RESEARCH SKILLS & PROJECT INTRODUCTION

AR-403
ASSIGNMENT 1

1. What do understand by term Research? Elaborate fundamental research and

applied research with appropriate cases.
Answer: Research is a collection of systematic data that is studied carefully and in detail to
solve a specific problem, concern or issue using the scientific method. Research can also be
defined as the as the production of new information and additionally the utilization of existing
information in another and inventive manner to create new ideas, methodologies and
understandings.

 Fundamental research: Fundamental research is also called pure or basic research.

It is an experimental or theoretical work under taken primarily to acquire new
knowledge. It increases our scientific knowledge base for research and has no
immediate or planned application but may later result in further research of an
applied nature. Case: For example, researchers might conduct basic research on
how stress levels impact students academically, emotionally, and socially. The
results of these theoretical explorations might lead to further studies designed to
solve specific problems. As a result, scientists might then design research to
determine what interventions might best lower these stress levels. Such studies
would be examples of applied research.
 Applied research: Applied research is defined as a research which is used to
answer a specific question, determine why something failed or succeeded, solve a
specific, pragmatic problem related to product development, or to gain better
understanding. It is designed to solve practical problems of the modern world, rather
than to acquire knowledge. Case: For example, in education, applied research is
used to test pedagogic processes in order to discover the best teaching and learning
methods. It is also used to test educational policies before implementation and to
address different issues associated with teaching paradigms and classroom
dynamics for a better learning experience.

2. Differentiate between the following:

a) Fundamental Vs Applied

Fundamental research have been specified in a way that fundamental research studies
individual cases without generalizing, and recognizes that other variables are in constant
change. Applied research, on the contrary, seeks generalizations and assumes that other
variables do not change.

FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH APPLIED RESEARCH

Expand knowledge of processes of business Improve understanding of particular business
and management. or management problem.
 Results in universal principles relating to the Results in solution to problem.
process and its relationship to outcomes.
Findings of significance and value to society Findings of practical relevance and value to
in general. manager(s) in organization(s).

b) Inter-disciplinary Vs multi-disciplinary research

Multi-disciplinary draws on knowledge from different disciplines but stays within their
boundaries. Inter-disciplinary analyzes, synthesizes and harmonizes links between
disciplines into a coordinated and coherent whole. Inter-disciplinary research refers to an
approach to research in which the individual researcher or the team of collaborators from
the same academic discipline in a given research situation integrate information, data,
techniques, tools, and theories from several disciplines or fields of study in order to shed
light on the targeted research question. By contrast, a multi-disciplinary mode of research
almost invariably involves very complex situations in which a multidisciplinary team from
several academic disciplines cooperate together in order to solve the problem based on the
evidence obtained from multiple, external domains overshadowing it.

c) Descriptive Vs Analytical

Descriptive research includes surveys and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds. The major
purpose of descriptive research is description of the state of affairs as it exists at present.
The methods of research utilized in descriptive research are survey methods of all kinds,
including comparative and co- relational methods. In analytical research, on the other hand,
the researcher has to use facts or information already available, and analyse these to make
a critical evaluation of the material.

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH ANALYTICAL RESEARCH

States what happened Identifies the significance
States the order in which things happened Makes reasoned judgements
Explains what a theory says Shows why something is relevant or suitable
Notes the method used. Indicates whether something is appropriate
or suitable.

3. What ethical aspect would you consider if conducting any kind of research?

 Ethical Considerations can be specified as one of the most important parts of the
research. During the identification of the research problem, it is important to identify a
problem that will benefit individuals being studied, one that will be meaningful for others
besides the researcher. Following points should be considered while conducting any
type of research:-

1. Research participants should not be subjected to harm in any ways whatsoever.

2. Respect for the dignity of research participants should be prioritised.
3. Full consent should be obtained from the participants prior to the study.
4. The protection of the privacy of research participants has to be ensured.
5. Adequate level of confidentiality of the research data should be ensured.
6. Anonymity of individuals and organisations participating in the research has to be
ensured.
7. Any deception or exaggeration about the aims and objectives of the research must
be avoided.
 8. Affiliations in any forms, sources of funding, as well as any possible conflicts of
interests have to be declared.
9. Any type of communication in relation to the research should be done with honesty
and transparency.
10. Any type of misleading information, as well as representation of primary data findings
in a biased way must be avoided.

