Research Process

Research Process
Formulation of Research Problem

Survey and Review of the Existing Literature

Setting Objectives

Formulation of Hypothesis

Research Design
Research Process
Collection of Data

Analysis of Data

Interpretation of Data

Report Writing
 Systematic

Predictability Objectivity

Scientific
Method

Replicability Verifiability
 Identification of Problem
 Identifying a problem is the first
step in the research process. Particular Aspect
 It is necessary for the researcher to
Area of Specific
first identify the field of research 1 Interest

and then an area of general interest 2 Area of General

Interest
in the field of research. 3
Field of
 Then decide on an area of specific 4
Research
interest and within that area of
specific interest a particular aspect
that the researcher would like to
enquire into.
 Formulation of Research Problem
 Research problem has to be formulated on the basis of
secondary sources like commentaries, academic writing,
newspaper articles, etc.
 Secondary sources will point the researcher towards the
primary sources.
 A researcher has to have a precise goal in sight that would
signify the focus and direction of enquiry.
 An ill-defined and improperly formulated research problem
may lead to researcher loosing interest in research.
Steps of Formulation of Research Problem

Realization Identificatio Analysis of Statement of

of Problem n of Problem Problem Problem
Steps for Identification and Formulation of an appropriate
Research Problem
Choose the Broad Field of Research
Narrow Down to the specific aspect/problem for research
State the problem in General Terms [Tentative Statement of Problem]
Understand the problem [Secondary Research]
Make a Pilot Study, if required
Review the Existing Literature on similar aspects/issues/problems
Have Intellectual Interactions
Reconsider the Statement of the Problem taking into account the Time and Resources
Understand and Define various Terms used in the problem
Rephrase the problem in Specific and Clear Terms [Final Statement of Problem]
 Survey and Review of Literature
 Literature survey is the survey of existing related works and literature in order to
find out, ‘what has been already discussed on a particular aspect’.
 Literature survey will also give an understanding to the researcher as to what has
not been discussed.
 An effective review of literature is necessary because it would make the outcome of
research both valued and valuable.
 Literature review justifies his research and make it an original contribution to a field
of knowledge.
 It also helps in avoiding the possible pitfalls and informs area that might have been
neglected in earlier research work.
 On the basis of an extensive survey and review of literature, a researcher might
rephrase or reformulate the research problem depending on the nature of researcher.
 Sources of Information
Primary Source: The sources that contain authoritative
records of law made by law making bodies is a primary
source. They can be legislation, rules, regulations, orders,
bye-laws by delegated authorities, and the authoritative
decisions of the courts.
Secondary Source: The secondary sources are the one that
refer and relate to the law while not being themselves
primary sources. For example: legal commentaries,
abstracts, dictionaries, encyclopedia and index.
 Research Objectives
 The objectives are very sacrosanct in the research process as they would determine
the pathway of research process.
 The objectives would decide the approach that a researcher would take for collecting
the data.
 The objectives would also determine the techniques that a researcher would use to
generate/collect the required data.
 The research exercise could accomplish more than one objective, which may include:
 To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new insights into it;
 To determine accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or a group;
 To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with
something else;
 To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables.
 Hypothesis
 The word ‘hypothesis’ has been derived from the Greek word ‘hypotithenai’
meaning ‘to put under’ or ‘to suppose’.
 “Hypo” means “less than”;
 “Thesis” means “generally held view”;
 “Hypo + Thesis = Hypothesis” means “less than generally held view”.
 A tentative generalization and predictive statement or proposition indicating
causal relationship between variable, whose validity is unknown.
 Therefore, hypothesis is a tentative causal statement, whose validity or invalidity is
to be tested on the basis research to be undertaken by the researcher.
 It is a proposition, a presumptive statement or a reasonable guess, based upon the
available evidence, which the researcher seeks to prove through his study.
 Hypothesis
 The manner in which the hypothesis is formulated gives a hint of research method,
kind of data to be collected [quantitative or qualitative] and method of analysis
[inductive, deductive, dialectic or analogical].
 Without the hypothesis, the research process will be an unfocussed and random
empirical wandering. Therefore, hypothesis provides direction to the research.
 A hypothesis can be defined as a tentative explanation of the research problem, a
possible outcome of the research, or an educated guess about the research outcome.
 A hypothesis is recommended in a research to explain observed facts, conditions or
behaviour and to serve as a guide in the research process. However, research based
on fact finding like in historical or descriptive research may not require a
hypothesis.
 Characteristics of Hypothesis
Hypothesis should be clear, specific and precise.
Hypothesis should be capable of being tested and have empirical
referents.
Hypothesis should establish relationship between variable must
be compatible with the current knowledge in the area concerned.
Amenable to explanation.
It should be in its most parsimonious form.
It should have logical consistency.
It should be operationally defined.
 Types of Hypothesis
Simple

Non- Complex
Experimenta
l Directional
Associative
Non-
Hypothesis Directional
Causal

