Research Process

Welcome Language researchers to this topic entitled Research process! I am greatly excited on this topic and I hope you feel the same. This topic will introduce you to the different processes involved in all research undertakings whether in the field of social science, natural sciences, engineering and other fields of study. So, join me as we uncover the different processes as we work on your chosen research titles and problems.

Intended learning outcomes

By the completion of this lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Explain the processes involved in research
2. Differentiate the research designs
3. Discuss the sampling techniques

What are the steps involved in the research process?

Before embarking on the details of research methodology and techniques, it seems appropriate to present a brief overview of 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. The figure below illustrates the steps involved in a research process:

1. Formulating the research problem. In research process, the first and foremost step happens to be that of selecting and properly defining a research problem. A researcher must find the problem and formulate it so that it becomes susceptible to research. Like a medical doctor, a researcher must examine all the symptoms (presented to him or observed by him) concerning a problem before he can diagnose correctly.To define a problem correctly, a researcher must know what a problem is?
2. Extensive literature survey. Once the problem is formulated, a brief summary of it should be written down. At this juncture the researcher should undertake extensive literature survey connected with the problem. For this purpose, the abstracting and indexing journals and published or unpublished bibliographies are the first place to go to. Academic journals, conference proceedings, government reports, books etc., must be tapped depending on the nature of the problem. In this process, it should be remembered that one source will lead to another. The earlier studies, if any, which are similar to the study in hand should be carefully studied. A good library will be a great help to the researcher at this stage.
3. Development of working hypotheses. After extensive literature survey, researcher should state in clear terms the working hypothesis or hypotheses. Working hypothesis is tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences. As such the manner in which research hypotheses are developed is particularly important since they provide the focal point for research. They also 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. In most types of research, the development of working hypothesis plays an important role. The following are the functions of a hypothesis:
   1. The hypothesis guides the researcher by delimiting the area of research and to keep him on the right track.
   2. It sharpens his thinking and focuses attention on the more important facets of the problem.
   3. It also indicates the type of data required and the type of methods of data analysis to be used.
4. Preparing the research design. The function of research design is to provide for the collection of relevant evidence with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money. But how all these can be achieved depends mainly on the research purpose. The following are the main types of research designs:
   
