Chapter 1

Introduction and Overview of

Research

1
Definitions of Research
• The main goal of research is the gathering and interpreting of
information to answer questions (Hyllegard, Mood, and Morrow, 1996).
• Research is a systematic attempt to provide answers to questions
(Tuckman, 1999).
• the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information (data) in
order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon about which
we are concerned or interested
• Research may be defined as the systematic and objective analysis and
recording of controlled observations that may lead to the development
of generalizations, principles, or theories, resulting in prediction and
possible control of events (Best and Kahn, 1998).
• Research is a systematic way of asking questions, a systematic method
of inquiry (Drew, Hardman, and Hart, 1996).

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…
• Reseach is a scientific and systematic search for
pertinent information on specific topic.
• The systematic process of collecting and analyzing
information (data) in order to increase our
understanding of the phenomenon about which we
are concerned or interested.
• Dictionary definition of research is a carful investigation
or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any
branch of knowledge.

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Research is not
Accidental discovery :
– Accidental discovery may occur in structured research process
– Usually takes the form of a phenomenon not previously noticed
– May lead to a structured research process to verify or understand the observation
Data Collection
– an intermediate step to gain reliable knowledge
– collecting reliable data is part of the research process
Searching out published research results in libraries (or the internet)
– This is an important early step of research
– The research process always includes synthesis and analysis
– But, just reviewing of literature is not research
Information gathering:
– Gathering information from resources such books or magazines isn’t research.
– No contribution to new knowledge.
The transportation of facts:
– Merely transporting facts from one resource to another doesn’t constitute research.
– No contribution to new knowledge although this might make existing knowledge more accessible.

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Research is…
1. Searching for explanation of events, phenomena, relationships
and causes
– What, how and why things occur
– Are there interactions?

2. A process
– Planned and managed – to make the information generated credible
– The process is creative
– It is circular – always leads to more questions

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Objectives of Research
• The purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the
application of scientific procedures.

• The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which
has not been discovered yet.

• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights

• To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual situation.

• To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with it is

associated

• To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship b/n variables.

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Research Characteristics
 Originates with a question or problem.
 Requires clear articulation of a goal.
 Follows a specific plan or procedure.
 Often divides main problem into sub problems.
 Guided by specific problem, question, or hypothesis.
 Accepts certain critical assumptions.
 Requires collection and interpretation of data.
 Suggests possible solutions to the problem

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What is Science, the Scientific Method, and Research
Methodology?
• Science…
– a body of established knowledge
– the observation, identification, investigation, and theoretical explanation
of natural phenomenon
• Scientific Method…
– involves the principles and processes regarded as characteristic of or
necessary for scientific investigation
– process or approach to generating valid and trustworthy knowledge
• Research…
– the application of the scientific method
– a systematic process of collecting and logically analyzing information
(data)
• Research Methods
– the ways one collects and analyzes data
– methods developed for acquiring trustworthy knowledge via reliable and
valid procedures

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…
• Research Methods
– it is a method or technique that are used to conduction of research.
– used for performing research.

• Research Methodology- is a way to systematically solve the

research problem.
– It may be unerstood as a science of studying how research is done
scientifically.

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Scientific Method
• Hypothesis
• Sequence of experiments
– Randomization
– Repetition

• Change one parameter/experiment

• Prove/Disprove Hypothesis
• Document for others to reproduce results

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Scientific Method

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 Structure of Research
The "hourglass" notion of research
begin with broad questions
narrow down, focus in
operationalize
OBSERVE
analyze data
reach conclusions
generalize back to questions

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The Scientific Research Method
• Systematic; cyclic; series of logical steps.
– Identifying the problem
– Formulating a hypothesis
– Developing the research plan
– Collecting and analyzing the data
– Interpreting results and forming conclusions

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Identifying the Problem
• First, and arguably the most important, step
– Several sources
– Theoretical basis
– Professional practice
– Personal experience
– Shear curiosity
– Starts as a broad question that must be narrowed
– Problem statement; experimental approach to the problem; etc.

