Q1. What is Research? Search?

Ans. Research
Research is a hard-working and systematic scientific inquiry or investigation into a subject
in order to discover or revise facts, theories, and applications, undertaken with the purpose of
finding answers and to establish facts and reach new conclusions or solutions to it.
Search
Search is try to find something by looking or otherwise seeking carefully and thoroughly,
in order to find something missing or lost.
Q2. Scientific Process:
It consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carryout research and the desired
sequencing of these steps:
1) Problem Identification
There are two ways
a) Which relate to states of nature?
b) Which relate to relationship between variables?

Researcher must decide the general area of interest and subject matter that he would like
to inquire into
State the problem initially in broad general way
General topic to research problem is the first step of scientific enquiry
Two steps in research problem
understanding the problem thoroughly and
rephrasing the same into meaningful terms
Best way of understanding is discussing with colleagues and some experts. Guide is also
one of the source
Get all literature regarding problem 2 types of literature
a) Conceptual concepts and theory
b) Empirical - similar studies made earlier
2) Information Search
Writing down brief summary, writing synopsis, undertake extensive literature survey
connected with problem
Academic journals, conference proceedings, Govt. Reports, Books must be tapped
A good library will be a great help to the researcher at this stage
3) Hypothesis Formation
It should clearly state the terms of working hypothesis
Working hypothesis is tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical
or empirical consequences. It guides the researcher to go in a right track. It also indicates
types of data required and types of methods of data analysis to be used
Hypothesis provide the focal point of view and also talks about how test should be
conducted and quality of data

Ways to develop hypothesis:

Discussion of problem, origin and objectives with colleagues and experts

Examination of data, records, possible trends
Review of similar studies
Exploratory personal investigation with interested parties and great insight in practical
aspects.

4) Research Design
Good design maximum information and relevant evidence
4 categories
a) Exploratory
b) Description
c) Diagnosis
d) Experimentation
Considerations for preparing research design:

Means to obtain information

Availability and skills of researcher
Time availability
Cost factor and finance available

Determining the sample design

Population or universe complete items available

Census inquiry whole population
Sample items selected for test
Census in inquiry is not possible under many circumstances eg. Blood testing done
through only sampling
Sample design- decide the way of testing a sample
Two types
a) Probability each element can be included in sample
b) Non- probability elements do not have equal chance
5) 5) Data Collection
Primary data through experiment or survey
In case of survey there are following ways
i) By observation
ii) Through personal interview pre-conceived questions
iii) Telephone interviews
iv) By mailing of questionnaires

v) Through schedules relevant questions

6) Data Results
Analysis of data

Raw data through coding, tabulation, drawing statistical inferences

Coding, editing, tabulation are important
Hypothesis, test of significance

Hypothesis testing
Using various test like chisquare, t-test, f-test. It results in whether accepting or rejecting
hypothesis
7) Data Results Interpretation
Generalisation and interpretation
To build a theory, explaining findings based on theory is known as interpretation. This leads
to further researches.
Preparation of the report or the thesis
Points to be kept in mind
i) The layout of the report should be
a) The preliminary pages title, acknowledgement, table of contents
b) Main text introduction, summary of findings, main report and conclusion
c) The end matter Appendices, bibliography (list of books, journals, reports etc.), index
ii) Should be concise and objective style, in simple language. Avoid vague expressions such as
it seems, there may be & the like
iii) Chart should be used only if they have clear information
iv) Confidence limits and constraints should be statedons
Types Of Research
Basic Research
It is mainly concerned with generalization and with the formulation of theory. E.g. Gathering
knowledge for knowledges sake. It is a research concerning some natural phenomenon or
relating to pure mathematics. Also it is concerning human behavior carried on with a view to
make generalization of human behavior. Thus the central aim of applied research is to discover a
solution for some practical problem, where as fundamental research is finding information that
has a broad base of applications and thus, adds to the already existing body of scientific
knowledge.

Applied Research
Finding a solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an industry / business
organization. E.g. research aimed at certain conclusions. Facing a concrete social or business
problem is an example of applied research. Identifying social, economical or political trends that
may particular institution are copy research or marketing or evaluation research

Research Approaches
1) Induction
Inductive reasoning works the other way, moving from specific observations to broader
generalizations and theories. Informally, we sometimes call this a "bottom up" approach
(please note that it's "bottom up" and not "bottoms up" which is the kind of thing the
bartender says to customers when he's trying to close for the night!). In inductive reasoning,
we begin with specific observations and measures, begin to detect patterns and regularities,
formulate some tentative hypotheses that we can explore, and finally end up developing some
general conclusions or theories

2) Deduction
Deductive reasoning works from the more general to the more specific. Sometimes this is
informally called a "top-down" approach. We might begin with thinking up a theory about
our topic of interest. We then narrow that down into more specific hypotheses that we can
test. We narrow down even further when we collect observations to address the hypotheses.
This ultimately leads us to be able to test the hypotheses with specific data a confirmation (or
not) of our original theories.

