the more accurate will be the findings Sampling types • Sampling strategies are numerous. They can be categorized into three groups: • Random/probability sampling • Non-random/probability sampling • Mixed sampling Research proposal • It is your plan of research • It reveals what you are going to do, how you plan to do and why you have selected the proposed procedures • It guides you as well as your supervisor • It is an academic piece of writing • It shows the strength of your proposed research Elements • Introduction (an overview of the main area under study, historical background, philosophical issues etc., trends, major theories, main issues under consideration etc.) • Importance (Why you do it? What are the benefits?) • Problem (Your research problem or the research questions) • Literature review Contd., • Objectives ( main and secondary) • Hypotheses • Study design (population, sample, data collection methods etc.) • Setting (brief description of the community, organization or agency in which you are going to carry out the research) • Analysis of data (methods you are going to use) Contd., • • • • Structure of the report or chapterization Limitations and problems you may encounter Work plan or schedule Budget (optional) Collection data • Ethical issues relating to research participants ( their consent, incentives, sensitive information, harm to participants etc.) • Ethical issues relating to the researcher (avoiding bias, using appropriate research methodology, correct reporting etc.) Processing data • • • • • Editing data Coding data Verifying coded data Analyzing data Displaying data (charts, diagrams, tables) Writing the report or thesis • Follow standards (International standards or departmental guidelines) • Use appropriate referencing/citation system • Preparation of a bibliography • Avoid plagiarism • Sources: • Kumar, Ranjit (1999). Research methodology : a step by step guide for beginners, 2nd. ed., Sage, London • Kothari, C.R. (1990). Research methodology : methods and techniques, 2nd. Ed., Wishwa Prakashan, New Delhi • Thank you!
