Research

Research is defined as the scientific investigation of phenomena which includes the collection, presentation, analysis, and interpretation of facts.
John W. Best and James says “research is a more systematic activity that is directed towards the discovery and the development of an organized body of knowledge. Research is also defined as the systematic objective analysis and the recording of control observation that may lead to the development of generalizations, principles, or theories, resulting in prediction and possibly ultimate
control of events.
RESEARCH -
R: Rational way of thinking
E: Expert and exhaustive analyze
S: Search for a solution
E: Exactness
A: Analytical analyses of adequate data
R: Relationships of facts
C: Careful recording, critical observation, and constructive attitude
H: Honesty
Research can also define as
1. Research is an attitude toward new discoveries.
2. Research is an attempt to redefine the facts.
3. Research is a scientific method.
4. Research is friendly, welcoming attitude towards a change.
5. Research is investigating something from known to unknown.
6. Research means establishing new facts from known facts.

Important Characteristics of Research:-

• Empirical: Research is based on direct experience or observation by the researcher.
• Logical: Research must be based on valid procedures and principles.
• Cyclical: Research is a cyclical process because it starts with a problem and ends with
a problem. The result of research can be negative, positive, or even nil.
• Analytical: Research utilizes proven analytical procedures in gathering the data, whether
historical, descriptive and experimental or case study.
• Critical: Research exhibits careful and precise judgment.
• Methodical: Research is conducted methodically without bias using systematic methods and procedures.

Reliability: The research design and procedures are replicated or repeated to enable the researcher to arrive at valid and conclusive results.

John W. Best and James V.Kahn have mentioned three different types of purposes of research. These are:
1. Fundamental Research
2. Applied Research
3. Action Research
Educational research is further classified into four categories
1. Historical Research
2. Quantitative Descriptive Research
3. Qualitative Descriptive Research
4. Experimental Research
John W. Best and James V. Kahn say “Any attempt to classify types of educational research poses a difficult problem”.

1. Fundamental or Basic Research:

The goal of the research is to find out the basic truth or principles, it is called fundamental or basic research. This type of research is carried out in a laboratory or other sterile environment, sometimes with animals also. Examples of fundamental research are
(a) Boyle’s Law
(b) Charle’s Law
(c) Archimede’s Principle
(d) Hooke’s Law
(e) Newton’s Law
2. Applied Research: Most of the characteristics of fundamental research are found in Applied Research. This type of research involves finding new applications of scientific knowledge to the solution of a problem such as the development of a new system, new device, or new methods or tools to solve the problem. Mind it, most educational research falls under the category of applied research.

3. Action Research: It is used to solve an immediate application, not on the development of theory or general application. If the researcher finds any problem at the time of his field, investigation, and observation, the researcher applies action research at that time.

Educational Research:

According to John W. Best and James V. Kahn, “it should be noted that the system of classification is not important in itself but only has value in making the analysis of research processes more comprehensible”. Educational research is directed towards the development of the science of behavior in education situations. Practically, all studies fall under one, or a combination, of the following types.

(a) Historical Research:

Historical research talks about the past. In this type of research, we need to investigate, record, analyze, and interpret the events of the past to discover generalizations.

(b) Quantitative Descriptive Research:

This method is used to describe what is being described, recording, analyzing, and interpreting conditions that make this around ours. It is used to discover the relationship between non-manipulated existing variables.

(c) Qualitative Descriptive Research:

This type of research uses non-quantitative methods. This method of research is used to discover non-quantified relationships between existing variables.

(d) Experimental Research:

It describes “what will happen” in the future if certain variables are carefully controlled and manipulated. The main focus of this kind of research is to find out the relationship between variables.

Research Standard-

Research activity is set to be standard or good if it satisfies some criteria as shown below
1. The skeleton of the research process must be carefully planned to get the output of the research.
2. A researcher should be frank to discuss things with colleagues.
3. The concepts used in research should be common.
4. The purpose of the research must be clearly designed.
5. Advancement of research, one must give details about their research.
6. Careful attention must be needed to check the method of analysis.
7. The analysis of data would be sufficiently adequate to reveal its significance in the research.

How to find the Research Problem

The factors are as follows.
1. All the existing problems in the country or in the world, which don’t have any known solution.
2. Whether the solution can be obtained by using statistical tools and techniques.
3. There are lots of solutions available, but they are not yet tested physically.
4. To conclude a solution, the problem needs a scientific investigation.
5. Emergency needs or problems of mankind where it demands research.

Characteristics of any Research Problem

Not all problem arises in the universe as a research problem. A research problem must have some characteristics. The following are the characteristics of a research problem. If any problem posses all
these properties, then it is said to be a research problem.
1. Specific: The problem must be specifically tested.
2. Measurable: The problem is easy to measure by using some research tool or equipment.
3. Achievable: The data needs to do the research must be achievable using the correct tools to get the final result.
4. Realistic: The final result must be realistic and must be efect in the real world.
5. Time-Bound: In all the activities of the research, there must be a time-bound because if the period to complete an activity is smaller then it is obviously better.

