1.

Identification of Research Problems

The first step in doing research is to come up with a research problem. Identification of research
problem basically involves choosing a research topic. The ways and manners in which
researchers identify a research problem and choose a topic vary according to various factors. The
research interests of sociologists are, often, triggered by their own life experiences and
observations (Howard and Dunaif-Hattis, 1992). The initial ideas for research thus may occur at
any time and place for a researcher. Walking down a street, reading through newspapers,
watching television, etc may suggest a topic of research for an observing and curious person
(Mann, 1976).

Once a research topic comes to our mind, we should ask the following questions:

 Is it researchable?

 Is it socially significant?

 What is new about it?

 What gap will it fill?

 Is it manageable in terms of time, money, expertise and other resources? In other words,
do you have the needed resources to do the research?

 If you answer these and other related questions adequately, then you are on the right track
to conduct the research.

2. Literature Review

This step involves familiarizing or orienting you with the concepts, theories and the works
already done pertaining to the topic identified. Relevant available literature on the topic chosen
should be reviewed; we should also check out what works have already been done by others,
what gaps are remaining, what questions remain unanswered, etc.

Research work normally proceeds by reviewing earlier works on a specific research problem one
has identified.
The researcher will need to review past works on the question he or she is raising (Dooley,
1995). The traditionally dominant source for literature review has been libraries and
documentation centers where books and various references are found in card catalogued manner.
Nowadays, most libraries maintain a computerized filing system, whereby references are made
available via electronic online methods. Searching literature has become very easy, thus, with the
computerization of library sources; one can easily access them if Internet connection is available
(Rosnow and Rosenthal, 1996)

Literature review is necessitated by the fact that a researcher is probably not the first person to
develop an interest in a particular problem; and hence, he or she need to spend some time in the
library reviewing what theories and methods others have used to the topic in the past and what
findings are there (Macionis, 1997).

According to Marshal and Rossman (1989: 35), review of literature has the following four
purposes:

i. First, it demonstrates the underlying assumptions behind the general research question….

ii. Second, it demonstrates that the researcher is thoroughly knowledgeable about related
research and the intellectual traditions that surround and support the study.

iii. Third, it shows that the researcher has identified some gaps in previous research and that
the proposed study will fill a demonstrated need.

iv. And finally, the review refines and redefines the research questions and related tentative
hypotheses by embedding those questions in larger empirical traditions.

3. Hypothesis Formulation
Hypothesis is a statement that can be proved to be correct or incorrect. Hypothesis formulation
involves identifying basic research objectives and determining research questions. This should be
tested empirically. We put some guiding assumptions to the research in this step. We ask some
basic research questions. However, we may note that this may not be always the case. The type
of research may determine whether

4. Selections and Designing of Methods of Data Collection

Here the researcher determines data collection methods and prepares data collection instruments.
He/she chooses from among the different data collection methods. There are generally two
categories of methods: Quantitative methods and qualitative methods. Quantitative methods
focus on measuring quantity of information: terms such as prevalence, scope, percentage,
frequency, magnitude, etc are very important. On the other hand, qualitative methods focus on
depth and quality of information. The complex, detailed and sensitive aspects; belief, attitudinal
and knowledge dimensions etc are usually studied by qualitative methods.

5. Conducting Data Gathering Activity

This is the step in which the researcher engages in collecting the needed data by using the
various methods and instruments. The researcher goes to the field and collects the data. He/ she
trains data collectors, supervises the overall data collection process, and so on.

Data collected thus may be of two types: primary and secondary data. Primary data are
firsthand and original information; the researcher firsthand collects them. They are collected by
the sociology themselves during their own research using research tools such as experiment,
survey, questionnaire, interviews and observation (Chapman, 2000). On the other hand,
secondary data are those which are already collected by someone else found in various sources
as documents or archives.

They include: official statistical documents, mass media sources (such as electronic media –
radio, television, films, etc; and print media such as newspapers, magazines, journals, posters,
brochures, leaflets, sign broads, etc.)
Some of the methods of data collection in sociology include:

6. Data Organization, Analysis, Interpretation, and Report Writing

The most challenging task is how to manage, handle, store and arrange the raw data as cautiously
as possible. Data may get lost, if not handled well. The researcher here carefully stores the data,
manages them, organizes and systematically arranges.

Various ways of analyzing data are used both in qualitative and quantitative methods (Henslin
and Nelson, 1995). For quantitative data researchers use sophisticated statistical techniques using
computer models. Plans for data analysis are often made as early before the data are collected
(Mann, 1976).

Analysis of qualitative data also actually begins while the researcher is in the field recording his/
her field notes, tape recording and transcribing the interviews.

Tape-recording the interview process and transcribing are the essential components of analysis
(Jones 1995).

In analyzing the data, the researcher must distinguish between his own views and the views of
the people being studied (Scupin and DeCorse, 1995). There are many possible analytic schemes
and some computer models for analyzing qualitative data are also available.

After the data are entered into a computer for easy processing, tabulation, and analysis, the
researcher interprets the data and writes up the findings. The hypotheses are tested, comparisons
are made with similar kinds of studies conducted elsewhere or done before, conclusions are
drawn, and recommendations are made, depending on the type of research, such as basic or
applied.

7. Dissemination of Research Findings

REFERENCES

Basavanthappa, B. T. (2007). Nursing Research (2 nd). Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers LTD:
New Delhi

Burns, R (1997). Introduction to research methods, Addison Wesley Longman: Melbourne.

Funnell, R. (1996). A Handbook for Research in Vocational Education, (ed.) NCVER, Adelaide

Ghosh, B.N. (1992). Scientific Method and Social Research. Sterling Publishers Private Limited:
New Delhi.

Green, J. and Brown, J. (2005). Principles of Social Research: Understanding Public Health.
Open University Press: Bechshire.

Homan, R. (1991). The Ethics of Social Research, Longman, London

Padgett, D.R. (1998). Qualitative Methods in Social Work Research: Challenges and Rewards.
Sage Publications, Inc: California.