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2 Research Methods Learning Objectives This chapter would help the readers: • to understand meaning and various types of research; • to acquaint with the research methods in psychology; • to be familiar with techniques for collection of research data; and • to reflect upon case studies about research cases. An Opening Story: Challenges in Data Collection Choosing an appropriate research methodology and its execution is all the time a challenging as well as an interesting experience for organizational researchers. Though research is a planned effort on the part of the researcher, nevertheless with all the research preparations done, the research investigators often face several practical issues during data collection. In one such large research on occupational health of women, the researcher put all his efforts to contact more than 50 organizations employing women for the purpose of data collection. While contacting the organizations individually, out of 50 almost 29 companies refused for data to be collected from them on the grounds that the information is confidential or it is not their policy to allow any outsider for collection of information. It became very difficult for the researcher to collect sufficient data from the remaining 21 organizations. A lot of time was wasted on 29 companies which posed a huge challenge to the research investigator to complete the data collection and meet the time line for submission of research report. The researcher had to work very hard while drawing time from rest of his assignments and put extra efforts to collect sufficient data. It is always advisable for an organizational researcher to visualize such data collection problems and delays, and to keep sufficient time at hand for such eventualities in order to meet the requirements of quality and quantity of data required for research. 2.1 INTRODUCTION Students in college and university often experience lot of anxiety and questions before they begin delving into any research activity or assignment, contemplating as to what they should be looking for in research, how they should actually begin doing Research Methods 27 the data, analysis of data, research case examples, Master’s/PhD thesis proposal format, Master’s/PhD thesis evaluation and finally contents of a completed research document. 2.2 OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH Every research is guided by a set of objectives which lay the foundation for its approach and search for query. This is normally the second step in any research after the review of literature on the subject. A careful and comprehensive review of the published literature generally guides formulation of research objectives and questions. Writing a clear statement of research objectives is very important in the research process, hence, this step must be carefully discussed with teachers, students, and professionals in the field. Normally, the research objectives are drawn on the basis of exhaustive literature survey done on the topic of research by visiting a couple of libraries and the Internet search. Sometimes researchers tend to avoid this step which is a basic error in research. Objectives carefully drawn give us fair opportunity to write good hypothesis. C.R. Kothari (2008) stated that the purpose of research is to discover answers to questions through the applications of scientific procedures. Though each research has its own specific purpose, the research objectives can be broadly categorized into following four groups: Exploratory Research: When the objective is to gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it. Descriptive Research: To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation, or a group, or an organization. Diagnostic Research: To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else. Hypothesis Testing Research: To Good to Know test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables. Normally, hypotheses are developed from the stated objectives of research. 2.3 TYPES OF RESEARCH Research can be carried out in multiple ways. Years of research by the scholars has brought out various types of research which help researchers to think about what type of research suits them as per objectives and aims of their research inquiry. A variety of research types would help researchers to choose between the appropriate ones that would go with their research requirements. There are research types such as descriptive, applied, quantitative, qualitative, longitudinal, clinical, and others that would interest the students more as they go through each of these as described below. 2.3.1 Descriptive Vs Analytical Descriptive research is to describe the situation as it prevails in the present scenario. For example, describing the rate of accidents at workplace, or the attrition rate across different industries in the state of Maharashtra. Descriptive research is also referred as 28 Organizational Psychology ex-post facto research. It describes the state of facts or variables as it is in the present context. In this method, the researcher does not control any variables. He only takes an account of what has occurred or is happening. In analytical research, the researcher uses the information or data derived from the descriptive method which provides a basis for formulating further hypothesis looking at the different background variables as to the proportion in which they exist, and also which variables can be included for further analysis. So both descriptive as well as analytical researches are very powerful in their own ways to help the researcher find effective solutions to his/her research queries. 2.3.2 Applied Vs Fundamental Applied research would help finding an immediate answer to the social or organizational issues or problems such as why employees are not satisfied or motivated on their jobs. Applied research method would assist in finding the determinants of job dissatisfaction or low motivation and the like. Fundamental research is basically theoretical in nature. It does not find any solution to immediate issues, rather it extends the theoretical framework bringing different ideas and variables together as to build a more holistic or multidisciplinary basis of research. Fundamental research is very useful and brings together many perspectives on the existing issues whereas an applied research is more practical in its approach. 2.3.3 Quantitative Vs Qualitative Quantitative research refers to the extent or size of correlation between two or more variables. It is mostly questionnaire-based. It is expressed in terms of number or value or quantity. Qualitative research would give depth or quality to the research. It is mostly interview-based. For example, quantitative research would provide us the degree of stress the employees are experiencing whereas qualitative research would give an idea as to what is the nature of this stress and in which aspects of life and so on. Processes underlying human behaviours, that is, studying the relationship underlying certain critical behaviours and performance of employees, the research would be qualitative in nature (Michael Berkwits 1998). Attitude research designed to find out how people feel or think about a particular subject is quantitative research (Paj Waddington and Bull Ray 2007). Both quantitative as well as qualitative researches would be necessary for an effective and useful research. 2.34 Conceptual Vs Empirical Conceptual research refers to concept building or conceptualizing about certain problems or solutions. Conceptual research is useful in organizations in order to deliberate upon framing policies, formulating new rules and regulations which require broad conceptual framework, or benchmarking with other national or international companies. Empirical research is more data based or has on experiential research approach to reach certain conclusions which are testable and generalizable from sample to population. It can also be called experimental type of research which can be based on social or organizational experiments. Both these researches are widely practised in organizations. Research Methods 29 2.3.5 Longitudinal Vs One-Time Research Longitudinal research requires thorough planning and implementation by a number of experienced researchers and investigators involved (Elisabetta Ruspini 2000). Generally, it would require assurance of a large funding for travelling, printing of questionnaires, analysis of data, publication support and the like. Based on longitudinal research findings, it is possible to develop behavioural trends across months, departments, cities, cultures, for example, developing behavioural trends of unsafe and safe behaviours responsible for accidents and injuries in organizations or its units. One-time research is of short or long duration but it does not prolong over the years as longitudinal research does. 2.3.6 Clinical/Diagnostic Research Clinical or diagnostic research as it reflects is a case study and in-depth study about an individual or organization to find out certain relationships between the prevailing issues so that some reasonable diagnosis can be drawn. For example, the studies on children with autistic or learning or behavioural disorders, or employee misconduct or prolonged absenteeism, habitual low performers. 2.3.7 Exploratory Vs Formalized Research Exploratory research is basically conducted to explore the situation for portraying its features so that it can be understood for drawing further hypothesis. For example, portraying employees’ profile in an organization, an exploratory research can be very useful. Formalized research is primarily designed and conducted with a specific hypothesis to be tested. 2.3.8 Historical Research Instead of the primary sources of data, the historical research largely depends upon archives, documents, and secondary data such as previous accident records. This kind of research is typical in the sense that no other research would utilize such data. Sometimes this research approach is combined with other types of research. 2.3.9 Conclusion Oriented/Decision Oriented Research For conclusion oriented research, the researcher designs his research problem or enquiry according to his concepts in mind and reaches certain conclusions but in decision oriented research, his purpose of research is arriving at decisions for which his research is funded or supported for practical solutions to the existing problem at hand. 2.4 RESEARCH METHODS/METHODOLOGY Research is the arrangement of conditions for collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose. Research methods refer to the techniques that are meant for conducting research till it succeeds in answering research questions.
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