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ICSSR Sponsored Work Shop On

CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Vikram Simhapuri University - Nellore
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Invited Talk by

Prof. R.R.L.KANTAM Department of Statistics Acharya Nagarjuna University

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Topic

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES & TESTING OF HYPOTHESIS

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Studies

Horizontal

Vertical

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 Research is an intellectual stimulus calling for a response in the form of scientific inquiry.

Deciding what you want to know through your research efforts, and then focusing this into a manageable and coherent research problem, is arguably the most difficult aspect of any research project.

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 Research is pursuit of truth with the help of study, observation, comparison and experiment.

It is to find truth hidden in facts.

It requires defining problem/topic. Search for pertinent information on a specific topic/problem. Search for new facts.

A movement from the known to unknown. Need for data.

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 Some useful steps for developing a clearly specified research problem:

i. Choose your topic and decide what aspect of it you wish to study. Ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? ii. State what you want to study in one sentence. iii. Look at every word, and define each that you feel necessary. iv. Rewrite your sentence, taking into account all the decisions you made in step (iii).
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Research Process:Deduction: If you begin with theory, and use it to explain particular observation(s), this is known as deduction. Theory is applied in order to deduce explanations for the data. Basically, deduction begins with the construction of a theory or model, research is designed around the model, and data collected explains or refutes the model. Induction: Induction allows a theory to be constructed from emerging patterns in the research data. It is associated with an analytic-inductive method, which is part of the research-then-theory strategy:
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Methodology based research is a systematic sequence of various phases. Formulation of a research problem. Specifications of the objectives of the study. Plan of action to fulfil the objectives (Research Design). Deciding upon the nature of study such as Micro or Macro. Identifying the study with complete data based or partial data based. Identifying sources of data.
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 Fixing the sampling method in case of partial data based and identifying units of the sample. Preparing an instrument of items relevant to the objectives to collect information from sample units (Schedule or Questionnaire).

Data collection from sample units with the help of the instrument. Link up the objectives of the study with information from the sample units in the form of broad statements about the universe from which the sample is identified.
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 Or equivalently formulation of a hypothesis in statistical sense. Hypothesis is a statement made about a phenomenon. It is a consequence to an objective of a research study but not immediate.

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 A hypothesis need not always be true, as it is sample based about a universe. The hypothesis need not be false. Because the facts in the data are an evidence. The hypothesis therefore is neither totally true nor totally false. Therefore a scientifically admissible procedure is needed to say how far a hypothesis is true how far is it false.
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The general notion of hypothesis is a praposition to be proved or disproved. In the areas of Social Sciences the following are some examples. Does educational attainment influence lifestyle preferences: What causes aggressive behavior: What rehabilitation measures most effectively break the cycle of persistent juvenile delinquency? Traditional investment patterns that are prevailing among the people in the country are responsible for low capital formation.
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 High taxation rates in India are having adverse impact on savings and investment. Governments apathy is the root cause for non-development of small and village industries in India. The following are the hypotheses formed by some researchers in their studies (Dissertation AbstractsAIU publication). There has been addition to the stock of fixed assets in agriculture in India during the period 1950-51 to 1960-61. Large firms, with richer resources are more multiproduct firms.
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 Firms with an unsatisfactory profit and cost record are likely to diversify more. Marketing cooperatives have failed to provide adequate and timely marketing finance to the cultivators. There is considerable diversion of the finance provided by marketing cooperatives for unproductive purposes. If the data are exhaustive without omission of a single unit of the universal source, the hypothesis as observed in the data has to be accepted as true.
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 If the data are partial the hypothesis may be true or false. The science of statistics provides a systematic procedure to assign strength to the truth of the hypothesis called Testing of Hypothesis. The procedure involves converting the discipline oriented hypothesis of a researcher into an equivalent statistically treatable hypothesis. Discipline based hypotheses are infinite. Statistically treatable hypotheses are finite.
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 The interaction of a researcher of any discipline with a statistician in a mutually perfectly communicating manner would always trace out a particular statistical test useful to test the hypothesis of the research. As a typical situation the most popular statistical tests are 1. Test for Single Mean 2. Test for Two Means 3. Test for More than Two Means (ANOVA) 4. Test for Single Variance/Standard Deviation 5. Test for Two Variances 6. Test for Several Variances 7. Test for Single Proportion
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8. Test for Two Proportions 9. Paired test for difference of two means 10. Test for Correlation Coefficient 11. Test for Regression Coefficient 12. Test for independence of attributes 13. Test for goodness of fit The typical methodology of test of hypothesis: Clear explanation of the objective of the researcher. A clear submission of the data collected and the instrument associated with it.
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Text of the hypothesis already formulated by the researcher in accordance with the objective. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Conversion of the researcher hypothesis into a statistically convenient hypothesis. This would generally belong to one of the typical tests listed above with a few additional alterations to the data presentation if necessary. Each statistical test will have a mathematical formula. Computation of the value of the test formula with the available data (Calculated Value-CV).
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 Comparison of the value of the test formula with a universally admissible standard constant (Tabulated Value-TV). Deciding upon the strength of the hypothesis according as CV is less than TV or CV is more than TV. CV is less than or equal to TV Strong Hypothesis: Accept CV is greater than TV Weak Hypothesis: Reject Example-1:-

