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Surkhet

Research Procedure: An Introduction


- Resham Bahadur Bist

Abstract
Research is common phenomenon to investigate the resolution of existing problems
and generate the new dimension of knowledge in all sectors. It aims to contribute to
the advancement of knowledge and wisdom which is undertaken with its certain
system and procedures. Regarding the issue of research, this article aims to explain
briefly what research is, its significance, and its purposes. It then mentions about
the types of research and its methods, processes, and qualities briefly.
Key words: Research, researcher, research methods, methodology, research process.

Introduction As such the term ‘research’ refers to the


systematic method consisting of enunciating
Research is an art of scientific and systematic
the problem, formulating a hypothesis,
investigation to get information about a specific
collecting the facts or data, analyzing the
topic. It can be considered as an endeavor to
facts and reaching certain conclusions either
find an answer of intellectual and practical
in the form of solution (s) towards the
problems using the applicable scientific method.
concerned problem or in certain
Burn (1994, p. 2) views research as “a
generalizations for some theoretical
systematic investigation to find answers to a
formulation. (p.1)
problem”. Some people consider research as a
movement from the known to unknown. It is Kerlinger (1986) says that research is a
actually a voyage to discover something new. It systematic, controlled, empirical and critical
has a certain prescribed ideas to perform the investigation of hypothetical propositions, facts,
activities. It is the pursuit of the truth with the the answer to a question, or the resolution of a
help of study, observation, comparison, and problem. Likewise Sekaran (2000) defines that
experiment. Research gives the original research is an organized, systematic, data-based,
contribution to the existing stock of knowledge critical, scientific enquiry or investigation into
making for its advancement. In short, the search a specific problem, undertaken with the objective
for knowledge through objectives and systematic of finding answers or solutions of it. These
method of finding solution to a problem is definitions of research highlight research as an
research. Regarding this issue of research investigation to solve the problem or creation of
Kothari and Garg (2014) mention: new knowledge which is systematic and

34 Journal of NELTA Surkhet Vol. 4 December, 2014


- Resham Bahadur Bist

scientific in its nature with certain explanation for them. It goes beyond these simple
methodological process. descriptions of explanations. It finds out the truth
which is hidden and which has been
Research is common in the academic field of
contemporary time which is incorporated as a undiscovered. Each research has its own specific
compulsory course at master’s level in the most proposes. Some general objectives of research
of the universities of world including Nepal for are given below as mentioned by Kothari and
graduation of the students. It is macro activity Garg (2014, p. 2):
consisting of a lot of micro activities (Bhattrai, i) To gain familiarity with a phenomenon
2009, p. 21). The micro activities like or to achieve new insights into it (studies
formulating a research problem, conceptualizing with this object in view are termed as
a research design, constructing tool(s) for data exploratory or formulative research
collection, selecting a sample, writing a research studies);
proposal are accomplished in the former phase ii) To portray accurately the characteristics
whereas activities like collecting data, processing of a particular individual, situation or
data, writing, and re-writing a research report a group (studies with this object in view
are completed in the later phase (Kumar, 2006. are known as descriptive research
p. 19). In the beginning of the research activity, studies);
the researcher should formulate research iii) To determine the frequency with which
topic/problem/question identifying an area of something occurs or with which it is
interest. Then other activities related to the associated with something else (studies
research start with its certain framework like with this object in view are known as
literature review, hypothesis, research design, diagnostic research studies);
sample design, data collection, execution of the iv) To test a hypothesis of a causal
project, analysis of data, hypothesis-testing, relationship between variables (such
generalization, and interpretation and preparation studies are known as hypothesis-testing
of the thesis or presentation of the results. research studies).
Objectives of research Beside these objectives of the research, it
Basically the purpose of research is to discover expands the horizons of knowledge and finds
answers to questions through the application of out the reality about the social phenomenon and
scientific procedures. Pant (2009) views the social facts. It also attempts to acquire scientific
purpose of research is ‘to find out about a knowledge about the social phenomenon and
particular subject that has significance for the social facts and studies the social values, beliefs,
researcher’ (p.10).The researcher undertakes traditions, and events etc.
research to discover a new subject or to verify
Significance of research
the existing one. The basic purpose of research
is to generate new knowledge. The other Research promotes the logical habits of thinking.
purposes of research are to explore the reality, It makes the people critical, rational, and logical
to describe the phenomenon under investigation, about the existing event and issue. The role of
to study the phenomena, and provide an research is applied in several fields: economics,

