IMTIAZ AHMAD

M.PHIL LINGUISTICS
TOIPC : STEPS IN RESEARCH PROCESS
GHAZI UNIVERSITY DERA GHAZI KHAN
STEPS IN RESEARCH PROCESS :

1. Defining Research Problem

2. Taking the Literature Review
3. Formulating the Hypothesis
4. Determining the Research Design
5. Sampling and data collection
6. Analyzing the Data
7. Concluding the Research
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROCESS ?

 The research process involves identifying, locating, assessing, and analyzing the information you need to support
your research question, and then developing and expressing your ideas. These are the same skills you need any
time you write a report, proposal, or put together a presentation.
 Every research involves the step-by-step process used to gather information in order to write your paper, create
a presentation, or complete a project. As you progress from one step to the next, it is often necessary to rethink,
revise, add additional material or even adjust your topic. Much will depend on what you discover during your
research.
 The research process can be broken down into seven steps, making it more manageable and easier to understand.
This module will give you an idea of what's involved at each step in order to give you a better overall picture of
where you are in your research, where you will be going, and what to expect at each step.
DEFINING RESEARCH PROBLEM :

 This is the first step to start a research process. A researcher tends to investigate a topic or develop a research
problem. It is usually according to his interest or the necessity of his field.
 A researcher start finding an adequate topic for his research work by formulating and investigating relative
papers. By studying different published papers, a researcher tends to formulate a topic first.
 To maintain the logical flow in the research process a researcher tends to start with developing a hypothesis.
 Further he identify the variables according to his hypothesis and finally end up with setting research aims and
objectives. These objectives works as a guideline to the researcher to continue the research process in sequence.
LITERATURE REVIEW :

 A literature review is a logical and methodical way of organizing what has been written about a topic by scholars
and researchers. Literature reviews can normally be found at the beginning of many essays, research reports, or
theses. In writing the literature review, the purpose is to convey what a researcher has learned through a careful
reading of a set of articles, books, and other relevant forms of scholarship related to the research question
 When a topic or research problem has been identified. In order to proceed further in the research process, a
researcher have to find and analyze relevant literature to topic. An author needs to find evidences and supporting
information about the research problem to provide background information. It helps the reader to understand
the topic well. Also acquiring content from published literature work helps to broaden the topic investigation and
the history of the research problem. Foundation knowledge of a problem is the basic element of the research
process to proceed further smoothly.
FORMULATING THE HYPOTHESIS :

 A hypothesis is an assumption or suggested explanation about how two or more variables are related. It is a
crucial step in the scientific method and, therefore, a vital aspect of all scientific research. There are no definitive
guidelines for the production of new hypotheses. The history of science is filled with stories of scientists claiming
a flash of inspiration, or a hunch, which then motivated them to look for evidence to support or refute the idea.
 While studying several researches you might duel up your ideas. You might overlap your concepts or thought
process. After reviewing literature a researcher would definitely come up with multiple ideas and key terms. in
order to reform the concepts and develop better understanding about the topic, a researcher needs to develop
theoretical and conceptual framework. A framework that explains the problem in support with the theories
related to it.
DETERMINING THE RESEARCH DESIGN :

 A research design encompasses the methodology and procedure employed to conduct scientific research.
Although procedures vary from one field of inquiry to another, identifiable features distinguish scientific inquiry
from other methods of obtaining knowledge. In general, scientific researchers propose hypotheses as explanations
of phenomena, and design research to test these hypotheses via predictions which can be derived from them.
 The design of a study defines the study type, research question and hypotheses, independent and dependent
variables, and data collection methods. There are many ways to classify research designs, but some examples
include descriptive (case studies, surveys), correlational (observational study), semi-experimental (field
experiment), experimental (with random assignment), review, and meta-analytic, among others. Another
distinction can be made between quantitative methods and qualitative methods.
SAMPLING AND DATA COLLECTION :

 Sampling is concerned with the selection of a subset of individuals from within a statistical population to estimate
characteristics of the whole population. The stages of the sampling process are defining the population of interest,
specifying the sampling frame, determining the sampling method and sample size, and sampling and data collecting.
 After selecting the research design a researcher have to collect the data to conduct or prove his hypothesis. The
data can be collected from primary and secondary sources. The researcher have to explain the either he is
collecting data from primary sources including first-hand information form interviews, questionnaire, survey and
observation. He further have to explain secondary sources from which he will collect information from books,
research articles and journals.
 Good data collection involves following the defined sampling process, keeping the data in time order, noting
comments and other contextual events, and recording non-responses. Errors and biases can result in the data.
Sampling errors and biases, such as selection bias and random sampling error, are induced by the sample design.
Non-sampling errors are other errors which can impact the results, caused by problems in data collection,
processing, or sample design.
ANALYZING THE DATA :

 Analysis of data is a process of inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of highlighting
useful information, suggesting conclusions, and supporting decision making.
 The process further proceed with analyzing the data by several methods including SPSS, Excel, CPSS and other
data calculating methods. The researcher have to explain the findings of each research question or research
objective.
 The Researcher now have to discuss the findings in de pth. The researcher gve future prediction discussing each
research question.
CONCLUDING THE RESEARCH :

 Now after analyzing all the data and findings along with theoretical perspective. It is now important to conclude
all the research chapters or section. Further it is also important to ensure that the research objectives, hypothesis
and practical application of the research.
 Without a valid design, valid scientific conclusions cannot be drawn. Internal validity is an inductive estimate of the
degree to which conclusions about causal relationships can be made (e.g., cause and effect), based on the
measures used, the research setting, and the whole research design.
 In other words, it is about whether findings can be validly generalized. Learning about and applying statistics (as
well as knowing their limitations) can help you better understand sociological research and studies.
THANKS FOR READING.....

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