RESEARCH PROCESS

RESEARCH PROCESS
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The research process is similar to undertaking a journey. For a research journey there are two important decisions to make1) What you want to find out about or what research questions (problems) you want to find answers to; 2) How to go about finding their answers.

At each operational step in the research process requires the researcher to choose from a multiplicity of methods, procedures and models of research methodology which will help you to best achieve your objectives.
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The path to find the answers to the research questions constitutes RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.

RESEARCH PROCESS IN FLOW CHART

FF II Review the literature FF I Review of concepts and theories III IV V VI Analyze data (test hypotheses if any F F VII

Define research problem Review previous research findings

Formulate hypotheses

Design research

Collect data (execution)

interpret and report

F
F = Feedback (helps in controlling the sub-system to which it is transmitted) FF = Feed forward (serves the vital function of providing criteria for evaluation)

7/27/2011

CR Kothari Research Methodology- Methods and Techniques 2001

Steps in the Research Process

DEFINE THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
It is the first and most crucial step in the research process - Main function is to decide what you want to find out about. The way the researcher formulates a problem determines almost every step that follows. problem relates to the nature of the variable or on the relationship between the variable; problem relating to general area of interest or on aspect of the subject matter that is to be inquired. Statement &objective of the problem to be clear Sources of research problems The sourse of the research problem revolves around four Ps: Peoplea group of individuals Problems- examine the existence of certain issues or problems relating to their lives; to ascertain attitude of a group of people towards an issue Programs- to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention Phenomena- to establish the existence of a regularity. In practice most research studies are based upon at least a combination of two Ps

Step 1:Considerations in selecting a research problem:

1. Interest: a research endeavour is usually time consuming, and involves hard work and possibly unforeseen problems. So, the select topic should uphold the interest with required motivation. 2. Magnitude: the selected research topic should be managed within the time and resources at the researchers disposal. The topic is to be manageable, specific and clear. 3. Level of expertise: the researcher should have adequate level of expertise for the task he or she is working since the researcher have to work on the topic alone. 4. Relevance: the research study adds to the existing body of knowledge, bridges current gaps and is useful in policy formulation. 5. Availability of data: Before finalizing the topic, make sure that data are available. 6. Ethical issues: How ethical issues can affect the study population and how ethical problems can be overcome should be thoroughly examined at the problem formulating stage

Steps in formulation of a research problem :

Working through these steps presupposes a reasonable level of knowledge in the broad subject area within which the study is to be undertaken. Without such knowledge it is difficult to clearly and adequately dissect a subject area. Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Identify a broad field or subject area of interest Dissect the broad area into sub areas. Select what is of most interest . Raise research questions. Formulate objectives. Assess your objectives. Double check. So far we have focused on the basis of your study

DEFINE THE RESEARCH PROBLEM Every research study has two aspects: 1. Study population People: individuals, organizations, groups, communities
( they provide you with the information or you collect information about them)

2. Subject area Problems: issues, situations, associations, needs, profiles Program : content, structure, outcomes, attributes, satisfactions, consumers, Service providers, etc. Phenomenon: cause-and-effect relationships, the study of a phenomenon itself
(Information that you need to collect to find answers to your research questions)

Step 2. Reviewing the literature:

-Essential preliminary task in order to acquaint yourself with the available body of knowledge in the area of interest. -Literature review is integral part of entire research process and makes valuable contribution to every operational step. - Its functions are: a. Bring clarity and focus to your research problem: Helps to conceptualise the research problem clearly and precisely. Helps to understand the relationship between the research problem and the body of knowledge in the area. b. Improve your methodology: Tells whether others have used procedures and methods similar to the ones that the researcher is proposing, the workability of the procedures and the problems they have faced with them. Information on various available research theories and method; and assist in the selecttion of a methodology which is capable of providing valid answer to the research questions

Step 2. Reviewing the literature:

c. Broaden your knowledge: It ensures the researcher to read widely around the subject area in which he/she intend to conduct the research study. It also helps to understand how the findings of the study fit into the existing body of knowledge. d. Contextualise your findings. Assist to find answers to the research questions compare with what others have found. It is important to place the final findings in the context of the field of enquiry. # What contribution have you been able to make in to the existing body of knowledge? # How are the findings different from those of others? The literature review process Review the literature selected Develop a theoretical framework Writing up the literature reviewed

Step 3 The formulation of objectives and hypothesis

-Objectives are the goals that are set out to attain in the research . -They inform a reader what the researcher wants to attain through the research. Objectives contains : a)main objectives ( aims);

b) sub-objectives.

