RESEARCH

What is RESEARCH
 A method of critical thinking ;a careful enquiry in seeking facts for
principles.
 An art of scientific investigation
* scientific & systematic search for pertinent information on a
specific topic.
* process of arriving at dependable solutions to problems
through the planned and systematic collection, analysis and interpret of
data.
 A systematic efforts to gain new knowledge.
 An activity for finding answers to questions.
 It refers to search for knowledge.
 Definition of RESEARCH
 Research can be defined as a scientific & systematic
search for pertinent information on a specific topic.

 Research means a careful investigation or inquiry

specifically through search for new facts in any branch of
knowledge.
 Business Research can be defined as a systematic and
objective process of gathering ,recording and analyzing
data that provides information to guide business
decisions.
 Objective
 Its purpose is to discover answers to
questions through the application of
scientific procedures.
 Scope
 Research can be used to solve the various operational &
planning problems that arise in business organization.
These may include Problems related to
marketing,finance,HR and manufacturing.
 Qualities of good research
 Purpose / objective clearly defined.
 Adequate analysis of data with appropriate method of analysis.
 Carefully checked data for validity and reliability.
 Conclusion confined to those justified by the data.
 Confidence , experience , honesty & integrity of resercher.
 Limitation revealed.
 High ethical standard applied.
 Types of Research
 Descriptive vs. Analytical
 Conceptual vs. Empirical
 Applied vs. Fundamental
 Quantitative vs. Qualitative
 Other Researches
 Applied vs. Fundamental
 Applied (action) research aims at finding a solution for immediate problem
facing a society/business organization.
 Ex.: research aimed at certain conclusions facing a concrete social,
economic or political trends that may affect a particular industry.
 The central aim of applied research is to discover a solution for some
pressing practical problems.

 Fundamental research is mainly concerned with generalizations and with the

formulation of a theory.
 Conducted for gathering knowledge.
 Ex.: research concerning some natural phenomenon or relating to pure
mathematics.
 The aim of applied research is to find a solution for a practical problem which
warrants solution for immediate use, whereas basic research is directed
towards finding information that has broad base of applications and thus add
new information to the already existing scientific knowledge.
 Difference between applied and
fundamental research
Basic research Applied research

Seeks generalization Studies individual or specific

cases without the objective to
generalize
Aims at basic processes Aims at any variable which
makes the desired difference
Attempts to explain why Tries to say how things can be
things happen changed
Tries to get all the facts Tries to correct the facts
which are problematic
 Quantitative vs. Qualitative
 Quantitative research is based on the measurement of quantity or amount.
Here a process is expressed or described in terms of one or more
quantities.
 Qualitative research is concerned with qualitative phenomenon involving
quality. It is non-numerical, descriptive, applies reasoning and uses words.
Its aim is to get the meaning, feeling and describe the situation.
 Ex.: If one wishes to investigate why certain data are random then it is a
qualitative research. If the aim is to study how random the data is, what is
the mean, variance and distribution function then it becomes quantitative .
 The detection of a particular compound is a qualitative analysis. This can be
done by carrying out physical or chemical tests. Determination of exact
amount of a particular compound present in a volume is essentially
quantitative analysis. This can be done by volumetric, gravimetric and
calorimetric methods or instrumental methods.
 Conceptual vs. Empirical
 Conceptual research is related to some abstract idea or theory.
 It is generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts
and reinterpret existing ones.

 Empirical research relies on experience or observation alone.

 It is data based research coming up with conclusions which are capable of
being verified by observation or experiment.
 It is also called as experimental type of research.
 Descriptive vs. Analytical

 Descriptive research includes surveys and fact findings enquiries of different

kinds.
 The major purpose is description of the state of affairs as it exists at
present.
 The term Ex post facto research is often used for descriptive research
studies.
 The main characteristic of this method is that researcher has no control over
variables, he can report what has happened or what is happening.
 It also includes attempts by researchers to discover causes even when they
cannot control the variables.

 Analytical research : in this research, researcher has to use facts or

information already available and analyze these to make critical evaluation
of the material.
 Other types of research
 One time research: Research is confined to a single time period.
 Longitudinal Research: Research is carried on over several time periods.