1. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
By:Norhaniza Yusof

2. Course Objectives
At the end of this course, the students should be able to:
Understand some basic concepts of research and its methodologies
Identify appropriate research topics
Select and define appropriate research problem and parameters
Prepare a project proposal (to undertake a project)
Organize and conduct research (advanced project) in a more appropriate manner
Write a research report and thesis
Write a research proposal (grants)

3. Ice-Breaking Personal Details (educational background etc)
Motivations to pursue study
Research Details (supervisor, background of research,current progress)
Expectations/Challenges
Personal Experiences

4. MODULE 1 Overview of Research and its Methodologies

5. Concept of Research
What is Research?

6. Keywords of Research

7. Origin of the Word “Research”
From the French word "recherche" which means to travel through or survey

8. What is RESEARCH RESEARCH IS… …A process of enquiry and investigation;
It is systematic, methodical and ethical;
Research can help solve practical problems and increase knowledge.

9. Research follows a scientific method.
This means that it makes an integrated use of reasoning.
This makes it very useful for explaining and/or predicting phenomena.
The basic assumption of the scientific method is that every effect has a cause.

10. Research Philosophy Research is not ‘neutral’…
but reflects a range of the researcher’s personal interests, values, abilities, assumptions, aims and ambitions.
mixtures of these elements will not only determine the subject of the research, but will influence your approach to it.

11. Concept of Research
In contrast to sources of knowledge that are informal, and influenced heavily by subjective interpretations…
research involves a systematic process of gathering, interpreting, and reporting information.

12. Concept of Research Which of these can be classified as research?
[1] Encik Samad prepared a paper on “computer usage in secondary schools” after reviewing literature on the subject available in his university library and called it a piece of research.
[2] Encik Muthu says that he has researched and completed a document which gives information about the age of his students, their SPM results, their parents income and distance of their schools from the District Office.
[3] Encik Lim participated in a workshop on curriculum development and prepared what he calls, a research report on the curriculum for building technicians. He did this through a literature survey on the subject and by discussing with the participants of the workshop

13. Concept of Research
None of the above examples can be classified under the name research. WHY ?

14. Concept of Research
Consider the following case which is an example of research:
A general manager of a car producing company was concerned with the complaints received from the car users that the car they produce have some problems with rating sound at the dash board and the rear passenger seat after few thousand kilometers of driving.
He obtained information from the company workers to identify the various factors influencing the problem.
He then formulated the problem and generated guesses (hypotheses).
He constructed a checklist and obtained requisite information from a representative sample of cars.
He analyzed the data thus collected, interpreted the results in the light of his hypotheses and reached conclusions.

15. Concept of Research
You will notice in the example above that the researcher went through a sequence of steps which were in order and thus systematic.
Secondly, the researcher did not just jump at the conclusions, but used a scientific method of inquiry in reaching at conclusions.
The two important characteristics of research are : it is systematic and secondly it follows a scientific method of enquiry.

16. Research is systematic, because it follows certain steps that are logical in order. These steps are:
Understanding the nature of problem to be studied and identifying the related area of knowledge.
Reviewing literature to understand how others have approached or dealt with the problem.
Collecting data in an organized and controlled manner so as to arrive at valid decisions.
Analyzing data appropriate to the problem.
Drawing conclusions and making generalizations.

17. It starts with the construction of hypotheses from casual observations and background knowledge (inductive reasoning) to reasoning out consequences or implications of hypotheses (deductive reasoning) followed by testing of the implications and confirmation or rejection of the hypotheses.
Integrated use of inductive and deductive reasoning is, therefore, the essence of scientific method.

18. The Purpose of Research
Review or synthesize existing knowledge
Investigate existing situations or problems
Provide solutions to problems
Explore and analyse more general issues
Construct or create new procedures or systems
Explain new phenomenon
Generate new knowledge
…or a combination of any of the above!

