Ph.d.TE:101: Advanced Research Methods in Education

Ph.d.TE:101: Advanced Research Methods in Education

Unit-I: Introduction to Research Methods

Ø  Meaning and importance of Research in Education

Ø  Types of Research

Ø  Criteria of a good Research

Ø  Review of related literature

Unit-II: Methods of Research

Ø  Quantitative Research: Research designs: true experimental (single group pre-test, post-test design; two-group experimental-control group design; Solomon four-group design, rotational group design; factorial design), quasi-experimental designs, internal and external validity of the research designs

Ø  Qualitative Research: meaning, nature, characteristics, scope and relevance, types of qualitative research

Unit -III: Sampling, Tools& Techniques in Research

Ø  Concept of population and sample, sampling unit, representativeness of a sample, sampling frame.

Ø  Sampling methods: meaning, nature, conditions and applicability of

Ø  A)Probability Sampling (Simple Random Sampling, Stratified Random Sampling, Systematic Sampling, Cluster sampling, Multi-Stage Sampling)

Ø  B) Non-Probability Sampling (Incidental Sampling, Quota Sampling, Purposive Sampling and judgmental sampling, Snowball sampling).

Ø  Tools and techniques – observation, interview, inquiry forms, scaling techniques, rating scale, attitude scale, psychological tests and projective techniques, sociometry

Ø  Development and standardization of research tools, Characteristics of the tools: item analysis, reliability, validity and usability

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INTRODUCTION OF RESEARCH:

Ø  Research is commonly known as search for knowledge.

Ø  It can be defined as search for systematic knowledge.

Ø  Research is scientific and systematic investigation in relation to specific aspect. It is a movement from known to unknown.

Ø  Research is considered as careful investigation or inquiry to find out new facts in any branch of knowledge. It is an original contribution to the existing stock of knowledge making for its advancement.

Ø  Therefore research is systemized effort to acquire new knowledge.

Ø  Research should not be considered as academic activity only; it also applies to all the respect of human activity.

Ø  Research is basis for making process of decision effective and more meaningful. It includes the defining of research problem formulation of hypothesis, collection of data, analyzing of data and arriving to conclusions. After the conclusions are drawn, it is also necessary to find out testing of the conclusions in relation to the hypothesis.

Ø  The term ‘Research’ consists of two words:

                                            Research = Re + Search

Ø  ‘Re’ means again and again and ‘Search’ means to find out something, the following is the process:

DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH:

Ø  Kerlinger (1973) defines research as a “systematic, controlled, empirical and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relationship about various phenomena.”

Ø  Burns (1994) also defines research as ‘a systematic investigation to find answers to a problem’.

Ø  Research is an art of scientific investigation.

Ø  The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English lays down the meaning of research as “a careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.”

Ø  Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized effort to gain new knowledge.”

Ø  Research is an academic activity and as such the term should be used in a technical sense.

Ø  “Research is the manipulation of things concepts or symbols for the purpose of generalizing to extend, correct or verify knowledge, whether that knowledge aids in the practice of an art.” 

                                                                                                                  – Encyclopaedia of Social Science

OBJECTIVES OF GOOD RESEARCH:

v  The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures.

v  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:

v  1)To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it (studies with this object in view are termed as exploratory research studies);

v  2)To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or group (studies with this object in view are known as descriptive research studies);

v  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)’

v  4) To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables (such studies are known as hypothesis- testing research studies/experimental studies).

v  Thus, research is the fountain of knowledge for the sake of knowledge and an important source of providing guidelines for solving different business, personal, profession governmental and social problems. It is a sort of formal training which enables one to understand the new developments in one’s field in a better way.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH

v  The following characteristics may be gathered from the definitions of ‘Research’

v  1. It gathers new knowledge or data from primary or first-hand sources.

v  2. It places emphasis upon the discovery of general principles.

v  3. It is an exact systematic and accurate investigation.

v  4. It uses certain valid data gathering devices.

v  5. It is logical and objective.

v  6. The researcher resists the temptation to seek only the data that support his hypotheses.

v  7. The researcher eliminates personal feelings and preferences.

v  8. It endeavours to organise data in quantitative terms.

v  9. Research is patient and unhurried activity.

v  10. The researcher is willing to follow his procedures to the conclusions that may be unpopular and bring social disapproval.

v  11. Research is carefully recorded and reported.

v  12. Conclusions and generalisations are arrived at carefully and cautiously.

IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH

v  All development and progress in the society is an out come of a research work. The development of logical thinking is promoted by conducting the research activities.

v  Research provides base for the policies formation of the Government related to agriculture, industries and infra structural services in the region.

v  In this context investigation in the structure of economy is conducted through compilation of data and analysis of facts.

v  Research provides for predicting of future prospects of the region.

v  Research has special importance in relation to solving various problems of business and industries. Market research, operation research and motivation research are conducted in the business for various requirements.

v  The importance of research can also be ascertain through its application in socio political sector in order to find out solution to social and political problem of the society.

CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH:

v  In actual practice, research is conducted at different levels and for different immediate purposes. The level at which a person operates in the field depends on the objectives he intends to accomplish.

v  Generally research has two levels:

Ø  1.Basic level and

Ø  2. Applied level.

Ø  Basic Level: Trevers has defined basic level as basic research. It is designed to add an organized body of scientific knowledge and does not necessarily produce results of immediate practical value.

Ø  Applied Level: Applied research is undertaken to solve an immediate practical problem and the goal of adding to scientific knowledge is secondary. A common mistake is to assume that levels differ according to complexity and that basic research tends to be complex and applied research. Some applied research is quite complex and some basic research is rather simple.

KINDS OF RESEARCH:

Ø  There are various bases to classify the research.

Ø  A.On the Basis of Objectives of Research

On the basis of objectives of research they are of two types:

v  1.Fundamental research and

v  2. Action research.

Ø  B. On the Basis of Approach of Research

              On the basis of approach of Research they are of two types:

v  1.Longitudinal research: Historical research, case study, genetic comes under longitudinal approach of research.

v 2. Cross sectional research: Experimental research, survey are the examples of cross sectional research.

Ø  C. On the Basis of Precision in Research Findings

On the basis of precision (accuracy) the researches are:

v  1.Experimental research and Perception of Research

v  2. Non-experimental research.

                Experimental research is precise while non-experimental is not.

Ø  D. On the Basis of Nature of Findings

                     On the basis of findings Researches are of two types:

v  1. Explanatory research: Such researches explain more concerned theories, laws and principles.

v  2. Descriptive research: These are more concerned with facts.

Ø  E. According to National Science Foundation

                        These National Science Foundation formulated a three-fold classification of research.

v  1. Basic research: Those researches which embrace origin or unique investigation for the advancement of knowledge.

v  2. Applied research: Which may be characterized as the utilization in practice.

v  3. Development research: It is the use of scientific knowledge for the production of useful materials, devices, systems, methods for processes excluding design and production engineering.

Ø  F. Another Classification

v  1.Adhoc research: Adhoc research is the class of inquiry used for a purpose alone and special.

v   2. Empirical research: Empirical research is that which depends upon the experience or observation of phenomena and events.

v  3. Explained research: Explained research is that which is based on a theory.

v  4. Boarder line research: Boarder line research is that which involves those main two branches or are as of science. For example study of public school finance.

TYPES OF RESEARCH:

Ø  There are three types of objectives of research: theoretical, factual and application.

Ø  The first two types of objectives of research contribute new knowledge in the form of new theory and facts in a particular field of study or discipline.

Ø  The third objective does not contribute to knowledge but suggests new application for practical problems.

Ø  Thus, the researches are classified broadly into two categories:

v  1.Fundamental or Basic research, and

v  2. Action research or Applied research.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD RESEARCH:

v  Good research possesses certain qualities which are as follows:

v  1. Good research is systematic: it means that research is structured according to set of rules to follow certain steps in specified sequence. Systematic research also invites creative thinking, and certainly avoids use of guessing and intuition for arriving at the conclusion.

v  2. Good research is empirical: it implies that any conclusion drawn is based upon hardcore evidence gathered from information collected from real life experiences and observations. This provides a basis for external ability to research results.

v  3. Good research is valid and verifiable: Research involves precise observation and accurate description. The researcher selects reliable and valid instruments to be used in the collection of data and uses some statistical measures for accurate description of the results obtained. Whatever you conclude on the basis of finding is correct and can be verified by yourself and others.

v  4. Good Research is logical: it suggests that research is guided by the rules of reasoning and logical process of induction (general to specific) and deduction (specific to general) that plays an important role in carrying out research. In fact, logical reasoning makes research feasible and more meaningful in the context of decision making.

v  5. Good research develops theories and principles: which are very helpful in accurate prediction regarding the variables under study. On the basis of the sample observed and studied, the researcher makes sound generalisations regarding the whole populations. Thus, research goes beyond immediate situations, objects or groups being investigated by formulating a generalisation or theory about these factors.

v  6. Research is replicable: the designs, procedures and results of scientific research should be replicable so that any person other than the researcher himself may assess their validity. Thus, one researcher may use or transit the results obtained by another researcher. Thus, the procedures and results of the research are replicable as well as transmittable.

CRITERIA OF GOOD RESEARCH:

The criteria for good research are as follows:

Ø  Purpose of research should be clearly defined and common concepts that are used should be operationally defined.

Ø  The research procedure should be precisely planned, focused and appropriately described in order to enable other researcher to do research for further advancement.

Ø  Research design should be carefully planned to generate results to maintained objectivity.

Ø  The research report should be as much as possible frank enough to gauge effects of the findings.

Ø  Data analysis in the research report should be adequate to reveal its significance and the method of analysis employed

Ø   Be appropriate and Validity and reliability of data should be examined carefully.