The Research Process

• Is a cyclic process.

• The conclusion that is reached at the end of every investigation leads to other problems which other researchers
may undertake in the future

• Opportunities for more inventions and discoveries arise from the cyclic nature of research

• It perpetuates the dynamic nature of science and ensures its continuous growth

The Research Process

 Identification of Research Problem

 Formulation of Hypotheesis
 Review of related literiture
 Preperation of a Research Design
 Actual Experimentation
 Data Collecton
 Analysis and interpretation of Data
 Formulation of Conclussion

Steps in the Research Process: Key Points

• Research process, like any other process is made up of several steps;

• Each step leads logically to the next one.

• The time it takes for each of these steps depends on the kind of problem being investigated, the experience of
the researcher and the availability of resources needed for the study.

• The steps in research process are essentially the same as those in the scientific method;

• As a scientific method, research process embodies sequence of problem-solving skills that scientist use to
answer questions or problems, to wit:

• Identifying problem; formulating hypothesis, doing library research, observing, performing experiments,
analyzing data, drawing conclusions and communicating results
RESEARCH

• Research common sense of the term refers to a search for knowledge.

• Research is a part and parcel of human knowledge.

• Research may be defined as a ‘careful critical enquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles; diligent
investigation in order to ascertain something’.

• It is a scientific and systematic search for pertinent information on specific topic. It is an art and as well as
science of investigation.

• The advanced Learners' Dictionary of current English defined as “a careful investigation or inquiry specially
through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.”

• Redman and Mory define research as a “systematized effort to gain new knowledge”. Some people consider
research as a movement,a movement from the known to the unknown.

• According to J.H.Shera, “Research is an intellectual process whereby a problem is perceived, divided into its
constituent elements, and analysed in the light of certain basic assumptions”.

• According to Hudson Maxim Significance as, “All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than
overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry and inquiry leads to investigation”

• Research inculcates scientific and inductive thinking and it promotes the development of logical habits of
thinking and organization.

• The role of research in several fields of applied economics, whether related to business or to the economy as a
whole, has greatly increased in modern times.

• Research provides the basic for nearly all government policies in our economic system.

AIMS OF RESEARCH

The aim of the work, i.e. the overall purpose of the study, should be clearly and concisely defined.

Aims:

• Are broad statements of desired outcomes, or the general intentions of the research, which 'paint a picture' of
your research project

• Emphasize what is to be accomplished (not how it is to be accomplished)

• Address the long-term project outcomes, i.e. they should reflect the aspirations and expectations of the
research topic.

Verification of Existing Knowledge

1. Research is aimed at verifying or proving the veracity of existing theories or knowledge which may lead to the…
…development of new ideas …strengthening of a current knowledge …debunking of a theory The development of the
current model of the solar system illustrates this research aim. In the early 17th century, Galileo Galilei used his own
telescope to make astronomical observations. He found significant evidence that verified the heliocentric theory of the
universe proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus.
 Acquisition of New Knowledge

Research brings forth new ideas regarding a theory or even create totally new theory. The ancient Greeks, including
Aristotle and Ptolemy, proposed the geocentric theory, which assumed that Earth was the center of the universe.
However, this theory was later replaced by Copernicus’ heliocentric theory, which was verified by Galileo’s empirical
observations.

Application of New Knowledge

Once new ideas or innovations are proven true, they are then utilized and translated to something useful to humankind.
It is only through utilizing the results of research that one can truly fulfill the ultimate purpose of research, that is, to
alleviate people’s quality of life. The case of Orville and Wilbur Wright illustrates this research aim. After engaging
themselves into lengthy research investigations, the Wright brothers discovered that the birds’ wing structure enables
them to fly. They used this idea in creating a vehicle with wings of similar structure as that of birds. The utilization of
idea that resulted from research paved the way to the invention of the first airplane. Over the course of time, the
technology of making airplanes and flying aircrafts became more complex to the point that it brought humans to outer
space and even to the surface of the moon.

IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH

1. Enhances the knowledge

When you do research on any topic, you get to know detailed information about that topic. The more the knowledge of
the topic, the more successful is the research. So, in order to get good output, the student needs to do maximum
research

2. Clarifies confusion:
The research helps in clarifying the complicated facts and figures. If the student has any doubt on the subject, the
student must research and study on it in detail so as to remove all sorts of confusion and get the proper understanding
of the content.

3. To have a proper understanding of the subject:

To understand the subject, one needs to go in depth of the lines. The scanning of the content will never do any good for
the students. In order to learn the subject and to know the unknown facts, research, detail study and full analysis are the
must.

4. To learn about the methods and issues:

Proper reading, the finding is the only way by which you can learn about the methods and the current issues. Not just
the current issues, rather the previous past issues can also be learned in detail through the research. The research
includes various methods by which it can be done.

5. Understand the published work:

Research is done through the work already published. The experts and the researchers had already done some of the
research and the students are asked to go through that published material to know the idea and the vision of those
researchers.

6. Learn to create a balance between the collaborative and individual work:When the students do research, they get to
learn how to create a balance between the collaborative and the individual work Individual work in which the student
has to do, while the collaborative work means that work which has already been done by the previous researchers. So,
in this manner, the students get to know which points are to be taken into the consideration and which points are to be
ignored.
7. To know the interest:

The students also get to know their area of interest. Sometimes, the students aspire to become researchers only in their
near future which is quite helpful.

So, through this, we come to know that the research not only helps with the accomplishment of the work, but also helps
in knowing what needs to be done in their future.

8. To know how the original study originated

Research is done to know the concept from the scratch. Like, if you wish to know from where has the concept
originated, then this could be done only through the research work.

It can also be defined as an investigation because the student eventually ends up with expanded research.

9. Understanding the rationale:

By engaging in the process of research, the students understand the concept in an easier manner as the rationale of the
topic is known in a better manner.

For example, by preparing the hypothesis, one truly understands the nuances of the research topic. Not just this, the
research also helps in being a source of one on one mentorship which also plays a vital role in the brain development of
the individual.

What is the Importance of Research to Humankind:

Humankind involves everything from a pin to an elephant. Every bit of information, the things to live and survive are
needed for the mankind, should be known.

As if the essentials will not be known then we will remain illiterate, unaware of what is happening in the society or
around the world. Research is important for the humankind because of the various factors

Helps in understanding the society:

When one does some research related to the society, the man becomes aware and also alert of the good and bad things.
In order to know the society’s norms, policies, code of conduct, one needs to do proper research or it may become
difficult to survive in the society.

2. Helps in knowing the cultureEvery society has its own culture. In order to understand the culture of a particular
society, research about that society is needed.

If you do not do research or read maximum about any topic, you will fail to know the hidden meanings and the concepts
about the society’s culture and will remain unaware about the same. So, if you are curious to know and learn something
new then the research work will help.

3. For more awareness, research is needed:

To make yourself aware, reading is the key. Read the published books and the research already done by an expert.Once
you have gone through the research work of great alumni, you feel like being on the top of the world as the information
flows into your head. Not just this, if you wish to plan any holiday, you become aware of the weather and the
requirements of that particular place. This way also research is very helpful.

4. For making the right choices for a career

Research is needed in all fields, i.e. it is pervasive. For even the smallest information, one needs to research and
understand.

For example, if you need to know about the careers with greater scope overseas, you will have to do research for that
too. So, this way research is of great importance to everyone, be it a student, a traveler, teacher, professor, researcher
himself.

5. Knowing the truthIf you wish to know the truth about anything, reading, learning, and research is the only way. When
you read and research on any topic, you get to know the truth.

The real facts and statistics come across which enlightens the person and also increases one’s knowledge.

6. Update about the technology

If there comes any new technology, the human gets to know about that also through the research work.

So, basic research is helpful to human to know what new is coming in the market. Also, it helps in being updated about
the present scenario of the society one is living in.