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Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Training Programmes in the Performance of Human Resource in Birla Soft India Limited Hyderabad & Chennai. QUESTIONNAIRE

Name Department Designation

: : :

1.Induction training is given adequate importance in this organization 0 = Not at all true 1= A little true 2=somewhat true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true
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2. Induction training is of sufficient duration. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 3. Induction training provides an excellent opportunity for new comers to learn comprehensively about this organization. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 4. New recruits find induction training very useful in this organization. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true
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5. Employees are helped to acquire adequate knowledge and skills through training. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 6. Seniors take interest and spend time with new employees during induction. 0 = Not at all true 1= A little true 2=somewhat true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 7. New recruits find induction training very useful in this organization. 0 = Not at all true 1= A little true 2=somewhat true 3=True to a great extent 13 June 2012 4=Very true

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8.Our induction training is periodically evaluated and improved. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 9. Employees are helped to acquire adequate knowledge and skills through training. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 10. There is adequate emphasis on developing managerial capabilities employees through training. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 13 4=Very true June 2012

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11. Human relations competencies are adequately attempted to be developed in this organization through training in human skills. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 12. Training of employees is given due importance in this organization. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 13. Employees are sponsored for training programmes on the basis of carefully identified developmental needs. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true
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14. Those who are sponsored for training programmes take the training seriously. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 15. Employees in this organization participate in determining the training they need. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 16. Employees sponsored for training go with a clear understanding of the knowledge and skills they are expected to acquire from training. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true
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17. The HRD department conducts briefing and debriefing sessions for employees sponsored for training. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 18. Internal Training programmes are handled by competent faculty. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 19. The quality of in-company programmes in this organization is excellent. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true
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20. Seniors are eager to help their juniors develop through training. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 21. Employees returning from training are given adequate free time to reflect and plan improvements in the organization. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 22. Seniors provide the right kind of climate to implement new ideas and methods acquired by their juniors through training. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true
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23. Employees in this organization utilize and benefit from the training programmes. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 24. External Training Programmes are carefully chosen after collecting enough information about their quality and suitability. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true 25. There is a well designed and widely shared training policy in the company. 0=Not at all true 1=A little true 2=Some what true 3=True to a great extent 4=Very true
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Exmple-2:-

TQM formula for Health Promotion

Objective: To show the way that public and private hospitals function. How to increase quality in health care industry using public opinion. Location- Cyprus A model with 7 factors with respective sub items is the instrument.
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1. Giving priority to patients needs 2. Professionalism of staff 3. Providing patients with high-quality services and Opportunities 4. Relationships 5. Equipment, medicine, facilities and other provisions 6. Hygiene 7. Environment and design Sample Items for each factor : Visiting hours are sufficient There are enough doctors Ambulance services are on time
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 Hospital staff are polite towards patients The equipment facilities are adequate Enough cleaning materials are used I feel at home in the hospital Sample size 694 patients experienced with both private and public hospitals. Data Source:One public hospital and Six private hospitals. Response Scale 5 point scale, 1. Strongly Disagree 2. Disagree 3. Can not say 4. Agree 5. Strongly Agree
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 Summary Table:Dimension Grand Mean Standard Deviation Grand Mean, Private hospitals Standard Deviation

1
2 3 4 5 6 7

2.52
2.62 2.50 2.43 2.19 2.35 2.48

1.33
1.33 1.31 1.28 1.22 1.22 1.33

3.74
3.81 3.75 4.02 3.47 3.78 3.37

1.17
1.09 1.12 1.02 1.25 1.16 1.31

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