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CHAPTER – IIII

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

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The research is a careful investigation to find and to analyze facts in the

respective field of study. Research is made up of two words ‘Re’ and

‘Search’ re means again and search means to examine closely and carefully

or to test and try or to probe to draw conclusions. It is an organized, careful

and systematic process of collecting and analyzing the data to increase the

understanding of the phenomenon under study to establish facts and

principles. Research is a scientific method that consists of observation,

classification and interpretation of data in a systematic manner (Lundberg,

1942). Research is a structured inquiry that uses scientific methodology to

solve problems, to create new knowledge that is generally acceptable

(Grinnell 2001). Research is systematic because one has to follow a definite

set of procedures and steps to get accurate and precise results. The research in

the social sciences is concerned with the human beings and the organizational

behavior is an important part of focus and must be considered carefully before

drawing the conclusions. Research is an organized inquiry designed and

carried out to provide information to solve the problem (Upagade and Shinde,

2012).

The research process consists of various steps that are necessary to be

followed before drawing conclusions. These steps include defining the

research problem; review of literature (review of concepts, things and

previous findings); formulation of hypothesis; research design (including

sample design); collecting data; analyzing data using statistical methods

(testing hypothesis) and finally interpretation and reporting (Kothari, 2013).

The researcher must be aware of the information that is required to answer the

various research questions; the sources of data collection and the means by

which researcher will collect the information for analysis of data to draw

conclusion. Research methods provide a base for investigation by which

relationship between variables can be established. The research methodology

is a study to solve the research problem scientifically in a systematic way. The

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researcher has to be careful while selecting the methodology to be adopted to

solve the problem as the research methodology adopted have no value unless

it is used properly (Singh 2007). The research methodology deals not only

with the methods used to solve the problem but also takes into consideration

the logic behind the methods used in the context of a research study and

explains why a particular method or technique has been used to draw research

results.

3.1 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the present study is to know the availability of various Digital

Information Resources in the Central Libraries of IIT’s under study and the

Digital Information Services provided by these libraries using modern

techniques to its users. The purpose of conducting the present study is to

know, how much the Undergraduate Students, Post Graduate Students and

Research Scholars of these premier institutes of technology are aware of

various Digital Information Resources and Services rendered by their

respective institutes. Apart from this the purpose of the study is to know the

frequently used Digital Information Resources and Services and to know how

much these digital information resources and services are important for the

users in their study and research.

3.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is confined to the IIT’s of India. There are 16 IITs in India, but only

07 IITs have been taken for the study. The users from the following IIT’s

have been taken up for study:

1. IIT Bombay

2. IIT Delhi

3. IIT Guwahati

4. IIT Kanpur

5. IIT Kharagpur

6. IIT Madras

7. IIT Roorkee

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The users under study include: Undergraduate Students, Post Graduate

Students and Researcher Scholars of the IITs’.

3.3 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The present study is limited to the statement of the problem, objectives of the

study and the sample selected for the study. Apart from these, the other

limitations of the study are:

1. There are diversified people in the IITs, but only students have been

taken up in the study. Only the Undergraduate students; Postgraduate

students and Research Scholars have been taken for the study.

2. The faculty members of the IITs have been excluded from the study as

the faculty members in the IITs are having busy schedule so it is difficult

to get the duly completed questionnaires from them.

3. The study is limited to the 07 IIT’s of India. There are 16 IITs in India

but only 07 IITs have been taken for the study ( i.e. IIT, Delhi; IIT,

Mumbai; IIT, Chennai; IIT, Guwahati; IIT, Kharagpur; IIT, Kanpur and

IIT Roorkee). The 09 IITs have been excluded from the study as all these

IITs are established during 2008 and 2009. It is supposed that these may

not have developed digital infrastructure, facilities and services at par

with the already established IITs.

3.4 POPULATION OF THE STUDY

The population taken for study includes Undergraduate Students; Post

Graduate Students and Research Scholars enrolled in the IIT’s and still

pursuing their respective course of study. The total strength of users under

study is 50000 enrolled in the IIT’s in various courses of study and research.

