Chapter Two

The Research Process

The Research Process involves the following:

1. Selecting a topic
2. Formulation of the research problem
3. Literature review
4. Developing objectives and hypothesis formulation
5. Design of Research
6. Execution of the project : Data collection, analysis
and interpretation
7. Reporting
 Defining a problem Review of Literature
Theories, methodologies, empirical findings

and the desired sequencing of these steps. The chart shown in

Figure well illustrates a research process.Analyize data
• Defining a problem
Designing Research (Methodology&
sampling design)
Collect data (Testing hypothesis,
if any)
Defining a problem
Interprate &
Report Findings
 Selecting a topic
– All writing begins with a topic.
– Look for a subject
• that interests you and will maintain your interest
throughout the various stages of research
• that will help you to obtain the maximum self-
development from the research project. /It should be
related with your career.
– Some preliminary reading will help to determine the
extent of your interest.
– Keep in mind the time allotted to you and the expected
length of the research paper.
 Selecting a topic … cont’d
– You Commonly begin with fairly general topic and then
refine it by research and thought into a more specific one.
– Try to narrow your topic by focusing on a particular aspect
of a particular approach.
– Be original as much as you can, to avoid duplicate work on
a specific topic
– Review as much Literature as possible to avoid duplication.
– The eventual successful completion of a research study will
be seen to have depended on the selection of an
appropriate topic.
– Before beginning the project, make sure you understand
the amount and depth of research required and the type
of paper expected.
 Identify broad area of study

Supervisor agreed

Initial selection of topic

yes
Is the research feasible? No Can topic be
appropriately refined?
yes
Has research sufficient value? No

yes
Is there sufficient scope? No

yes
Acceptable topic
 Formulating the Research Problem
• The task of formulating, or defining a research problem is a
step of greatest importance in the entire research process.

• It is important because,
– (1) It determines the data to be collected,
– (2) It determines the characteristic of the data which
are relevant,
– (3) it determines the choice of techniques to be used.,
– (4) It determines the form of the final report.

• Therefore, the researcher must single out the problem he/she

wants to study.
 Formulating the Research Problem ….cont’d
• Decide the general area of interest or aspect of a
subject matter that you would like to inquire into.
• The best way of formulating the research problem is
– to discuss it with colleagues
– to discuss it with those that have some experience with
the mater.
• A problem clearly stated is a problem half solved.
• Read quite a lot
 Formulating the Research Problem ….cont’d
Some general principles in problem formulation
– Be sure the problem exists
– Learn as much as possible about the problem to be
solved
– Consider alternative formulations in case this is not
feasible;
– Be aware that the problem formulation may
influence the phenomena being studied;
Formulating the Research Problem ….cont’d
Evaluation of a research problem (some questions to ask):
– Is the problem in line with my goal/expectations and the
expectation of others?
– Will the solution of the problem advance knowledge?
– What is the value of potential outcome? (who are the
beneficiaries?)
– Do I possess or can I acquire the necessary skills, abilities
and background knowledge to study the problem?
(Researcher’s capability and interest)
– Will data be accessible?
– Do I have access to the necessary resources (time, money,
tools, equipments, laboratory, subjects, etc) to conduct the
investigation?
 Research Problem  Research
Questions
• Pre-Empirical Stage
– Research Area
– Literature Problem Questions
– Context
• Empirical Stage (What data
is required to answer the Hypothesis
questions?)
– Design
– Data Collection
– Data Analysis
– Answer Questions
/Test Hypothesis
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 Literature Survey
The researcher should also examine all available literature to
get himself acquainted with the selected problem.

– May continue from beginning to end;

– It is important in defining problems and hypotheses
formulation as well as selection of methods;
– Extensive review is required to know:
• What others have done in the area?
• How did they do it?
• What were the research variables?
• How were the variables measured?
• What were the constraints?
• What could possibly be modified?
 Literature Survey
….cont’d
• The researcher may review two types of literature
– Conceptual literature
Concerning the concepts and theories.
– Empirical literature
Consisting of studies made earlier which are similar to
the one proposed.

Basic Outcome of the review

– To understand what data and other materials are available
for operational purposes which will enable the researcher
to specify his own research problem in a meaningful
context.
 Literature Survey ….cont’d
• Literature survey and Formulating the problem are interrelated,
since the problem will be specifically defined if extensive literature
survey is done.

