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Research methodology is a way of explaining how a researcher intends to carry out their research. It's a logical, systematic plan to resolve a research problem. A methodology details a researcher's approach to the research to ensure reliable, valid results that address their aims and objectives. It encompasses what data they're going to collect and where from, as well as how it's being collected and analyzed. The objective of data collection is to produce reliable data. This means that such data is consistent over time and place. But, there are a number of potential sources of error that could result in the production of unreliable data. These sources of error or observation effects have been classified into three categories, namely effects that are due to the researcher, those that result from the reactivity of the participant and those that follow from certain factors in the environment. Research methods and techniques have been, over past years, subject to thorough changes and developments. In management sciences, one can observe a trend of rejecting traditional thinking in favour of combinative thinking. Traditional thinking is based on standard patterns limited to determining goals and classifying them as general (main) and detailed ones, to establishing goal review systems and providing them with formal structures. Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing written or spoken words and textual data. It may also focus on body language or visual elements and help to create a detailed description of a researcher's observations. Researchers usually gather qualitative data through interviews, observation and focus groups using a few carefully chosen participants. This is a hand book for beginners in academic research. It answers several questions in selecting research design, reviewing of literature, analysis of data and report writing. The author has made an attempt to present this book in a precise and easy to understand manner for beginners. It is a must for those who have just begun to pursue research.
Read from the printed jacket. Pending editorial approval.
