Research In Home Science

Yes! You CAN Do a Research Study

A Presentation by Dr. Daxaben N.Mehta, Principal, Smt.Sadguna C.U.Shah Home

Science and C.U.Shah Arts & Commerce Mahila College, Wadhwancity, District : Surendranagar

Research is the systematic process of collecting and analysing information (data) in order to increase our understanding of the phenomenon with which we are concerned or interested.

D e fi n i t i o n o f R e s e a r c h

• As a graduate student... To be able to read and

understand the empirical literature in your field; to become a critical consumer of information.

• As a graduate student preparing for a thesis or dissertation…

To be able to both design and implement your thesis or dissertation as well as future studies that interest you.

W h y D o I N e e d t o K n o w A b o u t R e s e a r c h ?

• As a future practitioner… To be able to intelligently participate in

research projects, evaluations, and studies undertaken by your institution.

• As an educated citizen ...To understand the difference between

scientifically acquired knowledge and other kinds of information.

W h y D o I N e e d t o K n o w A b o u t R e s e a r c h ?

Research is all about addressing an issue or asking and answering a question or solving a problem, so…Identify an issue, question, or problem. Talk with people who want or need your study.Find out what's already known about it. Talk with experts and/or read their reviews and the original research on the topic.

W h a t i s R e s e a r c h ?

Plan, cost, and do your study accordingly.Write it up and submit it for assessment. Better still, do a good job on it and submit it for publication Undergrad projects are sometimes good enough to publish. Your work will benefit more people if you publish it.

W h a t i s Re s e a r c h ?

The scientific method

Hypothesis

PredictionsObservations

Hypothesis rejection

Theory

Hypothesis confirmation

1.Select a topic2.Review existing research and

theory that are relevant 3.Develop a hypothesis or research

question/s4.Determine the appropriate

methodology/research design5.Collect relevant data6.Analyze and interpret the results7.Present the results in an

appropriate form

Re s e a r c h P r o c e d u r e

The problem is the Y of any research project. Without a focused problem, there is no research.

In order to be able to identify a research problem, a researcher needs to know what are the available sources.

A research problem is usually posed as a question, preferably a direct and simple one.

D e fi n i n g t h e R e s e a r c h P r o b l e m

►State your research problem.►Are there any sub-problems?►What is the background

(literature review) on this problem?

►What is good about tackling this problem? Why should we be interested in answering the research question?

D e fi n i n g t h e R e s e a r c h P r o b l e m

►Discuss your problem with peers and experts.

►Have you looked at this problem from all sides to minimize unwanted surprises?

►Think through the process. Are you capable of addressing the issue? Can you foresee any pitfalls in data collection and analysis? What tools are available for you to use?

►What research procedure will you follow?

Types of Research Problems:

1.Descriptive research – asks “what is” and suggests a survey research design;

2.Relationship research – asks what is the relationship between two or more variables and implies a correlational design.

3. Difference research – asks what is the difference between two or more groups/ approaches;

There are generally two ways of stating a research problem:

1.Declarative or descriptive – usually used in stating the main problem/ general objective

2. In question form – usually used in stating the sub-problems/specific objectives

In any study, you need to define the key terms or concepts in the statement of the problem to avoid confusion or ambiguity.

Two types of definitions:

1. Conceptual definition – definition of a term as given by authoritative sources (e.g. Webster’s dictionary; a well-known research study; textbook, etc..)

2. Operational definition – researcher’s own definition, based on how it will be used in the study

SEARCHING RESEARCH LITERATURE

►Hard Copies and Soft Copies►Online and Offline - Internet►Research Databases - Websites►Search Engines►Institutional Repositories►University and Institutional Libraries►Research Scholars and University/College

Teachers►Blogs - Groups and Networks

FORMATION OF HYPOTHESES►Hypotheses basically state the

assumption on the basis of which analysis is undertaken.

►There are two types of hypotheses►Research Hypotheses and Working

Hypotheses►The Research hypotheses relate to the

theoretical assumptions of the analysis While ►The working hypotheses are the statistical

hypotheses for statistical analysis of data.

To ensure the objectivity in the study of an identified problem, the researcher has to be clear as to what variables are to be examined or investigated.

• A variable is a property or characteristic that takes on different values.

• It is a symbol to which numbers or values can be attached or assigned.

Types of variables:

1. Independent variables – the cause supposed to be responsible for the bringing about change in a phenomenon or situation.

2. Dependent variables – the outcome of change brought about by change in the independent variable

3. Intervening variable – a variable whose existence is inferred but cannot be manipulated or controlled

4. Moderator variable – a variable that may or may not be controlled but has an effect on the research situation/phenomenon.

1.Independent variable: Education.

2.Dependent variables: Behavior, knowledge of colour

3.Intervening variable: Policies

4.Moderator variables: civil status, age, years of work experience

One way of making a study on a problem more focused is by delimiting it.

Delimiting research is giving full disclosure of what the researcher intends to do or does not intend to do.

When a researcher is able to set the scope and delimitation of his study, he can make his research manageable. At the same time, this can direct him to the choice of research method to employ.

Points for delimiting study:

1.Purpose of study

2.Time coverage of investigation

3.Geographical coverage of inquiry

4.Variables to be studied

5.Specific indicators of variables

6.Types and size of respondents if the study

7.Data collection tools

Research Proposal(More formal than Research Design)

►Title►Statement of research

question Remember to stress why the problem is important!

►Background/information►Literature review.►Aims and objectives.

Research Proposal(More formal than Research Design)►Methods.►Timetable.►Data analysis.►Ethical issues.►In Funding applications

●Resources/Budge

►Dissemination?

Designing the Research

After stating your researchproblem, you need to think About what approach you will use to the problem. Will it be quantitative or

qualitative?

Types of methodologies►QuaLitative Measures

●Descriptive●Numbers not the primary focus●Interpretive, ethnographic,

naturalistic

►QuaNtitative Measures●N for numbers●Statistical●Quantifiable

QuaNtitative measures

►CompareThings►Count Things►Survey People About Things

p < .05

QuaNtitative measures►Comparison studies

●Experimental and control groups●Instructional methodologies (Colaric;

Cudiner & Harmon)●Program assessment using before/after

analysis of research papers(Emmons & Martin)

p < .05

Basic steps of a research project

►Find a topicWhat, When►Formulate questionsWhat, Why►Define populationWho, When►Select design & measurementHow►Gather evidenceHow►Interpret evidenceWhy►Tell about what you did and found out

The Sampling Design Process

Define the Population

Determine the Sampling Frame

Select Sampling Technique(s)

Determine the Sample Size

Execute the Sampling Process

The Sampling Design ProcessImportant qualitative factors in determining the sample size

the importance of the decision the nature of the research the number of variables the nature of the analysissample sizes used in similar studiesincidence rates completion ratesresource constraints

Classification of Sampling Techniques

Sampling Techniques

NonprobabilitySampling Techniques

ProbabilitySampling Techniques

Classification of Sampling Techniques

NonprobabilitySampling Techniques

ConvenienceSampling

JudgmentalSampling

QuotaSampling

SnowballSampling

Classification of Sampling Techniques

ProbabilitySampling Techniques

SystematicSampling

StratifiedSampling

ClusterSampling

Other SamplingTechniques

Simple RandomSampling

Types of Cluster SamplingCluster Sampling

One-StageSampling

MultistageSampling

Two-StageSampling

Simple ClusterSampling

ProbabilityProportionate

to Size Sampling

Just go and do it!

Thank you