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Seminar topic:-

Research its objectives and need. Characteristics of research and social research.

Submitted by:Amrit R.No. 107505

BBM Hons.

MEANING OF RESEARCH

All research is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention

Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge. One can also define research as a systematic for pertinent information on a specific topic. In fact, research is an art of systematic investigation. The advanced learners dictionary of current English lays down the meaning of research as a careful investigation or inquiry especially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge. 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. 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 inquitisitiveness make us probe and attain full and fuller understanding of the unknown. This inquitisitiveness 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. Slesinger and M. Stephenson in the encyclopaedia of social sciences define research as the manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose of generalising to extend, verify or correct knowledge, whether that knowledge aids in construction of theory or in the practise 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 generalisation and the formulation of a theory is also a research. As such the term research refers to the systematic method consisting of enunciating the problem, formulating a hypothesis, collecting the facts or data, analysing the facts and reaching certain conclusions either in the form of solutions towards he concerned problem or in certain generalisations for some theoretical formulation.

OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH

The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures. The main aim or 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 formulative 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 in view are known as diagnostic research studies); 4. To test a hypothesis of a casual relationship between variables (such studies are known as hypothesis-testing research studies).

NEED OF RESEARCH
Urge for knowledge. Decision making. Problem solving. To face a challenge. To get intellectual joy. Innovation. Fact finding. Increased need for more and better information in ever changing environment. To serve the society by showing right path to society in case of social and behavioural sciences. To get PhDs, masters and bachelors degree. 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.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
1. Research is carefully recorded and reported. 2. Research is characterized by patience and unhurried activity. 3. Researcher sometimes requires courage if the conclusions drawn are unpopular and bring social disapproval. 4. Purpose of research is to serve human beings and accelerate the rate of progress. 5. Originates with a problem or question. 6. Requires clear articulation of goal. 7. Follows a specific plan or procedure. 8. Often divides main problem into sub problem. 9. Guided by specific problems, questions or hypothesis. 10.Accepts certain critical assumptions. 11.Requires collection and interpretation of data. 12.Research is directed towards the solution of a problem. 13.Research activities are characterized by carefully designed procedures. 14.Research is based upon observable experience or empirical evidence.

15.Research is objective and logical applying every possible test to validate the data collected and conclusions reached. 16.Research involves the quest for answers to unsolved problems. 17.Research requires activity. 18.Research is carefully recorded and reported.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH

1. S.R. studies the behaviour of human being as a member of a society their feelings responses, attitudes under different circumstances. 2. S.R. aims at discovering new facts and born out to solve mans problem. 3. S.R. requires deep knowledge and minute investigation of the topic concerned. 4. S.R. is scientific understanding in which logical and systematized techniques are used. 5. Experimentation is not possible in S.R.as it is a study social phenomena. Difficult to control the behaviour and group. 6. In S.R. inter-relationship between variables under study is a must.

7. S.R. is of dynamic nature, therefore what is true of past might not be true of present e.g. change in the culture in the organisations due to incoming of MNC. 8. Water tight compartments cannot be drawn in S.R. and it is difficult to say whether it is purely political, economic or sociological research. 9. It is multidimensional as all the aspects and variables relating to group under study have to be taken care of.

REFERENCES

Research methodology Methods and techniques By: - C.R. Kothari www.wikipedia.com www.ivoryresearch.com

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