Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
methodology is concerned with the whole
research problem or study, whereas research
method is concerned with techniques, collections
of information, its analysis, and validation.
Research method can be regarded as a subset of
research methodology.
Representative part of the population samples are
drawn to study the behavior, characteristics, and
interrelationships; these are again subjected to
inferential tools to draw conclusions and to draw
inference about the populations, behavior,
characteristics, and interrelationships. In this
approach, the researcher has no control over the
characteristics or variables or respondent under
study.
1.2.6 Research Approach
1.2.6.2 Experimental Approach
Experimental approach is characterized by control
over a research environment by a researcher. An
experiment is defined as a systematic process in
which a researcher can have control over variables
under considerations to fulfill the objective of his
or her research process. Experiments are of two
types: absolute experiment and comparative
experiment. In absolute experiment, researches
are in search of certain descriptive measures or
characteristics and their relationships under con-
trol conditions, for example, how an average per-
formance of a particular variety of paddy is
changing over different nutrient regimes and
how the nutrient regimes and average perfor-
mance are associated. In comparative experiment,
on the other hand, an experimenter is interested in
comparing the effects of different treatments (con-
trol variables). For example, one may be inter-
ested in comparing the efficacy of different
health drinks.
Depending upon the inquisitiveness/problems the
researcher has in mind, the approach to find a
solution may broadly be categorized under two
groups: qualitative and quantitative approach.
In qualitative approach, research is mainly
concerned with subjective assessment of the
respondent. It is mainly concerned with attitudes,
opinions, behaviors, impressions, etc. Thus,
qualitative research is an approach to research
to generate insights of the subject concerned in
nonquantitative form or not subjected to rigor-
ous quantitative analytical tools. In quantita-
tive research approach, researchers undertake
generations of information in quantitative form
which are subjected to rigorous quantitative anal-
ysis subsequently. Generally, the quantitative
approach has three different forms:
1. Inferential approach
2. Experimental approach
3. Simulation approach
1.2.6.1 Inferential Approach
In this approach, information is obtained to use
or to draw inference about the population
characteristics, their relationships, etc. Generally,
survey or observations are taken from a studied
sample to determine its characteristics and their
relationships, and then, sample behavior is used to
infer about the population behavior on the same
characteristics and their relationships. Though
the objective remains to study the population
behaviors, characteristics, and interrelationships,
because of constraints like time, money, resource,
accessibility, and feasibility, it becomes difficult to
study each and every unit of the population.
1.2.6.3 Simulation Approach
Stimulation means operations of numerical
model that represents the structure of a dynamic
process. In a simulation approach, artificial envi-
ronment is created within which required infor-
mation can be generated. Given the values for
initial or ideal conditions, parameters, and exog-
enous variables, stimulation is run to represent
and to regenerate the behavior of a process again
and again so that it reaches to a stabilized
condition providing consistent results. Future
conditions can also be visualized under different
varying conditions, parameters, and exogenous
variables.
