Class 2 Research Process Thursday

8/4/2019 Class 2 Research Process Thursday

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RESEARCH PROCESS


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RESEARCH PROCESS

` The research process is similar to undertaking a journey.For a research journey there are two important decisions to make-

1) What you want to find out about or what research questions (problems) you

want to find answers to;

2) How to go about finding their answers.

` At each operational step in the research process requires the researcher to choose

from a multiplicity of methods, procedures and models of research methodology

which will help you to best achieve your objectives.

` The path to find the answers to the research questions constitutes

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.


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RESEARCH PROCESS IN FLOW CHART

7/27/2011

Define

research

problem

Review of

concepts and

theories

Review previous

research findings

Formulate

hypotheses

Design

research

Collect

data

(execution)

interpret

and report

Analyze

data (test

hypotheses

if any

Review the literature

IIII IV V VI VII

II

CR Kothari Research Methodology- Methods and Techniques 2001

F

FF

FF

F F

F = Feedback (helps in controlling the sub-system to which it is transmitted)

FF = Feed forward (serves the vital function of providing criteria for evaluation)


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Steps in the Research Process

DEFINE THE RESEARCH PROBLEM It is the first and most crucial step in the research process

- Main function is to decide what you want to find out about.

- The way the researcher formulates a problem determines

almost every step that follows.

- problem relates to the nature of the variable or on the relationship between the

variable; problem relating to general area of interest or on aspect of the subject matter that is to be inquired.

Statement &objective of the problem to be clear

Sources of research problems

The sourse of the research problem revolves around four Ps:

People- a group of individuals

Problems- examine the existence of certain issues or problems relating totheir lives; to ascertain attitude of a group of people towards an issue

Programs- to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention

Phenomena- to establish the existence of a regularity.

In practice most research studies are based upon at least a combination of two Ps


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Step 1:Considerations in selecting a

research problem:1. Interest: a research endeavour is usually time consuming, and involves hard work and

possibly unforeseen problems. So, the select topic should uphold the interest with

required motivation.

2. Magnitude: the selected research topic should be managed within the time and

resources at the researchers disposal. The topic is to be manageable, specific and clear.

3. Level of expertise: the researcher should have adequate level of expertise for the task heor she is working since the researcher have to work on the topic alone.

4. Relevance: the research study adds to the existing body of knowledge, bridges current

gaps and is useful in policy formulation.

5. Availability of data: Before finalizing the topic, make sure that data are available.

6. Ethical issues: How ethical issues can affect the study population and how ethical

problems can be overcome should be thoroughly examined at the problem formulating

stage


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Steps in formulation of a research

problem :

Working through these steps presupposes a reasonable level of knowledge in

the broad subject area within which the study is to be undertaken. Without such

knowledge it is difficult to clearly and adequately dissect a subject area.

Step 1 Identify a broad field or subject area of interest

Step 2 Dissect the broad area into sub areas.

Step 3 Select what is of most interest .

Step 4 Raise research questions.

Step 5 Formulate objectives.

Step 6 Assess your objectives.

Step 7 Double check. So far we have focused on the basis of your study


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Step 2. Reviewing the literature:

-Essential preliminary task in order to acquaint yourself

with the available body of knowledge in the area of interest.

-Literature review is integral part of entire research process and makes

valuable contribution to every operational step.

- Its functions are:

a. Bring clarity and focus to your research problem:Helps to conceptualise the research problem clearly and precisely.

Helps to understand the relationship between the research problem

and the body of knowledge in the area.

b. Improve your methodology:

Tells whether others have used procedures and methods similar tothe ones that the researcher is proposing, the workability of the procedures

and the problems they have faced with them.

Information on various available research theories and method; and

assist in the selecttion of a methodology which is capable of providing valid

answer to the research questions


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Step 2. Reviewing the literature:

c. Broaden your knowledge:

It ensures the researcherto read widely around the subject area in whichhe/she intend to conduct the research study.

It also helps to understand how the findings of the study fit into the

existing body of knowledge.

d. Contextualise your findings.Assist to find answers to the research questions compare with what others

have found. It is important to place the final findings in the context of the field

of enquiry.

# What contribution have you been able to make in to the

existing body of knowledge?

# How are the findings different from those of others?The literature review process

Review the literature selected

Develop a theoretical framework

Writing up the literature reviewed


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Step 3 The formulation of objectives and

hypothesis

-Objectives are the goals that are set out to attain in the research .