Characteristics of Research
SOURCES OF RESEARCH TOPIC
In general, there are three types of resources or sources of information: primary, secondary,
and tertiary. It is important to understand these types and to know what type is appropriate
for your coursework prior to searching for information.
Primary sources are original materials on which other research is based, including: original
written works – poems, diaries, court records, interviews, surveys, and original
research/fieldwork, and research published in scholarly/academic journals.
Secondary sources are those that describe or analyze primary sources, including: reference
materials – dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, and
books and articles that interpret, review, or sythesize original research/fieldwork.
Tertiary sources are those used to organize and locate secondary and primary sources.
Indexes – provide citations that fully identify a work with information such as author, titles of a
book, artile, and/or journal, publisher and publication date, volume and issue number and
page numbers.
Abstracts – summarize the primary or secondary sources,
Databases – are online indexes that usually include abstracts for each primary or secondary
resource, and may also include a digital copy of the resource.
Personal or professional experience
Everyday personal or professional experience may lead us to identify a problem for which we
would like a solution. Alternatively, we may encounter a question or questions that we would
like to try and answer.
Theory
Theories are ideas about how things relate to each other. Theories may be general, commonly
held beliefs (such as, domestic cats are the cause of a decline in bird numbers in UK gardens)
or more technical ideas (for example, that global warming is causing a change to the timing of
the seasonal responses of the flowering cherry tree in the UK).
There are many ways of expressing theories, some are very formal, others are informal. Here
are some examples:
Keynes' statement that ... 'men are disposed as a rule and on average, to increase their
consumption as their income increases, but not as much as the increase in their income ...' is a
theory.
The idea that distance learners have different needs than on-campus students is a theory.
A hunch that crossing two particular strains of maize will produce a more drought-tolerant
variety is a theory.
The assumption that every species has a fundamental niche, is a theory.
Theories may be useful in suggesting interesting questions and generally guiding fieldwork, but
should not restrict us from exploring alternative explanations. The end result of the research
process is knowledge.
Literature and the media
There are many sources of literature, such as books, journal articles, and newspapers. When
searching and reading literature it is possible to encounter gaps in information and knowledge,
and problems for which there is currently no solution. These may provide a good basis for
research. We are also flooded with information presented by the media, such as television,
which again might give rise to research ideas.
Academic journals
These journals are a great way to find cutting edge research on your topic. Academic journals
add credibility and professionalism to a paper. They work well for both humanities and
scientific papers. Most schools/universities have a subscription to a large database of
academic journals. Some commonly used databases are JSTOR and EBSCO Host. If you don’t
know what types of services your school subscribes to, ask your teacher/librarian about them.
Another great way to access academic papers is Google Scholar. It is a search tool that finds
scholarly articles–academic journals, patents, theses, court proceedings, and more. Google
Scholar displays how many times an academic piece of literature was cited, which is a rough
numerical indicator of how influential the research was. Google Scholar also has link under
each posting to help you find related articles.
Microsoft has a competitor to Google Scholar that is very similar, Microsoft Academic Search.
Microsoft’s tool works particularly well for technical papers in fields such as physics,
mathematics, biology, and engineering.
Books are still one of the best ways to find credible information about a source. Some fields
such as the humanities prefer their students use books for sources rather than websites, since
books typically contain more detailed information (and perhaps more in-depth thinking) than
websites do. Books can be found on your school or public library website. Type in keywords
related to your topic in the search field, and see what kinds of literature comes up. Write
down the call number of the book so that you can find it within your library. Ask your librarian
for help if you’re not sure how your library is organized.
Google has another service, Google Books, that will help you find books related to your topic.
Just type your research topic into the field and Google Books will provide you with a list of
relevant books. Once you click on a book you like, Google Books will give you a preview of the
book and information related to buying the book or finding it in your library.
Websites are sources you should approach with caution. Some experts publish great
information on the Internet, but there’s a lot of bad information out there as well. The trick is
to weed out the unreliable information. The section entitled “Evaluating sources for
credibility” is all about that process. Here, we’ll discuss some great resources that will help you
find good information.

Tip: Multipurpose search engines (Google, Bing, and Yahoo) aren’t necessarily trying to
provide you with the best academic results. They help people with a lot of things (shopping,
searching for flights, comparing restaurants). You don’t want all of these sorts of results to get
mixed up in your research!
Tip: Many schools have online topic pages, where the school’s librarians have grouped
together helpful resources dedicated to a particular topic like chemistry, history, or religious
studies. The LibGuides at Rice University is one example.
p