Chapter 3

The Research Process

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The Research Process involves the following:

1. Selecting a topic
2. Formulation of the research problem
3. Literature review
4. Developing objectives and hypothesis
formulation
5. Design of Research
6. Execution of the project : Data collection,
analysis and interpretation
7. Reporting
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 Selecting a topic
– All writing begins with a topic.
– Look for a subject
• that interests you and will maintain your interest
throughout the various stages of research
• that will help you to obtain the maximum self-
development from the research project. /It
should be related with your career.
– Some preliminary reading will help to determine the
extent of your interest.
– Keep in mind the time allotted to you and the
expected length of the research paper.

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 Selecting a topic … cont’d
– You Commonly begin with fairly general topic and
then refine it by research and thought into a more
specific one.
– Try to narrow your topic by focusing on a particular
aspect of a particular approach.
– Be original as much as you can, to avoid duplicate
work on a specific topic
– Review as much Literature as possible to avoid
duplication.
– The eventual successful completion of a research
study will be seen to have depended on the selection
of an appropriate topic.
– Before beginning the project, make sure you
understand the amount and depth of research
required and the type of paper expected. 4
 Identify broad area of study

Supervisor agreed

Initial selection of topic

yes
Is the research feasible? No Can topic be
appropriately refined?
yes
Has research sufficient value? No

yes
Is there sufficient scope? No

yes
Acceptable topic 5
 Formulating the Research Problem
• The task of formulating, or defining a research problem is
a step of greatest importance in the entire research
process.

• It is important because,
– (1) It determines the data to be collected,
– (2) It determines the characteristic of the data which
are relevant,
– (3) it determines the choice of techniques to be used.,
– (4) It determines the form of the final report.

• Therefore, the researcher must single out the problem

he/she wants to study.
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 Formulating the Research Problem ….cont’d

• Decide the general area of interest or aspect of a

subject matter that you would like to inquire into.
• The best way of formulating the research problem
is
– to discuss it with colleagues
– to discuss it with those that have some experience
with the mater.
• A problem clearly stated is a problem half solved.
• Read quite a lot

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 Formulating the Research Problem ….cont’d
Some general principles in problem formulation
– Be sure the problem exists
– Learn as much as possible about the problem
to be solved
– Consider alternative formulations in case this is
not feasible;
– Be aware that the problem formulation may
influence the phenomena being studied;

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 Formulating the Research Problem ….cont’d
Evaluation of a research problem (some questions to ask):
– Is the problem in line with my goal/expectations and
the expectation of others?
– Will the solution of the problem advance knowledge?
– What is the value of potential outcome? (who are the
beneficiaries?)
– Do I possess or can I acquire the necessary skills,
abilities and background knowledge to study the
problem? (Researcher’s capability and interest)
– Will data be accessible?
– Do I have access to the necessary resources (time,
money, tools, equipments, laboratory, subjects, etc)
to conduct the investigation?
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 Research Problem  Research Questions

• Pre-Empirical Stage
– Research Area
– Literature Problem Questions
– Context
• Empirical Stage (What Hypothesis
data is required to
answer the questions?)
– Design
– Data Collection
– Data Analysis
– Answer Questions
/Test Hypothesis 10
 Literature Survey
The researcher should also examine all available literature to
get himself acquainted with the selected problem.

– May continue from beginning to end;

– It is important in defining problems and hypotheses
formulation as well as selection of methods;
– Extensive review is required to know:
• What others have done in the area?
• How did they do it?
• What were the research variables?
• How were the variables measured?
• What were the constraints?
• What could possibly be modified?
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 Literature Survey ….cont’d
• The researcher may review two types of literature
– Conceptual literature
Concerning the concepts and theories.
– Empirical literature
Consisting of studies made earlier which are
similar to the one proposed.

Basic Outcome of the review

– To understand what data and other materials are
available for operational purposes which will enable
the researcher to specify his own research problem in
a meaningful context.
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 Literature Survey ….cont’d

• Literature survey and Formulating the problem are

interrelated, since the problem will be specifically defined if
extensive literature survey is done.

