Lecture 2.

The research process

Saya Sapakova
Associate professor,
IITU, Almaty
Learning Objectives

At the end of this lecture, you should be able to:

• to explain the scientific process in research
• draw a simple diagram of the research process
• identify and define the key stages of the generalized research process
Research as a process

• Research can be seen as a series of linked activities moving from a beginning to an end.
• Research usually begins with the identification of a problem followed by formulation of research questions or objectives.
Proceeding from this the researcher determines how best to answer these questions and so decides what information to collect,
how it will be collected, and how it will be analyzed in order to answer the research question.
FF
Review the literature
FF

Review
Concepts Analyse
And Design
Collect Data
theories Research Interpret
Define Formulate Data (Test
(Including and
Research hypothesis (Execution) Hypothesis
Sample report
Problem if any)
Design)
Review F F
Previous
Research
I III IV V VI VII
findings

II
F

F Feed Back

F Feed Forward
Flowchart: Steps in the development of a research proposal

Development of a research process is

a cyclical process. The double-headed
arrows indicate that the process is
never linear.
Step 1. Define Research Problem

What is a research problem?

The term ‘problem’ means a question or issue to be examined.
Research Problem: a theoretical or practical question, the answer to which you do not know and to
which you need to answer. The problem is the bridge from the unknown to the known. .

Why is it important to state and define the problem well?

Because a clear statement of the problem:
• Is the foundation for the further development of the research proposal (research objectives,
methodology, work plan, budget, etc.).
• Makes it easier to find information and reports of similar studies from which your own study design
can benefit.
• Enables you to systematically point out why the proposed research on the problem should be
undertaken and what you hope to achieve with the study results. This is important to highlight when
you present your project to business and donor agencies who need to support your study or give
their consent.
Step 1. Define Research Problem.Cont.

Definition of the problem involves two activities:

1. Identification / Selection of the Problem

2. Formulation of the Problem

IDENTIFICATION / SELECTION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

This step involves identification of a few problems and selection of one out of
them, after evaluating the alternatives against certain selection criteria.

Some sources of identification of a research topic and problems are the

following:
1. Researcher’s own interest
2. Daily problems
3. Technological changes
4. Recent trends
5. Unexplored areas
6. Discussion with experts and research supervisor
DEFINITION / FORMULATION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

• After identifying a problem, in order to solve it, it has to be defined and

formulated properly. For this purpose, one can execute the following.
• State the problem in questionnaire form or in an equivalent form
• Specify the problem in detail and in precise terms
• List the assumptions made
• Remove the ambiguities, if any, in the statement of the problem
• Examine the feasibility of a particular solution

• Formulation means translating and transforming the selected research

problem/topic/idea into a scientifically researchable question. It is concerned
with specifying exactly what the research problem is.
Criteria for selecting a research topic

Before choosing a research topic and a problem the young researchers should keep the following
points in mind.

Criteria for selecting a research topic:

• Relevance/Significance
• Avoidance of duplication
• Urgency of data needed (timeliness)
• Feasibility of study
• Applicability of results
• Interest to the researcher
• Ethical acceptability

Topic and problem can be fixed in consultation with the research supervisor.
Step 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

• Literature Review is the documentation of a comprehensive review of the

published and unpublished work from secondary sources of data in the areas
of specific interest to the researcher.

• The main aim is to find out problems that are already investigated and those
that need further investigation.

• It is an extensive survey of all available past studies relevant to the field of

investigation.

• It gives us knowledge about what others have found out in the related field of
study and how they have done so.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW

• To gain a background knowledge of the research topic.

• To identify the concepts relating to it, potential relationships between them
and to formulate researchable hypothesis.
• To identify appropriate methodology, research design, methods of measuring
concepts and techniques of analysis.
• To identify data sources used by other researchers.
• To learn how others structured their reports.
How to conduct the Literature Survey?

• Identify the relevant sources.

• Extract and Record relevant information.
• Write-up the Literature Review.

SOURCES OF LITERATURE:
• Books and Journals
• Electronic Databases
• Bibliographic Databases
• Abstract Databases
• Full-Text Databases
• Govt. and Industry Reports
• Internet
• Research Dissertations / Thesis
Tips for Writing a Literature Survey

• Go online and search for articles, books and papers related to your subject. Select keywords on your
topic.
• Ask your supervisor for recommendations (but don’t totally rely only on these!).
• When you read some literature that you think is useful and related, first record the citation on your list of
references.
• When you read some literature that is not very useful, do not include it on your list of references. More
references do not mean a better list of references. Useless references only confuse a careful reader and
make you lose credibility.
• In each document, identify the approach(es)/method(s) for solving problem(s), and compare this/these
with what you already know.
• Identify which approaches and/or methods you will use and omit in your research.
• Your review must be written in a formal, academic style. Keep your writing clear, avoiding colloquialisms
and personal language.
• You should always aim to be objective and respectful of others' opinions; this is not the place for emotive
language or strong personal opinions.
• Avoid plagiarizing your sources. Making sure you consistently reference the literature you are referring to
 STEP-3. FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESIS

• What is a hypothesis?
• A hypothesis is a tentative answer to a research problem that is advanced so that it can be tested.
• Our definition of a hypothesis stresses that it can be tested. To meet this criterion the hypothesis
must be be measurable.

