LECTURE 3A

THE RESEARCH PROCESS

EKF, RMSP LECTURE 4 1

 All The Steps & Questions Related To Research
Process Would Be Studied In This Section

 This Requires A Research Design

◦ I.e., The Conceptual Structure Within Which The
Research Is Conducted.

LECTURE 3A 2
 TheProcess Starts With Identification Of
A Solvable-Problem

 What Is Research Problem?

 A Research Problem Refers To:

• Some Difficulty / Phenomenon / Occurrence,
Which “Researchers, Students, PhD Fellows,
Consultants, Societies, Managements”, Etc., Are
Facing
And Want To Obtain/Find Solutions.

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 Defining The Problem Is Very Important
◦ Because “ A Problem Clearly & Correctly
Stated Is Half / 50% Solved”.

 The Definition Of The Problem, Should Be

“Unambiguous”.
◦ If The Problem Definition Is Confusing /
Vague,
 Then The Researcher Will Not Know:
 “What Data Is To Be Collected”,
 “What Technique Is To Be Used”, Etc.

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 What Sort Of Research Population / Universe /
Subject Is To Be Studied?
 Is It Human Or Non-human (Equipment, Materials,
Telecom Technology, Telecom Market, Etc.)?

 Which Type Of Industry/Institution/Individual(s) Is

The Research Population Related To?
◦ E.g., Is It Telecom / Computer Engineering Industry?
 What Period Of Time Is The Universe/Population
Being Studied?
◦ Is It A Current Issue Or A Dead One

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 Research Process Involves:
◦ Gathering Data - Using Statistical Techniques,
◦ Interpretations Of The Meanings Of The Data
◦ Drawing Conclusions From The Analysis Of The Data.

 It Is A Blue Print, Which Is Followed, To Complete

The Study.

 It Is Similar To Builders’ Blue Prints /Architectural

Plans/Drawings To Build Houses.

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 Research Design Is One Of The Important Steps In
Research.
 It Helps In Establishing The Way/Road Map The
Researcher Should Go About
To Achieve The Objective Of The Study By:
Answering Research Qns
Testing Hypotheses.

 The Preparation Of A Research Design Involves,

 A Careful Consideration Of The Following Questions &
Making Appropriate Decisions On Them.

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1. What Is The Study About? (The Area/Field Of
The Study?
2. What Are The Objectives Of Study?
3. What Are The Questions To Be Answered Or
Hypothesis/Propositions To Be Tested?
4. Why The Need/Benefits To Study?
5. What Is The Research Scope/Delimitation?
6. What Are The Major Concepts To Be Defined
Operationally?
7. What Type Of Literature To Be Reviewed?
8. What Are The Expected Results/Outcome?

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9. What Is The Reference Period Of The Study?
10. What Methodology Is To Be Used?
11. What Kinds Of Data Are Needed?
12. What Are The Sources Of Data?
13. What Are The Sampling Units?
14. What Is The Sampling Boundary?
15. What Sampling Techniques Are To Be Used?
16. What Is The Sample Size?
17. What Data Collection Methods Are To Be Used?

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18. How The Data Are To Be Processed & Analyzed?
19. What Statistical Techniques Are To Be Used For
Analysis?
20. To Which Target Group The Findings Are Meant
For?
21. What Is The Type Of Report To Be Prepared?
22. What Is The Duration Of Time Required, For
Each Stage Of The Research Work?
23. What Is The Cost Involved?
24. Who Reads The Final Report?

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9 Steps That Can Be Followed While Designing A
Research Project Are:

1. Problem Formulation / Statement

2. Evaluating The Cost Of Research
3. Preparing A List Of Needed Information
4. Deciding On Your Research Design
5. Selecting Your Research Population
6. Determining Your Sampling Method & Sample Size
7. Organizing Fieldworks To Collect Data
8. Analysing Collected Data &
9. Preparing Project Report

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 Problem Formulation
 The Key To Research Process.
For A Researcher, Problem Formulation Means
Converting Realtime/Mgt Problem To A Research
Problem.

 In Order To Attain Clarity,

The Researcher Must Articulate The Research
Problem Clearly
So That Perfect Understanding Of The
Problem Is Achieved.
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(1) Determine The Objective Of The Study.

(2) Consider Various Environmental

Factors.

(3) Nature Of The Problem.

(4) State The Alternative

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Determine The Objective:
 Objective May Be General Or Specific.
General – Would Like To Know, I.e.,:
 How Effective Was The Network Optimization Strategy Applied?

1. The Researcher Should Clarify With The Network

Manager “What Effective Means”.

 Does Effective Mean, The Applied Strategy Has Improved

The Performance Of The Network?

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 In Each Of The Above Circumstances,
The Questions To Be Asked From Audience Varies

 Another Way To Find Objectives Is To Determine

◦ “What Action Will Be Taken, Given The Specified
Outcome Of The Study.

 For Example:
If A Research Finding Is That, A Network Optimization
Software used was Ineffective,
 Then, What Course Of Action A Telco Must Take
Thereafter?

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 If Objectives Are Clearly Stated,
 Research Questions Will Be Precise.

 However, We Should Remember That:

Objectives, Do Undergo Changes As The

Research Advances.

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 Environmental Factors Influence The
Outcome Of The Research & The Decision.

 Therefore,

The Researcher Must Help The Unit of Analysis

To Identify The Environmental Factors That Are
Relevant to Them.