• Journals, published or unpublished bibliographies Conference

proceedings, Government Reports are the 1st places to go

Remember – One Source leads to another

 Literature Survey ….cont’d
• In summary, Literature survey is a fruitful
source of:
– Concepts
– Theories
– Evidence
– Influence how we look at a topic

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 Literature Survey ….cont’d
• The researcher has to look into the following factors
in his/her judgment on point of literature
concentration;
– Style of research;
– The overall strategy of research;
– Objectives of the proposed study;
– The nature of the substantive problem and how much is
known about it;
– The development of the literature in the area;
– The degree of desire of the study to follow the directions
established by the literature;
– The knowledge the researcher already has;

04/15/2021 16
 Literature Survey. ….cont’d
Guidelines for review of literature
The researcher should seek answers for the
following:
– What variables are known to be related to the problem?
– How have these variables been studied and described by
others?
– How have these variables been manipulated in previous
studies?
– Has research in the past on those variables used sound
methodology?

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 Developing objectives and
Working Hypothesis
– Objectives:
• Statements that indicate what a researcher intends to
accomplish in a more specific term;
– Hypothesis:
• An assertion about the relationship between two or
more concepts.
• Important bridges between empirical inquiry and
theory
• They indirectly determine the quality of data which is
required for the analysis.
Developing objectives and Working Hypothesis …cont’d

Some guidelines in developing objectives:

– Objectives must be specific, concrete and
achievable statements;
– The objectives should clearly fit to the statement
of the problem
– The objectives must propose to do things as per
the capability of the design of the study.
– Objectives should be in their approximate order of
importance.
Developing objectives and Working Hypothesis …cont’d

A hypothesis must be
– Specific
– Conceptually clear in terms of common definitions
– Testable (verification or rejection) by available techniques
and resources;
– Related to a body of theory;
– Stated to provide direction for the research;
– Formulated as causal relationships;
Developing objectives and Working Hypothesis …cont’d
• Some examples of hypothesis
– Improved training provision will create a more productive reliable
and satisfied workforce
– Smoking and lung cancer are independent
– Income and consumption are not related

As a general rule a working hypothesis is another basic

step of the research process in most research problems
--- but may not be always necessary
 Design of the Research
• Once the research problem is formulated and working hypothesis
developed, the researcher will be required to prepare a research
design.

• Research design refers to the arrangement of the conditions

for collection and analysis of data in a manner that will
satisfy or achieve the objectives of a research undertaking.
• It is intended to enable the researcher to answer
questions as validly, objectively, accurately and
economically as possible;
• It provides for the collection of relevant data with
minimum effort, time and money.
 Design of research …cont’d
– It sets up the framework for adequate tests of
relationships among study variables.
– It tells what observations to make/what variables
to measure, how to make them/measure them,
and how to analyze the data;
– It suggests how many observations to make and
the type of statistical analysis to use;
 Design of research …cont’d
• The preparation of the research design, appropriate
for a particular research problem, involves usually
the consideration of the following.
• The time available for research
• the finance available for the purpose
• the availability and skills of the researcher and his staff
(if any)
• Identifying the study variables
• Identifying study subjects / experimental units,
• Planning the means of obtaining the information and
reasoning leading to selection.
• Sampling
 Design of research …cont’d
Whatever method the researcher chooses, he/she has to
design the empirical stage (experiment /survey/observation);

Method selection
– Quantitative –vs- Qualitative methods
Or a combination of both
– Various options are available for both quantitative
or qualitative methods
The Research design will be discussed in
detailed in a separate section
 Execution of the project
• A very important step in the research process.
• If the execution of the project proceeds on correct lines, the data
to be collected would be adequate and dependable.
– Data collection may involve
• Field survey / experiments
• Laboratory experiments
• Opinion poll
• Observation
• Document scanning
• Interview, etc.
– Data Analysis
• Quantitative data – quantitative figures
• Qualitative data – analytical thinking
• Hypothesis testing
– Generalizations and Interpretation
 Reporting
• Finally, the researcher has to prepare the report of
what has been done by him/her, in writing the report,

– Communicating to others
• Peers;
• Policy makers;
• Developers;
• Extension workers;
• General public;

– The style and content varies depending on to

whom the researcher is writing
Summary
• Identify a broad area of study

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•

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Select the Research topic

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• Decide the approach

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• Formulate the plan

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• Collect the data or information

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Ph utio
• Analyze and interpret the data

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• Present the findings

Ex