Table 3.1 shows the total strength of Undergraduate Students; Postgraduate

Students and Research Scholars enrolled in various courses in respective IIT

and fig. 3.1 is the graphical presentation of the population from a different

category of users under study in the respective IIT.

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Table 3.1: Population under Study

IIT

User

IITB IITD IITG IITK IITKGP IITM IITR

Total

UG 4025 4300 2518 2621 6189 3667 4472 27792

PG 2940 2200 1062 1208 2311 1668 2093 13482

RS 1225 1200 1224 1169 1944 1999 1471 10232

Total 8190 7700 4804 4998 10444 7334 8036 51506

Figure 3.1: Population under Study

3.5 POPULATION SAMPLE TAKEN

The stratified random sampling method is used while selecting the sample.

Solvin’s formula is used to find an appropriate size when nothing about the

behavior of the population is not known at all (Ariola, 2006).

Solvin’s formula is n =

Where n = sample size, N= total Population, e = error tolerance

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The population under study comprises of three types of users, i.e.

Undergraduate Students (UG); Postgraduate Students (PG) and Research

Scholars (RS). The sample has been taken from each type of user group

randomly and proportionately. A total of 3000 questionnaires are distributed

amongst the population under study and total 2885 questionnaires had been

received back by the investigator. Out of 2885 questionnaires received from

respondents all the responses are critically examined and evaluated. Only

2713 responses as detailed in The table 3.2 show the status wise

questionnaires distributed, received and found in order for the analysis

amongst various categories of users. The table 3.3 shows the institute wise

questionnaires distributed received and found in order for analysis.

Table 3.2: Status wise Distribution of Questionnaires

Users Questionnaire

Distributed

Questionnaire

Received

Questionnaire

Analyzed

UG 1110 1074 1004

PG 1050 975 901

RS 840 836 808

Total 3000 2885 2713

Figure 3.2: Status wise distribution of Questionnaires

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Table 3.3: Institute wise Response

IIT Questionnaire

Distributed

Questionnaire

Received

Questionnaire

Analyzed

Bombay 375 349 334

Delhi 475 461 423

Guwahati 375 363 340

Kanpur 375 359 354

Kharagpur 500 483 451

Madras 450 433 408

Roorkee 450 437 403

Total 3000 2885 2713

Figure 3.3: Institute wise Response

3.6 DATA COLLECTION TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

The data collection is an important task in the research methodology. For

making the data useful, observations need to be organized in such a manner

that same pattern and logical conclusions can be drawn. There are various

methods and procedures to collect the data, but the investigator must be aware

of the method and procedures adopted to carry out the research work. In the

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present study the following tools and techniques were adopted by the

investigator to collect data:

3.6.1 Observation Method

The observation method of data collection deals with the recording of the

behavior of respondents. It is a systematic plan and considered as a scientific

tool to collect primary data. The investigator collect the information by own

observation instead of collecting information from the respondents. In the

present study the observation method was adopted to check whether the

information provided by the librarian in the questionnaire was objective or

not. The investigator visited the library during different working hours during

the visit to IIT to observe the functioning of the library, to know the various

available resources and services provided in the library to its users.

3.6.2 Interview Method

Interview method is an important method to collect primary data. In the

present study, investigator met the librarian and users during the visit to the

library. The investigator talked to the users about their awareness of different

resources and services provided by the library, how frequently the resources

and services are being used by them and how these resources and services are

helpful in their study and research.

3.6.3 Survey Method

The survey is a fact finding technique to discover the facts. The method is

used to collect detailed descriptions of existing phenomena with the intent of

employing data to justify current conditions and practices. The present study

was carried out using the survey method. The investigator prepared two types

of questionnaires, one meant for librarians and second for the users (i.e.

Research Scholars; Postgraduate Students and Undergraduate Students) of the

Central Libraries. The questionnaire meant for librarian was designed to

collect data about library collections, various Digital Information Resources,

Digital Information Services available in the Central Library and the user’s

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attitude towards the modern techniques adopted by the library. The user’s

questionnaire was prepared to collect information about their awareness,

frequency and importance of various digital information resources and

services. All the information has been collected personally by the investigator

by visiting the respective institutes. The questionnaire was administered

amongst user randomly by visiting libraries, hostels and academic

departments.

