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