THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry

out research and the desired sequencing of these steps. These activities indeed
overlap continuously rather than following a strictly prescribed sequence.
A brief description of these activities is as follows:
1. Formulating the Research Problem
Formulating a research problem is the first and most important step in the research
process. It is like determination of the destination before undertaking a journey.
There are two types of research problems, viz., those which relate to states of nature
and those which relate to relationships between variables.
Formulation (the action of creating or preparing something) of the problem means
defining the problem precisely. In other words, a problem defined is half solved.
Formulation of problem is often more essential than its solution because when the
problem is formulated, an appropriate technique can be applied to generate
alternative solutions.
Formulation of a problem involves the following steps:
a) Statement of the problem in a general way
b) Understanding the nature of the problem
c) Surveying the available literature
d) Developing the idea through discussion
e) Rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition.
Importance of formulating a research problem
a) It determines the research destine. It indicates a way for the researcher.
Without it a clear and economical plan is impossible.
b) Research problem is like the foundation of a building. The type and
design of the building is dependent upon the foundation. If the foundation
is well-designed and strong, one can expect the building to be also. The
research problem serves as the foundation of a research study: if it is well
formulated, one can expect a good study to follow.
c) The way you formulate your research problem determines almost every
step that follows: the type of study design that can be used; the type of
sampling strategy that can be employed; the research instrument that can
be used; and the type of analysis that can be undertaken.
d) The quality of the research report(output of the research undertakings) is
dependent on the quality of the problem formulation.
Considerations in selecting a research problem
When selecting a research problem/topic there is a number of considerations to
keep in mind. These considerations are:
a) Interest
b) Magnitude
c) Measurement of concepts
d) Level of expertise
e) Relevance
f) Availability of data
g) Ethical issues

2. Extensive Literature Review

Once the problem is formulated, a brief summery of it should be written down.
Reasons for Reviewing Literature
Literature review has three functions:
a) Bringing clarity and focus to the research problem
b) Improving the methodology
c) Broadening the researcher knowledge in the research area.
Procedures in reviewing the literature
Reviewing a literature is a continuous process. Often it begins before a specific
research problem has been formulated and continues until the report is finished.
There are four steps involved in conducting a literature review:
a) Search for existing literature in your area of study
b) Review the literature selected
c) Develop a theoretical framework
d) Develop a conceptual framework.
3. Development of Working Hypothesis
After extensive literature survey, researcher should state in clear terms the working
hypothesis.
Working hypotheses is tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical
or empirical consequences. Hypotheses affect the manner in which tests must be
conducted in the analysis of data and indirectly the quality of data which is required for
the analysis. Hypotheses should be very specific and limited to the piece of research in
hand because it has to be tested.
The role of hypotheses is to guide the researcher by delimiting the area of research and
keep him on the right track. It sharpens his thinking and focuses attention on the more
important facets of the problem. It also indicates the type of data and the type of methods
of data analysis to be used.
Working hypotheses are more useful when stated in precise and clearly defined terms.
Sometimes, particularly in case of exploratory researches, we do not need hypotheses.
4. Preparing the Research Design
The research problem having been formulated in clear cut terms, the researcher will be
required to prepare a research design, i.e., he will have to state the conceptual structure
within which research would be conducted. The preparation of such a design facilitates
research to be as efficient as possible yielding maximal information.
A research design is the arrangement of conditions for collecting and analysis of data in a
manner that aims to combine relevance to the research purpose with economy in
procedure.
Research design is the conceptual structure within which research is conducted; it
constitutes the blueprint for collection, measurement and analysis of data.
Research design is a plan, structure and strategy of investigation so conceived as to
obtain answers to research questions or problems. The plan is the complete scheme or
programme of the research. It includes outline of what the investigator will do from
writing the hypothesis and their operational implications to the final analysis of data.

Research design is defined as a blueprint or detailed plan for how a research study is to
be complted, operationalizing variables so they can be measured, selecting a sample of
interest to study, collecting data to be used as a basis for testing hypothseses and
analysisng the results.
The function of research design is to provide for the collection of relevant evidence with
minimal expenditure of effort, time and money. Furthermore, research design explains
how the researcher will find answers to the research questions. It sets out the logic of the
inquiry. But how all these can be achieved depends mainly on the research purpose.
Research purposes may be grouped into four categories, viz.,
a. Exploration
b. Description
c. Diagnosis
d. Experimentation.
When the purpose happens to be an accurate description of a situation or of an
association between variables, the suitable design will be on that minimizes bias and
maximizes the reliability of the data collected and analyzed. When selecting a research
design it is important to ensure that it is valid, workable, and manageable.
The functions of a research design
The research design has two main functions. The first relates to the identification and/or
development of procedures and logistical arrangements required to undertake a study, and
the second emphasizes the importance of quality in these procedures to ensure their
validity, objectivity, and accuracy.
A research design should include the following:
a) The study design per se and the logistical arrangements that you
purpose to undertake
b) The measurement procedures
c) The sampling strategy
d) The frame of analysis
e) Time frame
Selecting a study design
The study design is a part of the research design. It is the design of the study perse,
whereas the research design also includes other details related to the carrying out of the
study.
The various designs have been classified by examining them from three different
perspectives:
a) The number of contacts with the study population
b) The reference period of the study
c) The nature of the investigation.
The number of contacts
a) Cross-sectional study
b) Before-and- after study
c) Longitudinal studies

