M.ARCH (ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHITECTURE)
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES IN ARCHITECTURE
ANNA UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI
M.ARCH. (ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHITECTURE)
2 MARKS QUESTIONS
Species composition, diversity and community structure of mangroves in Barang...
MArch Research Methodologies
1. M.ARCH (ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHITECTURE)
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES IN ARCHITECTURE
1. Mention types of research
Types of Research
1 Basic Research
2 Applied Research
3 Problem oriented research
4 Problem solving
5 Quantitative Research
6 Qualitative Research
Also the research is classified into:
Descriptive research
Analytical research
Fundamental research
Conceptual research
Empirical research
One time research or longitudinal research
Field-setting research or laboratory research or simulation research
Clinical or diagnostic research
Exploratory research
Historical research
Conclusion oriented research
Case study research
Short term research
2. What is a synopsis?
Synopsis is the gist of your planned project submitted for approval from competent authorities. It gives a
panoramic view of your research for quick analysis by the reviewers.
Thus, a synopsis forms an integral part of a research project or a thesis.
Synopsis (Greek word, sun - together, opsis - seeing) means brief summary of something.
A synopsis should be constructed in a manner that facilitates the reviewer to understand the research project at a
glance. It should be brief but precise. A synopsis can be structured in the following manner:
Title
Statement of the problem and hypothesis
Aims and objectives
Review of literature
Research methodology
References
Official requirements
SYNOPSIS
It is defined as brief summary or review of a subject
a synopsis is a brief outline, abstract, summary, or general overview of an article, essay, story, book, or other
work.
3. What are the objective considerations for a good research topic?
The prime objectives of research are
(1) To discover new facts
(2) To verify and test important facts
(3) To analyse an event or process or phenomenon to identify the cause and effect relationship
(4) To develop new scientific tools, concepts and theories to solve and understand scientific and non-scientific
problems
(5) To find solutions to scientific, non-scientific and social problems and
(6) To overcome or solve the problems occurring in our everyday life.
2. 1. Your interest is important where you have burning desire to add value.
2. Your skills, background knowledge versus your interest and societal need.
3. Level and type of research-Under-graduate, Graduate student etc or just research
4. Availability of resources including Experienced Supervisor or Co-investigator, facilities/funds/Data/instrument among
others
5. Identification and if applicable quantification of research of research problems- Existing gaps to be filled based on
perceived ideals/expected reality and what obtains currently.
6. SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time Bound) nature of desired objectives of the research TOPIC.
7. Anticipated applicability of research outcomes in addressing societal needs.
4. Write any two considerations for a good research question.
How to Write a Research Question and What is a research question?
A research question is a...
1. Clear
2. Focused
3. Concise
4. Complex
5. Arguable
...question around which you centre your research. You should ask a question about an issue that you are
genuinely curious and/or passionate about.
Why is a research question essential to the research process?
Research questions help writers focus their research by providing a path through the research and writing
process. The specificity of a well-developed research question helps writers avoid the “all-about” paper and
work toward supporting a specific, arguable thesis.
Steps to developing a research question:
1. Choose an interesting general topic.
2. Do some preliminary research on your general topic.
3. Consider your audience.
4. Start asking questions.
5. Evaluate your question.
5. List one example for primary source and secondary source of data collection.
Primary data: Data collected by the investigator himself/ herself for a specific purpose.
Example: Data collected by a student for his/her thesis or research project.
Secondary data: Data collected by someone else for some other purpose (but being utilized by the investigator
for another purpose).
Example: can be articles in newspapers or popular magazines, book or movie reviews, Census data being used
to analyze the impact of education on career choice and earning.
3. 6. Write any two problems encountered for secondary source data collection.
Advantages
1. The first advantage of using secondary data has always been the saving of time
2. Accessibility.
3. Strongly connected to the previous advantages is the saving of money
4. Feasibility of both longitudinal and international comparative studies.
5. Generating new insights from previous analyses
Disadvantages
1. Inappropriateness of the data.
2. Lack of control over data quality
3. Validity and reliability
4. Personal bias
5. Availability of data
6. Format of data
7. Quality of data
8. Obsolete data (Old data is of no use to be used in the research.)
7. What is a bibliography?
A bibliography is a list of all of the sources you have used (whether referenced or not) in the process of
researching your work. In general, a bibliography should include:
The authors' names
The titles of the works
The names and locations of the companies that published your copies of the sources
The dates your copies were published
The page numbers of your sources (if they are part of multi-source volumes)
8. Write in short the importance of research hypothesis.
A hypothesis is a statement or assertion that communicates what you want to prove or disprove through your
study. In writing a research paper, thesis, or dissertation, the hypothesis provides a link to the underlying theory
and your specific research question.
