Wolkite Poly Technique College

Department of Information Technology

Basic Research Methods in IT
Chapter Three
The Research Process

Chapter objectives:
At the end of this chapter you/students will able to:-
 Understand and know the main steps in research process.
 Know how to follow the procedures in each phase for research/study.
 Understand different methods/techniques in each phase for the study.

Chapter outlines
 Introduction
 Research process
 Steps in research process
 Guidelines of research process

Introduction
3.1 Major Steps in the Research Process:

 In order to have proper research work, every research project has to have research problem identified.
The research process will consist of particular objective which should be clearly stated and there
should be a hypothesis which has to be proceeding right or wrong. In addition to this each research
project will have research design which indicates as to how required data will be collected, analyzed and
interpreted.
 It is necessary to understand that there is no specific sequence or established order in which research
work is carried out. Therefore in research process there are certain guidelines regarding steps involved in
research work.
 The stages in research process are listed as, selecting research problems and stating of hypothesis,
formulating of research design, collecting, analyzing and interpreting of data.
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  Research process consists of series of actions or steps necessary to effectively carry out research and the
desired sequencing of these steps.

The chart shown in Figure 1.1 well illustrates a research process.

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) Developing the hypothesis;
(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, and

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 (11) Preparation of the report or presentation of the results, i.e., formal write-up of conclusions
reached.
A brief description of the above stated steps will be helpful.
1) Formulating the research problem:
o The research problem relates to statement of problem and relationship between two
variables under study. Research has to identify the problem first and later on it’s required to
single out the problem.
This will give scope to researcher to decide general area of interest or subject matter of that researcher
who has no knowledge about subject matter will not be in a position to collect and analyze data.
Therefore researcher is supposed to have proper knowledge of later stages before be perform the earlier
stages. Research process is system of interdependent related stages.

There are two types of research problems, viz., those which relate to states of nature and those which
relate to relationships between variables. At the very outset the researcher must single out the problem he
wants to study, i.e., he/she must decide the general area of interest or aspect of a subject-matter that he
would like to inquire into. Initially the problem may be stated in a broad general way and then the
ambiguities, if any, relating to the problem be resolved. Then, the feasibility of a particular solution has to
be considered before a working formulation of the problem can be set up. The formulation of a general
topic into a specific research problem, thus, constitutes the first step in a scientific enquiry.

2) Extensive literature survey:

o Research cannot be conducted without reviewing of existing literature may be conceptual or
empirical in nature.
o Conceptual literature is concerned with concept on theories
o Empirical literature is concerned with earlier studies of similar nature already conducted.
This review of existing studies provides base to understand how to plan for the study.
Once the problem is formulated, a brief summary of it should be written down. It is compulsory
for a research worker writing a thesis for a Ph.D. degree to write a synopsis of the topic and
submit it to the necessary Committee or the Research Board for approval. At this juncture the
researcher should undertake extensive literature survey connected with the problem. For this
purpose, the abstracting and indexing journals and published or unpublished bibliographies are
the first place to go to. Academic journals, conference proceedings, government reports, books
etc
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 3) Development of working hypotheses:
o After the formation of the research problem and reviewing of the available existing literature
now hypothesis is required to be explained by the researcher. The normal assumptions which are
the base of the study which may be tentative in nature are considered as hypothesis.
Working hypothesis is tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or
empirical consequences. As such the manner in which research hypotheses are developed is
particularly important since they provide the focal point for research. They also affect the manner in
which tests must be conducted in the analysis of data and indirectly the quality of data which is
required for the analysis. In most types of research, the development of working hypothesis plays
an important role. Hypothesis should be very specific and limited to the piece of research in hand
because it has to be tested.
4) Preparing the research design:
o The research design is prepared by the research after the formulation of research problem,
reviewing of literature and developing of hypothesis. If is an outline on a conceptual
structure within its limit research work is supposed to be carried on. The research design is
prepared with an object of collecting relevant data with the minimum efforts and with minimum of
expenditure, just to control wasteful expenditure. The function of research design is to provide for
the collection of relevant evidence with minimal expenditure of effort, time and money. But how
all these can be achieved depends mainly on the research purpose. Research purposes may be
grouped into four categories,
o Exploration,
o Description,
o Diagnosis, and
o Experimentation.

The preparation of the research design, appropriate for a particular research problem, involves usually
the consideration of the following:
 The means of obtaining the information;
 The availability and skills of the researcher and his staff (if any);
 Explanation of the way in which selected means of obtaining information will be organized and
the reasoning leading to the selection;
 The time available for research; and
 The cost factor relating to research, i.e., the finance available for the purpose.
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 5) Determining sample design:
 The success of the research study is largely based on proper identification of the sample to
be selected for the study. The method for selecting is normally known as sample design.

