Reader can Clearly understands the Basic needs to do the research through this presentation.

1. Research Methodology
MASTERS IN TOURISM ECONOMIC AND HOTEL
MANAGEMENT
UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO
Prepared by Keethopayan Visvalingam
The Research process

2. WHAT IS RESEARCH?
• The Word Research derived from middle French “recherche” which
means “ to go about seeking”.
• In broadest sense of the word, research includes any gathering of data,
information and facts for the advancement of knowledge.
• Research is a process of step used to collect and analyze information to
increase our understanding of a topic or issue.
2

3. WHAT IS RESEARCH?......
▸ The Advanced Learner‟s Dictionary of Current English lays down
the meaning of research as “a careful investigation or inquiry
specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.”
▸ “A careful, systematic , patient study and investigation in some field
of knowledge, undertaken to establish facts or principles”
3

4. TYPES OF RESEARCH
4
Quantitative Research – In natural and social sciences, and maybe in other
fields, quantitative research is the systematic empirical investigation of
observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical, or computational
techniques.
Qualitative research- Qualitative research relies on unstructured and non-
numerical data. The data include field notes written by the researcher during
the course of his or her observation, interviews and questionnaires.
Deductive research- Deductive reasoning, also deductive logic, is the process
of reasoning from one or more statements to reach a logical conclusion.
Deductive reasoning goes in the same direction as that of the conditionals,
and links premises with conclusions
Inductive Research– Inductive reasoning is a method of reasoning in which
the premises are viewed as supplying some evidence, but not full assurance,
for the truth of the conclusion.. .

5. “1. Formulation a of a research problem
2. Creation of a research design
3. Instruments for data collection
4. Selecting a sample
5. Writing the research proposal
6. Collecting data
7.Processing and displaying data
8. Presenting findings
5
Research Process- Steps

6. “
6

7. “
7

8. Formulating A Research Problem
▸ Research area, identify symptoms of an issue/ problem
▸ Literature survey
▸ Literature review
▸ Identifying the gaps
▸ Formulating the research problem
▸ Identifying variables
▸ Constructing hypotheses
8

9. FORMULATING
RESEARCH PROBLEM
▸ Any question that needs answer can be a research problem. However, not all
questions can be transformed into research problems.
▸ What matters here:
 Your knowledge in research methodology
 Your knowledge of the subject area
 Your understanding of the issues to be examined
9

10. FORMULATING
RESEARCH PROBLEM
▸ Formation of a research problem is the first step in the research. Identify the
destination before you start the journey. It is the foundation of your
building.
▸ Sources of research problems:
▹ People (individuals, groups, organizations, communities)
▹ Problems (Issues, situations, associations,, needs, demographic)
▸ Use concepts that can be measured.
▸ Topic should be relevant to your profession/ subject area.
▸ Availability of data
▸ Ethical issues
10

11. ▸ Objectives are goals of your study
▸ Main objectives
▸ Secondary or sub-objectives
▸ They must be clear, complete and
specific
Formulation Of Objectives
11

12. LITERATURE REVIEW
▸ A literature review is a critical and in depth evaluation of previous research.
▸ It is a summary and synopsis of a particular area of research, allowing anybody
reading the paper to establish why you are pursuing this particular research
program.
▸ A good literature review expands upon the reasons behind selecting a particular
research question.
▸ Update the existing empirical literature
▸ To make research problem clear and bring focus into it
▸ To understand theory applicable, methods used by previous researches,
existing empirical evidence
▸ To have a broader knowledge in your area of research
12

13. LITERATURE REVIEW
▸ Search and select literature
▸ Sources of literature
▸ Review selected literature
▸ Develop a theoretical framework (theories and issues related your
study)
▸ Develop a conceptual framework (aspects you select from theoretical
framework that form the basis of your research)
13

14. How To Write The Literature
Review
▸ Write under themes
▸ Some may follow
chronological order
▸ Highlight your arguments
▸ Provide references
14

15. EXAMPLE……
▸ Research Area: - Student Absenteeism
▸ Title:- Factors Influencing Student Absenteeism in Universities
▸ Research Questions:-
▹ What are the factors influencing students‟ absenteeism?
▹ What does the student feel absenteeism communicates to the
lecturer/teacher?
▹ What are the perceptions of regular students surrounding student
absenteeism?
▹ What messages do teachers communicate to their students regarding their
absenteeism?
▹ What are the potential impacts of teacher to student communication
regarding absenteeism?
15

16. EXAMPLE……
▸ Research Objective:-
▹ General Objective:-
▹ In general study is to find out the factors contributing to the problem of
absenteeism among students in Higher education institutes. Apart from that
it suggest the suitable way of resolving the problem.
▹ Specific Objective:-
▹ To determine the difference between gender and student absenteeism
frequency
▹ To determine the relationship between the subject interest and student
absenteeism frequency
▹ To determine the relationship between student attitude and student
absenteeism frequency
▹ To determine the relationship between any other constrains and student
absenteeism frequency
16