• Journals, published or unpublished bibliographies Conference

proceedings, Government Reports are the 1st places to go

Remember – One Source leads to another

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 Literature Survey ….cont’d

• In summary, Literature survey is a fruitful

source of:
– Concepts
– Theories
– Evidence
– Influence how we look at a topic

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 Literature Survey ….cont’d
• The researcher has to look into the following
factors in his/her judgment on point of literature
concentration;
– Style of research;
– The overall strategy of research;
– Objectives of the proposed study;
– The nature of the substantive problem and how much
is known about it;
– The development of the literature in the area;
– The degree of desire of the study to follow the
directions established by the literature;
– The knowledge the researcher already has;
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 Literature Survey. ….cont’d
Guidelines for review of literature
The researcher should seek answers for the
following:
– What variables are known to be related to the problem?
– How have these variables been studied and described
by others?
– How have these variables been manipulated in previous
studies?
– Has research in the past on those variables used sound
methodology?

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 Developing objectives and
Working Hypothesis
– Objectives:
• Statements that indicate what a researcher intends
to accomplish in a more specific term;
– Hypothesis:
• An assertion( ግምት )about the relationship between two
or more concepts.
• Important bridges between empirical inquiry and
theory
• They indirectly determine the quality of data which
is required for the analysis.
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Developing objectives and Working Hypothesis …cont’d

Some guidelines in developing objectives:

– Objectives must be specific, concrete and
achievable statements;
– The objectives should clearly fit to the
statement of the problem
– The objectives must propose to do things as
per the capability of the design of the study.
– Objectives should be in their approximate
order of importance.
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Developing objectives and Working Hypothesis …cont’d

A hypothesis must be
– Specific
– Conceptually clear in terms of common definitions
– Testable (verification or rejection) by available
techniques and resources;
– Related to a body of theory;
– Stated to provide direction for the research;
– Formulated as causal relationships;

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Developing objectives and Working Hypothesis …cont’d

• Some examples of hypothesis

– Improved training provision will create a more productive
reliable and satisfied workforce
– Smoking and lung cancer are independent
– Income and consumption are not related

As a general rule a working hypothesis is another

basic step of the research process in most research
problems --- but may not be always necessary

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 Design of the Research
• Once the research problem is formulated and working
hypothesis developed, the researcher will be required to
prepare a research design.

• Research design refers to the arrangement of the

conditions for collection and analysis of data in a
manner that will satisfy or achieve the objectives of a
research undertaking.
• It is intended to enable the researcher to answer
questions as validly, objectively, accurately and
economically as possible;
• It provides for the collection of relevant data with
minimum effort, time and money.

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 Design of research …cont’d

– It sets up the framework for adequate tests of

relationships among study variables.
– It tells what observations to make/what
variables to measure, how to make
them/measure them, and how to analyze the
data;
– It suggests how many observations to make
and the type of statistical analysis to use;

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 Design of research …cont’d
• The preparation of the research design,
appropriate for a particular research problem,
involves usually the consideration of the
following.

• The time available for research

• the finance available for the purpose
• the availability and skills of the researcher and his
staff (if any)
• Identifying the study variables
• Identifying study subjects / experimental units,
• Planning the means of obtaining the information
and reasoning leading to selection.
• Sampling
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 Design of research …cont’d
Whatever method the researcher chooses, he/she has to
design the empirical stage (experiment /survey/observation);

Method selection
– Quantitative –vs- Qualitative methods
Or a combination of both
– Various options are available for both
quantitative or qualitative methods
The Research design will be discussed in
detailed in a separate section
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 Execution of the project
• 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.
– Data collection may involve
• Field survey / experiments
• Laboratory experiments
• Opinion poll
• Observation
• Document scanning
• Interview, etc.
– Data Analysis
• Quantitative data – quantitative figures
• Qualitative data – analytical thinking
• Hypothesis testing 25
– Generalizations and Interpretation
 Reporting
• Finally, the researcher has to prepare the report of
what has been done by him/her, in writing the report,

– Communicating to others
• Peers;
• Policy makers;
• Developers;
• Extension workers;
• General public;

– The style and content varies depending on to

whom the researcher is writing
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Summary
• Identify a broad area of study
• Select the Research topic
• Decide the approach
• Formulate the plan

• Collect the data or information

• Analyze and interpret the data
• Present the findings
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 Research Process (general)

Problem

Liter., Theory Data

Interpretation/
solution design

Research
Design Data Collection
(Qnt./Qlt./ & Analysis
Design sc.
Develop
Instrument/ 28
procedure
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 Assignment
• Title Submission
17/02/2012 EC
• Proposal Submission
10/03/2012 EC
Submit via: hagosh64@gmail.com
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Question? Welcome !
&
See You Next Lesson!

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