Null
Experimenta
Statistical
l
Alternative
 Types of Non-Experimental Hypothesis
 A hypothesis is a statement in a testable form and indicate a relationship between two or more
variables in clear, concise and understandable language.
 Simple Hypothesis predicts the relationship between a single independent variable and a single
dependent variable.
 Complex Hypothesis predicts the relationship between two or more independent variables and
two or more dependent variables.
 Directional Hypothesis: A directional hypothesis predicts not only the relation between the
variables but also the nature of relation. It is usually derived from a theory.
 Non-directional Hypothesis: Non-directional hypothesis does not stipulate the direction of
relationship. It is used when there is no theory to back claim or when findings of previous
studies are contradictory. Non-directional hypothesis could further be classified as Associative
Hypothesis [Change in one variable results in change in other variable] and Causal Hypothesis
[Cause-Effect relationship between independent and dependent variable].
 Types of Experimental Hypothesis
 Statistical Hypothesis: To test whether the data support or refute the research hypothesis, it needs to be
translated into a statistical hypothesis. Inferential statistics is used for drawing conclusions about population.
 Null Hypothesis (H0 or HN): Null hypothesis asserts that there is no true difference between two
population means, and the difference found between sample means is, accidental and unimportant, that is
arising out of fluctuation of sampling and by chance. Traditionally, null hypothesis states that there is
zero relationship between variables of the hypothesis.
 Alternative Hypothesis (H1 or HA): Alternative hypothesis specifies those values that are researcher
believes to hold true, and the researcher hopes that sample data will lead to acceptance of hypothesis as
true.
 The null hypothesis relates to the statement being tested, whereas the alternative hypothesis relates to the
statement to be accepted if when the null is rejected.
 Alternative hypothesis is usually the one which one wishes to prove and the Null hypothesis is the one
which one wishes to disapprove.
 Research Questions
 A research question and hypothesis are similar in nature except for the aspect that a
research question does not predict the outcome of the research where as a hypothesis
predicts the outcome.
 Research questions are the questions that the researcher would like to answer or address
to find solution/answer to the problem/question she/he began with.
 Research questions are different from general questions. Research Questions must have
an element of enquiry.
 Research questions shall be drafted in such a way that it facilitates or directed towards
proving or disproving the hypothesis.
 A good research may have four to six research questions. A minimum of two research
questions must be there in a research paper.
 Types of Research Question
 Qualitative Research Questions:
 Exploratory Questions:
 Is the Farm Laws in the interest of farmer in Madhya Pradesh?
 Whether virtual currency is used as a tool for unlawful activities on
cyberspace?
 Predictive Research Questions:
 Whether virtual currency would replace the fiat currency?
 Would artificial intelligence and automation replace human workforce?
 Interpretive Research Questions:
 Whether universal minimum wages eliminate poverty?
 Types of Research Question
 Quantitative Research Questions:
 Descriptive Research Questions:
 What is the impact of Justice Puttaswami Judgement on the Right to Privacy of
LGBTQ Community?
 Comparative Research Questions:
 What percentage of companies in India prefer automation over human
resource?
 Whether virtual currency is more effective tool of financial inclusion than fiat
currency?
 Relationship-based Research Questions:
 How poverty affects/impacts delinquency in adolescence?
 Whether use of technology results in greater efficiency and increase output?
 Research Design
 Research design is like a blueprint for construction of a house and signifies the
structure of research.
 Research design is characterized by a logical systematic planning of the research,
i.e. blueprint of the research.
 Research design is tentative as the researcher cannot foresee all the contingencies
that may arise during the research.
 The researcher may adapt or make changes to the research design to increase the
efficiency and reliability of his findings.
 The major factors that influence the formulation of research design are: time
frame; availability of resources; nature of the problem; objectives; skills of the
researchers and means of obtaining the data.
 Steps in Research Design

State the Review of Define Identify

Problem Other Studies Concepts Variable

Time and Identify the Define

Resource type of Specify Tools Population and
Budgeting Analysis Sample
 Research Design

Descriptive
Hypothesi
Exploratory or
s Testing
Diagnostic
Research Design for Exploratory Research
 The major emphasis in exploratory research is on the discovery of
new ideas and insights.
 As such the research design appropriate for exploratory research
must be flexible enough to provide opportunity for considering
different aspects of a problem under study.
 In exploratory study, following three methods for research design:
 Survey of relevant literature
 Experience Survey
 Analysis of ‘insight stimulating’ case
Research Design for Descriptive or Diagnostic Research
 Descriptive studies describe characteristics of a group, individual or a phenomenon, make
specific predictions, and narrate facts.
 Diagnostic studies deal with the association of variables and determine the frequency at which a
thing occurs.
 The design in such studies must be rigid and not flexible and must focus attention on the
following:
(a) Formulating the objective of the study (What the study is about and why is it being made?)
(b) Designing the methods of data collection (What techniques of gathering data will be
adopted?)
(c) Selecting the sample (How much material will be needed?)
(d) Collecting the data (Where can the required data be found and with what time period
should the data be related?)
(e) Processing and analyzing the data.
(f) Reporting the findings.
Research Design for Hypothesis Testing
 Hypothesis-testing research studies (generally known as Experimental
Studies) are those where the researcher tests the hypotheses of causal
relationships between variables.
 Hypothesis-testing research studies require procedures that will not
only reduce bias and increase reliability, but will permit drawing
inferences about causality.
 This research design is based upon three main principles.
 The Principle of Replication
 The Principle of Randomization
 The Principle of Local Control
 Thank You
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