19. High Quality Research It is based on the work of others.
It can be replicated (duplicated).
It is generalizable to other settings.
It is based on some logical rationale and tied to theory.
It is doable!
It generates new questions.
It is incremental.
It is apolitical activity that should be undertaken for the betterment of society.

20. Low Quality Research The opposites of what have been discussed.
Plagiarizing other people’s work.
Falsifying data to prove a point.
Misrepresenting information and misleading participants.

21. The Motivations of Research
To get PhDs, Masters and Bachelors??
To provide solutions to complex problems
To investigate laws of nature
To make new discoveries
To develop new products
To save costs
To improve our life
Human desires/intellectual joy

22. Significance of Research
To those students who are to write a master’s or Ph.D. thesis
To professionals in research
To philosophers and thinkers
To analysts and intellectuals
To public

23. Types of Research Fundamental Exploratory Applied Descriptive
Analytical
Predictive

24. Fundamental
Mainly concerned with generalisations and with the formulation of a theory
Research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics are examples of fundamental research
Basic research is directed towards finding information that has a broad base of applications
Adds to the already existing organized body of scientific knowledge

25. Exploratory
Exploratory research is undertaken when few or no previous studies exist.
The aim is to look for patterns, hypotheses or ideas that can be tested and will form the basis for further research.
Typical research techniques would include case studies, observation and reviews of previous related studies and data.

26. Applied
Aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an organisation
To discover a solution for some pressing practical problem

27. Descriptive
Descriptive research can be used to identify and classify the elements or characteristics of the subject

28. Analytical
Analytical research often extends the Descriptive approach to suggest or explain why or how something is happening

29. Predictive
The aim of Predictive research is to speculate intelligently on future possibilities, based on close analysis of available evidence of cause and effect
e.g. predicting when and where future industrial action might take place

30. “All progress is born of inquiry
“All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention”

31. Schematic Characteristic of Research
This general systematic characteristic of research is illustrated below.
Problem Identification
Reviewing Information
Data Collection and Analysis
Drawing Conclusion

32. Methodology
Refers to the overall approaches & perspectives to the research process as a whole and is concerned with the following main issues
Why you collected certain data
What data you collected
Where you collected it
How you collected it
How you analysed it

33. Where Do I BEGIN a Research?

34. Step in Conducting Research
Irrespective of the category of a research study, the steps followed in conducting it are the
same. These steps are :
Selecting and Defining a Problem
Describing Research Methodology
Collecting Data
Analysing Data and Interpreting Results

35. 1.Selecting and Defining Problem
1. Selecting and Defining a Problem.
This marks the beginning of a research study and is the most difficult and important step. This involves :
(1) identifying and stating the problem in specific terms;
(2) identifying the variables in the problem situation and defining them adequately;
(3) generating tentative guesses (hypotheses) about the relation of the variables or in other words the solution of the problem, or writing explicitly the questions (research questions) for which answers are sought; and
(4) evaluating the problem for its research ability.

36. Writing a problem statement is essential because it can help you focus your research and create a more cohesive and guided project.

37. All this is not done in a vacuum
All this is not done in a vacuum. To achieve this, you review the literature related to the problem to know what other researchers have done and discovered and to identify the possible methodology for conducting the research.

38. What makes a topic ‘GOOD’
A topic that interests and fascinates you
A topic that CREATIVE & exciting
A topic is not too broad/narrow

39. Find a topic/title If your topic is too broad…
If your topic is too narrow…

40. Literature review helps to develop a more effective topic/title
The topic development process will help you to develop your thesis, which is essentially your proposed answer to your research question.
Research title of thesis vs research publication

41. Strategy for developing a research topic
Background research
will help you develop your topic and hone or change it in more appropriate ways.
Though this seems like extra work, it is actually a vital, time-saving step. Knowing more about your topic's background can only help you develop a more effective topic, and therefore, research paper.

