Research UT 1

Evaluation scheme and process prescribed in Ordiance-11
of the UniversityQ
uestion What is Research?
Research: Introduction
Research may be very broadly defined as systematic gathering of data and information and its
analysis for advancement of knowledge in any subject. Research attempts to find answer
intellectual and practical questions through application of systematic methods. Webster’s
Collegiate Dictionary defines research as "studious inquiry or examination; esp: investigation or
experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories
or
laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws".
Some people consider research as a movement, a movement from the known to the unknown.
It is actually a voyage of discovery. We all possess the vital instinct of inquisitiveness for, when
the unknown confronts us, we wonder and our inquisitiveness makes us probe and attain full and
fuller understanding of the unknown. This inquisitiveness is the mother of all knowledge and the
method, which man employs for obtaining the knowledge of whatever the unknown, can be
termed as research.
Research is an academic activity and as such the term should be used in a technical sense.
According to Clifford Woody research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating
hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making deductions
and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine whether they
fit the formulating hypothesis. D. Steiner and M. Stephenson in the Encyclopedia of Social
Sciences define research as “the manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose of
generalizing to extend, correct or verify knowledge, whether that knowledge aids in construction
of theory or in the practice of an art.” Research is, thus, an original contribution to the existing
stock of knowledge making for its advancement. It is the pursuit of truth with the help of study,
observation, comparison and experiment. In short, the search for knowledge through objective
and systematic method of finding solution to a problem is research. The systematic approach
concerning generalization and the formulation of a theory is also research. As such the term
‘research’ refers to the systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem, formulating a
hypothesis, collecting the facts or data, analyzing the facts and reaching certain conclusions
either in the form of solutions(s) towards the concerned problem or in certain generalizations
for some theoretical formulation.
Classification
Research can be classified on the basis of four following dimensions:
1. Purpose of conducting research
2. Utility of research
3. Availability of resources: time, funds and manpower
4. Data collection techniques and tools
Objectives of Research:
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific
procedures. The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which has not
been discovered as yet. Though each research study has its own specific purpose, we may think
of research objectives as falling into a number of following broad groupings:
1. To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this
object in view are termed as exploratory or formulate research studies);
2. To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group(studies
with this object in view are known as descriptive research studies);
3. To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with
something else (studies with this object in view are known as diagnostic research studies);
4. To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as
hypothesis-testing research studies).
Types of research
Types of research can be classified in many different ways. some major

ways of classifying research include the following.
1. Descriptive versus
2. Analytical Research
3. Applied Research
4. Fundamental Research
5. Qualitative Research
6. Quantitative Research
7. Conceptual Research
8. Empirical Research
1. Descriptive research concentrates on finding facts to ascertain the
nature of something as it exists. In contrast
2. Aanalytical research is concerned with determining validity of
hypothesis based on analysis of facts collected.
3. Applied research is carried out to find answers to practical problems
to be solved and as an aid in decision making in different areas
including product design, process design and policy making.
4. Fundamental research is carried out as more to satisfy intellectual
curiosity, than with the intention of using the research findings for any
immediate practical application.
5.Qualitative research studies such aspects of the research subject
which are not quantifiable, and hence not subject to measurement and
quantitative analysis. In contrast
6.Quantitative research makes substantial use of measurements and
quantitative analysis techniques.
7. Conceptual research is involves investigation of thoughts and ideas
and developing new ideas or interpreting the old ones based on
logical reasoning. In contrast.
8. Eempirical research is based on firm verifiable data collected by
either observation of facts under natural condition or obtained through
experimentation.

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Evaluation scheme and process prescribed in Ordiance-11

uestion What is Research?

Types of research can be classified in many different ways. some major

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