Introduction
Research is an essential and powerful tool in leading man towards progress. Without systematic research there would have been very little progress.
John W. Best has rightly said, “The secret of our cultural development has been research, pushing back the areas of ignorance by discovering new truths, which, in turn, lead to better ways of doing things and better products.”
Scientific research leads to progress in some field of life. New products, new facts, new concepts and new ways of doing things are being found due to ever-increasing significant research in the physical, the biological, the social and the psychological fields. Research today is no longer confined to the science laboratory.
Meaning of Research
Word ‘Research’ is comprises of two words = Re+Search. It means to search again. So research means a systematic investigation or activity to gain new knowledge of the already existing facts. Research is an intellectual activity. It is responsible for bringing to light new knowledge. It is also responsible for correcting the present mistakes, removing existing misconceptions and adding new learning to the existing fund of knowledge. Researches are considered as a combination of those activities which are removed from day to day life and are pursued by those persons who are gifted in intellect and sincere in pursuit of knowledge. But it is not correct to say that the research is restricted to such type of persons, however, it is correct to say that major contribution of research comes from highly gifted and committed workers. Thus the research is not at all mysterious and is carried on by hundreds of thousands of average individuals.
Research is also considered as the application of scientific method in solving the problems. It is a systematic, formal and intensive process of carrying on the scientific method of analysis. There are many ways of obtaining knowledge. They are intuition, revelation, and authority, logical manipulation of basic assumptions, informed guesses, observation, and reasoning by analogy. One of the branches of research known as empirical research is highly goal-oriented technique.
Definitions of Research
The following are the important definitions of research:
“Research is an endeavor / attempt to discover, develop and verify knowledge. It is an intellectual process that has developed over hundreds of years ever changing in purpose and form and always researching to truth.”
J. Francis Rummel
“Research is an honest, exhaustive, intelligent searching for facts and their meanings or implications with reference to a given problem. The product or findings of a given piece of research should be an authentic, verifiable contribution to knowledge in the field studied.”
P.M. Cook
“Research may be defined as a method of studying problems whose solutions are to be derived partly or wholly from facts.”
W.S. Monroes
“Research is considered to be the more formal, systematic intensive process of carrying on the scientific method of analysis. It involves a more systematic structure of investigation, usually resulting in some sort of formal record of procedures and a report of results or conclusion.”
John W. Best
“Research comprises defining and redefining problems ,formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions, collecting ,organizing and evaluating data, making deductions and reaching conclusions and at last careful testing the conclusions to determine whether they fit the formulated hypothesis.”
Clifford Woody
“Research is a systematic effort to gain new knowledge.”
Redman & Mori
“Social research may be defined as a scientific undertaking which by means of logical and systematized techniques aims to discover new facts or verify and test old facts , analyse their sequences , interrelationships and casual explanation which were derived within an appropriate theoretical frame of reference , develop new scientific tools , concepts and theories which would facilitate reliable and valid study of human behavior.”
P.V. Younge
Purpose of Research
The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the
application of scientific procedure. 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, some general
objectives of research below:
(i) To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights
into it. (Studies with this object in view are termed as exploratory or
formative research studies)
(ii) 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).
(iii) 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).
(iv) To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables.
(Such studies are known as hypothesis-testing research studies).
Characteristic of Research
Following are the characteristics of research;
(i) Research is directed toward the solution of a problem.
(ii) Research requires expertise.
(iii) Research emphasizes the development of generalizations,
principles, or theories that will be helpful in predicting future
occurrences.
(iv) Research is based upon observable experience or empirical
evidences.
(v) Research demands accurate observation and description.
(vi) Research involves gathering new data from primary or first-hand
sources or using existing data for a new purpose.
(vii) Research is characterized by carefully designed procedures that
apply rigorous analysis.
(viii) Research involves the quest for answers to un-solved problems.
(ix) Research strives to be objective and logical, applying every
possible test to validate the procedures employed the data
collected and the conclusions reached.
(x) Research is characterized by patient and unhurried activity.
(xi) Research is carefully recorded and collected.
(xii) Research sometimes requires courage.
Types of Research
There are varieties of ways through which we may classify it into
different categories.
(A) On the basis of nature of information:
On the basis of nature of information we can classify the research into
two types;
(i) Qualitative Research: When information is in the form of qualitative
data.
(ii) Quantitative Research: When information is in the form of
quantitative data.
(B) On the basis of utility of content or nature of subject matter of
research:
On the basis of these criteria we can categorize the research into two
categories.
(i) Basic/ Fundamental /pure or Theoretical Research: Its utility is
universal.
(ii) Experimental or Applied Research: Its utility is limited.
(C) On the basis of approach of research:
We may classify research into two different categories.
(i) Longitudinal Research: Examples of this category are historical, Case
study and Genetic research.
(ii) Cross-Sectional Research: Examples of this category are
Experimental and Survey Research.
(D) On the basis of method of research:
On the basis of research method we may classify a research into five
different categories.
(i) Philosophical Research: It is purely qualitative in nature and we are
focusing on the vision of others on the content of research.
(ii) Historical Research: It is both qualitative as well as quantitative in
nature and deals with past events.
(iii) Survey Research: It deals with present events and is quantitative in
nature. It may further be sub-divided into; discretional, correlational
and exploratory type of research.
(iv) Experimental Research: This is purely quantitative in nature and
deals with future events.
(v) Case-Study Research: It deals with unusual events. It may be
qualitative as well as quantitative in nature depending upon the
content.