Research Methodology

What is a Research? Research Methodology v/s Research Methods According to John W. Best (2002), Research is the systematic and objective analysis and recording of controlled observations that may lead to the development of generalizations, principles or theories resulting in prediction and possibly ultimate control of events. Research Methodology v/s Research Methods

“Research Onion” (Saunders et al, 2011) Reference: Google image

INGREDIENTS Research Philosophies Research Approaches Research Strategies Time Horizons Data Collection Methods

Research Philosophies Observing and Predicting Scientific Method Eg. Scientists, Law Positivism Senses are true, influenced by world views and experiences Realism More focus on subjective implications rather than generalisation Eg : research on people, Qualitative Questions Interpretivism

Inductive Deductive Research Approaches knowledge is build primarily from a learner’s experiences and interactions with phenomena Bottom UP Inductive is highly structured/scientific Top DOWN Deductive

Inductive v/s Deductive From specific to general Out of previous findings Theory Tentative Hypothesis Pattern Observations Theory Hypothesis Observation Confirmation

Research Choices

How it Goes...

Strategies A Research Strategy has.. ♦ A goal: something it can be used for ♦ A procedure: steps to follow to achieve results ♦ A set of techniques involved in the procedures

Research Strategies Strategy Goal Survey studies find patterns in data Experiments test hypotheses Case studies study the characteristics of a real-life instance Action research iteratively solve a problem with a community of practice Ethnography Participant Observation Grounded Theory theory about phenomena of interest

Nature of Investigation Time Horizons Cross-sectional Retrospective Experimental Longitudinal Prospective Non-Experimental Before & After Research Design No. Of Contacts Reference Period Nature of Investigation

Data Collection Secondary Data  Existing Records Primary Data  Majorly collected using Questionnaires, Experiments, Simulation, etc.

Types of Questionnaire Formalized Non Formalized Unconcealed Self-explanatory with most response categories predefined -- Most research studies use Standardized Questionnaires like these. The response categories have more flexibility Concealed Most response categories are predefined, but latent cause of behavior are derived from indirect questions--Used for assessing psychographic and subjective constructs Questionnaires using projective techniques or sociometric analysis

tTriangulation "the combination of methodologies in the study of the same phenomenon“ (Denzin, 1978)

References http://knut.hinkelmann.ch/lectures/project2013/p1_5_how-to-choose-a-research-methodology.pdf http://www.academia.edu/4107831/The_Layers_of_Research_Design https://engage.intel.com/docs/DOC-19370 http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/qual.php Saunders, M, Lewis, P and Thornhill, A (2012) Research Methods for Business Students, 6th edition, Pearson Jick, T.D. (1979). Mixing Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Triangulation in Action. Administrative Science Quarterly, 602(24).