Types of Research
1) Quantitative Research
Based on measurement of quantity or amount, that can be expressed in terms of quantity.
1) Inferential approach Form a database and infer characteristics or relationships of population
from it (usually survey researches).
2) Experimental approach Greater control over the research environment. Some variables are
manipulated to observe their effect on other variables.
3) c. Simulation approach Construction of an artificial environment within which relevant
information and data can be generated.
4) Qualitative approach
Relating to qualitative phenomena involving quality or kind. E.g. why people think or do certain
things. Subjective assessment of attitudes, opinions and behavior. When we talk of motivation
research, this research aims at discovering the underlying motives and desires, using in depth
interviews for that purpose. Other techniques of such research are word association, sentence
completion test, story completion, attitude or opinion research.
Differences between Qualitative and Quantitative
Qualitative Research is primarily exploratory research. It is used to gain an understanding of
underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. It provides insights into the problem or helps to
develop ideas or hypotheses for potential quantitative research. Qualitative Research is also used
to uncover trends in thought and opinions, and dive deeper into the problem. Qualitative data
collection methods vary using unstructured or semi-structured techniques. Some common
methods include focus groups (group discussions), individual interviews, and
participation/observations. The sample size is typically small, and respondents are selected to
fulfill a given quota.

Quantitative Research is used to quantify the problem by way of generating numerical data or
data that can be transformed into useable statistics. It is used to quantify attitudes, opinions,
behaviors, and other defined variables and generalize results from a larger sample population.
Quantitative Research uses measurable data to formulate facts and uncover patterns in research.
Quantitative data collection methods are much more structured than Qualitative data collection
methods. Quantitative data collection methods include various forms of surveys online
surveys, paper surveys, mobile surveys and kiosk surveys, face-to-face interviews, telephone
interviews, longitudinal studies, website interceptors, online polls, and systematic observations.
Research Design
Meaning: Preparation of the design of the research project.
It is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to
combine relevance to the research purpose with economy in procedure.

What is study about?

Why, where, what type of data?
Period of time
Techniques & how to analyze the data
Style of report

a)
b)
c)
d)

The sample design: methods of selecting items to be observed for the given study.
Observation design: conditions of observations.
Statistical design: how items observed, information & data gathered are to be gathered.
Operational design: techniques by which the procedure

Conclusive Design
To test specific hypotheses and examine relationships Information needed is clearly
defined. Research process is formal and structured. Sample is large and representative.
Data analysis is quantitative It provides information that helps the executive make a
rational decision.
It is the research designed to assist the decision maker in determining, evaluating &
selecting the best course of action to take in a given situation.
Information needed is clearly defined.

 Research process is formal & structured.

Findings are used as input to decision making.
Types: Descriptive & Causal/ experimental
Causal
A type of conclusive research where the major objective is to obtain evidence regarding
cause-and-effect (causal) relationship.
It requires a planned & structured design.
Purpose:
-

To understand which variables are cause (independent variables) & which variables are
the effect (dependent variables) of a phenomenon.

To determine the nature of the relationship between the causal variables & the effect to be
predicted
Conditions of causality
1. Time occurrence
The Cause precedes the effect. Proper time order must be established (the temporal antecedence
condition).
2. Concomitant Variation
There must be an association or correlation between the treatment and outcome. Variable A and
variable B must be related (the relationship condition).
3. Presence of other causes
You must control for spurious or other possible causes.
The relationship between variable A and variable B must not be due to some confounding
extraneous or third variable (the lack of alternative explanation condition).
Descriptive
A type of conclusive research that has as its major objective the description of somethingusually market characteristics or functions.
Reasons:
- To describe characteristics of relevant groups. e.g., profile of heavy users
- To estimate a certain behavior in a specified population. E.g., percentage of heavy users

To determine the perception of product characteristics.

To make specific predictions.
To determine the degree to which marketing variables are associated. e.g., shopping and
eating
- Longitudinal
A research design involving a fixed sample of population elements that is measured
repeatedly on the same variables. The sample remains the same over time, thus providing a
series of pictures which when viewed together portray an illustration of the situation & the
changes that are taking place over time panel
Cross sectional
Research Design involving the collection of information from any given sample of population
elements only once.
Single cross- sectional design:
Only one sample of respondents is drawn from the target population & information is obtained
from this sample only once.
Multiple cross- sectional design:
A design in which there are two or more samples of respondents, & information from each
sample is obtained only once. E.g., consumption of soft drinks.
Exploratory Design
Provides insights into & comprehension of the problem situation confronting the
researcher.
It is used when the problem is to be defined more precisely.
The information needed at this stage is loosely defined.
The research process is flexible & unstructured.
Findings are tentative or as input to further research.