The main objective is an overall statement of the thrust of your study. It is also a statement of the main associations and relationships that you seek to discover or establish. The sub-objectives are the specific aspects of the topic that you want to investigate within the main framework of your study. -They should be numerically listed. -Wording should clearly, completely and specifically -Communicate to your readers your intention. -Each objective should contain only one aspect of the Study. -Use action oriented words or verbs when writing objectives.

Step 3 The formulation of objectives and hypothesis

The objectives should start with words such as to determine,to find out,to ascertain,to measure,to explore etc. The wording of objectives determines the type of research (descriptive, correlational, and experimental) and the type of research design you need to adopt to achieve them. CHARACTERISTICS OF OBJECTIVES Clear + Complete + Specific +

Identify main variables to be correlated

Identify the direction of relationship

IDescriptive StudiesI I.................Correlational Studies (experimental and non-experimental)...........I I.....................Hypothesis testing studies..........................I

Step 3 The formulation of objectives and hypothesis

Constructing hypotheses: A hypotheses is a hunch, assumption, suspicion, assertion or an idea about a phenomenon, relationship or situation, the reality or truth of which you do not know. In most studies the hypotheses will be based upon researchers or someone elses observation and they become the basis of an enquiry. The functions of hypotheses: The formulation of hypothesis provides a study with focus. It tells you what specific aspects of a research problem to investigate. A hypothesis tells the researcher what data to collect and what not to collect, thereby providing focus to the study. As it provides a focus, the construction of a hypothesis enhances objectivity in a study. A hypothesis may enable the researcher to add to the formulation of a theory. It enables him /her to specifically conclude what is true or what is false.

Step -4 Preparing the research design

State the conceptual structure within which research would be conducted and is based on the research purpose ( exploration/ description/ diagnosis and experimentation). The function of research design is to provide for the collection of relevant evidence with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money. The aspects to be considered while preparing the research design, appropriate for a particular research problem are : (i) The means of obtaining the information; (ii) The availability and skills of the researcher and his staff (if any); (iii)Explanation of the way in which selected means of obtaining information will be organised and the reasoning leading to the selection; (iv) the time available for research; and (v) the cost factor relating to research, i.e., the finance available for the purpose.

Research Design
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Tools of Research
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What is the purpose of the research? What are the units of analysis? What are the points of focus? What is the time dimension? Designing a research project:
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Tools are not research methods e.g. library research and statistical research Tools help your research methods.

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conceptualisation operationalisation.

Reliability, replication and validity.

The library and its resources The computer and its software Techniques of measurement Statistics Facility with language

Criteria of Good Research

1. The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and common concepts be used. 2. The research procedure used should be described in details to permit another researcher to repeat the research for further advancement, keeping the continuity of what has already been attained. 3. The procedural design of the research should be carefully planned to yield results that are as objective as possible. 4. The researcher should report with complete frankness, flaws in procedural design and estimate their effects upon the findings. 5. The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its significance and the methods of analysis used should be appropriate. The validity and reliability of the data should be checked carefully. 6. Conclusions should be confined to those justified by the data of the research and limited to those for which the data provide an adequate basis. 7. Greater confidence in research is warranted if the researcher is experienced, has a good reputation in research and is a person of integrity.

Criteria of Good Research

The qualities of a good research: 1. Good research is systematic: It means that research is structured with specified steps to be taken in a specified sequence in accordance with the well defined set of rules. Systematic characteristic of the research does not rule out creative thinking but it certainly does reject the use of guessing and intuition in arriving at conclusions. 2. Good research is logical: This implies that research is guided by the rules of logical reasoning and the logical process of induction and deduction are of great value in carrying out research. Induction is the process of reasoning from a part to the whole whereas deduction is the process of reasoning from some premise to a conclusion which follows from that very premise. In fact, logical reasoning makes research more meaningful in the context of decision making. 3. Good research is empirical: It implies that research is related basically to one or more aspects of a real situation and deals with concrete data that provides a basis for external validity to research results. 4. Good research is replicable: This characteristic allows research results to be verified by replicating the study and thereby building a sound basis for decisions.