Sources of Research Problem-

There are lots of research problems available in our world, but sometimes students failed to find a good research problem. Finding out the research problem is a big task for a researcher specifically, a student. The following are important points, which must keep in mind to find out a research problem.
1. Specialization of the researcher( one has to take care of the specialization of the student).
2. What are the current scenarios in research and what has been done in past on that topic.
3. One can take recommendations from a previous thesis or research report.
4. Look after all the problems in the locality or in the nation.

Criteria of a Good Research Problem

Some research problem is said to be good, some are moderate and others are not at all in the current scenario.
1. Interesting: Research Problem must be interesting such that it attracts the students.
2. Innovative: The problem must be innovative so that students can apply innovative ideas so that problem gets the result.
3. Cost-Effective: a good research problem must be economical.
4. Relevancy: The research problem must be relevant to the needs of people. Research problems must be relevant to the government, nation, and mankind.
5. Timeliness: An unbounded research problem is not feasible. There must be time bound in a good research problem.

The Variable-

Variable is defined as a quantity that is changing its value under different conditions.
Types of Variable-
1. Independent and Dependent Variable:
An Independent variable is chosen by the researcher to predict the relationship with observed phenomena. In an experiment, the independent variable is the variable that is varied or manipulated by the researcher, and the dependent variable is the response that is measured.
An independent variable is the presumed cause, whereas the dependent variable is the presumed effect.

2. Moderator Variable: this is a secondary or special type of independent variable chosen by the researcher to determine if it changes or modifies the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
3. Control Variable: This is the variable that is controlled by the investigator in which the effects can be neutralized by eliminating or removing the variable.
4. Intervening Variable: This is a variable that interferes with the independent and dependent variables, but its effects can either strengthen or weaken the independent and dependent variables.

Hypothesis:-

A proposition that can be verified to determine its reality is a hypothesis. A hypothesis may be defined as a logically conjectured (without real proof) relationship between two or more variables, expressed in the form of a testable statement. The relationship is proposed by using a strong logical argumentation.
This logical relationship may be part of the theoretical framework of the study. For example,
• Officers in my organization have higher than average levels of commitment (variable).
• Level of job commitment of the officers is associated with their level of efficiency.
• Level of job commitment of the officers is positively associated with their level of efficiency.
• The higher the level of job commitment of the officers the lower their level of absenteeism.

Types of Hypothesis

1. Descriptive Hypothesis
2. Relational Hypothesis
3. Correlational hypotheses
4. Explanatory (causal) hypotheses
5. Null Hypothesis
6. Alternative Hypothesis
7. Research Hypothesis

Descriptive Hypothesis-
A descriptive hypothesis contains only one variable thereby it is also called a univariate hypothesis. Descriptive hypotheses typically state the existence, size, form, or distribution of some variable.
Relational Hypothesis-
These are the propositions that describe a relationship between two variables. The relationship could be non-directional or directional, positive or negative, causal or simply correlational.
Directional Hypothesis -the relationship between the two variables, if the terms positive, negative, more than, or less than are used called directional because the direction of the relationship
between the variables (positive/negative) has been indicated.
The non-directional hypothesis is one in which the direction of the association has not been specified. The relationship may be very strong but whether it is positive or negative has not been
postulated.
Correlational Hypotheses-
The variables occur together in some specified manner without implying that one causes the other. Such weak claims are often made when we believe that there are more basic causal forces that affect both variables. For example Level of job commitment of the officers is positively associated with their level of efficiency.
Explanatory/Causal Hypotheses-
It implies the existence of, or a change in, one variable causes or leads to a change in the other variable. This brings in the notions of independent and dependent variables. Cause means to
“help make happen.” So the independent variable may not be the sole reason for the existence of or change in the dependent variable.
Null Hypothesis-
It is used for testing the hypothesis formulated by the researcher. Researchers treat evidence that supports a hypothesis differently from the evidence that opposes it.
They give negative evidence more important than a positive one. It is because the negative evidence tarnishes(spoils the +ve) the hypothesis. It shows that the predictions made by the hypothesis are wrong.
The null hypothesis simply states that there is no relationship between the variables or the relationship between the variables is “zero.”. For example:
H0 = There is no relationship between the level of job commitment and the level of efficiency. Or
H0 = The relationship between the level of job commitment and the level of efficiency is zero.
Or the two variables are independent of each other. It does not take into consideration the direction of association (i.e. H0 is nondirectional), which may be a second step in testing the
hypothesis.

Alternative Hypothesis-
The alternative (to the null) hypothesis simply states that there is a relationship between the variables under study.
In our example it could be:
there is a relationship between the level of job commitment and the level of efficiency. Not only there is an association between the two
variables under study but also the relationship is perfect which is indicated by the number 1.

H1: There is a relationship between the level of job commitment of the officers and their level of efficiency

Research Hypothesis-
The research hypothesis is the actual hypothesis formulated by the researcher which may also suggest the nature of the relationship i.e. the direction of the relationship.

Characteristics of the Researcher-

1. Intellectual Curiosity: The researcher must take care of deep thinking and inquiry about the things and situations around the world
2. Prudence: The researcher is careful to conduct his research study at the right time and at the right place wisely, efficiently, and economically.
3. Healthy Criticism: The researcher is always doubtful as to the truthfulness of the results.
4. Intellectual Honesty: An intelligent researcher is honest to collect or gather data or facts to arrive at honest results.
5. Intellectual Creativity: A productive and resourceful investigator always creates new research.

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