PhD Research Methodology

Stark Technovision Helps You to Select and Implement the Right Technology, Methodology and Paradigm for Your Research Work.
Stark Technovision provides you support with selecting the methodology, Technology, Simulation Model which is best suited to your research. The organization also assists for providing the Appropriate Plan for Conducting the same.

Research Methodology

Doing PhD Research is scientific, methodological way of finding answers to hypothetical questions. Since research methodology gives direction for conducting your thesis and also affects your results and how you conclude the findings, thus, it requires special and complete attention. Moreover research is considered as an academic activity, thus always term should be used in a technical sense. As soon as candidates register for their PhD, there are several major questions that they ask themselves such as "How to Research?" and 'What to research?'and central question would be 'why research'.

Research methodology is a ploy to get answer to the hypothetical questions. In terms of Technical Research, it states the way of systamatic Algorithmic implimentation to achieve ultimate Objectives. It provides a direction to execute the study. Formulating the research problem is the first challenge which is attainable through specific methodology. Application of methodology depends on the nature of research problem. Actually, it is a challenge on the part of a researcher in selecting a methodology.

Research can be method of finding solution to a problem or it can also involve in formulation of a theory. Hence in order to formulate a theory or to find answer to question, researchers need to be familiarizing with the appropriate methods. In general research objectives fall into a number of following broad groupings.

  • To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or achieve new insights - Exploratory or formulatory research
  • To portray accurately the population or individual or a group characteristics - Descriptive.
  • To determine the association or frequency of something which occurs - Diagnostic research.
  • To test a hypothesis of a casual relationship between variables - Hypothesis testing studies
Qualitative research Quantitative research
Research problem: how? why? Research problem: who (how many)? what (how much)?
Literature review: exploratory - what are the variables involved? constructs are messy research issues are developed Literature review: explanatory - what are the relationships between the variables which have been previously identified and measured? hypotheses are developed
Paradigm: critical realism/interpretive Paradigm: positivist
Methodology: for example, case study research or action research Methodology: for example, survey or experiment

Types of Research

There are different types of research and the basic types of research are as follows.

  • Technical Research: In technical research, especially for Engineering and Science & Tech. it is targeted to develop a novel and unique system, algorithm or technology with enhanced performance and higher scopes of acceptibility.
  • Descriptive Versus Analytical: This research includes fact finding enquiries or surveys of different kinds. In business research, it is called as Ex post facto research. Researcher does not has control over the variables. In analytical research, researcher use the information already readily available and analyse the information critically and present it.
  • Applied vs. Fundamental: Action (Applied) research aims at finding a solution for an immediate problem facing an industry or business or society, while basic (fundamental) is concerned with generalizations with formulation of a theory.
  • Qualitative or Quantitative research: Quantitative research focuses on numbers and measurement while qualitative research aims more at thoroughly describing a situation or explaining reasons for a problem or circumstances
  • Conceptual Vs Empirical: Abstract idea (s) or theory is conceptual research and used by philosophers while empirical (experimental) research relies on observation or experience alone. In this type of research, researcher must provide a working hypothesis and prove or disprove the same using appropriate methodology.
  • Other types of Research: Based on the purpose of research PhD Candidates can also chose other type of research such as longitudinal research, field setting research, simulation research, laboratory research, clinical or diagnostic research, historical research, conclusion oriented research, operation research, decision oriented research.

However, type of research is based on the purpose of your PhD study. It is always good to contact research methodology expertise of your area for more valuable information.

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