42. Strategy for developing a research topic
Brainstorm concepts.
Once you think of a broad topic that interests you, try to brainstorm all of the words or concepts you can that might be related to that topic.
For example, if your topic is "polar bears," you might think of the following words and topics in association: ice, cubs, pollution, hunting, diet, climate change, and environmental icon.
It may help to write this process down.

43. Strategy for developing a research topic
What's your general approach to the topic?
Think about some general approaches that may help you further develop your topic:
use a historical angle by focusing on a particular time period; a geographical angle, focusing on a particular part of the world; or a sociological angle, focusing on a particular group of people.

44. Strategy for developing a research topic
Research is a dynamic process.
Don't be afraid to discover new things and modify or refine your topic.

45. Background & Preparatory Reading
It is essential to know what work has been done previously in the topic area. There is no point in you spending time for a research outcome that has already achieved!
It will help you therefore identify research possibilities and to tailor or slant your particular research project to gain new insights or perspectives on the chosen topic
This will help you develop a research methodology appropriate to the chosen project
Help to justify your choice of research topic at the project proposal stage to your supervisor/tutor.

46. Discussion Propose a thesis title Research topic
Research questions (with justification)

47. 2.Describing Methodology of Research
You need to state the purpose of the study and to define the problem clearly. This guides you in deciding the methodology of research which involves :
a. identifying the method of research;
b. specifying the subjects of study (e.g. heat flow problem, etc.);
c. selecting an adequate representative sample of subjects;
d. selecting/constructing valid and reliable instruments for measuring the variables in the problem;
e. selecting a research design and describing the procedure to be employed for conducting the research study.

48. 3.Collecting Data
This step involves conducting the study as per the designed procedure (manipulating the experimental variables in the case of an experimental method), administering instruments for measuring variables and/or gathering information through observation.
It also involves tabulating the data thus collected for the purpose of analysis.

49. 4.Analysing and Interpreting Results
The results of the study are generated at this stage.
The data are summarized, in other words analysed to provide information for testing the hypotheses.
Appropriate statistical methods of analysis are used to test the hypotheses.
You can perform the analysis manually, by using a hand calculator or a computer as per the demands of the problem, and the available facilities.
After completing the analysis results are tied together or summarized.

50. The results are interpreted in the light of the hypotheses and/or the research problem.
These are then discussed in relation to : the existing body of knowledge, consistencies and inconsistencies with the results of other research studies, and then the conclusions are drawn.
This is followed by writing the research report.

51. Stages of Research Process1
Establish a general field of interest; discuss with supervisor/tutor 2
Undertake preliminary & background reading on the subject to be
researched to discover with what is known already and to suggest the
choice of an appropriate research methodology. 3
Narrow your ideas to a workable topic or research proposal and give it a title. Decide on the most appropriate methods for gathering data,
e.g. questionnaire; observation; review of available information etc.

52. Stages of Research Process4
Preparation of information gathering ‘tools’, e.g. questionnaires, interview sheets etc (if relevant) & then information gathering stage. This can take a significant amount of time, so allow plenty of time for this. 5
Collation, analyse and interpretation of research data. There will
undoubtedly be a need to continue reading on the topic to make
connections with other current and related research. This can take a
significant amount of time, so allow plenty of time for this. 6
Write first draft of research project report. Revision and re-write dissertation; submit dissertation

53. Ethics and Tensions of Research
Misleading People
Publishing Results
Confidentiality

54. Ethical Research
Will the research process harm participants or those whom information is gathered?
Are the findings likely to cause harm to others not involved in the research?
Are you violating accepted research practice in conducting the research and data analysis, and drawing conclusions?
Are you violating community or professional standards of conduct?

55. No Pain-No Gain

56. Assignment
Open-question assignment (10marks)- Preparing and Conducting a Research
Dateline:
Discuss on the following aspects in not less than 3 pages:
Propose a thesis title & supervisors
Research topics (Refine from broad to narrow)
Justification/motivations of research
Approaches of Research
Challenges
Possible conflicts of interests/ethical issues