THE RESEARCH PROCESS

1. Identifying and
analyzing the problem

9. Writing your research 2. Finding and reading the

report literature (review)

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8. Analysing and interpreting
your information
RESEARCH 3. Formulating your
questions or hypotheses

7. Sample and
collect your data 4 Choosing an approach

6. Pre-testing research 5. Writing your research

data collection proposal
methods or instruments
 THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
• DON’T BE AFRAID ABOUT STARTING A RESEARCH PROJECT.
• THINK OF IT AS YOU WANTING MORE KNOWLEDGE OF A CERTAIN ISSUE.
• ITS ABOUT BRINGING IN NEW KNOWLEDGE BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN IT HAS TO BE A BIG
STUDY. IT COULD BE SOMETHING SMALL THAT MAKES A SMALL DIFFERENCE TO SOME
PEOPLE.
• REMEMBER YOUR STUDY WONT INTEREST EVERYONE, BUT CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

WHY RESEARCH IS IMPORTANT?

• IT ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO BE CREATIVE
• TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND
• COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW THAT OTHERS MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN CONSIDERED.
• THIS PROCESS ALLOWS FOR INNOVATIVE INDIVIDUALS TO SHINE THROUGH
 WHAT IS A RESEARCH QUESTION
• One starts a research study with a research question.
• This is finally developed into a topic.
• It is a broad statement.
• It provides direction and focus in a study.
• Is something that you would decide on early in the study. (Might change the way it is phrased later but
overall will be the same.
• It needs to be original. No two research questions would be the same but may address similar issues.
• A study should not have been conducted on your research question before.
• It needs to be clear and focused.
• What's important to note is that you are only able to develop a research question once you have read
vastly in the area of your study.
• It is not interview questions. Interview questions will be formulated using the research question as a
guide.
 HOW TO GET STARTED
• SO YOU START OFF WITH AN AREA OF STUDY.
• WHAT IS THIS?

EXAMPLE: I AM INTERESTED IN ASSESSMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

If I use this as a topic it will be considered unacceptable under research standards. Why?
- It is too broad.
- If you just think of this study, assessment has so many streams to it. So what about assessment do I want to look
at. Need to narrow the study. What about assessment, online, contact, formative, summative, etc.
- Higher Education is so large. If we think of all the Institutions that fall under Higher Education. It would
certainly not be possible for me to conduct a study including all institutions of higher education. I need to narrow
it. You must always think of doing a study that is doable. It must be something that can be accomplished in a
period of 3-4 years. If you think of HE then will you be able to contact all institutions and get data from all of
them to include in your study.
- Data can be gathered from individuals, documents, observations, etc.
 HOW TO START WITH YOUR STUDY

• THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO READ. AS MUCH AS MANY INDIVIDUALS HATE

THIS STEP, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP TO DECIDING ON A RESEARCH STUDY.
• USING OUR EXAMPLE - DO A SEARCH FOR ARTICLES RELATED TO ASSESSMENT
AND MAYBE ASSESSMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
• FIND ARTICLES THAT YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN.
• READ THESE.
• VITAL INFORMATION IS FOUND IN ARTICLES.
• IT EXPLAINS THE STUDY THAT WAS DONE, HOW IT WAS DONE, WHY IT WAS DONE,
WHAT WERE THE LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY.
• THE RECOMMENDATIONS SECTIONS OFTEN PROVIDE INFORMATION OR IDEAS
THAT YOU COULD INCLUDE INTO YOUR STUDY OR LEAD TO A NEW STUDY.
 DEVELOPING INTO A TOPIC OR RESEARCH
QUESTION
YOU WOULD THEN HAVE AN IDEA OF A TYPE OF STUDY YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO.
OUR EXAMPLE – AN INVESTIGATION INTO EFFECTIVE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
STRATEGIES IN AN ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AT THE FACULTY OF A&I AT DUT.
• NOW IT READS WELL. LOOKING AT FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
• IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT
• AT DUT, FAI
• LOOKING INTO WHAT STRATEGIES ARE BEING USED BY DUT.
• CAN LOOK INTO WHAT STUDENTS OPINIONS ARE OF THE METHODS
• WHAT ACADEMIC STAFF OPINIONS ARE ON METHODS OF ASSESSMENT.

WHAT STRATEGIES ARE EFFECTIVE FOR FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT IN AN ONLINE

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AT DUT?
 EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What should political parties do about low voter turnout in
region?
What are the most effective communication strategies for
increasing voter turnout among under-30s in region?
EXPLANATIONS
It is generally not feasible for academic research to answer
broad questions about “what should be done”. The second
question is more specific, and aims to gain an understanding
of possible solutions in order to make informed
recommendations.

How is race represented in Shakespeare’s Othello? The first question is not original or relevant— it has been
answered so many times that it would be very difficult to
How have modern adaptations of Shakespeare’s Othello dealt contribute anything new. The second question takes a specific
with the theme of racism through casting, staging and allusion angle with scope to make an original argument, and has more
to contemporary events? relevance to current social concerns and debates.

Has there been an increase in homelessness in Durban in the
past ten years?
How have economic, political and social factors affected
patterns of homelessness in Durban over the past ten years?
The first question is too simple: it can be answered with a
simple yes or no. The second question is more complex,
requiring in-depth investigation and the development of an
original argument.
 RESEARCH QUESTION
Why is there a student housing crisis at DUT?
What impact have university internationalisation
policies had on the availability and affordability of
student housing at DUT?
What effect does social media have on people’s
minds?
What effect does daily use of Twitter have on the
attention span of under-16s?
EXPLANATION
Starting with “why” often means that your question is
not focused enough: there are too many possible
answers and no clear starting point for research. By
targeting just one aspect of the problem and using
more specific terms, the second question offers a clear
path to finding an answer.
The first question is not specific enough: what type of
social media? Which people? What kind of effects?
The second question defines its concepts more clearly.
It is researchable through qualitative and quantitative
data collection.
 TO DO

FIND THE DEFINITION OF THE FOLLOWING TWO TERMS:

• PURE RESEARCH

• APPLIED RESEARCH

THINK ABOUT A RESEARCH IDEA, TOPIC, PROBLEM THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
INVESTIGATE. RESEARCH ON.