Define
Research
problem

Review
concepts and
theories

Review
previous
research
findings

Formulate
hypothesis

Design
Research
(including
sample design)

Collect data
( Execution)

Analyze data
(test
hypothesis if
any)

Interpre
t and
report

Features of Good Research Design

A research design appropriate for a particular research problem, usually involves the
consideration of the following factors:
1. the means of obtaining information
2. the availability and skills of the researcher
3. the objective of the problem to be studied
4. The availability of time and money for the research work.
5. Determining Sampling Design:
All the items under consideration in any field of inquiry constitute a universe or population.
A complete enumeration of all the items in the population is known as a census inquiry.
Because of the difficulty, relative inaccuracy and biasness related to census study determine
sample, few elements from the population, becomes mandatory.
In such cases, the researcher must decide the way of selecting a sample or what is
popularly known as the sample design.
In other words, a sample design is a definite plan determined before any data are actually
collected for obtaining a sample from a given population.
Samples can be either probability samples or non-probability samples.
With probability samples each element has unknown probability of being included in the
sample but in the non-probability samples do not allow the researcher to determine this
probability.
Probability samplings are those based on simple random sampling, systematic sampling,
stratified sampling, cluster/area sampling whereas non-probability samples are those based
on convenience sampling, judgment sampling and quota sampling techniques.
The sample design to be used must be decided by the researcher taking into consideration
the nature of the inquiry and other related factors.
6. Collecting the data
In dealing with any real life problem it is often found that data at hand are inadequate, and
hence, it becomes necessary to collect data that are appropriate.
There are several ways of collecting the appropriate data which differ considerably in
context of money costs, time and other resources at the disposal of the researcher.
Primary data can be collected either through experiments or through survey. If the
researcher conducts experiment, he observes some quantitative measurements, or the data,
with the help of which he examines the truth contend in his hypothesis. But in the case of a
survey, data can be collected by any one of the following ways:
a. Observation
b. Interview
c. Questionnaire
The researcher should select one of these methods of collecting data taking in to
consideration the nature of investigation, objective and scope of the inquiry, financial
resources, available time and the desired degree of accuracy.
7. Execution of the project
The researcher should see, during this phase, that the project is executed in a systematic
manner and in time.
8. Analysis of Data

After the data have been collected, the researcher turns to the task of analyzing them.
The analysis of data requires a number of closely related operations such as establishment
of categories, the application of these categories to raw data through coding, tabulation and
then drawing statistical inferences.
The unwieldy data should be condensed in to a few manageable groups and tables for
further analysis.
9. Hypothesis Testing
After analyzing the data, the researcher is in a position to test the hypothesis, if any, he had
formulated earlier.
Do the facts support the hypotheses or they happen to be contrary? This is the usual
question which should be answered while testing hypotheses.
Various tests, such as Chi square test, t-test, F-test may be applied.
10. Generalization and Interpretation
If a hypotheses is tested and upheld several times, it may be possible for the researcher to
arrive at generalization, i.e., to build a theory.
As a matter of fact, the real value of research lies in its ability to arrive at certain
generalizations.
If the researcher had no hypotheses to start with, he might seek to explain his findings on
the basis of some theory. It is known as interpretation. The process of interpretation may
quite often trigger off new questions which inturn may lead to further researches.
11. Preparation of the Research Report or the thesis
Finally, the researcher has to prepare the report of what has been done by him following the
appropriate formats and appropriate language.

The features that a good research procedure must possess are

1. Should be systematic in nature.
2. Should be logical.
3. Should be empirical and replicable in nature.
4. Should be according to plans.
5. Should be according to the rules and the assumptions should not be based
on the false bases or judgments.
6. Should be relevant to what is required.
7. Procedure should be reproducible in nature.
8. Controlled movement of the research procedure.
Qualities of a good researcher can be summarized as
1. Method of approach The researcher should adopt correct procedure for

identifying a problem and then for working on it, to find a solution for that
problem.
2. Knowledge The researcher should be well aware and should have
complete knowledge and information of the field of investigation so that he can
go in for correct planning and then implementation of the correct and effective
methods for selection of the problem and then for solving it.
3. Qualification The researcher should have a good back ground of study,
which will enable the researcher to have a better knowledge and
understanding of the subject.
4. Attitude The researcher must have a vision of his own, an aim with some
objectives to achieve something.
5. Should have an open thinking.
6. Should be stable, having consistent thinking.
7. Should be honest, sincere, brave and ambitious.
Characteristics of research
1. Research is based on the scientific method.
2. Helps in answering various pertinent questions.
3. It is an organized, planned and patient investigation or a critical enquiry.
4. It has logical roots, helping to establish facts or principles.
Limitations of research
1. Problems of collection of data and conceptualization may occur.
2. Repetition problems.
3. Outdated and insufficient information system may cause problems.
4. Sometimes lack of resources becomes an obstacle.
5. Nonavailability of trained researchers.
6. Absence of code of conduct.