• Variables in hypotheses
• Hypotheses propose a relationship between two or more variables. An independent variable is
something the researcher changes or controls. A dependent variable is something the researcher
observes and measures.

• In this example, the independent variable is apple consumption — the assumed cause. The
dependent variable is the frequency of doctor’s visits — the assumed effect.
Developing a hypothesis

1. Ask a question
Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that you want to answer. The question should be focused,
specific, and researchable within the constraints of your project.
Do students who attend more lectures get better exam results?
2. Do some preliminary research
Your initial answer to the question should be based on what is already known about the topic. Look for theories and
previous studies to help you form educated assumptions about what your research will find.
3. Formulate your hypothesis
Now you should have some idea of what you expect to find. Write your initial answer to the question in a clear,
concise sentence.
Attending more lectures leads to better exam results.
4. Refine your hypothesis
You need to make sure your hypothesis is specific and testable. There are various ways of phrasing a hypothesis, but
all the terms you use should have clear definitions, and the hypothesis should contain:
• The relevant variables
• The specific group being studied
• The predicted outcome of the experiment or analysis
Developing a hypothesis.Cont.

5. Phrase your hypothesis in three ways

• To identify the variables, you can write a simple prediction in if…then form. The first part of
the sentence states the independent variable and the second part states the dependent
variable.
If a first-year student starts attending more lectures, then their exam scores will improve.

• In academic research, hypotheses are more commonly phrased in terms of correlations or

effects, where you directly state the predicted relationship between variables.
The number of lectures attended by first-year students has a positive effect on their exam
scores.
• If you are comparing two groups, the hypothesis can state what difference you expect to
find between them.
First-year students who attended most lectures will have better exam scores than those who
attended few lectures.
STEP-4. Design Research

• Research design is the framework of research methods and techniques chosen by a researcher.
The design allows researchers to hone in on research methods that are suitable for the subject
matter and set up their studies up for success.
• The design of a research topic explains the type of research (experimental, survey, correlational,
semi-experimental, review) and also its sub-type (experimental design, research problem,
descriptive case-study).
• There are three main types of designs for research: Data collection, measurement, and analysis.
• Practical considerations when designing research
• As well as scientific considerations, you also need to think practically when designing your
research.
• How much time do you have to collect data and write up the research?
• Will you be able to gain access to the data you need (e.g. by travelling to a specific location or
contacting specific people)?
• Do you have the necessary research skills (e.g. statistical analysis or interview techniques)?
• Will you need ethical approval?
STEP-5. Collect Data

Data Collection is an important aspect of any type of research study. Data

collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest, in an
established systematic fashion that enables one to answer stated research questions, test
hypotheses, and evaluate outcomes.
Data can be collected by any one or more of the following ways:
(i) By observation
(ii) Through personal interview
(iii) Through telephone interviews
(iv) By mailing of questionnaires
(v) Through schedules
In collecting the data, the researcher must decide:
1. Which data to collect
2. How to collect the data
3. Who will collect the data
4. When to collect the data
STEP-6. Analyze Data

Data analysis is the most crucial part of any research. Data analysis summarizes collected
data. It involves the interpretation of data gathered through the use of analytical and logical
reasoning to determine patterns, relationships or trends.
STEP-7. Interpret and report

Finally you progress to the report writing stage.

The basic components of a research proposal are the same in many fields. However, how they are phrased and staged
may vary by discipline. The following components can be regarded as steps in the writing of the research proposal.
1. Title page
2. Summary/Abstract
3. Introduction/Background
4. Statement of the problem
5. Literature review
6. Hypotheses /Questions
7. Conceptual framework
8. Objective/Aim of the study
9. Research methods, materials and procedures
10. Work plan
11. Budget
12. References
13. Appendices/Annexes
Summary

Research process can usually be summarized as follows:

Identify and formulate the research topic or problem
Select, narrow and formulate the topic or problem to be studied and conduct preliminary literature search.
Literature search and review
Read around the subject to help clarify your research topic, questions, and methods. Critically review literature to
compare your research with what has already been done, and to give context. This stage interacts with other stages.
Research objectives, questions, and hypotheses
Define clear questions and/or hypotheses.
Research approach, design, and strategy
Select a research approach and design that will make it possible to answer research questions and plan the overall
research strategy.
Identify the data you want to record and from whom/where you are going to collect it (sampling).
Data collection
Data analysis
The data collected are prepared in such a way that they describe and highlight what was found in the research. Analytical
tools are used to describe the data and measure or explore relationships between the subjects or items of interest.
Generalization and write-up
The researcher relates the evidence collected to the research question(s), draws conclusions about the question(s) or
hypotheses, and acknowledges limitations of the research.
Assignments

1. Select a problem in your area of specialization. Identify your own research

topic.
2. Write the introduction section of the topic you identified.
3. Write the statement of the problem for your topic.
4. Review literature for your identified topic
5. Formulate your own research question and hypothesis (relevant to your
topic)
6. Define clearly your general and specific objectives.
7. Write clearly the research design/methods for the identified topic
8. Develop your work plan
9. Choose one method of citing references and write all the references you
used.