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Understanding The Nature Of The Problem:

 By Understanding The Nature Of The

Problem,
◦ The Researcher Can Collect Relevant Data & Help
Suggesting A Suitable Solution

 Every Problem Is Related To Either One

Or More Variables.
 Thus, Lookout For Variables Associated With A
Problem

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 Before You Start Data Collection,
◦ A Preliminary Investigation Of The Problem Is Necessary For
Better Understanding Of The Problem.

 Initial Investigation Could Be,

By Using Focus Group Of:
 Engineers,
 Technocrats,
 Technicians,
 Network Users
 Marketers
 Operators
 Managers
 Planners, Etc.

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(A) Should The Research Be Exploratory Or
Conclusive?
 Exploratory Research / Explanatory /
Descriptive, Etc.:

 Example: “Causes For Decline In Network

Performance”.
 The Researcher May Explore All Possibilities
Why Network Performance is Not Improving?

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 If It Is A Questionnaire,
(a)What Are The Contents Of The Questionnaire?
(b)What Type Of Questions To Be Asked?
 E.g., : Pointed Questions, General Questions, Etc.

(c)In What Sequence Should It Be Asked?

(d)Should There Be A Fixed Set Of Alternatives
(Closed-ended) Or Should It Be Open-ended.
(e)Should The Purpose Be Made Clear To The
Respondents Or Should It Be Disguised?
 These Are To Be Determined Well In Advance.

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 The First Task Is To Carefully Select “What Groups
Of People Are To Be Sampled”.

 Precise Geographical Location/Scope Should Be

Discussed.
 Decide Whether To Choose Probability Or Non-
probability Sampling Method

 (Please remember your Basic Probability/Statistics

Stuff).

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 Probability Sampling;
◦ Each Element Has A Known Chance Of Being Selected.

 A Non-probability Sampling Can Be:

 Convenience,
 Purposive / Intentional Or
 Judgment Sampling.

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 The Smaller The Sample Size, Larger The
Error, & Vice Versa.

The Sample Size Depends Upon:

(a)Accuracy Required
(b)Time Available
(c)Cost Involved.

 While Selecting The Sample,

The Sample Unit Has To Be Clearly Specified.

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 This Includes Selection, Training &
Evaluation Of The Field Force To Collect Data

(a) What Type Of Questionnaire – Structured /

Unstructured To Use?
(b) How To Approach The Respondents?
(c) Decide On Week, Day & Time To Meet Specific
Respondents.
(d) Decide On How To Analyze The Field Work

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These Involve:
(a) Editing

(b)Tabulating

(c) Codifying, Etc.

Editing:
The Data Collected Should Be Scanned, To Make
Sure That It Is Complete & All The Instructions Are
Followed.


 Once These Forms Have Been Edited, They Must Be

Coded.

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 Coding Means,
 Assigning Numbers To Each Of The Answers, So That They
Can Be Analyzed.

 The Final Step Is - Data Tabulation.

 It Is The Orderly Arrangement Of The Data In A Tabular

Form.
 Decide on Charts to be Created

 At The Time Of Analyzing The Data,

 The Statistical Tests To Be Used Must Be Finalized

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1. A Good Research Should Be Systematic

 This Means That Research Should Be

Structured.

 A Good Research Will Satisfy The Steps To Be Taken

In An Orderly Sequence According To A Set Of
Defined Rules,
 I.e., Researcher Uses Scientific Methods & Therefore Is
Systematic.

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2) A Good Research Should Be Logical
There Should Be Logical Reasoning In Any Research.

This Logical Process Used Could Be Induction Or

Deduction.

Induction Is A Process Of Reasoning From The Part To

The Whole.

To Induce Means To Draw Conclusion From One Or

More Facts Or Pieces Of Evidence.

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 Deduction Is A Process Of Reasoning Some
Premise & Then Reaching The Conclusion
Which Follows From That Premise.

In Deduction, The Conclusion Drawn Must

Necessarily Follow The Reason Stated.

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3) A Good Research should be Empirical

 Empirical Means The Factual Investigation Is

Possible.
◦ Its Validity Can Be Checked Through Reliable Sources &
Evidences.

 Research Should Be Such That It Can Be Validated, I.e.,

◦ It Should Be Possible To Describe, Interpret & Explain The
Phenomenon &

 Check Reliability of Collected Data.

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4) A Good Research is Replicable
It Means The Research Conducted Can Be Repeated By Any
Number Of Times.

 A Researcher Can Verify The Results By Repeating The

Study &
◦ Thereby Delivering A Sound Decision Making Framework.
 E.g., If Two / More Researchers Undertake The Same
Study,
◦ The Results Should Be Similar & Not Different.
 If The Results Are Similar, Then The Research Is Replicable
and Valid.

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 In This Lesson We Have Discussed:
The Problem Identification In Research,
Steps Taken In Research Process & Design,
Conceptual Structure Within Which The Research Is
Conducted
Criteria Or Characteristics Of A Good Research.

 The First & Foremost Step In The Research Process

Consists Of Problem Identification.

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The Research Problem Could Be In Any Of The
Following Three Area:

(I) Exploratory, Explanatory;

(Ii) Descriptive; Or
(Iii) Causal
Etc.

Formulation Of The Problem Means Defining

The Problem Precisely / Clearly.

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 The Next Step Of The Research Process Calls
For Determining The Information Needed,

◦ Developing A Plan For Gathering It Efficiently.

 Research Design Is Blue Print/Plan For The

Collection, Measurement & Analysis Of Data.

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1. How Will You Describe The Research Process?

2. Which 24 Steps Guide The Research Process /

Plan?

3. Which 9 Steps Are Involved In Preparing A

Research Plan?

4. What Are The 4 Criteria Or Characteristics Of

A Good Research.
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 END OF
LECTURE NO. 3A
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