9. What do you mean by Plagiarism?
"Plagiarize" means:
1. To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
2. To use (another's production) without crediting the source
3. To commit literary theft
4. To present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source
In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it
afterward.
All of the following are considered plagiarism:
1. Turning in someone else's work as your own
2. Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
3. Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
6. Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give
credit or not (see our section on "fair use" rules)
What about images, videos, and music?
Using an image, video or piece of music in a work you have produced without receiving proper permission or
providing appropriate citation is plagiarism.
4. 10. What is the importance of focus group discussions?
Focus group research is used to develop or improve products or services. The main purpose is to provide data to
enhance change or create a product or service targeted at a key customer group. The value of the information
gathered is dependent on defined objectives and the preparation done prior to conducting the focus group
interviews.
1. Define architectural Research.
Architectural research can and does contribute, to all of the research areas identified as having priority under
Below, these areas are listed; .
• Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology (Wood production, re-forestation)
• Information and Communication Technologies (Design Theories and Methods)
• Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies (Materials characterization and
prototyping)
• Energy (Rational and alternative energy use)
• Environment (Urbanisation, Regional Environmental Planning, Urban agriculture, Water use, Historic
preservation and restoration)
• Transport (Infrastructure design)
• Socio-economic sciences and Humanities (Urban sociology, Architectural History, Art and Architectural
Theory)
• Security (Building type studies: airports, embassies, prisons, etc.)
• Space (Studies of habitations and work spaces outside the Earth's atmosphere)
Goals are
The evolution of knowledge, understanding of and insight in architectural questions;
The evolution of practice;
The evolution of architectural education;
The genesis of subjects of research for architecture and other disciplines.
There are several modes of architectural research:
a) Research by design: design as a process is the subject of research. It is a development/extension/ innovation
of architectural practices.
b) Research in architecture: architectural research has as its object of study architecture itself.
The results are theoretical / historical material on existing architecture.
c) Research on architecture: research has as its object of study architecture itself, belonging to peripheral
disciplines: the natural sciences, engineering, technology, history, philosophy, sociology, psychology,
anthropology, etc.
d) Research connected to architecture (“in-between”) defines a transdisciplinary field as its object.
Architectural research emerges from and connects academic and practical work.
2. What is the educational role of research?
Education is crucial in helping people at all age levels to participate fully and responsibly in a democratic
society, in its discourse and its institutions. Education for such citizenship, or even better for world citizenship,
needs to include the competence to participate and deliberate.
The essential elements of education for world citizenship are knowledge, skills and attitudes that help students
become fully informed through an open flow of ideas. Students must be empowered to use critical reflection and
analysis to evaluate ideas, problems and policies. They need to develop a concern for the welfare of others, the
common good, and for the dignity and rights of individuals and minorities.
3. Contextual purpose of research - explain.
Context, may it be physical, linguistic or socio-cultural, permeates human behaviour.
I agree that context is critical. Context triggers reality shaping perceptions for the experiencing person. Context
gives us clues on how to interpret what's going in ourselves and the world around us.
For your topic to grow there must also be a context that is influenced by existing knowledge.
5. Other influences include your work and study environment;
Your interaction with colleagues;
Peers and supervisors;
Current opinions and attitudes towards your discipline.
The role of the literature review is to analyse the existing literature and give justification as to how your research
will fit into the existing body of knowledge.
When placing your topic in context, it is often useful to think about the following:
What is the scope of the topic?
What is the purpose of the research?
Who is the intended audience?
What is the time period?
What is the geographical coverage?
What are the relevant/related disciplines?
4. What are the motivations of research?
(1) To get a research degree (Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)) along with its benefits like Better employment,
promotion, increment in salary, etc.
(2) To get a research degree and then to get a teaching position in a college or university or become a scientist in
a research institution
(3) To get a research position in countries like U.S.A., Canada, Germany, England, Japan,
Australia, etc. and settle there
(4) To solve the unsolved and challenging problems
(5) To get joy of doing some creative work
(6) To acquire respectability
(7) To get recognition
(8) Curiosity to find out the unknown facts of an event
(9) Curiosity to find new things
(10) To serve the society by solving social problems.