• Three categories when selecting a research problem

– Those who know precisely what they want to do and have a well
conceived problem
– Those who have many interest areas and are having difficulty deciding
exactly what they want to study
– Those who do not have any idea about a worthwhile research problem

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Formulating a Hypothesis
• Hypothesis:
– A belief or prediction of the eventual outcome of the research
– A concrete, specific statement about the relationships between
phenomena
– Based on deductive reasoning
– 2 types of hypotheses:
– Null hypothesis (HO)
– All is equal; no differences exist
– Alternative (research) hypothesis (HA)
– Usually specific and opposite to the null

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Developing the Research Plan
• A strategy must be developed for gathering and
analyzing the information that is required to test the
hypotheses or answer the research question
– Four parts:
– Selection of a relevant research methodology
– Identification of subjects or participants
– Description of the data-gathering procedures
– Specification of the data analysis techniques
– Pilot studies, all must be determined in advance!

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Collecting and Analyzing the Data
• Following all the pre-determined protocols
– Time in the lab collecting data
– Analyzing the composite data
– Controlling the environment

• Easiest part of the process…

– However, sometime the most time-consuming part of the process…

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Interpreting Results and Forming Conclusions
• DATA ANALYSIS IS NOT AN END IN ITSELF!
• Does the evidence support or refute the original hypotheses?
– Accept or reject the hypotheses
– Conclusions should be drawn:
– Develop new hypotheses to explain the results
– Inferences are typically made beyond the specific study

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 New Questions
Arise
Question
Identified

Results Hypotheses
Interpreted Formed

Data Research
Collected Plan
Closed-loop conceptualization of the research process (Drew,
Hardman, and Hart, 1996)

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Research Classifications/Types
• System #1:
– Basic research
– Applied research

• System #2:
– Quantitative research
– Qualitative research

• System #3:
– Experimental research
– Nonexperimental research

• System #4
– Exploratory research
– Constructive research
– Empirical research

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Basic vs. Applied Research
Applied Research
• Applying the result of research finding to solve specific problem happening in
an organization.
• The aim is to solve current problem
• Ex. Research to identify social,economic, political trend that may affect a
particular institution,marketing research evaluation
Basic/fundamental Research
• Enhancing the understanding of certain problem that commonly occur in
organization setting and seek method of solving them.
• The aim is to generate knowledge, understand phenomena/problem that
occur in various organization setting.
• Is mainly concerned with generalisation and formulation of theory.concerned
on soma natural phenomenon or relating to pure mathematics.

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Basic vs. Applied Research
• Basic • Applied
– Pure, fundamental – Central purpose to solve
research an immediate problem
– Discovery of new – Improved products or
knowledge; theoretical processes
in nature – Infers beyond the group
– Takes many years for the or situation studied
results of basic research – Interpretation of results
to find some practical relies upon Basic
utility research

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 Quantitative vs. Qualitative
• Quantitative • Qualitative
– Numerical, measurable – Generally non-numerical
data data
– Traditional or positivist
approach – Typically
anthropological and
– Clearly stated questions sociological research
– Rational hypotheses methods
– Developed research – Observations of a
procedures “natural” setting
– Extraneous variable
controls – In-depth descriptions of
situations
– Large samples
– Traditional, statistical
– Interpretive and
analyses descriptive

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Experimental vs. Nonexperimental
• Experimental • Nonexperimental
– Independent Variables 1. Causal-comparative
(Ivs) and Dependant
Variables (DVs) 2. Descriptive
– Cause-and-effect 3. Correlational
– Extraneous variable 4. Historical
controls
– 3 fundamental
characteristics
1. At least 1 active IV
2. Extraneous var
controls
3. Observation of the DV
response to the IV

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Exploratory, Constructive and Empirical research

• The goal of the research process is to produce new

knowledge.
• This process takes three main forms
1. Exploratory research which structures and identifies new problems
2. Constructive research which develops solutions to a problem
3. Empirical research which tests the feasibility of a solution using
empirical evidence.
• It is relies on experience or observation alone,often without due
regard for system and theory.
• It is data base research and in this research getting facts at
firsthand is must.

