This document provides an overview of basic research and documentation skills. It discusses the definition and purposes of research, including improving decision making and understanding trends. The document outlines different types of research such as descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory research. It also discusses research methods, the phases of research design, sampling techniques, data collection, exploring data through descriptive statistics and graphical representations, and how to write case studies. The overall purpose is to enhance knowledge of conducting and documenting research.

1. Basic Research
&
Documentation Skill
D t ti Skills
Indraneel Bh
I d l Bhowmik
k
Tripura University
Knowledge Enhancement Workshop organised by CPA, Agartala in collaboration with CUTS International
held @ Agartala Press Club on 19th May, 2012

2. ‘Research is a careful and
exhaustive investigation of a
phenomenon with an objective of
advancing knowledge’
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3. Uses of Research
• Improves Decision Making
• Reduces Uncertainty
• Enables Adoption of New Strategy
• Helps in Planning the Future
• Helps in Ascertaining Trends
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4. Types of Research
• Descriptive
– Answers to the questions relating to
• WHO
• WHAT
• HOW
• WHERE &
• WHEN
• Exploratory
– Better Understanding of the Problem
• Explanatory
– Explains Causes of the Problem
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5. Methods of Research
• Field Study‐
– Observation
• Experimental‐
– Controlled
• Survey‐
– Sample
• Case Study‐
– Thorough/ Intensive/ In‐depth
• Statistical
Statistical‐
– Quantitative
• Historical‐
Historical
– Secondary
• Evolutionary‐
– Changes over time
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6. Phases in Research Design
• Specifying the problem/topic to be
studied
• Framing Research Design
• Planning a Sample
– probability & non‐probability or
combination of the two
• Collecting the data
• Analysing the Data
– Editing
– Coding
– Processing
– Tabulating
• Preparing the Report
p g p
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7. Sampling
A VANTAG S
ADVANTAGES
• Manageable
• Saves Time & Money
• Increases Accuracy
TYPES
• Probability
Simple Random
Stratified Random
Systematic
Cluster
Multi‐Stage
M lti St
Multi‐phase
• Non‐Probability
Convenience
Purposive
Quota
Snowball
Volunteer 7

8. Data
• Time Series Data‐ sequence of observations
ordered in time
– Profits of MRF since 1991
– GDP of India from 1950‐51 to 1999‐00
• Cross Sectional Data‐ parallel data on many
units (individuals, firms, nations) at the same
point of time
– Heights and weights of the people present in the
room
– Literacy rate of the member countries of UN in 2010
• P l D t same cross‐section unit surveyed
Panel Data‐ ti it d
over time
– AGR of G20 countries from 2001 to 2010
– R R of return of 10 mutual f d over th l t 10
RoR f t f t l funds the last
years
Methods of Collection
• Questionnaire
• Interview Schedule
• PRA
• FGD 8

9. Exploring Data
• Descriptive Statistics
– Measures of Central Tendency
• Mean‐ Average, Geometric & Harmonic;
• Median;
• Mode
– Measures of Dispersion
• Range
• Inter
Inter‐ Quartile Range
• Standard Deviation
• Mean Deviation
• Quartile Deviation
• Graphical Representation
– Scatter
– Column
– Bar
– Line
– Pie
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10. Descriptive Statistics
• By hand………………….
• Software packages‐
• Example: Show xls. File
• D t A l i f
Data Analysis‐ from th menu D t
the Data;
choose Descriptive Statistics‐ select
the input range‐ select summary
range
statistics‐specify the output
location‐ get the result
• Command for descriptive available in
the menu of all other packages
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11. Graphical Representations
MS‐Excel is the most popular way‐
use of the insert menu
Diagram should be on the basis of
data
Pie for one time period; 100% stacked
column/bar for multi period
Line graph: time series‐ trend line
fitting: checking the R.sq
Tradition: B /C l
T diti Bar/Column f cross‐
for
sectional data
Manipulations on the axis is often
important‐ e.g: scale
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12. Case Studies
Characteristics
• In Totality
• Multiple
Methods for
Data Collection
• Often a single
Unit
• Respondent is
Principles
knowledgeable
• Use Multiple
Sources
• Maintain a
Chain of
Evidence
• Record Data
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13. Writing Case Studies
• A puzzle requiring Solution
3 basic steps
• Research‐
– Library and Internet research
– Interview relevant people
p p
• Analysis‐
– Put all the information in one place
p
– Assign sections to different people
– Formulate the case problem in a brief
• Actual Writing‐
– Describe the problem or case question
you want the reader to solve
t th d t l
– Organise the sections of the case
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14. Thank You ALL
Comments & suggestion to
eyebees@gmail.com
b @ il
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