5. Explain Normative Theory
Normative Theory Hypotheses or other statements about what is right and wrong, desirable or undesirable, just
or unjust in society.
6. 6. Define Hypothesis.
Hypothesis is considered as an intelligent guess or prediction that gives directional to the researcher to answer
the research question.
Hypothesis or Hypotheses are defined as the formal statement of the tentative or expected prediction or
explanation of the relationship between two or more variables in a specified population
A hypothesis is a formal tentative statement of the expected relationship between two or more variables under
study.
A hypothesis helps to translate the research problem and objective into a clear explanation or prediction of the
expected results or outcomes of the study.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF HYPOTHESIS
It provides clarity to the research problem and research objectives.
It describes, explains or predicts the expected results or outcome of the research.
It indicates the type of research design.
It directs the research study process.
It identifies the population of the research study that is to be investigated or examined.
It facilitates data collection, data analysis and data interpretation
FUNCTIONS
It enables an investigator to start his research work.
It may lead to formulations of another hypothesis.
It leads to interpret results drawing conclusions related to original purpose.
7. What are the characteristics of Architectural Research?
Architectural research is original investigation undertaken in order to generate knowledge, insights and
understanding based on competencies, methods and tools proper to the discipline of architecture.
It has its own particular knowledge base, mode, scope, tactics and strategies.
The following characteristics could guide architectural research to a high level of quality and open up new
horizons:
- The research is meaningful and relevant for practice, for the discipline, and for society; it explores limits and
expands them;
- It contributes to design practice, to the exploration of spatial understanding and/or the creative design process;
- It contributes to knowledge through intellectual work that is characteristic of architecture and design practice;
- The results are consistent with experience in practice;
- The research endeavors to make its processes and foundations as clear and explicit as possible;
- Method, context, process and results are communicated and submitted to regular peer review; they refer to the
work of peers;
- The research explores emotional, intuitive and/or artistic aspects of the domain, it engages architectural
competences and experience in practice;
- It creates and exploits trans-disciplinary connections.
7. 8. Explain Post Positivist paradigm.
A paradigm is simply a belief system (or theory) that guides the way we do things, or more formally establishes
a set of practices. This can range from thought patterns to action.
Disciplines tend to be governed by particular paradigms, such as:
Positivism (e.g. experimental testing),
Post positivism (i.e. a view that we need context and that context free experimental design is insufficient)
Critical theory (e.g. ideas in relation to an ideology - knowledge is not value free and bias should be articulated)
and
Constructivism (i.e. each individual constructs his/her own reality so there are multiple interpretations. This is
sometimes referred to as interpretivism).
Paradigms can be characterised through their:
Ontology (What is reality?),
Epistemology (How do you know something?) and
Methodology (How do go about finding out?).
9. What are sharing layers?
10. Mention the methods of referencing.
What is reference style????
• A referencing style is a specific format for presenting in- text references (footnotes or endnotes), and
bibliography.
• It is an act of referring.
Reference:
• The action of mentioning or alluding to something or,
• the use of a source of information in order to ascertain something.
Why to reference???
• Proves that substantial research has been done to support our analysis .
• Enables others to follow up on our work .
• Gives credit to other people's work .
• Avoids charges of plagiarism.
• Required to support all significant statements.
• Used to indicate the origin of material & source for research & further reading.
Types of references
• Journal Reference • Book Reference • Internet Reference
8. Reference Elements
•Authors name
•Article title
•Journal name
•Year
•Volume
•Page numbers
Different styles of writing references
• Harvard style of referencing.
• American Psychological Association style (APA) .
• Vancouver style.
• MLA citation style (modern language association ).
• The Chicago manual of style .
• Royal society of chemistry style.
Harvard style of referencing…
• Author’s name followed by its initials. • Year of publication. • Article title with single quotation mark followed by full
stop. • Name of Journal in italic form. • Volume followed by a comma • Issue no. In bracket. • Page no.
Example 1. Padda, J. (2003) ‘creative writing in coventry'. Journal of writing studies 3 (2), 44-59. 2. Lennernas, H. (1995)
‘Experimental estimation of the effective unstirred water layer thickness in the human jejunum & its importance in oral drug
absorption’. Eur. J. Pharm sci (3), 247-253.