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Research Classifications/Types
• Other types
– Conceptual –is that related to some abstract idea or theory it is generally
used by philosophers and thinkers to develop new concepts or to
reinterpret existing ones.
– Descriptive- it includes survey and fact-finding enquiries of different kinds.
The major purpose of descriptive research is description of the state of
affairs as it exists at present.
– it called Ex post facto in social
– ex. Frequency of shoping, preferences of people.
– Analytical- in this case the researcher has to use facts or information
already available and analayze these to make a critical evaluation of the
material.

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 The Process of Research
• The process is initiated with a question or problem (step 1)
• Next, goals and objectives are formulated to deal with the
question or problem (step 2)
• Then the research design is developed to achieve the
objectives (step 3)
• Results are generated by conducting the research (step 4)
• Interpretation and analysis of results follow (step 5)

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 The Process of Research

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 The General Skeleton Process of Research

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 Creativity in the Research Process
• Research is a creative process
• “…research includes far more than mere logic … It
includes insight, genius, groping, pondering – ‘sense’ … The
logic we can teach; the art we cannot”
• Research requires (or at least works best) with imagination,
initiative, intuition, and curiosity.
• There are different types of creativity, characteristic of
different situations – “applied” and “theoretical” most
closely associate with economic research

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 Fostering Creativity
– Gather and use previously developed
knowledge
– Exchange ideas
– Apply deductive logic
– Look at things alternate ways
– Question or challenge assumptions
– Search for patterns or relationships
– Take risks
– Cultivate tolerance for uncertainty

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Scientific Research
 Provides scientific information and theories

 Follows a certain structural process though the step order may vary
depending on the subject matter and researcher

 The following steps are usually part of the most formal research both
basic and applied
 Observations and Formation of the topic
 Hypothesis
 Conceptual definitions
 Operational definition
 Gathering of data
 Analysis of data
 Test, reviving of hypothesis
 Conclusion

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Steps to Scientific Research
1. Identifying the research question or problem area

2. Initial review of literature

3. Distilling the question to a specific research problem

4. Continued review of literature

5. Formulation of hypotheses

6. Determining the basic research approach

7. Identifying the population and sample

8. Designing data collection plan

9. Selecting or developing specific data collection instruments or procedures

10. Choosing the method of data analysis

11. Implementing the research plan

12. Preparing the research report

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Significance of Research
• Research has its special significance in solving various oprational
and planning problems.
• Research is equally important for social scientists in studying
social relationships and in seeking answers to various social
poblems.
• It is significance for students,to professional,to philosophers and
thinker or others.

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Criteria of Good Research
• The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and common concept
be used.

• The research procedure used should be described in sufficient detail.

• The researcher should be report with complete frankness, flows procedural

design and estimate their effects upon the findings.

• The procedural design of the research should be carefully planned to yield

results that are as objectives as possible.

• The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its significance

and the method of analysis used should be appropriate.

• Conclusion should be confined to those justified by the data of the research

and limited to those for which the data provide an adequate baiss.

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11/11/2023 36
# Assignment 1
 Find a full-text research article published recently. The Article must be a recent one published after
2018 (Hint check your university library electronic resources portal or check
www.citeseerx.ist.psu.edu, or https://scholar.google.com/ websites to search for journal articles )
Provide a written summary 2-4 pages which could answer the following questions:

1. What type of research is it?

2. Do the researcher follow the scientific research process?
3. Do the research fulfils some of the characteristics of a research?
4. What is the research problem?
5. What were some potential limitations of this study?
6. What were the initial hypotheses for this study?
7. Where the hypotheses rejected or accepted?
8. What was the overall conclusion of this paper?
9. If you were to replicate this study, describe how you would do it

Submission Date:- Before a November 30/2023. submission is possible through email only.

 Email: tekalign@mwu.edu.et
Note:-
Don’t forget to attach the research article that you evaluated
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