Research Methodology Guide for
Beginners
A Colorful and Detailed Exploration of Research Concepts
Created on June 08, 2025
Lets Explore Research!
Research Methodology Guide 1
Unit 1: Research Formulation and Design (9 Hours)
This unit is all about starting your research journey. Its like planning a treasure huntyou
need to know why youre searching, what youre looking for, and how to find it!
Motivation and Objectives
Imagine you want to solve a puzzle. Why are you solving it? Thats your motivationmaybe
you love challenges or want to learn something new. In research, motivation is your reason
for studying a topic. The objectives are your goalswhat you want to achieve, like I want to
find out why people prefer online shopping.
Example
Example: If youre curious about why students struggle with math, your motivation
might be to help students learn better. Your objective could be: To identify the main
reasons students find math difficult.
Research Methods vs. Methodology
Think of research methods as the tools you uselike a shovel or map in a treasure hunt.
These are specific ways to collect information, like doing surveys or experiments. Method-
ology is the big planhow youll use those tools step-by-step to find your treasure.
Types of Research
Research comes in different flavors, like ice cream! Here are the main types:
⋄ Descriptive vs. Analytical: Descriptive research is like taking a photoit describes
whats happening (e.g., 60% of students like online classes). Analytical research is
like solving a mysteryit looks for why or how (e.g., Why do students prefer online
classes?).
⋄ Applied vs. Fundamental: Applied research solves a real-world problem, like cre-
ating a new app. Fundamental research builds knowledge, like studying how gravity
works.
⋄ Quantitative vs. Qualitative: Quantitative research uses numbers (e.g., 50% of
people agree). Qualitative research uses words and ideas (e.g., People feel happy
about this change).
⋄ Conceptual vs. Empirical: Conceptual research develops ideas or theories, like
thinking about what happiness means. Empirical research uses real data, like ob-
serving peoples behavior.
Research Methodology Guide 2
Identify Problem Review Literature Set Objectives
Draw Conclusions Analyze Data Collect Data
figureThe Research
Process: A Cycle of Discovery
Criteria of Good Research
Good research is like a well-baked cakeit needs the right ingredients! It should be clear,
organized, honest, and useful. For example, your research question should be specific,
like How does social media affect sleep? instead of What is social media?
Defining and Formulating the Research Problem
A research problem is the question you want to answer. Its like choosing which treasure to
hunt for. You define it by asking: Whats the issue? Why does it matter? For example, Why
are so many students dropping out of school? Then, you formulate it into a clear question.
Literature Review: Primary and Secondary Sources
A literature review is like reading a map before your treasure hunt. It means looking at
what others have already found. Primary sources are original works, like a scientists own
report. Secondary sources are summaries, like a news article about that report.
Reviews, Monographs, Patents, Databases, Web as a Source
You can also use:
⋆ Reviews: Summaries of research on a topic.
⋆ Monographs: Detailed books on one subject.
⋆ Patents: Ideas or inventions that are legally protected.
⋆ Databases and Web: Online sources like Google Scholar for articles.
Critical Literature Review and Identifying Gap Areas
A critical literature review means not just reading, but thinking: Whats missing? These
missing pieces are called gap areas. For example, if no one has studied how video games
affect kids focus, thats a gap you can explore.
Quote
Research is creating new knowledge. Neil Armstrong
Research Methodology Guide 3
Unit 2: Data Collection and Analysis (9 Hours)
Now that youve planned your research, its time to gather and study the clueslike collecting
gems in a game!
Methods of Data Collection
You can collect data in many ways:
⋄ Observation: Watching and noting what happens, like observing how people shop.
⋄ Surveys/Questionnaires: Asking people questions, like Do you like online shop-
ping?
⋄ Interviews: Talking to people to understand their thoughts.
⋄ Experiments: Testing something, like seeing if plants grow better with music.
Data Processing and Analysis
Once you have data, you need to make sense of it. Processing is organizing itlike sorting
your gems by color. Analysis is studying it to find patterns, using tools like:
⋆ SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences): A software for analyzing data.
⋆ Excel: For simple calculations and charts.
Statistical Tests (t-test, ANOVA, etc.)
Statistical tests help you understand your data. For example:
⋄ t-test: Compares two groups, like Do boys and girls score differently in math?
⋄ ANOVA: Compares more than two groups, like Do students in three different schools
perform differently?
Hypothesis Testing
A hypothesis is a guess, like Playing music helps plants grow faster. Hypothesis testing
checks if your guess is right by looking at the data.
Example
Example: You guess that Students who study with music score higher. You collect
scores from two groups (with and without music) and use a t-test to compare them.
Unit 3: Research Ethics, IPR, and Scholarly Publishing (9
Hours)
This unit is about playing fair in researchlike following the rules in a game!
Research Methodology Guide 4
Ethical Issues (Human and Animal)
Research must be kind and fair. If youre studying people, you need their permission. If
youre studying animals, you must treat them well. For example, dont harm animals in
experiments.
IPR: Intellectual Property Rights and Patent Law
IPR protects your ideas, like a lock on your diary. A patent is a legal protection for inven-
tions, so no one can copy your idea. Copyright protects things like books or songs.
Commercialization, Copy Right, Royalty
Commercialization means selling your research idea, like turning an invention into a prod-
uct. Copyright protects your work. Royalty is money you earn when someone uses your
idea.
TRIPS
TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) is a global rule that says
countries must protect ideas, like patents, in a fair way.
Scholarly Publishing: IMRAD, Citation, Acknowledgement
When you write a research paper, use the IMRAD format: Introduction, Methods, Results,
and Discussion. Citation means giving credit to others work you used. Acknowledgement
is thanking people who helped you.
Plagiarism, Reproducibility, Accountability
Plagiarism is copying someones work without creditits cheating! Reproducibility means
others can repeat your research and get the same results. Accountability means taking
responsibility for your work.
Quote
Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is
right to do. Potter Stewart
Unit 4: Interpretation and Report Writing (9 Hours)
This unit is about sharing your treasure with the worldtelling everyone what you found!
Meaning of Interpretation
Interpretation means explaining what your data says. For example, if 70% of students like
online classes, you might interpret that online classes are popular because theyre flexible.
Research Methodology Guide 5
Technique of Interpretation
To interpret, look for patterns, compare results, and think about what they mean. For
example, if your data shows girls score higher in math, interpret whymaybe they study
more.
Precautions in Interpretation
Be careful! Dont make big claims without proof. For example, dont say All girls are better
at math if your data only includes 50 girls.
Significance of Report Writing
A report shares your findings with others, like a story of your treasure hunt. It helps others
learn and build on your work.
Steps in Writing Project Report
1. Plan: Decide what to include.
2. Write: Use the IMRAD format.
3. Review: Check for mistakes.
4. Share: Publish or present your report.
Layout of the Project/Research Report
A report has sections like:
⋄ Title
⋄ Introduction
⋄ Methods
⋄ Results
⋄ Discussion
⋄ Conclusion
Types of Reports
Reports can be short (like a summary) or long (like a detailed thesis). They can also be
oral (a presentation) or written.
Mechanics of Writing a Project/Research Report
Use clear language, proper grammar, and organize your ideas logically. Add charts or
pictures to make it interesting.
Research Methodology Guide 6
Precautions for Writing Research Reports
Dont copy others work, be honest about your results, and make sure your report is easy to
understand.
Conclusions
The conclusion sums up your findings, like the end of a story. For example, This research
shows that online classes are popular because they save time.
Final Note
Research is like a journeyplan well, explore carefully, play fair, and share your story
with the world!
