Kumar, Ranjit
Research Methodology : A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners / Ranjit Kumar. - London ; Sage Publications, 1999. - 276 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [269]-271) and index.
"Research Methodology will prove to be essential reading for undergraduates in many disciplines and for anyone new to research who is planning to undertake a research project for the first time. It is simple, assumes no prior knowledge and the theory is organised around the eight operational steps that constitute the research process. All the information required to carry out a step is provided at one place under important themes as shown below. Research Methodology:
is a practical book - the organisation is operational in nature, follows a logical progression and is directly related to the practicalities of research;
is easy to understand as difficult procedures are explained in a step-by-step manner;
contains several flow charts to summarise and effectively communicate information;
contains many examples to reinforce the book's practical application; and
has a set of exercises to accompany each operational step to reinforce the concepts and to help to develop a research proposal." (Book Cover) TABLE OF CONTENTS: Preface Tables Figures 1 Research: a way of thinking Research: a way of thinking Applications of research Definitions of research Characteristics of research Types of research Application
Objectives
Types of information sought
Paradigms of research Summary 2 The research process: a quick glance The research process: an eight-step model Step I: formulating a research problem
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
Step VI: collecting data
Step VII: processing data
Step VIII: writing a research report
Summary Step I Formulating a research problem 3 Reviewing the literature Reasons for reviewing the literature Bring clarity and focus to your research problem
Improve your methodology
Broaden your knowledge base in your research area
Procedure for reviewing the literature Search for existing literature
Review the literature selected
Develop a theoretical framework
Develop a conceptual framework
Writing up 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 the formulation of a research problem The formulation of objectives Establishing operational definitions Summary 5 Identifying variables The definition of a variable The difference between a concept and a variable Concepts, indicators and variables Types of variable From the viewpoint of causation
From the viewpoint of the study design
From the viewpoint of the unit of measurement
Types of measurement scales The nominal or classificatory scale
The ordinal or ranking scale
The interval scale
The ratio scale
Summary 6 Constructing hypothesis The definition of a hypothesis The functions of a hypothesis The characteristics of a hypothesis Types of hypothesis Errors in testing a hypothesis Summary 6 Constructing hypothesis The definition of a hypothesis The functions of a hypothesis The characteristics of a hypothesis Types of hypothesis Errors in testing a hypothesis Summary Step II Conceptualising a research design 7 The research design The definition of a research design The functions of a research design Summary 8 Selecting a study design The number of contacts The cross-sectional study design
The before-and-after study design
The longitudinal study design
The reference period The retrospective study design
The prospective study design
The retrospective-prospective study design
The nature of the investigation The experimental study design
Some other commonly used designs
Summary Step III Constructing an Instrument for data collection 9 Selecting a method of data collection Collecting data using primary sources Observation
The interview
The questionnaire
Collecting data using secondary sources Problems with using data from secondary sources Summary 10 Collecting data using attitudinal scales Functions of attitudinal scales Difficulties in developing an attitudinal scale Types of attitudinal scale The summated rating or Likert scale
The equal-appearing-interval or Thurstone scale
The cumulative or Guttman scale
The relationship between attitudinal and measurement scales Summary 11 Establishing the validity and reliability of a research instrument The concept of validity Types of validity
The concept of reliability Factors affecting the reliability of a research instrument
Methods of determining the reliability of an instrument
Summary Step IV Selecting a sample 12 Sampling The concept of sampling Sampling terminology Principles of sampling Factors affecting the inferences drawn from a sample Aims in selecting a sample Types of sampling Random/probability sampling designs
Non-random/probability sampling designs
The 'mixed' sampling design
The calculation of sample size Summary Step V Writing a research proposal 13 Writing a research proposal The research proposal The preamble/introduction The problem The objectives of the study The hypotheses to be tested The study design The setting Measurement procedures Sampling Analysis of data Structure of the report Problems and limitations Work schedule Appendix Summary Step VI Collecting data 14 Considering ethical issues in data collection Ethics Stakeholders in research Ethical considerations concerning research participants Collecting information
Seeking consent
Providing incentives
Seeking sensitive information
The possibility of causing harm to participants
Maintaining confidentiality
Ethical issues relating to the researcher Avoiding bias
Provision or deprivation of a treatment
Using appropriate research methodology
Correct reporting
Using information
Ethical considerations regarding the sponsoring organisation Restrictions imposed by the sponsoring organisation
The use of information
Summary Step VII Processing data
15 Processing Editing data Coding data Developing a code book
Pre-testing a code book
Coding the data
Verifying of coded data
Developing a frame of analysis Frequency distributions
Cross tabulations
Constructing the main concepts
Statistical procedures
Analysing data The role of computers in research The role of statistics in research Summary 16 Displaying data Tables Structure
Types of tables
Types of percentages
Graphs The histogram
The bar chart
The stacked bar chart
The 100 per cent bar chart
The frequency polygon
The cumulative frequency polygon
The stem-and-leaf display
The pie chart
The line diagram or trend curve
The area chart
The scattergram
Summary Step VIII Writing a research report 17 Writing a research report Research writing in general Referencing Writing a bibliography Developing an outline Writing about a variable Summary Appendix References Index
076196214X (pbk)
99185113
Research--Methodology.
