What is Research? Meaning, Objectives, Types & Importance with Examples

 What is Research?

  • Research refers to a systematic and scientific approach to find answers or solutions to questions or problems. 
  • It is a journey from the known to the unknown—an effort to gain new knowledge and understand hidden truths. 
  • It includes careful observation, investigation, and experimentation.


Definitions by Experts: 

  • Redman and Mory: “Research is a systematized effort to gain new knowledge.” 
  • Clifford Woody: “Research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypotheses, collecting data, analyzing it, and reaching conclusions.” 
  • Example: A study examining how social media affects students concentration levels is a form of research that seeks to find a connection between technology use and academic focus.

Objectives of Research:

1. Exploratory Research 

  • Aims to explore new topics or gain better understanding. 
  • Example: Studying how AI might change the education system in future. 

2. Descriptive Research 

  • Seeks to describe characteristics or functions of a subject. 
  • Example: Research detailing the literacy rate among rural women in Haryana. 

3. Diagnostic Research 

  • Identifies the causes or frequency of a problem. 
  • Example: Investigating the reason behind rising dropout rates in government schools. 

4. Hypothesis-Testing Research 

  • Focuses on testing relationships between variables. 
  • Example: Testing whether meditation leads to reduced anxiety in college students.

Significance of Research:

Research is important because it helps in various fields and for different people: 

1. For Government and Economy 

  • Policy Making: Helps in forming and improving government policies. 
  • Budgeting: Research helps estimate public needs and revenue. 
  • Planning Resources: Assists in allocation of national resources. 
  • Understanding the Nation: Helps collect and analyze economic and social data. 
  • Prediction: Helps forecast future developments. 

2. For Business and Industry 

  • Market Research: Understand customer needs, demand, and market trends. 
  • Operations Research: Solve business problems using logic and analysis. 
  • Motivational Research: Understand consumer behavior. 
  • Better Decisions: Replace guesses with logical decisions. 
  • Forecasting: Helps plan production, budgeting, and investments. 

3. For Social Sciences

  • Understand Society: Study human behavior, relationships, and social problems. 
  • Create Knowledge: Discover new ideas and improve existing ones. 
  • Solve Real Problems: Give practical solutions to social issues. 
  • Dual Purpose: Knowledge for understanding society and solving problems 

4. For Different People 

  • Students: Helps in writing theses and academic work. 
  • Researchers: A source of livelihood and career. 
  • Thinkers/Philosophers: A way to express new ideas. 
  • Writers: Helps in creative writing and new literary styles. 
  • Intellectuals: Helps in forming and testing new theories.

Research as the Scientific Method

  • The scientific method is a structured approach to discovering truths. 
  • It is common to all scientific disciplines, regardless of the subject. 
  • It is based on logic, observation, and experimentation. 
  • According to Karl Pearson, the unity of science lies in the method, not the subject studied. 

Purpose of the Scientific Method in Research 

  • To establish a systematic relationship between facts. 
  • To arrive at logical conclusions based on evidence. 
  • To test hypotheses and identify new relationships among variables. 
  • To ensure results are objective, accurate, and reliable. 

Tools of the Scientific Method 

  • Observation: Gathering data by watching natural events. 
  • Experimentation: Testing under controlled settings to discover cause-effect relations.
  • Logical Reasoning: Drawing valid conclusions from observed facts. 

Basic Features of the Scientific Method 

  1. Relies on empirical evidence – based on real-world observations. 
  2. Uses relevant concepts – builds on existing theories and ideas. 
  3. Remains objective – avoids personal bias. 
  4. Presupposes ethical neutrality – aims for truthful reporting. 
  5. Leads to probabilistic predictions – results indicate likelihood, not certainty. 
  6. Open to verification – others can repeat the research and check results. 
  7. Aims for general theories – formulates broad principles that explain multiple situations

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs- Simplified Notes with Examples

Image
MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS- SIMPLIFIED NOTES WITH EXAMPLES 📌 Introduction ● Abraham H. Maslow , known as the Father of Humanistic Psychology, proposed the Need Hierarchy Theory in 1943 . ● This theory explains human motivation through a five-level pyramid of needs . According to Maslow, human behavior is driven by the desire to fulfill specific needs , starting from basic survival needs to higher psychological and self-growth needs. 🎯 Key Assumptions of Maslow’s Theory 1. Human needs are arranged in a hierarchy – from lower to higher levels. 2. A lower-level need must be sufficiently satisfied before a person seeks higher-level needs. 3. A satisfied need no longer motivates behavior. 4. As one set of needs is fulfilled, the next level becomes dominant . 5. Maslow called it a “ general-dynamic theory ” of motivation. 🔺️ MASLOW'S PYRAMID 5️⃣  The 5 Levels/ Stages of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 1. Physiological Needs (Basic Needs) ● These are biological needs for s...
Read more

What Is Hue, Value, and Intensity in Color? Explained with Color Wheel

Image
COLOR Color is a fundamental element of design, art and aesthetics . It has the power to evoke emotions, convey meaning and create visual impact.   Color plays a crucial role in interior design, influencing the mood, atmosphere, and perception of space within a room. Different colors evoke various emotions and can affect how people feel and behave in space.  Colors are created by different wavelengths of light that are reflected, transmitted or absorbed by objects.  From the vibrant hues of sunset to the subtle tones of a gray scale photograph, color plays a significant role in how we perceive and interpret the world around us. SOURCE OF COLOR  When white light falls on an opaque object, selective absorption occurs, where certain wavelengths are absorbed and others reflected. The absorbed wavelengths determine the perceived color of the object, while the reflected wavelengths contribute to its appearance. For example , a red surface appears red because it absor...
Read more