I'm writing an essay with the above research question for my history class. I've read a few pamphlets on JSTOR, which seems to imply that at least the British government thought of India as their own Empire, rather than the Empire of the EIC, but other than that I'm a little stuck as to where and what to look for. I'm not as such looking for an answer to this question as such, but if anyone has suggestions as to where a good place to look for an answer would be, that would be much appreciated, thank you!
Try The Corporation that changed the World - Nick Robins. Having studied this period a little, that's the most clear and concise source on the matter, and it explained the situation for me most clearly, and is most accessible (It's about 200 pages and generally in bookstores). It kind of depends on how many resources you have access to. Ideology and Empire in Eighteenth-Century India by Robert Travers also talks on the construction of the idea of Empire, which is a larger book and I found much more difficult to get through, and is less accessible. Two views of British India: the private correspondence of Mr. Dundas and Lord Wellesley, 1798-1801 also could be useful as a primary source, and the one with the introduction by Edward Ingram is very useful for deciphering the intent of the letters, especially if your don't have much knowledge on the actual events. It's also correspondence between a representative of the State and the Company which seems useful for your topic, although its much closer to the turn of the century, so may be less relevant to Robert Clive.
These could also be useful (didn't have the time to read these, but they looked useful):
The emergence of British power in India, 1600-1784 : a grand strategic interpretation - G.J. Bryant.
The business of empire : the East India Company and imperial Britain, 1756-1833 H.V. Bowen.
Hi, Dan Snow is currently presenting a documentary on the East India Company on BBC. Its pretty comprehensive so it might be of use to you.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b042w0xt
If you dont have access to the BBC website, it should be up on Youtube before long.