RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

QSM514

LECTURE 1: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

CONTENT:

INTRODUCTION
THE CONCEPT OF RESEARCH
THE RATIONALE OF QSM 514
HIGH-QUALITY RESEARCH
THE CLASSIFICATIONS
RESEARCH STYLES
RESEARCH PROCESS

INTRODUCTION:

Information, ideas and opinions surround us, most of which we never question.

When we do pay attention, we usually accept it as it comes from whatever source. For
example, do you ever wonder if youre getting the whole story from TV news shows or
newspapers? Do you wonder whats been left out, if anything? Or Why?

If we wish to understand something, not just accept someone elses word for it but
actually understand it, and in turn pass on our understanding to someone else. We must
question, give opinion, make an assumption and theory and speculation.

According to Taflinger (1996) the purpose of the question is to gather evidence.

THE CONCEPT OF RESEARCH

Research is finding out what you dont already know. No one knows everything, but everybody
knows something. However to complicate matters, often what you know, or think you know, is
incorrect.
There are two basic purposes for research:
To learn something, or
To gather evidence.
To learn something, is for your own benefit. It is almost impossible for human to stop
learning. Research is organised learning, looking for specific things to add to your store
of knowledge.
Chambers English dictionary as cited by (Fellows, 1997) defined research as:
A careful research
Investigation
DR.LILAWATI AB WAHAB

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

QSM514

Systematic investigation towards increasing the sum of knowledge

THE RATIONALE OF QSM514

Ability to propose a research topic in semester 04

Ability to produce an interim report in semester 05
Ability to carry out research project (dissertation) successfully in semester 06
Ability to work independently on any task given

HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH

Sakind, 2003 reported that a high quality research is characterized by:
Is based on work of others
Can be replicated
Is generalisable to other settings
Is based on some logical rationale and tied to theory
Is doable
Generates new questions or is cyclical in nature
Is incremental
Is an apolitical activity that should be undertaken for the betterment of society

THE CLASSIFICATIONS
1. Pure and Applied Research
Pure or blue sky research the discovery of theories, laws of nature etc
Academics are encouraged to undertake research towards the pure end of the
spectrum
Applied research is directed to the end-users and practical applications
Development cannot exist without the basic & pure research is unlikely to be of great
benefit to society without applications
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
1. Quantitative Research
Adopts a scientific method based on existing theory and literature.
Have precise aims and objectives with hypothesis to be tested
Seeks to gather factual data and to study relationships between facts and how such
facts and relationship accord with theories and the findings of any research executed
previously.
DR.LILAWATI AB WAHAB

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

QSM514

2. Qualitative Research:
Exploration of the subject is undertaken without prior formulation
To gain understanding and collect data and information such that theories will
emerge
Seek to gain insight and understanding to peoples perception of the world. E.g:
belief, understanding, opinion, views, perceptions etc.
EXPERIMENTAL AND NON- EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
Experimental
To test for true cause and efect relationship
High degree of control over factors
Code word: Function of, Cause of, Comparison between, etc.....
Quasy-experimental Research
To test for casual relationships without having full control
Moderate to high degree of control over factors
Code word : Function of, cause of, comparison between, effects of, etc.....
E.g: Employed versus unemployed actual research takes place after the
assignment group
Non Experimental Research:
1. Descriptive :
Describes the characteristics of an existing
Code word: describe, interview, review literature
Eg: Survey that assesses on the types of complaints for a end users in.....
2. Historical :
Relate events that have occured in the past to current events
Code words: past, describe,
E.g. The trends in.....
3. Correlation:
Examine the relationships between variables
Code word: Relationship, related to, associate with, predict, etc.....
E.g. The relationship between the studying hours and CGPA
4. Qualitative:
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

QSM514

Not directly test for cause and effect, to examine human behaviour in the social cultural,
and political contexts in which they occur.

Tools: interview, historical, methods, case studies etc.

RESEARCH STYLES
Bell (1993) as cited in Fellows (1997) suggests styles of research to be:
1. Action
2. Ethnographic
3. Surveys
4. Case Study and
5. Experimental

* Definition varies and the boundaries between the styles are not well defined.

1. Action Research

Active participation by he researcher to identify, promotes and evaluates problems and

potential solutions.

Is designed to suggest and test solutions to a particular problem applied research

category

The process detecting the problems and alternative courses of action basic research

2. Ethnographic Research
Less active intrusion by the researcher become part of a group under study and
observes subjects behaviours statements etc
More akin to the action research approach
3. Surveys
Operates on the basis of statical sampling
Must secure a representative sample
Sample are surveyed through:
a. Questionnaire
b. Interviews
DR.LILAWATI AB WAHAB

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

QSM514

4. Case Studies
Encourage in depth investigation of particular instance within the research subject
Case studies may be selected on the basis of being representative with similar
conditions to those used in statistical sampling;
- Representative sample
- Demonstrate particular facets of the topic
- To show the spectrum of alternatives
May combine a variety of data collection methods:
- Interview
- Documentary Data
- Situational (eg negotiation)
May combine several research styles
5. Experiments
Usually adopted for bounded problems or issues in which the variables involved are
known, or at least hypothesised with some confidence. Carried in:
i.
Lab to test relationships between identical
variables,
one
variable
constant or
ii. Social, industrial, economic, political arena eg: in alive electrical manufacturing
company (in social sciences)

RESEARCH PROCESS

Initial Studies
Provide the foundation for all the research work that follow:
i.
Determining or confirming the aim, objectives and hypothesis or
ii. Confirming the topic of study
Preliminary Research
i.
Searching sources of the theory and previous studies
ii. To discover the appropriate bases for the subsequent detailed work are likely to
be.

REFERENCES

Fellows, R, and A. Liu (1997) Research Method for Construction, Blackwell Science.
Salkin, N.J (2003), Exploring Research, London, Pearson Education Ltd.

DR.LILAWATI AB WAHAB