A hypothesis is an assumption about relations between variables. It is a tentative explanation of the research problem or a guess about the research outcome. Before starting the research, the researcher has a rather general, diffused, even confused notion of the problem. It may take long time for the researcher to say what questions he had been seeking answers to. Hence, an adequate statement about the research problem is very important. What is a good problem statement? It is an interrogative statement that asks: what relationship exists between two or more variables? It then further asks questions like: Is A related to B or not? How are A and B related to C? Is a related to B under conditions X and Y? Proposing a statement pertaining to relationship between A and B is called a hypothesis. Procedure for Testing Hypothesis To test a hypothesis means to tell (on the basis of the data researcher has collected) whether or not the hypothesis seems to be valid. In hypothesis testing the main question is: whether the null hypothesis or not to accept the null hypothesis? Procedure for hypothesis testing refers to all those steps that we undertake for making a choice between the two ...

Experimental research designs, which can otherwise be called hypothesis-testing research designs, were originally made by R.A. Fisher in agricultural research in England. Experimental designs are generally used in experimental studies where hypo these are tested. Experimental designs are now used in almost all the areas of scientific studies. Professor Fisher has enumerated three principles of experimental designs: 1. The principle of replication: The experiment should be reaped more than once. Thus, each treatment is applied in many experimental units instead of one. By doing so, the statistical accuracy of the experiments is increased. For example, suppose we are to examine the effect of two varieties of rice. For this purpose we may divide the field into two parts and grow one variety in one part and the other variety in the other part. We can compare the yield of the two parts and draw conclusion on that basis. But if we are to apply the principle of replication to this experiment, then we first divide the field into several parts, grow one variety in half of these parts and the other variety in the remaining parts. We can collect the data yield of the two varieties and ...

After data are obtained are obtained through questionnaire, interviews, observation or through secondary sources, they need to be edited. The blank responses, if any, have to be handled in some way, the data coded, and categorizing scheme has to be set up. The data will then have to be keyed in, and some software program used to analyze them. Editing Data have to be edited, especially when they relate to responses to open-ended questions of interviews and questionnaires, or unstructured observations. In other words, information that may have been noted down by the interviewer, observer, or researcher in a hurry must be clearly deciphered so that it may be coded systematically in its entirety. Lack of clarity at this stage will result later in confusion. The edited data should be identifiable through the use of a different color pencil or ink so that original information is still available in case of further doubts. Incoming mailed questionnaire data have to be checked for incompleteness and inconsistencies, if any, by designated members of research staff. Inconsistencies that can be logically corrected should be rectified and edited at this stage. Much of the editing ...

The documentary source is an important source of information for a researcher. A document is anything in writing a record, files or diaries, published or unpublished which can be extracted and used in research. It is a very valuable source of information for a research either in management or in social sciences. It may comprise office files, business and legal papers, biographies, official and unofficial records, letters, proceedings of any courts, committees, societies, Assemblies, and Parliaments, enactments, constitution, reports of surveys, or research of commissions, official statistics, newspaper editorials, special articles, company news, cases or company directors’ reports, etc. Documentation is the process of collecting and extracting the documents which are relevant to research. Documents may be classified into: Personal documents; Company documents; Consultants’ report and published materials; and Public documents. Personal documents are those that are written by or on behalf of individuals. They may include autobiographies, biographies, diaries, memoirs, letters, observations and inscriptions, which are primarily written for the use and satisfaction ...

Classification is the way of arranging the data in different classes in order to give a definite form and a coherent structure to the data collected, facilitating their use in the most systematic and effective manner. It is the process of grouping the statistical data under various understandable homogeneous groups for the purpose of convenient interpretation. A uniformity of attributes is the basis criterion for classification; and the grouping of data is made according to similarity. Classification becomes necessary when there is diversity in the data collected for meaningful presentation and analysis. However, in respect of homogeneous presentation of data, classification may be unnecessary. Objectives of classification of data: To group heterogeneous data under the homogeneous group of common characteristics; To facility similarity of various group; To facilitate effective comparison; To present complex, haphazard and scattered dates in a concise, logical, homogeneous, and intelligible form; To maintain clarity and simplicity of complex data; To identify independent and dependent variables and establish their relationship; To establish a cohesive nature for ...

Experimental research designs, which can otherwise be called hypothesis-testing research designs, were originally made by R.A. Fisher in agricultural research in England. Experimental designs are generally used in experimental studies where hypo these are tested. Experimental designs are now used in almost all the areas of scientific studies. These principal of experimental designs which Fisher prescribed are, viz.: (a) the principle of replication, (b) principle of randomization, and (c) the principle of local control. The principle of replication suggests that the experiment must be repeated also that the treatment is applied in many experimental units. This increases the statistical accuracy of the experiments. Randomization indicating that the variations resulted by extraneous factors can be brought under “chance”. Principle of local control indicates that the extraneous factor is allowed to vary deliberately over a wide range so that the variability it causes can be measured and eliminated from the experimental error. Experimental designs can either be informal experimental designs or formal experimental designs. Informal experimental designs generally use less ...