The Research Process:
Introduction and Overview
Dr. Bonalyn Nelsen
School of Hospitality & Service
Management
Rochester Institute of Technology
bjnism@rit.edu
What is Research?
Research is one of the ways to find answers to your
questions.
Is undertaken within a framework of philosophies and theories.
Uses procedures, methods and techniques that have been
tested for their reliability (consistency) and validity (accuracy).
Is designed to be unbiased and objective.
Research is either pure or applied:
Pure research involves developing theories and hypotheses that
are intellectually challenging to the researcher but may or may
not have practical uses.
Applied research involves collecting data that has practical
uses—problem solving, quality improvement, policy formation,
etc.
The Research Process: Steps in Planning
Your Research Study
Formulating a Conceptualizing Constructing an
Research a research instrument for Selecting a
problem design data collection sample
Literature review
Writing a
research
Collecting and proposal
Writing a research
Report analyzing data
You’re done!
Step 1: Formulating a Research Problem
First and most important step in the research process is
formulating your research problem.
Research problem identifies what you intend to study.
Applied research problems typically do the following:
Identify and fill gaps in knowledge.
Verifying what is already known.
Establish associations and causation that permit accurate
prediction under a given set of conditions.
Identification of past errors and limitations.
Apply proven tools and theories to new problems.
Step II: Conceptualizing a Research
Design
The main function of research design is to explain how
you will find answers to your research questions.
Research design sets out the logic of your inquiry; it
should specify the following:
The study design per se and the logistical arrangements you will
take.
Data collection or measurement procedures.
The sampling strategy.
The frame of analysis (analytical procedures).
Time frame of the study.
Step III: Constructing an Instrument for
Data Collection
Anything used to collect data or information for your
study is a ‘research tool’ or ‘research instrument.’
Examples:
Observation forms, interview questions, questionnaires or
surveys, etc.
Select or construct (design) of a research tool is the first
practical step in carrying out your study.
Field testing, or pre-testing, is a required step in
instrument construction; field tests should not be carried
out on your study sample, but rather on a similar
population.
Step IV: Selecting a Sample
A sample is the participants who will provide the data for
your study.
Sample selection or ‘design’ is guided by two principles:
The avoidance of bias in the selection of a sample.
Attainment of maximum precision for a given outlay of
resources.
There are three types or ‘categories’ of sampling design:
Random/probability sampling designs;
Non-random/probability sampling designs (convenience
sample);
‘mixed’ sampling design.
Step V: Writing the Research Proposal
A research proposal is an overall plan that tells the
reader about your research problem and how you are
planning to investigate it.
Main function is to detail the operational plan for
obtaining answers to your research questions.
Proposals must supply the following information:
What you are proposing to do;
How you are planning to proceed;
Why you selected the proposed strategy.
Typical Contents of a Research Proposal
A statement of the objectives of the study;
A list of hypotheses, if you are testing any;
The study design you are proposing to use;
The setting for your study;
The research instrument(s) you are planning to use;
Information on the sample size and sample design;
Information on data-processing and/or analysis procedures;
An outline of the proposed sections or chapters for the report;
The study’s problems and limitations;
The proposed time-frame (and possibly costs).
Step VI: Collecting and Analyzing Data
Collect the data from which you will draw inferences and
conclusions for your study.
The way you analyze your data depends largely on two
things:
Type of information—descriptive, quantitative, qualitative, or
attitudinal;
The way you want to communicate your findings to your readers.
Also consider whether data will be analyzed manually or
with computer software—both quantitative and
qualitative data can be analyzed with software.
Step VII: Writing the Research Report
Writing the research report entails informing readers
about what you’ve done, what you have discovered, and
what conclusions you have drawn from your findings.
For many, the most difficult step in the process.
Being clear about the process and writing a clear,
concise yet descriptive proposal will greatly help when
writing the final report.
Use an academic style (e.g., write using the third
person), format, and divide into sections/chapters as
directed in the project guidelines.