Vancouver style.
• Author Surname followed by Initials. • Title of article followed by double quotation. • Title of journal (abbreviated). • Date
of Publication followed by double quotation. • Volume Number. • Issue Number in bracket. • Page Number.
Example 1. Haas AN, Susin C, Albandar JM, et al. Azithromycin as a adjunctive treatment of aggressive periodontitis: 12-
months randomized clinical trial. N Engl J Med. 2008 Aug; 35(8):696-704.
Vancouver Style does not use the full journal name, only the commonly- used abbreviation: “New England Journal of
Medicine” is cited as “N Engl J Med”.
MLA citation style (modern language association )
• Authors name. • Title of article. • Name of journal. • Volume number followed by decimal & issue no. • Year of
publication. • Page numbers. • Medium of publication.
Example 1. Matarrita-Cascante, David. "Beyond Growth: Reaching Tourism-Led Development." Annals of Tourism
Research 37.4 (2010): 1141-63. Print
American Psychological Association style
• Author’s name followed by its initials. • Year of publication. • Article title followed by full stop. • Name of Journal in italic
form • Volume followed by a comma • Page no.
Example 1. Alibali, M. W., Phillips, K. M., & Fischer, A. D. (2009). Learning new problem-solving strategies leads to
changes in problem representation. Cognitive Development, 24, 89-101.
The Chicago manual of style
• Name of author. • Article title in double quotation mark. • Title of journal in italic. • Volume. • Year of publication. • Page
no.
Example 1. Joshua I. Weinstein, “The Market in Plato’s ” Classical Philology, 104 (2009): 440.
Royal society of chemistry style
• INITIALS. Author’s surname. • Title of journal (abbreviated). • Year of publication. • Volume number. • Pages no.
Example H. Yano, K. Abe, M. Nogi, A. N. Nakagaito, J. Mater. Sci., 2010, 45, 1–33.
Difference between Reference List and Bibliography
Reference list – a list of sources we have cited in our text arranged in the order they appeared within the text.
It is usually put at the end of our work but it can also appear as a footnote (at the bottom of the page), or endnote
(at the end of each chapter) which serves a similar purpose.
Bibliography – a separate list of sources we have consulted but not specifically cited in our work including
background reading. It is arranged alphabetically by the author's surname.
9. 1. Write three types of research in the form of a flow chart.
2. Define logical argumentation.
A logical argument (or just argument) is a process of creating a new statement from one or more existing
statements.
An argument proceeds from a set of premises to a conclusion, by means of logical implication, via a procedure
called logical inference.
3. What are the functions of literature review in research?
These include:
to show gaps in the research
to justify your own research
to demonstrate your understanding of your field
to generate new research hypotheses
to place your own research in its context
to summarise and evaluate past research
to show similarities and differences (or consistencies and inconsistencies) in previous research
to give an overview of controversies in past research
10. 5. What is meant by structured and unstructured interviews?
Definition of Structured Interview
Structured Interview is a type of personal interview, in which the interviewer uses a fixed format, wherein the
questions are prepared in advance. It uses highly systematised techniques of recording. It is a method of
quantitative research used for the purpose of the survey, which aims at presenting the preset questions, in every
interview, which the same sequence. It is also known as a patterned or planned interview.
Definition of Unstructured Interview
Unstructured Interview is one that does not use any fixed format; however, the interviewer may have a few
planned questions prepared beforehand. It is a qualitative research method, in which the questions are prepared
during the interview. As the interview is unplanned, it has an informal approach where a friendly conversation
takes place between the interviewer and interviewee.
6. What are the disadvantages of questionnaire.
A questionnaire is an instrument for collecting data, and almost always involve asking a given subject to
respond to a set of oral or written questions.