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Research Methodology: An Introduction

business, government, education, health etc. It knowledge which is used to build a theory,
provides the basis to build policies and systems develop policies, support decision-making and
in different areas. It has its special significance solve problems. These new horizons of
to solve various operational and planning knowledge obtained by research are useful to
problems of business and industry. It formulates analyze and verify the existing phenomena of
the efficient policies and programme to assist society. Regarding these issues, the research can
the existing situation of infrastructures; be divided into following categories:
education, health, transport, water supply, and
i. Descriptive and analytical research:
industry, etc. It is also significant to study the
social relationship and solve the various social Descriptive research describes the state of affairs
problems of the society. Research can be as it exists at present. It includes surveys and
significant to the different people distinctly as fact-finding enquiries of different kinds. The
mentioned in the following points: researcher only reports what has happened or
what is happening but he has no control over
i. To those students who are to write a
the variables. On the other hand in analytical
master’s or Ph D thesis, research may
research, the researcher has to use facts or
mean a careerism or a way to attain a
information which are already available, and
high position in the social structure;
analyze these to make a critical evaluation of
ii. To professionals in research
the material.
methodology, research may mean a
source of livelihood; ii. Applied and fundamental research:
iii. To philosophers and thinkers, research Applied research is conducted in response to a
may mean the outlet for new ideas and specific problem, which requires a solution. The
insights; major purpose of applied research is to answer
iv. To literary men and women, research practical and useful question about policies,
may mean the development of new style programs, projects, procedures, or organizations
and creative work; and (Pant, 2009. p.6). The basic purpose of applied
v. To analysts and intellectuals, research research is to find a solution for an immediate
may mean the development of new problem facing by existing structure. It is
theories. concerned with knowledge that has immediate
Thus, research is the fountain of knowledge for applications. Fundamental research is mainly
the sake of knowledge and an important source concerned with generalizations and with the
of providing guidelines for solving the problems formulation of a theory. It is undertaken for the
of different fields of society, government and sole purpose of adding to our knowledge that is
business as well. fundamental and generalizable. It is called pure
or basic research. The research works of
Types of research professors, scholars, and other researchers
The research is undertaken to solve the currently devoted to generate new knowledge in particular
existing problems in the work setting and to areas of their interest can be called fundamental
generate new knowledge in a particular area. research (Pant, 2009, p.7). It is not applied to
It also contributes in the building process of a find the solution of immediate problem but to

36 Journal of NELTA Surkhet Vol. 4 December, 2014


- Resham Bahadur Bist

generate more knowledge and understanding of v. Some other types of research:


the phenomena and problems that occur in Other types of research are based on either the
several areas and to build theories based on the purpose of research, or the time required to
research results. Such theories become the accomplish research, on the environment in
foundation for further study of the phenomena. which research is done, or on the basis of some
This process of building on existing knowledge other similar factors. From the point of view of
is the genesis for theory building (Sekaran, time, research can be either as One-time
2000). It is thus typical kind of research that Research or Longitudinal Research. The one
can contribute to formation of new theory. time research is confined to a single time period,
iii. Quantitative and qualitative research: whereas longitudinal research is carried on for
over several time periods. The Field-setting
Quantitative research is based on the quantitative
Research or Laboratory Research or Simulation
measurements of some characteristics. It is
Research depend upon the environment which
applicable to phenomena that can be expressed
it is to be carried out. Clinical or Diagnostic
in terms of quantities. Qualitative research is Research follows case-study methods or in depth
concerned with qualitative phenomenon. For approaches to reach the basic casual relations.
instance, when we are interested in investigating Exploratory Research focuses to develop the
the reasons for human behavior (why people hypotheses rather than their testing. Historical
think or do certain things), we can use qualitative Research is that which utilizes historical sources
research. This type of research aims at like documents, and archeological remains etc.
discovering the underlying motives and desires to study events and ideas of the past, including
using in depth interviews for the purpose. It is to philosophy of persons and groups at any
important in the behavioral sciences to discover remote point of views. A researcher is free to
the underlying motives or behaviors of people. pick up a problem, and re-design the enquiry as
iv. Conceptual and empirical research: he proceeds and is prepared to conceptualize as
he wishes in Conclusion- oriented Research.
Conceptual research is related to some abstract
Decision-oriented Research is always for the
idea(s) or theory. It is used by philosophers and need of a decision maker and the researcher in
thinkers to develop new concepts or to reinterpret this case is not free to embark upon research
existing ones. Empirical is data-based research, according to his own inclination. Operation
coming up with conclusions which are capable Research is an example of decision oriented
of being verified by observation or experiment. research since it is a scientific method of
It is called as experimental type of research. Such providing executive department with a
researches aim at discovering of facts based on quantitative basis for decisions regarding
the empirically gathered primary data operation under their control.
(Saravanavel, 2005, p. 14). In empirical
research, the evidences are gathered through Distinction between research method and
experiments or empirical studies which are methodology
considered to be the most powerful support Research method may be understood as all those
possible for testing a given hypothesis. methods or techniques that are used for

