6.

b Research Process

 Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry

out research and the desired sequencing of these steps.
 The various steps involved in a research process are not mutually exclusive; nor
they are separate and distinct.
 They do not necessarily follow each other in any specific order.
 However, the following order concerning various steps provides a useful procedural
guideline regarding the research process:
1. Formulating the research problem
2. Extensive literature survey
3. Development of working hypotheses
4. Preparing the research design
5. Determining sample design
6. Collecting the data
7. Execution of the project
8. Analysis of data
9. Hypothesis-testing
10. Generalizations and interpretation
11. Preparation of the report or the thesis

1. Formulating the research problem:

 The researcher must firstly decide the general area of interest.
 Formulating the research problem involves understanding the problem
thoroughly and stating the same in meaningful terms from an analytical point
of view.
 Initially the problem may be stated in a broad general way and then the
ambiguities relating to the problem can be resolved.
 Then, the feasibility of a particular solution is considered before the
formulation of the problem is set up.
2. Extensive literature survey:
 Once the problem is formulated the researcher should undertake extensive
literature survey connected with the problem.
 For this purpose, academic journals, conference proceedings, books, government
reports, published or unpublished bibliographies etc.. are to be referred.
 The earlier studies, if any, which are similar to the study in hand should be carefully
studied.
3. Development of working hypotheses:
  After extensive literature survey, researcher should state the working hypothesis or
hypotheses.
 Working hypothesis is a tentative assumption made in order to test its logical or
empirical consequences.
 Hypothesis should be very specific and limited to the piece of research in hand
because it has to be tested.
Developing a working hypotheses:
(a) Discussions with colleagues and experts about the problem.
(b) Examination of data and records concerning the problem.
(c) Review of similar studies in the area.
(d) Investigation involving original field interviews with interested parties .
Some problems do not need working hypotheses, specially in the case of exploratory or
formulative researches the hypothesis.
4. Preparing the research design:
The function of research design is to provide relevant evidence with minimal expenditure
and effort.
The preparation of the research design involves:
(i) the means of obtaining the information
(ii) the availability and skills of the researcher and his staff (if any)
(iii) Organization of information
(iv) time available for research
(v) finance available for the research.
5. Determining sample design:
A sample design is a definite plan determined before any data are actually collected for
obtaining a sample from a given population.
Thus, the plan to select 12 of a city’s 200 drugstores in a certain way constitutes a sample
design.
The important sample designs are as follows:
(i) Deliberate sampling:
It is also known as purposive or non-probability sampling.
It involves deliberate selection of particular units from the population.
(ii) Simple random sampling:
It is also known as chance sampling or probability sampling where each and every item in
the population has an equal probability of inclusion.
(iii) Systematic sampling: Sometimes it is practical to pick every nth element on a list.
Sampling of this type is known as systematic sampling.
(iv) Stratified sampling: If the population is non-homogeneous, then stratified sampling
technique is applied. In this technique, the population is stratified into a number of
nonoverlapping subpopulations or strata and sample items are selected from each stratum.
(v) Quota sampling:
Quota samples are non-probability samples which are generally judgement samples rather
than random samples.
(vi) Cluster sampling and area sampling: Cluster sampling involves grouping the
population and then selecting the groups or the clusters rather than individual elements for
inclusion in the sample.
Under area sampling we first divide the total area into a number of smaller non-
overlapping
areas, then a number of these smaller areas are randomly selected and all units in these
small areas are included in the sample.
(vii) Multi-stage sampling: This is meant for big inquiries extending to a considerably
large geographical area like an entire country.
In this, the first stage may be to select large primary sampling units such as states, then
districts, then towns and finally certain families within towns.
(viii) Sequential sampling: The size of the sample is not fixed in advance but is
determined according to mathematical decisions on the basis of information yielded as
survey progresses.
6. Collecting the data:
Primary data can be collected through experiment or through
survey. In an experiment, the researcher records some
observations.
In the case of a survey, data can be collected by observation, personal interview, telephone
interviews, mailing questionnaires or Through trained enumerators
7. Execution of the project:
The researcher should see that the project is executed in a
systematic manner and in time.
8. Analysis of data:
The analysis of data involves coding, tabulation and then drawing statistical inferences.
9. Hypothesis-testing:
After analysing the data, the researcher can test the formulated hypotheses earlier.
Various tests, such as Chi square test, t-test, F-test, have been developed by statisticians
for the purpose.
Hypothesis-testing will result in either accepting the hypothesis or in rejecting it.
10. Generalisations and interpretation:
If a hypothesis is tested and upheld several times, it may be possible for the researcher to
arrive at generalisation, i.e., to build a theory.
11. Preparation of the report or the thesis:
Report should be written in concise and simple language avoiding vague expressions such
as ‘it seems,’ ‘there may be’, and the like.
The layout of the report should be as follows:
(i) the preliminary pages;
(ii) the main text
(iii) the end matter.
The preliminary pages should carry title, acknowledgements, foreword, table of contents,
list of figures, list of tables, list of graphs and charts given in the report.
The main text of the report should have:
(a) Introduction: It should contain objectives of the research, scope of the study, limitations
and explanation of the methodology adopted in accomplishing the research.

(b) Summary of findings

(c) Main report: The main body of the report should be presented in logical sequence and
broken-down into readily identifiable sections including background, methodology and
results.

(d) Conclusions

(e) Bibliography i.e., list of books, journals, reports, etc., consulted, should also be given in
the end.

8.a