Research Methodology: Basic to Advanced

Learn the basics of research and objectives. Define research as inquiry to gain knowledge, formulate hypotheses, and collect and evaluate data across descriptive, analytical, applied, fundamental, conceptual, and empirical types.

Define the criteria of good research with a clearly defined purpose, replicable procedures, objective design, and analyses that demonstrate validity and reliability; uphold a systematic, logical approach.

Define dimension as a variable property or quality and explore examples like height and width. Examine exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory uses, purpose-wise and time-wise data collection, cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches.

Explore time dimension in research, including cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, panel and cohort data collection, with quantitative methods (surveys, experiments, content analysis) and qualitative field research.

Explore sources of literature—from books and journals to theses and reports—and learn to conduct a systematic literature review by defining a topic, designing a search, and evaluating research reports.

Explore research design and the questions that influence design decisions, including what, where, when, how much, by what means, and the arrangement of conditions for data collection and analysis.

Explore the four parts of research design—sampling, observational, statistical, and operational designs—and learn how items are selected, observations are conducted, data are analyzed, and procedures are carried out.

Explore the features of a good design that minimize bias, maximize data reliability, and reduce experimental error, while considering information gain, researcher skills, objectives, problem nature, and time and money.

Explore how to determine optimal sample size for research, covering infinite and finite populations, proportion-based sampling, and key formulas using z, sigma, p, q, and error.