Research Process
1-Identification of the Problem
2-Review of Literature
3-Formulating a Hypothesis
4-Identifying, Manipulating and Controlling
Variables
5-Formulating a Research Design
6-Constructing Devices for Observation
and Measurement
7-Sample Selection and Data Collection
8-Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Identification of the Problem: The first and most
important step for identifying a problem is asking a
question or identifying a need that arises as a result
of curiosity and to which it becomes necessary to
find an answer
• The research question determines the direction of
the study.
• The researchers have to struggle a lot in identifying
and articulating the same.
• Essentially two steps are involved in formulating the
research problem, viz. understanding the problem
thoroughly, and rephrasing the same into meaningful
terms from an analytical point of view.
• The main function of formulating a research
problem is to decide what you want to find out about.
2. Review of Literature
• For identifying a good solvable problem, the
investigator undertakes the review of literature.
• A body of prior work related to a research
problem is referred to as literature.
• Scientific research includes a review of the
relevant literature.
• When a researcher reviews the previous
researches in related fields, he becomes
familiar with several known and unknown
phenomenon.
•
facilitates in drawing
useful conclusions 2. provides an
regarding the variables estimate of the
under study and provides a previous work and
meaningful way of their provides an
subsequent applications. opportunity for the
meaningful extension
of the previous work
purpose of
review of
the 3.helps the
literature researcher in
1. helps in discovering systematically
and selecting variables compiling the
relevant for the given expanding and
study growing body of
knowledge.
Formulating a Hypothesis
• prepositions whose validity could be tested.
• Ideally these hypotheses would be based on a deductive
theory but they may simply be new hypotheses or hypothesis
based on previous research findings
• It may be defined as a tentative statement showing a
relationship between variables under study.
• They are generally derived from earlier research findings,
existing theories, and personal observations and experiences.
• suppose you are interested to know the effect of reward on
learning.
• You need to convert this idea in terms of a testable statement.
• Those who are rewarded shall require lesser number of trials
to learn the lesson than those who are not rewarded.
Identifying, Manipulating and
Controlling Variables
• Variables are defined as those
characteristics which are manipulated,
controlled and observed by the
experimenter.
• 3 types of variables must be recognised -
the dependent variable, the independent
variable and the extraneous variable.
Variables
1. The dependent
variable is one The independent
An
about which the variable is that
extraneous
prediction is made condition or
variable is the
on the basis of the characteristics
uncontrolled
experiment. which is
2. It is the variable that
manipulated or
characteristics or may affect
selected by the
condition that the
experimenter is
changes as the dependent
order to find out its
experimenter variable.
changes the
relationship to
2. relevant
independent some observed
variable
variables. phenomena.
• Formulating a Research Design
• A research design may be regarded as the blueprint
of those procedures which are adapted by the
researcher for testing the relationship between the
dependent variable and the independent variable
• The main function of a research design is to explain
how you will find answers to your research questions.
• The research design sets out the logic of your inquiry.
• It includes the study design and the logistical
arrangements that you propose to undertake as well
as the measurement procedures.
• It includes also the sampling strategy, the frame of
analysis and the time frame
Constructing Devices for
Observation and Measurement
• Next step is to construct or collect and choose
appropriate tools of research for scientific
observation and measurement.
• Depending on the nature of research problem a
researcher may choose particular method (e.g.
observation, experiment, case study, correlation, and
survey).
• If readymade tools are not available then the
researcher may have to develop appropriate tools
before undertaking the study.
• All these tools of research are the many methods
through which data are collected by asking for
information from person
Sample Selection and Data
Collection
• one must also decide about the participants
of the study for which purpose usually a
small sample is drawn which represents the
population.
• Then the actual study proceeds.
Observations are made of the variables of
interest, which involves an experiment in
which all variables are carefully controlled.
• Field study or a field experiment or survey
may be conducted.
Data Analysis and Interpretation
• After making observation the data collected
are analysed with the help of various
quantitative and qualitative statistical
techniques.
• Careful scrutiny of the data is a critical
aspect of scientific method.
• The purpose of the analysis is to make
sense of the data and see what light they
throw on the problem and the hypotheses
of the study.