Advantages of Questionnaire:
(1) Economical:
(2) Wide Coverage:
(3) Rapidity:
(4) Suitable in Special Type of Response:
(5) Repetitive Information:
(6) An Easier Method:
(7) It Puts Less Pressure on the Respondents:
(8) Uniformity:
(9) Useful Preliminary Tool:
(10) Greater Validity:
(11) Anonymity:
(12) Most Flexible Tool for Data Collection:
Disadvantages of Questionnaire:
(1) Limited Response:
(2) Lack of Personal Contact:
(3) Poor Response:
(4) Unreliability:
(5) Illegibility:
(6) Incomplete Entries:
(7) Possibility of Manipulated Entries:
11. (8) Useless in Depth-Studies:
(9) Response from Improper Representative Section of People:
(10) Lack of Rapport with the Subject:
(11) Not Suitable for Delicate Issues:
7. Write the different steps involved in writing a report.
A general set of sequential components of research is the following:
1. Selection of a research topic
2. Definition of a research problem
3. Literature survey and reference collection
4. Assessment of current status of the topic chosen
5. Formulation of hypotheses
6. Research design
7. Actual investigation
8. Data analysis
9. Interpretation of result
10. Report
8. What are the four types of referencing systems?
Three main categories:
Documentary notes styles,
Parenthetical (or author-date) styles,
Numbered styles.
Documentary note styles
In documentary note styles (documentary-note citation systems), references are given in footnotes or endnotes.
The notes are indicated by digits, which then recur with the full reference at the bottom of the page (footnote) or
after the entire text (endnote). The digit is usually placed after the full stop ending the sentence to which the
reference belongs.
Oxford and MHRA are documentary note reference styles.
Parenthetical styles or author-date styles
In parenthetical, or author-date styles, in-text references are given within parentheses before the full stop of the
sentence containing the reference.
APA, Harvard, and MLA are parenthetical reference styles.
Numbered styles
In numbered styles, sources are referred to with Arabic numbers within square brackets or in superscript, and the
references are listed in a numbered reference list after the text. References are numbered in the order in which
they first appear in the text.
Vancouver and IEEE are numbered styles.
12. 9. List the four ways by which literature review helps in the study of research problem.
There are least four appropriate roles your related literature plays in helping you formulate how to begin your
analysis:
1. Sources of criticism
2. Sources of new ideas
3.Sources for historical context
4. Sources of interdisciplinary insight
10. What are the advantages and disadvantages of open ended questions?
When you ask a good question you allow the possibility of a good answer, conversely, bad questions will almost
always lead to poor answers.
Advantages of Closed Questions
1. If comparing the answers of several people, then the answers to closed questions are much easier to compare
and rate. If the question is closed enough (e.g. multiple choice) then it is even possible to perform a statistical
analysis of the answers.
2. They are easy and quick to answer.
3. There will be almost no answers that are difficult to understand.
4. If you so desired, you could use leading closed questions to direct a conversation, for example, using “can
you live with this decision?” (closed) rather than, “does everyone agree with this decision?” (open).
Disadvantages of Closed Questions
1. They can force the respondent into an answer they don’t necessarily want to give.
2. This can make the respondent frustrated as they are unable to adequately express their opinion.
3. It can be difficult to determine if someone has misunderstood the question.
4. They don’t often lead to a deeper understanding of the topic in question for the person posing the question.
Advantages of Open Questions
1. They allow for an infinite array of answers.
2. They allow you to understand the data points and logic that has caused the respondent to form their opinion.
3. They allow you to more deeply understand the topic under discussion.
4. The respondent can feel that they are receiving personal attention and that the proposer is interested in their
opinion.
Disadvantages of Open Questions
1. If the group is large it can take a long time to extract answers using open questions.
2. If the group is large you must be careful the group doesn’t fall into groupthink.
3. They can lead to a lot of noise than closed questions. This noise can make it difficult to develop a deep
understanding of the reasons behind the issue.
4. They are simply not practical for very large groups.
1. What is Research?
Research is a careful and detailed study into a specific problem, concern, or issue using the scientific method.
Research can be about anything, and we hear about all different types of research in the news.
The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new
conclusions.
2. What is qualitative Research?
Qualitative Research is primarily exploratory research. It is used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons,
opinions, and motivations. It provides insights into the problem or helps to develop ideas or hypotheses for
potential quantitative research.
Qualitative Research is also used to uncover trends in thought and opinions, and dive deeper into the problem.
Qualitative data collection methods vary using unstructured or semi-structured techniques. Some common
methods include focus groups (group discussions), individual interviews, and participation/observations.
13. Quantitative Research
Quantitative Research is used to quantify the problem by way of generating numerical data or data that can be
transformed into usable statistics. It is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviors, and other defined
variables – and generalize results from a larger sample population. Quantitative Research uses measurable data
to formulate facts and uncover patterns in research. Quantitative data collection methods are much more
structured than Qualitative data collection methods.