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Research Methodology: An Introduction

conduction of research. Research methods or on the significance of research, defining of


technique, thus, refer to the methods the research problem, formulation of hypothesis,
researchers use in performing research selection of data collection method, and using
operations (Kothari & Garg, 2014, p. 6). of data collection techniques. Thus, the scope
Research methods are used by researchers of research methodology is wider than research
during the course of studying his research method.
problems to make a possible solution. Basically
Research process
research methods concern to these facts in the
research: to collect the data; to establish the It is essential to know about a brief overview of
relationship between the data and the unknowns; the research process before the details of research
and to evaluate the accuracy of the results methodology. Research process consists of
obtained. There is a distinction between research certain structural process or steps to carry out
techniques and research methods. Research research effectively. Research process has
techniques refer to the behavior and instrument several crucial steps. These steps are mentioned
we use in performing research operations such in the followings points:
as making observation, recording data, i. Formulating the research problem
techniques of processing data and the like. ii. Extensive literature survey
Research methods refer to the behavior and iii. Developing hypothesis
instruments used in selection and constructing iv. Preparing the research design
research technique.
v. Determining sample design
Research methodology is a way to systematically vi. Collecting the data
solve the research problem. It can be understood vii. Execution of the data
as a science of studying how research is done viii. Analysis of data
scientifically. Bist (2014) mentions that research ix. Hypothesis testing
methodology provides systematic and orderly x. Generalizations and interpretation
work plan and describes the essential methods xi. Presentation of results
for the completion of research project. The
methodology is just like a tool utilized by a Research usually begins with its problem and
researcher to measure the activities of the study. ends in empirical generalization. All of these
Different methodologies are used with different above mentioned steps of research process
studies. The research methodology can be taken should maintain in the perfect order to reach in
as the heart of it. Researcher needs to know how formal conclusion.
to calculate the mean, the mode, the median or Qualities of good research
the standard deviation, how to apply a particular
A research has to meet certain conditions in order
research techniques. Researcher needs to
to be a good research. A good research has the
understand the assumptions underlying various
following qualities:
techniques and decide the certain applicable
techniques and procedures to the certain i. Systematic: It means that research
problem. The focus of research methodology is is structured with specific steps to be

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- Resham Bahadur Bist

taken in a specified sequence in work setting, and to build up new theory, with
accordance with the well defined set its certain research process. There are different
of rules. steps in research: sensing a problem, problem
identification, theoretical framework, hypothesis
ii. Logical: It implies that research is
formulation, research design, data collection,
guided by the rules of logical reasoning
data analysis, and refinement of theory. A good
and the logical process of induction and
research has certain characteristics: systematic,
deduction are of great value in carrying
empirical, logical, replicable and purposive.
out research. Logical reasoning makes
These qualities are should be fulfilled for a
research more meaningful in the
scientific research. The types of research
context of decision making.
methodology depend on the context,
iii. Empirical: It implies that research is assumptions, paradigms and perspectives to
related basically to one or more aspects study a phenomenon. It provides systematic and
of a real situation and deals with scientific and orderly work plan to complete the
concrete data that provides a basis for research. There are certain techniques and
external validity to research results. methods too to accomplish the job of good
iv. Replicable: This feature allows research. Thus research is creative and strategic
research results to be verified by process with its certain framework to search the
replicating the study and thereby new dimension of knowledge and solve the
building a sound basis for decisions current problems.
(Kothari & Grant 2014, p. 19).
About the author
v. Purposive: Research must have a Mr. Bist is a Lecturer of English at
focus or a specific purpose. It is Department of English, Mid-Western
essential for the effective and University. He is an MA in English and
meaningful research. Research B.Ed. in Englsih Education from Tribhuvan
without purpose leads the study University, Nepal. He is Assistant- Secretary
nowhere (Pant, 2009, p. 17). The of NELTA, Surkhet. His keen interests include
purpose of research influences the literary creations and research in literature
activities of researcher. and ELT. He has also published a number of
articles in newspapers and research journals
Conclusion about current affairs, literature and literary
Research is a systematic and organized effort to criticisms.
investigate a specific problem that needs a
solution. Research is not only undertaken to
References
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knowledge building process. It can be 25.
undertaken to fulfill different purposes. Basically Bist, R. B. (2014). Writing a research proposal:
research is undertaken to generate new A general guideline. Journal of NELTA.
knowledge, to solve the existing problems in the Vol.1:1-6.

Journal of NELTA Surkhet Vol. 4 December, 2014 39


Research Methodology: An Introduction

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