Research Process
Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to
effectively carry out research. These actions or steps are;
·
Formulating the Research Problem
·
Extensive Literature Survey
·
Developing the Research Hypothesis
·
Preparing the Research Design
·
Determining the Research Design
·
Collecting the Research Data
·
Execution of the Project
·
Analysis of Data
·
Hypothesis Testing
·
Generalization and Interpretation
·
Preparing of the Report or Presentation of
the Result
(i)
Formulation of Research Problem:
At the very outset, the researcher must decide the general area of interest
or aspect of a subject matter that he would like to inquire into and then
research problem should be formulated.
(ii)
Extensive Literature Survey:
Once
the problem is formulated 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indexing journals and published or unpublished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.
(iii)
Development of Working Hypothesis:
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. It’s very important or it provides the focal point for research.
(iv)
Preparing the Research Design:
After framing hypothesis we have to prepare a research design i.e. we 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. In other words, the function of research
design is to provide for the collection of relevant evidence with optimum
effort, time and expenditure. But how all these can be achieved depends mainly
on the research purpose.
(v)
Determining Sample Design:
A sample design is a definite plan determined before any data is actually
collected for obtaining a sample from a given population.in census inquiry we
involve a great deal of time, money and energy so it it not possible in
practice under many circumstances. Sample designs can be either probability or
non-probability. With probability samples each element has a known probability
of being included in the sample but the non-probability samples do not allow
the researchers to determine this probability.
(vi)
Collecting the Data:
There are several ways of collecting the appropriate data which differ
considerably in context of cost, time and other resources at the disposal of
the researcher. Primary data can be collected either through experiment or
through survey. In case of survey, data can be collected by any one or more of
the following ways;
By observation,
- Through personal interview,
·
Through telephonic interviews,
- By mailing of questionnaires or
·
Through schedules.
(vii)
Execution of the Project:
Execution of 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 .A careful watch should be kept for
unanticipated factors in order to keep the survey realistic as much as
possible.
(viii)
Analysis of Data:
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 inference. Analysis
work after tabulation is generally based on the computation of various
percentages; coefficients etc., by applying various well defined statistical
formulae. In the process of analysis, relationships of differences supporting
or conflicting with original or new hypothesis should be subjected to tests of
significance to determine with what validity data can be said to indicate any
conclusions.
(ix) 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 hypothesis or they happen to be contrary?
This is the usual question which is to be answered by applying various tests
like ‘t’ test, ’F’ test etc. F test have been developed
by statisticians for the purpose .Hypothesis testing will result in either
accepting the hypothesis or in rejecting it. If the researcher had no
hypothesis to start with, generalizations established on the basis of data may
be stated.
(x) Generalizations
and Interpretation:
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. If the
researcher had no hypothesis to start with, he might seek to explain his
findings on the basis of some theory. It is known as interpretation.
(xi) Preparation
of the Report or the Thesis:
Finally, the researcher has to
prepare the report of what has been done by him. The layout of the report
should be as follows; the preliminary pages, the main text and end matter. The
preliminary pages carry title, acknowledgements and forward and then index. The
main text of the report should have introduction, review of literature and
methodology.
Criteria
of Good Research:
One expects scientific research to
satisfy the following criteria:
·
The purpose of
the research should be clearly defined and common concepts be used.
- The research procedure used should be
described in sufficient detail to permit another researcher to repeat the
researcher for further advancement, keeping the continuity of what has
already been attained.
- The procedural design of the research should
be carefully planned to yield results that are as objective as possible.
- The researcher should report with complete
frankness, flaws in procedural design and estimate their effects upon the
findings.
- 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.
- Conclusions should be confined to those
justified by the data of the research and limited to those for which the
data provide an adequate basis.
- Greater confidence in research is warranted
if the researcher is experienced, has a good reputation in research and is
a person of integrity.
