TY  - BOOK
AU  - Kumar,Ranjit
TI  - Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners 
SN  - 076196214X (pbk)
AV  - Q180.55.M4 K86 1999
PY  - 1999///
CY  - London
PB  - Sage Publications
KW  - Research
KW  - Methodology
N1  - 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
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