3.6.4 Pilot Study

The pilot study helps the investigator to have an idea that whether the

respondents are comfortable in completing the questionnaire or not. The

investigator designed a tentative questionnaire before conducting the main

survey. The pilot study was conducted only in IIT Delhi. A total of 90

questionnaires were administered personally by the investigator to different

categories of users. On the basis of the response received, personal

observation and interview with some respondent’s, minor changes have been

incorporated in the questionnaire for the main study.

3.6.5 Main Study

The investigator personally visited the libraries, hostels and academic

departments of the IITs under study to collect response from the users

(Undergraduate Students, Postgraduate Students and Research Scholars). The

questionnaires were randomly distributed amongst the users under study. A

total of 3000 questionnaires were randomly distributed amongst different

categories of users from 7 IITs under study. A total of 2885 respondents had

returned the filled questionnaire. After critically examining and evaluating the

responses received back, only 2713 questionnaires were found in order for

analysis.

3.6.6 Sources of Data Collection

The following sources have been used to collect the data:

1. IIT home page

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2. Library Web Site

3. Annual Reports

4. Questionnaire filled by librarians and users

3.7 DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

The survey method was adopted by the investigator to collect the data. The

duly filled questionnaires found in order after critically examine and

evaluation has been coded in Microsoft Excel 2010 and recorded in the SPSS-

20 (Statistical Package for Social Science). The data has been analyzed using

suitable statistical methods viz. Percentage, Mean Value, Standard Deviation,

Chi-square (χ2) Test. The data have been analyzed Institute wise and Status

wise respondents using statistical methods. The analyzed data has been

presented in the tabular and graphical forms. The detailed analysis of the data

is presented in the Chapter-4.

3.7.1 Institute wise Respondents

The institute wise questionnaire received from different categories of

respondents under study is shown in Table 3.4 and the graphical

representation of the responses is shown in fig. 3.4.

Table 3.4: Institute wise Respondents

IIT Frequency Percentage

Bombay 334 12.3

Delhi 423 15.6

Guwahati 340 12.5

Kanpur 354 13.0

Kharagpur 451 16.6

Madras 408 15.0

Roorkee 403 14.9

Total 2713 100.0

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Figure 3.4: Institute wise respondents

3.7.2 Gender wise Respondents

The population under study comprises of respondents from both genders i.e.

male and female respondents. The total respondents gender wise and status

wise is as per table 3.5 and the respondents gender wise from different IIT’s is

shown in table 3.5.

Table 3.5: Gender wise Respondents

Gender Frequency Percentage

Male 1899 70.0

Female 814 30.0

Total 2713 100.0

Figure 3.5: Gender wise Respondents

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3.7.3 Institute wise Gender wise respondents

The gender wise respondents from different institutes under study are shown

in table 3.6 and pictorially shown in figure 3.6.

Table 3.6: Gender wise Respondents across the Institutes

IIT Male Female Total

229 105 334 Bombay

68.56% 31.44% 100.00%

273 150 423 Delhi

64.54% 35.46% 100.00%

271 69 340 Guwahati

79.71% 20.29% 100.00%

227 127 354 Kanpur

64.12% 35.88% 100.00%

349 102 451 Kharagpur

77.38% 22.62% 100.00%

262 146 408 Madras

64.22% 35.78% 100.00%

288 115 403 Roorkee

71.46% 28.54% 100.00%

1899 814 2713 Total

70.0% 30.0% 100.0%

Figure 3.6: Gender wise Respondents across the Institutes

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3.7.4 Status wise Respondents

The users under study are of three types of respondents i.e. Undergraduate

Students (UG), Postgraduate Students (PG) and Research Scholars (RS). The

status wise respondents are shown in table 3.7 and figure 3.7 shows the Status

wise respondents graphically. Status wise respondents from different

institutes is shown in table 3.8 and pictorially shown in figure 3.8. The status

wise, gender wise respondents are given in table 3.9 and pictorially shown in

figure 3.9.