Quantitative data collection methods include various forms of surveys – online surveys, paper surveys, mobile
surveys and kiosk surveys, face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, longitudinal studies, website
interceptors, online polls, and systematic observations.
The two basic research approaches are quantitative and qualitative research.
Quantitative research is statistics-based. It involves questions that can best be answered in numbers. To get the
statistics, researchers often conduct experiments or give surveys. They then analyze the numbers with statistical
models to see what the data tells them.
Qualitative research is description-based. Qualitative researchers observe and interview people. They take
observations of people or events and analyze it through qualitative methods. They look for trends, just as
quantitative researchers do with statistics, but they don’t use numbers to find them.
4. Write any two considerations for a good research question.
Developing a good research question is one of the first critical steps in the research process.
The research question, when appropriately written, will guide the research project and assist in the construction
of a logical argument.
The research question should be a clear, focused question that summarizes the issue that the researcher will
investigate.
Steps to developing a research question:
•Choose an interesting general topic.
•Do some preliminary research on your general topic.
•Consider your audience.
•Start asking questions.
5. Name any four methods of data collection.
1. Registration
2 Questionnaires
3 Interviews
4 Direct observations
5 Reporting
Observation method Interview method Questionnaire method Schedule method
6. List one example of primary source and secondary source.
Examples of primary resources include:
Diaries, correspondence, ships' logs
Original documents e.g. birth certificates, trial transcripts
Biographies, autobiographies, manuscripts
Interviews, speeches, oral histories
Case law, legislation, regulations, constitutions
Government documents, statistical data, research reports
a journal article reporting NEW research or findings
Creative art works, literature
Newspaper advertisements and reportage and editorial/opinion pieces
14. Secondary sources
Examples of secondary sources include:
Journal articles that comment on or analyse research
Textbooks
Dictionaries and encyclopaedias
Books that interpret, analyse
Political commentary
Biographies
Dissertations
Newspaper editorial/opinion pieces
Criticism of literature, art works or music
7. What is the purpose of bibliography?
The main purpose of a bibliography entry is to give credit to other authors whose work you've consulted in your
research. Another purpose of a bibliography is to make it easy for a curious reader to find the source you've
used.
8. Write out shortly the importance of statement of a problem in a research.
1. It should address a gap in knowledge.
2. It should be significant enough to contribute to the existing body of research
3. It should lead to further research
4. The problem should render itself to investigation through collection of data
5. It should be of interest to the researcher and suit his/her skills, time, and resources
6. The approach towards solving the problem should be ethical
9. What do you mean by plagiarism?
To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
To use (another's production) without crediting the source
To commit literary theft
To present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source
10. List two requirements for a good hypothesis.
1. It must provide a reasonable explanation for the event that has occurred or will occur.
2. It must be consistent with prior research or observations.
3. It must be stated clearly and concisely.
4. It must be testable via the collection and analysis of data.
1. Ethics in research is the need of the hour. Justify the statement.
the appropriate guidelines for issues such as human rights, animal welfare, compliance with the law, conflicts of
interest, safety, health standards and so on.
Ethical behaviour is also critical for collaborative work because it encourages an environment of trust,
accountability, and mutual respect among researchers. This is especially important when considering issues
related to data sharing, co-authorship, copyright guidelines, confidentiality, and many other issues.
3. Discuss the various ways of formulating hypothesis.
15. 4. What is the purpose of literature survey in research?
The purpose of a literature review is to:
1.Place each work in the context of its contribution to understanding the research problem being studied.
2.Describe the relationship of each work to the others under consideration.
3.Identify new ways to interpret prior research.
4.report on knowledge and ideas that have been established on a particular topic, including their strengths and
weaknesses while they allow you to discover the agreed academic opinion on the topic while at the same time
letting you find out the disagreements on the same subject.
5.position your research project within the body of literature and thereby provide perspective for the reader.
6.demonstrate your knowledge of the subject area.
7.determine what each source contributes to the topic.
8.understand the relationship between the various contributions, identify and (if possible) resolve contradictions,
and determine gaps or unanswered questions.
9.justify your choice of research design; for instance, your choice of qualitative over quantitative approaches, or
your method of data analysis.
10.clarify how your work fills a gap in the scholarly literature.
5.Discuss the limitations of interview over the use of questionnaire as a method of data collection.
