Meaning of Research
Research in common phenomenon refers to a search for knowledge. One can also say research is a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on a specific topic. Research is the art of scientific investigation.
Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.” Some people consider research as a movement, a movement from the known to the unknown.
According to Clifford Woody, the research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypotheses or suggested findings; collecting, organizing, and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last, carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulating conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to know whether they fit the formulating hypothesis.
Objectives of
Research area
The purpose of research is to discover answers to various questions through the application of scientific procedures. The primary purpose of the research is to find out the truth that is hidden and has not been discovered as yet. Though each research study has its specific purpose, we may think of research objectives as falling into several following broad groupings:
1. studies with this purpose in view are termed exploratory or formulate research studies
2. studies with this purpose in view are known as descriptive research studies
3. studies with this object in view are known as diagnostic research studies
4. such studies are known as hypothesis-testing research studies
Motivation
in Research
What makes people undertake research?
This is a question of basic importance. The possible motives for studying research may be either one or more of the following:
1. Desire to attain a research degree along with its consequential benefits;
2. Desire to accept the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i.e., concern over practical problems initiates research;
3. Desire to attain the intellectual joy of doing some creative work;
4. Desire to get respectability from society.
Types of Research
The different types of research are as follows:
(i) Descriptive vs. Analytical: Descriptive research study includes surveys and fact-finding inquiries of different kinds. The basic objective of descriptive research is to describe the state of affairs as it exists at present. In social science and business research studies, we often use Ex-Post facto research for descriptive research studies. The main feature of this method is that the researcher has no control over the variables; they can only generate reports of what has happened or what is happening. Most ex-post facto research projects are used for descriptive studies. The researcher likes to measure such items as, for example, frequency of shopping, choices of people, or similar data. Ex post facto studies also consider attempts by researchers to discover causes even when they cannot control the variables.
(ii) Applied Vs. Fundamental: Research can be applied (or action) research or fundamental (to basic or pure) research. Applied research explains finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industrial/business organization. In contrast, basic research is mainly concerned with generalizations and the formulation of a theory/ concept. "Gathering knowledge for knowledge's sake is termed 'pure' or 'basic' research. Research considers some natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics are examples of fundamental research.
(iii) Quantitative vs. Qualitative: Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount. It applies to phenomena that can be expressed in terms of quantity. Conversely, qualitative research is concerned with a qualitative phenomenon, i.e., phenomena relating to or involving quality or kind. Generally, when we are interested in investigating the reasons for human behavior.
(iv) Conceptual Vs. Empirical: Conceptual research is related to some abstract idea(s), concept, or theory. It is usually used and understood by philosophers to develop new topics or to reinterpret existing ones. Empirical research relies on experience alone, often without regard for system and theory. It is data-based research, coming up with conclusions that can be verified by observation or experiment. Empirical research is appropriate when the proof is sought that various variables affect other variables in some way. Today, evidence gathered through experiments or empirical studies is considered the most potent support for a given hypothesis.
(v) Some other types of research: all other types of research are variations of one or more of the above-stated approaches, based on either the purpose of research or the time basis of some other similar factor. From the point of view of time, we can think of research either as one-time research or longitudinal research. In the earlier case, the research is confined to a single time, whereas in the latter case, the research is carried on over several periods. Research can be filed-setting research, laboratory research, or simulation research related to the environment it is to be carried out. Research can as well be understood as diagnostic research.
(vi) The research may be exploratory, or it may be formalized. The purpose of exploratory research is the development of or it may be formalized. The objective of exploratory research is the development of hypotheses rather than their retesting, whereas formalized research studies are those with substantial structure and with specific hypothesizes to be tested.
Historical research utilized historical sources like documents, remain, etc., to study ideas of the past events, including the philosophy of persons and groups at any distant point of time. Research can also be explained as conclusion-oriented and decision-oriented. While doing conclusion-oriented research, a researcher is free to pick up a problem, redesign the inquiry as he /she proceeds, and is prepared to conceptualize as he wishes.
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