17. IDENTIFYING VARIABLES
▸ A concept or perception that takes on
different values and that can be measured
is a variable. It is something that varies.
▸ Types:
▸ Independent variables (they are
responsible for bringing about change in a
phenomenon, situation)
▸ Dependent variables (effects of a change
variable, the outcome of the changes
brought about by changes in an independent
variable)
17

18. DEFFERENCE BETWEEN CONCEPT-
VARIABLE
▸ Concept are mental images or perception and therefore their meanings vary
from individual to individual, Whereas Variables are measurable with various
degrees of accuracy.
▸ You need to consider operationalization of concept that is how it will be
measured.
▸ To do this you must identify the indicators.
▸ These indicators are criteria reflecting concepts which can be converted to
variable
18

19. EXAMPLE
Independent
Variable
Gender
Subject Interest
Student Attitude
Family Constrain
Dependent
Variable
Student
Absenteeism
19

20. Constructing Hypotheses
20
▸ It is an „anticipation of nature‟ or an assumption, assertion
▸ “a tentative statement about something, the validity of which is usually
unknown‟
▸ It may be right, partially right or wrong
▸ It should be simple, specific and conceptually clear
▸ “Null hypothesis" is a general statement or default position that there is no
relationship between two measured phenomena, or no association among groups
▹ Eg:- Null hypothesis, H0: The world is flat.
Alternate hypothesis: The world is round.
▸ Several scientists set out to disprove the null hypothesis. This eventually led to
the rejection of the null and the acceptance of the alternate. Most people
accepted it.

21. 21
Research Design
• It is the plan, structure and strategy of investigating the
research problem
• It is an operational plan
• Procedures to be adopted
• Testing the design

22. 22
Constructing An Instrument For
Data Collection
▸ Data collection methods:
▹ Primary sources
▹ Observation
▹ Interview
▹ Questionnaire
▸ Use of secondary sources
▹ Establish the validity of the selected instrument

23. 23
Selecting A Sample
“Process of selecting a few from a bigger group”
Bigger group is the population and the selected few is the sample
Larger the sample size the more accurate will be the findings

24. • Sampling strategies are
numerous. They can be
categorized into three groups:
• Random/probability sampling
• Non-random/probability
sampling
• Mixed sampling
24
Sampling Types

25. • It is your plan of research
• It reveals what you are going
to do, how you plan to do and
why you have selected the
proposed procedures
• It guides you as well as your
supervisor
• It is an academic piece of
writing
• It shows the strength of your
proposed research
e
25
Research Proposal

26. 26
Basic Simplified Structure of Proposal
1. Title of the research
2. Basic Information About researcher
3. The setting of the study/ Introduction:
About the research, population, environment, resources, your
approaches and so on
4. The importance of the study. Why it is necessary to carry out.
5. The objectives of the study.
6. The hypothesis if you are testing any.
7. The Study design you are proposing to apply
8. About the data collecting instruments / tools that your going to use.
9. Information on the sample and its sampling design
10. Data processing techniques to be used.
11. The proposed time frame.

27. 27
Elements
▸ Introduction (an overview of the main area under study, historical
background, philosophical issues etc., trends, major theories, main issues
under consideration etc.)
▹ Importance (Why you do it? What are the benefits?)
▹ Problem (Your research problem or the research questions)
▸ Literature review

28. 28
Elements Contd.,
▸ Objectives ( main and secondary)
▸ Hypotheses
▸ Study design (population, sample, data collection methods etc.)
▸ Setting (brief description of the community, organization or agency in which you
are going to carry out the research)
▸ Analysis of data (methods you are going to use)
▸ Structure of the report or chapterization
▸ Limitations and problems you may encounter
▸ Work plan or schedule
▸ Budget (optional)

29. Collection Data
• Ethical issues relating to research participants ( their consent,
incentives, sensitive information, harm to participants etc.)
• Ethical issues relating to the researcher (avoiding bias, using
appropriate research methodology, correct reporting etc.)
29

30. 30
Processing Data
▸ Editing data
▸ Coding data
▸ Verifying coded data
▸ Analyzing data
▸ Displaying data (charts, diagrams, tables)

31. 31
Writing The Report Or Thesis
▸ Follow standards (International standards or departmental
guidelines)
▸ Use appropriate referencing/citation system
▸ Preparation of a bibliography
▸ Avoid plagiarism
▸ Both bibliography and references appear at the end of a document.
But bibliography comes after thereference list. ...
1.Bibliography is listing all the materials that have been consulted
while writing an essay or a book. References, on the other hand, are
those that have been referenced in your article or book.

32. 32
Reference
▸ Referencing is a standardized method of formatting the information
sources you have used in your assignments or written work. Any
given referencing style serves two purposes: acknowledges the
source. allows the reader to trace the source.
▸ A references page is the last page of an essay or research paper
that has been written in Accepted style. It lists all the sources you
have used in your project, so readers can easily find what you've
cited.

33. 33
Thank you