RESEARCH PROCESS AND STEPS INVOLVED.pptx

The document explains the steps involved in a research process. It covers eleven steps, including problem formulation, literature survey, hypothesis, research and sample design, data collection and analysis, and the preparation of a report. It also describes the difference between qualitative and quantitative research processes.The document explains the steps involved in a research process. It covers eleven steps, including problem formulation, literature survey, hypothesis, research and sample design, data collection and analysis, and the preparation of a report. It also describes the difference between qualitative and quantitative research processes.

1. RESEARCH PROCESS AND STEPS INVOLVED

2. INTRODUCTION Research is a search for knowledge. Research involves asking a question and then trying to find an answer to it. Research is essentially a systematic, scientific and structured inquiry seeking facts through objective methods. Therefore, a research must have a clearly defined step-by-step process. A knowledge of the research process is essential both for those who conduct the research and for those who wish to be benefited by the conclusions drawn from the research.

3. RESEARCH PROCESS

4. Formulating the research problem first and foremost step. The feasibility of a particular solution must be considered before a working formulation of the problem can be set up. Two steps are involved in formulating the research problem 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. It is important to evaluate the research problem in the light of: a) Financial resources at your disposal. b) The time available with you and your research supervisor. c) The supervisor’s expertise and knowledge in the field of study. d) Your own expertise and knowledge. e) Whether you have sufficient knowledge about computers and software if you plan to use them.

5. 2. Extensive literature survey A body of prior work related to a research problem is referred to as literature. It helps in understanding of the problems and hypothesis that others have studied. It clarifies the concepts, theories, major variables involved, operational definitions and research methods used in the past. One advantage of review of the literature is that it helps to eliminate duplication of what has already been done and provides guidance and suggestions for further research. Academic journals, conference proceedings, government reports, books etc., must be tapped depending on the nature of the problem. One source will lead to another.

6. 3. Development of working hypothesis A hypothesis is a tentative assumption in a research problem, which must be tested empirically with the help of observed data. When formulating a hypothesis, a researcher does not know whether it will be rejected or accepted. A hypothesis is constructed and tested; if it is rejected, another one is formulated; if it is accepted, it is incorporated in the scientific body of knowledge. A good hypothesis states a research problem in concise and precise terms so that the researcher is focused on the problem at hand.

7. 4. Preparing the research design A research design is a well-defined plan of action. It is a planned sequence of the entire research process. It is a blue print of research activity. A good research design must use minimum of resources like time, money and manpower. A research design must be able to translate the general scientific model into a practical research operation. A scientifically developed research design possess the characteristics like, objectivity (ii) Reliability ( iii) Validity (iv) Generalization

8. 5. Determining sample design In any investigation the group of all items, objects or individuals under study is called ‘population’ or ‘universe’. For all purpose of determining population characteristics, instead of enumerating entire population, some items of the population, called a sample, are observed. These have to be a systematic plan to choose the sample items. This plan or a technique of drawing a sample is known as sample design. The sample design to be used must be decided by the researcher taking into consideration the nature of the inquiry and other related factors.

9. 6. Collecting the data There can be two sources of data, ( i ) Internal data , that refers to the happenings and functions of a business organization (ii) External data , which is related to outside sources and external agencies. There are two types of data, ( i ) Primary data - those observations, which are collected by an investigator for the first time. (ii) Secondary data - are already available in the records and have been collected by some other researcher for the purpose of studying a similar problem. Methods of collecting primary data are: ( i ) by direct observation and experimentations (ii) by direct personal interview (iii) by direct interviews through phone, sms and email. (iv) by indirect personal interview (v) by mailed / emailed Questionnaire (vi) by schedules through enumerators

10. Methods of collecting secondary data: ( i ) International organizations like WHO, UNO etc. (ii) Government publications like economic survey, CSO, NSSO. (iii) Journal and Newspapers (iv) Research articles Reports of business organization and financial institutions The researcher should select one of these methods of collecting the data taking into consideration the nature of investigation, objective and scope of the inquiry, finanical resources, available time and the desired degree of accuracy.

11. 7. Execution of the project 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.

12. 8. Analysis of data The analysis of data requires a few closely related operations such as establishment of categories, the application of these categories to raw data through coding, tabulation and then drawing statistical inferences. researcher should classify the raw data into some purposeful and usable categories Coding --- 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. Tabulation is a technical procedure where the classified data are put in the form of tables Analysis work after tabulation is generally based on the computation of various percentages, coefficients, etc., by applying various well defined statistical formulae.

13. 11. Preparation of the report or the thesis A report is a summary of the whole research process. The layout of a report must be attractive. The words used in the text must be easily comprehensive to a reader. Even a non- technical person understands a good report. The layout of the report should be as follows: ( i ) the preliminary pages; (ii) the main text, and (iii) the end matter. Preliminary pages Title & Date Acknowledgements Foreword Table of contents List of tables and list of graphs and charts, if any, given in the report End matter (a) Appendices (b) Bibliography The main text Introduction Summary of findings Main report Conclusion

14. Research process in Quantitative &Qualitative research Quantitative research It is based on the measurement of quantity/ amount Data gathered in numerical form. Qualitative research It is concerned with the phenomena relating to/ involving quality/ kind Selection of a research problem Systematic searching of the literature Formulation of the research question Formulation of hypothesis Operationalization Development of project plan / research design Application of a sample procedure Selection of appropriate method Access to the research site Data collection Documentation of data Analysis of data Interpretation of result Discussion of the findings and their interpretations Evaluation & generalization Presentation of results Use of the results Development of new research question Identification of a new study Selection of a research problem Systematic searching of the literature Formulation of the research question Development of project plan / research design Selection of appropriate method Access to the research site Sampling of cases Data collection Documentation of data Analysis of data Discussion of the findings and their interpretations Evaluation & generalization Presentation and use of results and new research question

15. CONCLUSION Research is an Organized and Systematic way of Finding answers to Questions The steps in research process are; formulating the research problem extensive literature survey developing the hypothesis preparing the research design determining sample design collecting the data execution of the project analysis of data hypothesis testing generalisations and interpretation preparation of the report or presentation of the results, i.e., formal write-up of conclusions reached.

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