Research Methodology, A step-by-step guide for beginners PDF
Preview Research Methodology, A step-by-step guide for beginners
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY a step-by-step guide for beginners SAGE has been part of the global academic community since 1965, supporting high quality research and learning that transforms society and our understanding of individuals, groups, and cultures. SAGE is the independent, innovative, natural home for authors, editors and societies who share our commitment and passion for the social sciences. Find out more at: www.sagepublications.com rd 3 edition RESEARCH METHODOLOGY a step-by-step guide for beginners Ranjit Kumar © Ranjit Kumar 1999, 2005, 2011 First edition published 1999 Second edition published 2005. Reprinted 2007, 2008 (twice), 2009 (twice) This third edition published 2011 Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, or by any means, only with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers. SAGE Publications Ltd 1 Oliver’s Yard 55 City Road London EC1Y 1SP SAGE Publications Inc. 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, California 91320 SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd B 1/I 1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area Mathura Road New Delhi 110 044 SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd 33 Pekin Street #02-01 Far East Square Singapore 048763 Library of Congress Control Number available British Library Cataloguing in Publication data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978-1-84920-300-5 ISBN 978-1-84920-301-2 (pbk) Typeset by C&M Digitals (P) Ltd, Chennai, India Printed and bound in Great Britain by TJ International Ltd, Padstow, Cornwall Printed on paper from sustainable resources To my daughter, Parul Contents List of figures List of tables Preface 1 Research: a way of thinking Research: an integral part of your practice Research: a way to gather evidence for your practice Applications of research Research: what does it mean? The research process: characteristics and requirements Types of research Types of research: application perspective Types of research: objectives perspective Types of research: mode of enquiry perspective Paradigms of research Summary 2 The research process: a quick glance The research process: an eight-step model Phase I: deciding what to research Step I: formulating a research problem Phase II: planning a research study Step II: conceptualising a research design Step III: constructing an instrument for data collection Step IV: selecting a sample Step V: writing a research proposal Phase III: conducting a research study Step VI: collecting data Step VII: processing and displaying data Step VIII: writing a research report Summary STEP I FORMULATING A RESEARCH PROBLEM 3 Reviewing the literature The place of the literature review in research Bringing clarity and focus to your research problem Improving your research methodology Broadening your knowledge base in your research area Enabling you to contextualise your findings How to review the literature Searching for the existing literature Reviewing the selected literature Developing a theoretical framework Developing a conceptual framework Writing about the literature reviewed Summary 4 Formulating a research problem The research problem The importance of formulating a research problem Sources of research problems Considerations in selecting a research problem Steps in formulating a research problem The formulation of research objectives The study population Establishing operational definitions Formulating a research problem in qualitative research Summary 5 Identifying variables What is a variable? The difference between a concept and a variable Converting concepts into variables Types of variable From the viewpoint of causal relationship From the viewpoint of the study design From the viewpoint of the unit of measurement Types of measurement scale The nominal or classificatory scale The ordinal or ranking scale The interval scale The ratio scale Summary 6 Constructing hypotheses The definition of a hypothesis The functions of a hypothesis The testing of a hypothesis The characteristics of a hypothesis Types of hypothesis Errors in testing a hypothesis Hypotheses in qualitative research Summary STEP II CONCEPTUALISING A RESEARCH DESIGN 7 The research design What is a research design? The functions of a research design The theory of causality and the research design Summary 8 Selecting a study design Differences between quantitative and qualitative study designs Study designs in quantitative research Study designs based on the number of contacts Study designs based on the reference period Study designs based on the nature of the investigation Other designs commonly used in quantitative research The cross-over comparative experimental design The replicated cross-sectional design Trend studies Cohort studies Panel studies Blind studies Double-blind studies Study designs in qualitative research Case study Oral history Focus groups/group interviews Participant observation Holistic research Community discussion forums Reflective journal log Other commonly used philosophy-guided designs Action research Feminist research Participatory and collaborative research enquiry Summary STEP III CONSTRUCTING AN INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION 9 Selecting a method of data collection Differences in the methods of data collection in quantitative and qualitative research Major approaches to information gathering Collecting data using primary sources Observation The interview The questionnaire Constructing a research instrument in quantitative research Asking personal and sensitive questions The order of questions Pre-testing a research instrument
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