Anna Bykova, researcher, PhD student

Perm 2011

“All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than overconfidence, for it leads to

inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention”

Hudson MaximU.S. inventor and chemist who invented a

variety of explosivesDefenseless America, 1916

Research is Search for Knowledge It is an Art of Scientific Investigation Systematized effort to gain new knowledge Research is an original addition to the

available knowledge, which contributes to it’sfurther advancement

Research is the search for knowledge, usingobjective and systematic methods to findsolution to a problem

To gain familiarity with new insights into a phenomenon

To accurately portray the characteristics of a particular individual, group, or a situation

To analyze the frequency with which something occurs

To examine the Hypothesis of a casual relationship between two variables

Design

Evaluation

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Implementation

Theory

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RESEARCH PROPOSAL

CONCLUSIONS, INTERPRETATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS

DATA ANALYSIS

DATA COLLECTION AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

INSTRUMENTATION

SAMPLING

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS AND MEASUREMENT

VARIABLES AND HYPOTHESES

THEORY, ASSUMPTIONS, BACKGROUND LITERATURE

PROBLEM STATEMENT, PURPOSES, BENEFITS

Descriptive Analytical

Applied Fundamental

Quantitative Qualitative

Conceptual Empirical

An attempt to find solution to an immediate problem encountered by a firm, an Industry, a business organization, or the Society is known as Applied Research

Gathering knowledge for knowledge’s sake is ‘Pure’ or ‘Basic’ or ‘Fundamental’ Research

The Research related to some abstract idea or theory is known as Conceptual Research. (Ex: Philosophers and Thinkers using this to developing new concepts)

Empirical Research relies on the observation or experience with hardly any regard for theory and system.

Research Problem is an unansweredquestion that a researcher might encounter inthe context of either a theoretical or practicalsituation

There should be an individual or a group whohave some difficulty or problem

There should be some objective to bepursued (A person or an organization whowants nothing cannot have a problem)

There should be more than one alternativemeans available to the Researcher.

There should be some doubt in the mind ofthe Researcher about the choice ofalternative means

what the researcher expects to achieve; solution to the research problem

B. Importance of Setting Objectives: give an indication of the variables to be studied guide in choice of research design indicate the data to be collected aid in planning analysis of results bases for interpretation of results

Researchability

Can be resolved through research

Does not require value judgment

Significance

Problem: affects a large population, has serious

morbidity consequences, is related to on-going projects

Answer: fills a gap in knowledge, has practical

application

Feasibility

Adequate number of subjects can be gathered

Procedures are technically possible

Information needed can be collected

Resources are available

Study can be completed within a reasonable

period

1. The Name of the Study2. The Purpose of the Study3. The Location where the study would

be conducted4. The Nature of Data Required5. From where the required Data can be

collected6. What time period the study would

cover7. The Type of Sample Design8. The Techniques of Data Collection9. The Methods of Data Analysis

It facilitates smooth conduct of the various stages of Research.

Makes Research Efficient to yield maximum information with minimum effort, time, expenditure

Plays a crucial role in attaining the reliability of the results obtained.

Exploratory Research Design Descriptive and Diagnostic Research Design Hypothesis-testing Research Design

The Researcher tests the Hypothesis of casual relationship between two or more variables

These studies require unbiased attitude of the Researcher

Flexible, Suitable, Efficient and Economical

Minimizes bias and Maximizes Reliability

No Experimental Error

Yields Maximum Information

It is a Predictive statement Must be tested by scientific

methods A hypothesis is a proposed

explanation for an observable phenomenon

Tentative answer to the research problem

Provides basis for testing statistical significance of findings

Precise and clear Capable of being put to test Must be stated in simple language Researcher must be able to test it within a

stipulated period A Hypothesis should explain what it actually

wants to explain. A Hypothesis must be derived from known

facts

Null Hypothesis (H0): The statistical hypothesis that states that there are no differences between observed and expected data.

to test safety of drugs and other interventions

for “proving” that a health belief is a myth or is erroneous

Alternative Hypothesis (H1):The alternative hypothesis is the hypothesis used in hypothesis testing that is contrary to the null hypothesis. It is usually taken to be that the observations are the result of a real effect (with some amount of chance variation superposed).

for testing risk and prognostic factors

for testing intervention

State H0 as Well as Ha

Specify the Level of Significance

Decide the Correct Sampling Distribution

Sample a random Sample and workout an appropriate Value

Calculate the Probability that Sample Result would diverge as widely as it has from expectations, if H0

were true

Sample is a certain portion of the population A Researcher adopts a Technique to select

the items of the Sample from the Population and that is called as Sampling Design.

Sample design must be done before Data Collection.

Type of Interview Sampling Unit Source List Size of Sample Parameters of Interest Budgetary Constraint Sampling Procedure

Define the Universe to be studied:

Finite or Infinite

Define Sampling Unit: Geographical or Social Area

Small Sampling Error Sample Design must fit into the Budget Controllable Bias Results of the Sample Study must be

applicable to the Universe, with confidence

Primary Data is a term for data collected on source which has not been subjected to processing or any other manipulation.

When Primary Data is Processed it becomes Information, the data collected for the first time

Secondary Data is the Data that has already been collected and used earlier by somebody or some agency

Primary Data is more accurate and authentic. Time, Money and labour is more involved in

Primary data Collection But in Statistical enquiries secondary data is

used. Primary Data is are collected only if there

exists no secondary data.

Direct Personal Interview Indirect oral interviews Information from correspondents Mailed Questionnaire methods Schedule sent through interviewers

It is accurate watchingand noting of phenomenaas they occur with regardto the cause and effect ormutual relations.

Quantitative Approach(Uses experimental, inferential and simulation

approaches to research) Qualitative Approach(Uses techniques like in-depth interview, focus

group interviews)

Editing – checking for completeness, consistency and accuracy of data

Coding - conversion of data into numbers or symbols which can be more easily tabulated and counted

Creation of data file - storing data for future processing

Summarization – creation of master tables, frequency tables, etc.

independent variable – variable which is assumed to be the factor or the cause

dependent variable – variable that is assumed to be the effect or outcome

confounding variable – variable other than the exposure variable under investigation that is a risk factor of the disease and is associated with but not a consequence of the exposure and is likewise associated with the dependent variable

Written plan of the research process

Guides investigator in executing project

Basis for evaluation of merit and feasibility of the project