Research Process: An Eight-Step Model PDF

Chapter 3 The Research Process: An Eight-Step Model  The Research Process The Eight-Step Model for carrying out research PHASE 1 Deciding What To Research Step 1 Formulating a research problem PHASE 2 Planning A Research Study Step 2 Conceptualizing a research des...

Chapter 3 The Research Process: An Eight-Step Model  The Research Process The Eight-Step Model for carrying out research PHASE 1 Deciding What To Research Step 1 Formulating a research problem PHASE 2 Planning A Research Study Step 2 Conceptualizing a research design Step 3 Constructing an instrument for data collection Step 4 Selecting a sample Step 5 Writing a research proposal PHASE 3 Conducting A Research Study Step 6 Collecting data Step 7 Processing and displaying data Step 8 Writing a research report  The Research Process: An Eight-step Model This model developed is generic in nature and can be applied to a number of disciplines in the social sciences. It is based upon a practical and step-by-step approach to a research enquiry and each step provides a variety of methods, models and procedures.  The Research Process: An Eight-step Model The research process is very similar to undertaking a journey. As with your drive, for a research journey there are also two important decisions to make. The first is to decide what you want to find out about or, in other words, what research questions you want to find answers to. Having decided upon your research questions or research problems, Second, you then need to decide how to go about finding their answers. The path to finding answers to your research questions constitutes research methodology. Just as there are places along the way as you travel to your destination, so there are practical steps through which you must pass in your research journey in order to find the answers to your research questions.  The Research Process: An Eight-step Model Though the research process is broadly the same in both quantitative and qualitative, but they are differentiated in terms of 1. the methods of data collection, 2. the procedures adopted for data processing and analysis, 3. and the style of communication of the findings. At a number of steps of the research process, the choice of methods and procedures is influenced by the quantitative/qualitative distinction.  The Research Process The Eight-Step Model for carrying out research PHASE 1 Deciding What To Research Step 1 Formulating a research problem PHASE 2 Planning A Research Study Step 2 Conceptualizing a research design Step 3 Constructing an instrument for data collection Step 4 Selecting a sample Step 5 Writing a research proposal PHASE 3 Conducting A Research Study Step 6 Collecting data Step 7 Processing and displaying data Step 8 Writing a research report  Phase 1: Deciding What To Research Step 1: Formulating A Research Problem  Step 1 Formulating A Research Problem Formulating a research problem is the first and most important step in the research process. – The more specific and clearer you are the better, as everything that follows in the research process. – study design, measurement procedures, sampling strategy, frame of analysis and the style of writing of your findings is greatly influenced by the way in which you formulate your research problem. A research problem identifies your destination: – it should tell you and your readers what you intend to research.  Step 1 Formulating A Research Problem The main function of formulating a research problem is – to decide what you want to find out about. Broadly speaking, – any question that you want answered – any assumption or assertion that you want to challenge or investigate – can become a research problem or a research topic for your study.  Step 1 Formulating A Research Problem This operational step includes: 1. Reviewing the literature 2. Formulating a research problem 3. Identifying variables 4. Constructing hypotheses  Phase 2: Planning A Research Study Step 2 Conceptualizing a research design Step 3 Constructing an instrument for data collection Step 4 Selecting a sample Step 5 Writing a research proposal  Phase 2- Step 2 Conceptualizing A Research Design A research design is – a plan, structure and strategy of investigation to obtain answers to research questions or problems. For any investigation, the selection of an appropriate research design is crucial in – enabling you to arrive at valid findings, comparisons and conclusions. The research design sets out the specific details of your enquiry. When selecting a research design it is important to ensure that it is valid, workable and manageable.  Phase 2- Step 2 Conceptualizing A Research Design Through a research design you decide for yourself and communicate to others your decisions 1. regarding what study design you propose to use, 2. how you are going to collect information from your respondents, 3. how you are going to select your respondents, 4. how the information you are going to collect is to be analysed 5. and how you are going to communicate your findings.  Phase 2- Step 3 Constructing An Instrument For Data Collection You will need to decide how you are going to – collect data for the proposed study and then construct a research instrument for data collection. Anything that becomes a means of collecting information for your study is called a ‘research tool’ or a ‘research instrument’, for example – observation forms, – interview schedules, – questionnaires – and interview guides.  Phase 2- Step 3 Constructing An Instrument For Data Collection Two types of collecting data: 1. If you are planning to collect data specifically for your study (primary data), you need either to construct a research instrument or to select one that has already been constructed. 2. If you are using secondary data (information already collected for other purposes), you will need to identify what information is needed and then develop a form to extract the required data.  Phase 2- Step 4 Selecting A Sample The accuracy of your findings largely depends upon the way you select your sample. When selecting a sample you should attempt to achieve two key aims of sampling 1. the avoidance of bias in the selection of a sample; 2. and the attainment of maximum accuracy for a given outlay of resources. There are three categories of sampling design 1. random/probability sampling designs, 2. non-random/non-probability sampling designs 3. and ‘mixed’ sampling design.  Phase 2- Step 5: Writing A Research Proposal A Research Proposal is to put everything together in a way that provides adequate information about your research study A research proposal – tells a reader about your research problem and how you are planning to investigate. Broadly, a research proposal’s main function is to – detail the operational plan for obtaining answers to your research questions. – In doing so it ensures – and reassures the readers of – the validity of the methodology to obtain answers accurately and objectively.  Phase 3 Conducting A Research Study Step 6 Collecting Data Step 7 Processing And Displaying Data Step 8 Writing A Research Report  Phase 3- Step 6 Collecting Data Many methods could be used to gather the required information. As a part of the research design, you decided upon the procedure you wanted to adopt to collect your data. In this phase you actually collect the data. For example, depending upon your plans, you might commence – interviews, – mail out a questionnaire, – conduct nominal/focus group discussions – or make observations. Collecting data through any one of the methods may involve some ethical issues.  Phase 3- Step 7 Processing And Displaying Data The way you analyze the information you collected largely depends upon two things: 1. the type of information (quantitative or qualitative); 2. and the way you want to communicate your findings to your readers. Broadly, there are four ways of communicating and displaying the analyzed data. These are: 1. text; 2. tables; 3. graphs; and 4. statistical measures.  Phase 3- Step 8 Writing A Research Report Writing the report is the last and, for many, the most difficult step of the research process. This report informs the 1. world what you have done, 2. what you have discovered 3. and what conclusions you have drawn from your findings.  End ! Any Question?