LIMITATIONS OF INTERVIEW
PERSONAL BIAS:- Interviewers are biased. Their likes and dislikes can affect their judgement.
HALO EFFECT:- Single characteristic of candidate affects the judgement of interviewer.
CONSTANT ERROR:- Interview of previous candidate influence the interviewer.
LENIENCY:- It implies the tendency to assign high scores.
PROJECTION:- It arises when an interviewer expects his own knowledge, skills etc. in a candidate.
STEREOTYPING:- It arises when the interviewer believes some association between a particular type of
personality trait.
5 THINGS THAT ONE MUST CARRY FOR INTERVIEW
PREPARATION:- Maximises chances of success.
INVITE INFORMATION:- Carry document by which one is notified about interview.
COPY OF CV:- Helps to fill additional forms. Carrying CV saves a lot of hassle.
PEN AND PAPER:- Carry a small notepad and a pen.
YOUR WORK PORTFOLIO:- Presenting your portfolio is as important as the way you present yourself.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS:- Recommendations letters are essential as it certifies and recommend you as
potential recruiters.
GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE INTERVIEWING
• Definite time schedule.
• Personal approach should be adopted.
• Interview should have element of privacy.
• Interview should be based on checklist of what to look for.
• Competent, trained and experienced persons should be interviewers.
• Interviewers should listen carefully to what applicant says.
• Interviewer should try to minimize personal bias.
• Interviewer must not end the interview abruptly.
• Proper coordination between the initial and succeeding interviews.
• Specific set of guidelines to interviewers.
• Proper method of interview should be employed.
9. List the different components of research writing.
Structure of a Research Paper
Following is a list of the parts commonly found in research articles.
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Methods
Results
Discussion/Conclusion
References/Bibliography
16. 10. What is a case study? Analyse the merits and limitations of case study methods.
Definitions of Case Study:
an in-depth description and analysis of a bounded system.
the collection and presentation of detailed information about a particular participant or small group,
frequently including the accounts of subjects themselves.
provides a systematic way of looking at events, collecting data, analyzing information, and reporting the
results
three categories, namely
Exploratory, descriptive and explanatory case studies.
Advantages
The most important advantage of using a case study is that it simplifies complex concepts.
Case studies expose the participants to real life situations which otherwise is difficult.
It truly helps in adding value to the Participants through discussion on concrete subjects.
It improves -analytical thinking, communication, developing tolerance for different views on the same
subject, ability to defend one’s own point of view with logic and enhances team work of the participants making
them efficient over time.
The many solutions which come out of the case act as ready reference when participants face similar
problems at work place.
Disadvantages
It might be difficult to find an appropriate case study to suit to all subjects.
Case studies contain the study of observations and perception of one person. There are chances that the
person presenting the case study may completely present it in one manner missing other aspects completely.
Managing time is a criterion in a training program. Case studies generally consume more time when
compared to other instruments. For shorter duration programs case studies may not be the best medium.
Since there is no one right answer, the problem arises in validation of the solutions because there are more
than one way to look at things.
Case Studies
Definition
• An intensive description and analysis of a single individual or (sometimes) group.
Advantages
1. Good source of ideas about behavior
2. Good opportunity for innovation
3. Good method to study rare phenomena
4. Good method to challenge theoretical assumptions
5. Good alternative or complement to the group focus of psychology
Disadvantages
1. Hard to draw definite cause-effect conclusions
2. Hard to generalize from a single case
3. Possible biases in data collection and interpretation (since single person gathers and analyzes the information)
3. Write the issues in basic research.
Basic research designs can be seen from the issues associated with the decision about
1.the purpose of the study (exploratory, descriptive, hypothesis testing),
2.where the research will conducted (i. e, study setting),
3.the type of research that should be (kind of investigation),
4.the extent to which researchers manipulated and control research (researcher interference level),
5.the temporal aspects research (time horizon),
6.the rate at which data will be analyzed (if the unit of analysis), is an integral part of the research design.
17. 6. Write few elements of research process
1. Choose a problem
2. Review the literature
3. Evaluate the literature
4. Be aware of all ethical issues
5. Be aware of all cultural issues
6. State the research question or hypothesis
7. Select the research approach
8. Determine how the variables are going to be measured
9. Select a sample
10. Select a data collection method
11. Collect and code the data
12. Analyze and interpret the data
13. Write the report
14. Disseminate the report