4. Can you differentiate between ‘types’ and ‘approaches’ of research?

Research approaches are plans and the procedures for research. that span the steps from
broad assumptions to detailed methods of data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

 The basic types of research are as follows:

(i) Descriptive vs. Analytical

(ii) Applied vs. Fundamental
(iii) Conceptual vs. Empirical

 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 required to
accomplish research, on the environment in which research is done, or on the basis of
some other similar factor.

a) One-time research or longitudinal research

b) Field-setting research or laboratory research or simulation research
c) Historical research
d) Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research

Research is a systematic investigation to find answers to a problem. Sociological research is

a systematic, careful, and controlled process of collecting information and answering
questions. The different approaches we follow in Research Methodology are:-

1. Quantitative approach : In the scientific method, quantitative research methods are

employed in an attempt to establish general laws or principles. Such a scientific approach is
often termed nomothetic and assumes social reality is objective and external to the
individual.

2. Qualitative approach : Qualitative, observational studies refer to traditions that base their
research upon qualitative data and do not actively and purposely manipulate the
phenomenon under investigation. Grounded theory studies and ethnographic methods are
examples of this mode of research.

3. Mixed method: The core assumption of this form of inquiry is that the combination of
qualitative and quantitative approaches provides a more complete understanding of a
research problem than either approach alone. Researcher can use any of the methods,
techniques and procedures typically associated with quantitative or qualitative research but
researcher should be aware that every research method has its limitations and that the
different approaches can be complementary.
5. Discuss 'Research Process'.

Before embarking on the details of research methodology and techniques, it seems

appropriate to present a brief overview of the research process. Research process
consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry out research and the
desired sequencing of these steps. The following order concerning various steps
provides a useful procedural guideline regarding the research process:

(1) Formulating the research problem: The researcher must at the same time examine
all available literature to get himself acquainted with the selected problem. He may
review two types of literature—the conceptual literature concerning the concepts and
theories, and the empirical literature consisting of studies made earlier which are similar
to the one proposed.

(2) Extensive literature survey: Once the problem is formulated, a brief summary of it
should be written down. For this purpose, the abstracting and indexing journals and
published or unpublished bibliographies are the first place to go to. Academic journals,
conference proceedings, government reports, books etc., must be tapped depending on
the nature of the problem. In this process, it should be remembered that one source will
lead to another.

(3) Developing the hypothesis: Working hypothesis is tentative assumption made in

order to draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences. As such the manner in
which research hypotheses are developed is particularly important since they provide the
focal point for research. They also affect the manner in which tests must be conducted in
the analysis of data and indirectly the quality of data which is required for the analysis.

(4) Preparing the research design: The research problem having been formulated in
clear cut terms, the researcher will be required to prepare a research design, i.e., he will
have to state the conceptual structure within which research would be conducted. The
preparation of such a design facilitates research to be as efficient as possible yielding
maximal information.

(5) Determining sample design: All the items under consideration in any field of inquiry
constitute a ‘universe’ or ‘population’. A complete enumeration of all the items in the
‘population’ is known as a census inquiry. It can be presumed that in such an inquiry
when all the items are covered no element of chance is left and highest accuracy is
obtained.

(6) Collecting the data: In dealing with any real life problem it is often found that data at
hand are inadequate, and hence, it becomes necessary to collect data that are
appropriate. There are several ways of collecting the appropriate data which differ
considerably in context of money costs, time and other resources at the disposal of the
researcher. Primary data can be collected either through experiment or through survey.

(7) Execution of the project: Execution of the project is a very important step in the
research process. If the execution of the project proceeds on correct lines, the data to be
collected would be adequate and dependable. The researcher should see that the
project is executed in a systematic manner and in time.

(8) Analysis of data: After the data have been collected, the researcher turns to the task
of analysing them. The analysis of data requires a number of closely related operations
such as establishment of categories, the application of these categories to raw data
through coding, tabulation and then drawing statistical inferences.
(9) Hypothesis testing: After analysing the data as stated above, the researcher is in a
position to test the hypotheses, if any, he had formulated earlier. If the researcher had no
hypotheses to start with, generalisations established on the basis of data may be stated
as hypotheses to be tested by subsequent researches in times to come.

(10) Generalisations and interpretation: If a hypothesis is tested and upheld several

times, it may be possible for the researcher to arrive at generalisation, i.e., to build a
theory. As a matter of fact, the real value of research lies in its ability to arrive at certain
generalisations.

(11) Preparation of the report or presentation of the results, i.e., formal write-up of
conclusions reached: Finally, the researcher has to prepare the report of what has
been done by him. Writing of report must be done with great care keeping in view the
following: The layout of the report should be as follows: (i) the preliminary pages; (ii) the
main text, (iii) the end matter.

Submitted by:
Varda

Studio 4 ‘A’