Q180.55.M4 / K86 1999
Research Methodology : A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners / Ranjit Kumar. - London ; Sage Publications, 1999. - 276 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [269]-271) and index.
"Research Methodology will prove to be essential reading for undergraduates in many disciplines and for anyone new to research who is planning to undertake a research project for the first time. It is simple, assumes no prior knowledge and the theory is organised around the eight operational steps that constitute the research process. All the information required to carry out a step is provided at one place under important themes as shown below. Research Methodology:
is a practical book - the organisation is operational in nature, follows a logical progression and is directly related to the practicalities of research;
is easy to understand as difficult procedures are explained in a step-by-step manner;
contains several flow charts to summarise and effectively communicate information;
contains many examples to reinforce the book's practical application; and
has a set of exercises to accompany each operational step to reinforce the concepts and to help to develop a research proposal." (Book Cover) TABLE OF CONTENTS: Preface Tables Figures 1 Research: a way of thinking Research: a way of thinking Applications of research Definitions of research Characteristics of research Types of research Application
Objectives
Types of information sought
Paradigms of research Summary 2 The research process: a quick glance The research process: an eight-step model Step I: formulating a research problem
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
Step VI: collecting data
Step VII: processing data
Step VIII: writing a research report
Summary Step I Formulating a research problem 3 Reviewing the literature Reasons for reviewing the literature Bring clarity and focus to your research problem
Improve your methodology
Broaden your knowledge base in your research area
Procedure for reviewing the literature Search for existing literature
Review the literature selected
Develop a theoretical framework
Develop a conceptual framework
Writing up 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 the formulation of a research problem The formulation of objectives Establishing operational definitions Summary 5 Identifying variables The definition of a variable The difference between a concept and a variable Concepts, indicators and variables Types of variable From the viewpoint of causation
From the viewpoint of the study design
From the viewpoint of the unit of measurement
Types of measurement scales The nominal or classificatory scale
The ordinal or ranking scale
The interval scale
The ratio scale
Summary 6 Constructing hypothesis The definition of a hypothesis The functions of a hypothesis The characteristics of a hypothesis Types of hypothesis Errors in testing a hypothesis Summary 6 Constructing hypothesis The definition of a hypothesis The functions of a hypothesis The characteristics of a hypothesis Types of hypothesis Errors in testing a hypothesis Summary Step II Conceptualising a research design 7 The research design The definition of a research design The functions of a research design Summary 8 Selecting a study design The number of contacts The cross-sectional study design
The before-and-after study design
The longitudinal study design
The reference period The retrospective study design
The prospective study design
The retrospective-prospective study design
The nature of the investigation The experimental study design
Some other commonly used designs
Summary Step III Constructing an Instrument for data collection 9 Selecting a method of data collection Collecting data using primary sources Observation
The interview
The questionnaire
Collecting data using secondary sources Problems with using data from secondary sources Summary 10 Collecting data using attitudinal scales Functions of attitudinal scales Difficulties in developing an attitudinal scale Types of attitudinal scale The summated rating or Likert scale
The equal-appearing-interval or Thurstone scale
The cumulative or Guttman scale
The relationship between attitudinal and measurement scales Summary 11 Establishing the validity and reliability of a research instrument The concept of validity Types of validity
The concept of reliability Factors affecting the reliability of a research instrument
Methods of determining the reliability of an instrument
Summary Step IV Selecting a sample 12 Sampling The concept of sampling Sampling terminology Principles of sampling Factors affecting the inferences drawn from a sample Aims in selecting a sample Types of sampling Random/probability sampling designs
Non-random/probability sampling designs
The 'mixed' sampling design
The calculation of sample size Summary Step V Writing a research proposal 13 Writing a research proposal The research proposal The preamble/introduction The problem The objectives of the study The hypotheses to be tested The study design The setting Measurement procedures Sampling Analysis of data Structure of the report Problems and limitations Work schedule Appendix Summary Step VI Collecting data 14 Considering ethical issues in data collection Ethics Stakeholders in research Ethical considerations concerning research participants Collecting information
Seeking consent
Providing incentives
Seeking sensitive information
The possibility of causing harm to participants
Maintaining confidentiality
Ethical issues relating to the researcher Avoiding bias
Provision or deprivation of a treatment
Using appropriate research methodology
Correct reporting
Using information
Ethical considerations regarding the sponsoring organisation Restrictions imposed by the sponsoring organisation
The use of information
Summary Step VII Processing data
15 Processing Editing data Coding data Developing a code book
Pre-testing a code book
Coding the data
Verifying of coded data
Developing a frame of analysis Frequency distributions
Cross tabulations
Constructing the main concepts
Statistical procedures
Analysing data The role of computers in research The role of statistics in research Summary 16 Displaying data Tables Structure
Types of tables
Types of percentages
Graphs The histogram
The bar chart
The stacked bar chart
The 100 per cent bar chart
The frequency polygon
The cumulative frequency polygon
The stem-and-leaf display
The pie chart
The line diagram or trend curve
The area chart
The scattergram
Summary Step VIII Writing a research report 17 Writing a research report Research writing in general Referencing Writing a bibliography Developing an outline Writing about a variable Summary Appendix References Index
076196214X (pbk)
99185113
Research--Methodology.
Q180.55.M4 / K86 1999