Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
As such a research may be exploratory or
formulative, descriptive, diagnostic or hypothe-
sis testing, etc., in nature. A research can be
oriented to explore new things or new solutions
and new insights in a particular phenomenon.
This type of research can lead to the formulation
of new things.
1.2.4 Research Method
Techniques or methods used in performing
research operation known as research method.
Research method is mainly concerned with the
collection and analysis of information generated
in answering the research problem that researchers
have in mind. Thus, research method mostly
includes analytical tools of research. The method
of collecting information (from observation,
experimentation, survey, etc.) using an appropriate
survey/case study/experimentation method is
included in a research method. The next group of
a research method consists of statistical techniques
to be used among the host of available statistical
tools in establishing the characteristics and
relationships of the knowns or unknowns.
Research method also includes techniques for
evaluating the accuracy of the result obtained.
1.2.3 Research Methodology
The systematic process of solving a research
problem is termed as research methodology.
The science of studying how a research is carried
out scientifically is known as research methodol-
ogy. It generally encompasses various steps
followed by researchers in studying research
problems adopting logical sequences. In doing
so, researchers should clearly understand the fol-
lowing questions in their mind: how to reach the
answers to the questions, what could be the other
steps, and what methods/techniques should be
used? They should have ideas about a particular
technique to be used among the available
techniques, what are the assumptions and what
are the merits and demerits. Thus, proper knowl-
edge of research methodology enables a
researcher to accomplish his or her research
projects in a meticulous way. Research method-
ology helps a researcher in identifying the
problems, formulating problems and hypotheses,
gathering information, participating in the field-
work, using appropriate statistical tools, consid-
ering evidences, drawing inferences from the
collected information or experiment, etc.
Research methodology has a great role to play
in solving research problem in a holistic way by
the researcher. Research methodology helps a
researcher:
1. To carry out a research work more confidently
2. To inculcate his or her abilities/capabilities
3. To extract not only the undiscovered truth of
the objective of the research but also his or her
hidden talent
4. To better understand the society and its need
1.2.5 Research Methodology vs.
Research Method
From the above discussion, it is clear that
research methodology is a multidimensional con-
cept in which research method constitutes a part.
As such research methodology has a wider scope
and arena compared to research method. While
discussing research methodology, a researcher
talks not only about the techniques or collections
of information and analysis of information but
also on the logic behind the use of particular
methods commensurating with the objective in
mind and capability of generalizations of infor-
mation generated from the research. Research
methodology is also concerned with why the
research problem has been chosen, how the spe-
cific problem has been defined, how the possible
indicator has been identified, how the hypothesis
is framed, what the data requirements for testing
those hypotheses are, how to collect those data,
why some particular methods of collections of
analysis of data are against the other methods, and
other
similar
questions.
Thus,
research