   1. Exploratory. A flexible research design which provides opportunity for considering many different aspects of a problem is considered appropriate if the purpose of the
      research study.
   2. Descriptive. An accurate description of a situation or of an association between variables, the suitable design will be one that minimizes bias and maximizes the reliability of the data collected and analyzed.
   3. Diagnostic. An attempt to detect and discover a nuances of a problem by way of series of clinical, laboratory and field tests and trials which aim to shed more light on the nature of a given problem.
   4. Experimental. A series of tests and trials is performed on a set of given variables which are either controlled or experimental in order to determine a better solution or outlook based on the results obtained.
5. Determining sample 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. It can be presumed that in such an inquiry when all the items are covered no element of chance is left and highest accuracy is obtained. 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. A brief explanation of different sample designs include:
   1. Deliberate sampling. Deliberate sampling is also known as purposive or non-probability sampling. This sampling method involves purposive or deliberate selection of particular units of the universe for constituting a sample which represents the universe. When population elements are selected for inclusion in the sample based on the ease of access, it can be called convenience sampling. in judgement sampling the researcher’s judgement is used for selecting items which he considers as representative of the population.
   2. Simple random sampling. This type of sampling is also known as chance sampling or probability sampling where each and every item in the population has an equal chance of inclusion in the sample and each one of the possible samples, in case of finite universe, has the same probability of being selected.
   3. Systematic sampling. In some instances the most practical way of sampling is to select every 15th name on a list, every 10th house on one side of a street and so on. Sampling of this type is known as systematic sampling.
   4. Stratified sampling. If the population from which a sample is to be drawn does not constitute a homogeneous group, then stratified sampling technique is applied so as to obtain a representative sample. In this technique, the population is stratified into a number of non-overlapping sub-populations or strata and sample items are selected from each stratum.
   5. Quota sampling. In stratified sampling the cost of taking random samples from individual strata is often so expensive that interviewers are simply given quota to be filled from different strata, the actual selection of items for sample being left to the interviewer’s judgement.
   6. Cluster sampling. Cluster sampling involves grouping the population and then selecting the groups or the clusters rather than individual elements for inclusion in the sample. Area sampling is quite close to cluster sampling and is often talked about when the total geographical area of interest happens to be big one.
   7. Multi-stage sampling. This is a further development of the idea of cluster sampling. This technique is meant for big inquiries extending to a considerably large geographical area like an entire country.
   8. Sequential sampling. This is somewhat a complex sample design where the ultimate size of the sample is not fixed in advance but is determined according to mathematical decisions on the basis of information yielded as survey progresses.
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 experiment or through survey. If the researcher conducts an experiment, he observes some quantitative measurements, or the data, with the  help of which he examines the truth contained in his hypothesis. But in the case of a survey, data can be collected by any one or more of the following ways:
   1. By observation: This method implies the collection of information by way of investigator’s own observation, without interviewing the respondents. The information obtained relates to what is currently happening and is not complicated by either the past behavior or future intentions or attitudes of respondents.
   2. Through personal interview: The investigator follows a rigid procedure and seeks answers to a set of pre-conceived questions through personal interviews. This method of collecting data is usually carried out in a structured way where output depends upon the ability of the interviewer to a large extent.
   3. Through telephone interviews: This method of collecting information involves contacting the respondents on telephone itself. This is not a very widely used method but it plays an important role in industrial surveys in developed regions, particularly, when the survey has to be accomplished in a very limited time.
   4. By mailing of questionnaires: The researcher and the respondents do come in contact with each other if this method of survey is adopted. Questionnaires are mailed to the respondents with a request to return after completing the same. It is the most extensively used method in various economic and business surveys.
   5. Through schedules: Under this method the enumerators are appointed and given training. They are provided with schedules containing relevant questions. These enumerators go to respondents with these schedules. Data are collected by filling up the schedules by enumerators on the basis of replies given by respondents.
7. Execution of Project. Execution of the project is a very important step in the research process. If the execution of the project proceeds on correct lines, the data to be collected would be adequate and dependable. The researcher should see 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. Coding is usually done at this stage through which the categories of data are transformed into symbols that may be tabulated and counted. Editing is the procedure that improves the quality of the data for coding. With coding the stage is ready for tabulation. Tabulation is a part of the technical procedure wherein the classified data are put in the form of tables.
9. Hypothesis testing. After analyzing the data as stated above, the researcher is in a position to test the hypotheses, 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.
10. Generalizations and interpretations. If a hypothesis 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.
11. Preparation and Finalization of the Thesis manucript. Finally, the researcher has to prepare the report of what has been researched. Writing of report must be done with great care keeping in view the following parts:
    1. Preliminaries. This part contains the introductory/formality part. This contains the:
       1. Title page
       2. Endorsement page
       3. Acceptance page
       4. Acknowledgment
       5. Dedication
       6. Table of Contents
       7. Abstract
    2. Content. This part contains the main part of the research study. This contains the:
       
       1. Chapter 1. The Problem and its Background
       2. Chapter 2. Conceptual and Theoretical Framework
       3. Chapter 3. Operational Framework
       4. Chapter 4. Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data
       5. Chapter 5. Summary of Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations
    3. End matters. This part presents the mandatory references and attachments such as:
       
       1. Bibliography
       2. Appendices
       3. Attachment

References

• Waliman, Nicholas. (2011). Research Methods:The Basics. New York: Routledge Publishing.
• Mukherji, P. (2010), Research Methods In Early Childhood: An Introduction.
• American Psychological Association. (2010). APA Manual 6th Edition. Washington: American Psychological Association.
• Mcniff, J. (2009). Doing and Writing Action Research.
• Kothari, C.R. (2004). Research Methodology and Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age International Publishers.