Table 3.7: Status wise Respondents

Status Frequency Percentage

RS 808 29.8

PG 901 33.2

UG 1004 37.0

Total 2713 100.0

Figure 3.7: Status wise Respondents

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Table 3.8: Status wise Respondents across the Institutes

Status

Bo

mb

ay

Del

hi

Gu

wah

ati

Ka

np

ur

Kh

ara

gp

ur

Ma

dra

s

Ro

ork

ee

To

tal

UG 124 153 125 132 164 157 149 1004

PG 111 141 116 115 151 132 135 901

RS 99 129 99 107 136 119 119 808

Total 334 423 340 354 451 408 403 2713

Figure 3.8: Status wise Respondents across the Institutes

Table 3.9: Status wise, Gender wise Respondents

Gender Status

Male Female Total

RS 565

69.9% 243

30.1% 808

100.0%

PG 600

66.6% 301

33.4% 901

100.0%

UG 734

73.1% 270

26.9% 1004

100.0%

Total 1899

70.0% 814

30.0% 2713

100.0%

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Figure 3.9: Status wise, Gender wise Respondents

3.8 Brief description of Tests and Analysis: The brief description of scales

used and tests used for analysis of data is presented below:

Scales Used and their Scores: The different scales have been used for the

purpose of analyzing the data and each point of scale has been given a score.

The various scales and the assigned score are detailed below:

To measure the frequency of using Digital Information

Resources and Services

Scale 1

A score of 5 has been assigned to “Most Frequently”, 4 to

“Frequently”, 3 to “Sometimes” 2 to “Rarely” and 1 to “Never”

Scale 2 To measure the importance of using Digital Information

Resources and Services

A score of 4 has been assigned to “Essential”, 3 to “Very

Important”, 2 to “Somewhat Important” 1 to “Not Important”

and 0 to “No Opinion”

Scale 3 A score of 5 has been assigned to “Strongly Agree”, 4 to

“Agree”, 3 to “Somewhat Agree” 2 to “Disagree” and 1 to

“Strongly Disagree”

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Percentage (%): The percentage is denoted by the symbol %. It is the ratio

expressed as a fraction of 100.

Mean ( ): Mean is the most important measure of central tendency. The

arithmetic mean is used by the investigator for the analysis of the data. The

arithmetic mean is simply the mean value obtained by dividing the sum of

values of a variable by the total number of values and is represented by .

=

Where = Sum of total values in the distribution; N= Total number of

cases

Standard Deviation (σ): The measure of dispersion for the purpose of

comparison was devised by Karl Pearson. It is the measure of the dispersion

of a set of data from its mean. It is used to determine the reliability of the

average and to compare two or more series with respect to their variability.

Chi-Square (χχχχ2): Chi-Square test is also known as test of association;

goodness fit test. The test is used to judge the significance of population

variance. The test is based on the assumption of normality. The test is used to

test null hypothesis.

χχχχ2 = df= (r-1)(c-1)

is frequency of occurrence of observed facts

is expected frequency of occurrence

df = degree of freedom; r = no. of rows and c = no. of columns

3.9 Citation Style

Every researcher uses the material from other sources also for their research

work. It is the sole responsibility of the researcher to give proper citations of

the documents from where the material has been cited. All the references used

in the work should be properly acknowledged. In the present work the

Chicago style has been followed for writing references and bibliography.

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Grinnell, R. M. Social Work Research and Evaluation: qualitative and

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Kothari, C. R. Research methodology: Methods and techniques, 3rd ed. New

Delhi: New Age International, 2014.

Lundberg, G. A. Social research; a study in methods of gathering data. New

York: Longmans, Green, 1942.

Singh, Y. K. Fundamental of research methodology and statistics. New

Delhi: New Age International, 2006.

Upagade, Vijay, and Arvind Shende. Research methodology For MBA, M

Phil, B Ed, M Ed, according to the latest UGC syllabus, Also for

MCA, CA, CS. New Delhi: S Chand, 2012.