-They inform a readerwhat the researcher wants to attain through the research.

Objectives contains :

a)main objectives ( aims); b) sub-objectives.

The main objective is an overall statement of the thrust of your study.

It is also a statement of the main associations and relationships that you seek to

discover or establish.

The sub-objectives are the specific aspects of the topic that you want to

investigate within the main framework of your study.

-They should be numerically listed.

-Wording should clearly, completely and specifically

-Communicate to your readers your intention.

-Each objective should contain only one aspect of the Study.

-Use action oriented words or verbs when writing objectives.


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hypothesis

The objectives should start with words such as

to determine,to find out,to ascertain,to measure,to explore etc.

The wording of objectives determines the type of research (descriptive,

correlational, and experimental) and the type of research design you need to

adopt to achieve them.

CHARACTERISTICS OF OBJECTIVES

Clear + Complete + Specific + Identify main + Identify the

variables to direction of

be correlated relationship

IDescriptive StudiesII.................Correlational Studies (experimental and non-experimental)...........I

I.....................Hypothesis testing studies..........................I


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hypothesis

A hypotheses is a hunch, assumption, suspicion, assertion or an idea about a

phenomenon, relationship or situation, the reality or truth of which you do not

know.

In most studies the hypotheses will be based upon researchers or someone elsesobservation and they become the basis of an enquiry.

The functions of hypotheses:

The formulation of hypothesis provides a study with focus. It tells you what

specific aspects of a research problem to investigate.

A hypothesis tells the researcher what data to collect and what not to collect,thereby providing focus to the study.

As it provides a focus, the construction of a hypothesis enhances objectivity in a

study.

A hypothesis may enable the researcherto add to the formulation of a theory. It

enables him /her to specifically conclude what is true or what is false.

Constructing hypotheses:


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Step -4 Preparing the research design

State the conceptual structure within which research would be conducted andis based on the research purpose ( exploration/ description/ diagnosis and

experimentation).

The function of research design is to provide for the collection of relevant

evidence with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money.

The aspects to be considered while preparing the research design,

appropriate for a particular research problem are :

(i) The means of obtaining the information;

(ii) The availability and skills of the researcher and his staff (if any);

(iii)Explanation of the way in which selected means of obtaining

information will be organised and the reasoning leading to the selection;(iv) the time available for research; and

(v) the cost factorrelating to research, i.e., the finance available for

the purpose.


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Tools of Research

` Tools are not research methods e.g. library research andstatistical research

`

` Tools help your research

methods.

The library and its resources

The computerand its software

Techniques of measurement

Statistics

Facility with language

` What is the purpose of the

research?

` What are the units of analysis?

` What are the points of focus?

`

What is the time dimension?` Designing a research project:

` conceptualisation

` operationalisation.

` Reliability, replication and validity.

Research Design


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Criteria of Good Research

1. The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and common conceptsbe used.

2. The research procedure used should be described in details to permit another

researcherto repeat the research for further advancement, keeping the continuity

of what has already been attained.

3. The procedural design of the research should be carefully planned to yield

results that are as objective as possible.4. The researcher should report with complete frankness, flaws in procedural

design and estimate their effects upon the findings.

5. The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its significance

and the methods of analysis used should be appropriate. The validity and

reliability of the data should be checked carefully.

6. Conclusions should be confined to those justified by the data of the researchand limited to those for which the data provide an adequate basis.

7. Greater confidence in research is warranted if the researcheris experienced,

has a good reputation in research and is a person of integrity.


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Criteria of Good Research

The qualities of a good research:

1. Good research is systematic: It means that research is structured with specified

steps to be taken in a specified sequence in accordance with the well defined set of

rules. Systematic characteristic of the research does not rule out creative thinking but

it certainly does reject the use of guessing and intuition in arriving at conclusions.

2. Good research is logical: This implies that research is guided by the rules of logical

reasoning and the logical process of induction and deduction are of great value in

carrying out research. Induction is the process of reasoning from a part to the whole

whereas deduction is the process of reasoning from some premise to a conclusion

which follows from that very premise. In fact, logical reasoning makes research more

meaningful in the context of decision making.

3. Good research is empirical: It implies that research is related basically to one or

more aspects of a real situation and deals with concrete data that provides a basis forexternal validity to research results.

4. Good research is replicable: This characteristic allows research results to be

verified byreplicating the study and thereby building a sound basis for decisions.

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Class 2 Research Process Thursday