All the items under consideration in any field of inquiry/investigation constitute a ‘universe’ or
‘population’. A complete enumeration of all the items in the ‘population’ is known as a census
inquiry. Hence, quite often we select only a few items from the universe for our study purposes. The
items so selected constitute what is technically called a sample.
The researcher must decide the way of selecting a sample or what is popularly known as the sample
design. In other words, a sample design is a definite plan determined before any data are actually
collected for obtaining a sample from a given population. Samples can be either probability samples
or non-probability samples. With probability samples each element has a known probability of being
included in the sample but the non-probability samples do not allow the researcher to determine this
probability.
We discuss briefly sample design methods and measurements in chapter four.
6) Collecting the data:
The data is collected as per the requirement of the study. This may be primary or
secondary in nature. If the secondary is sufficient enough to assess the research problem then
there is no necessity for primary data to be collected. As per the requirement of the research
study appropriate data is a basic need of research. This primary data can be collected by
observation, interview, questionnaire and schedule.
In dealing with any real life problem it is often found that data at hand are inadequate, and hence,
it becomes necessary to collect data that are appropriate. There are several ways of collecting the
appropriate data which differ considerably in context of money costs, time and other resources at
the disposal of the researcher. Primary data can be collected either through experiment or
through survey. If the researcher conducts an experiment, he/she observes some quantitative
measurements, or the data, with the help of which he examines the truth contained in his
hypothesis. But in the case of a survey, data can be collected by any one or more of the following
ways:
(i) By observation:
This method implies the collection of information by way of investigator’s own observation,
without interviewing the respondents. The information obtained relates to what is currently
happening and is not complicated by either the past behavior or future intentions or attitudes of

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 respondents. This method is no doubt an expensive method and the information provided by this
method is also very limited. As such this method is not suitable in inquiries where large samples
are concerned.
(ii) Through personal interview:
The investigator follows a rigid procedure and seeks answers to a set of pre-conceived questions
through personal interviews. This method of collecting data is usually carried out in a structured
way where output depends upon the ability of the interviewer to a large extent.
(iii) Through telephone interviews:
This method of collecting information involves contacting the respondents on telephone itself.
This is not a very widely used method but it plays an important role in industrial surveys in
developed regions, particularly, when the survey has to be accomplished in a very limited time.
(iv)By mailing of questionnaires:
The researcher and the respondents do come in contact with each other if this method of survey
is adopted. Questionnaires are mailed to the respondents with a request to return after completing
the same. It is the most extensively used method in various economic and business surveys.
Before applying this method, usually a Pilot Study for testing the questionnaire is conduced
which reveals the weaknesses, if any, of the questionnaire. Questionnaire to be used must be
prepared very carefully so that it may prove to be effective in collecting the relevant information.
(v) Through schedules:
Under this method the enumerators are appointed and given training. They are provided with
schedules containing relevant questions. These enumerators go to respondents with these
schedules. Data are collected by filling up the schedules by enumerators on the basis of replies
given by respondents. Much depends upon the capability of enumerators so far as this method is
concerned. Some occasional field checks on the work of the enumerators may ensure sincere
work.
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, financial resources, available time
and the desired degree of accuracy. Though he should pay attention to all these factors but much
depends upon the ability and experience of the researcher. In this context Dr A.L. Bowley very
aptly remarks that in collection of statistical data commonsense is the chief requisite and
experience the chief teacher.
7) Execution of the project:

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 The project execution is very important stage in the research process. Therefore periodical and
occasional check is essential for verification of the data collected. 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.
A careful watch should be kept for unanticipated factors in order to keep the survey as much
realistic as possible. This, in other words, means that steps should be taken to ensure that the
survey is under statistical control so that the collected information is in accordance with the pre-
defined standard of accuracy. If some of the respondents do not cooperate, some suitable
methods should be designed to tackle this problem. One method of dealing with the non-
response problem is to make a list of the non-respondents and take a small sub-sample of them,
and then with the help of experts vigorous efforts can be made for securing response.

8) Analysis of data:
In research process after the data have been collected, the researcher turns to the task of
analyzing them. The analysis of data requires a number of closely related operations such as
establishment of categories, the application of these categories to raw data through coding,
tabulation and then drawing statistical inferences. The unwieldy data should necessarily be
condensed into a few manageable groups and tables for further analysis. Thus, researcher should
classify the raw data into some purposeful and usable categories.
 Coding: operation is usually done at this stage through which the 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. With coding
the stage is ready for tabulation.
 Tabulation: is a part of the technical procedure wherein the classified data are put in the
form of tables. The mechanical devices can be made use of at this juncture. A great deal
of data, especially in large inquiries, is tabulated by computers. Computers not only save
time but also make it possible to study large number of variables affecting a problem
simultaneously. Analysis work after tabulation is generally based on the computation of
various percentages, coefficients, etc., by applying various well defined statistical
formulae. In the process of analysis, relationships or differences supporting or conflicting
with original or new hypotheses should be subjected to tests of significance to determine
with what validity data can be said to indicate any conclusion.
9) Hypothesis-testing:

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 It is only after the analyzing data, researcher can go further in testing of his/her hypothesis in
which he can ascertain the fact to support or disagree with the hypothesis.
Do the facts support the hypotheses or they happen to be contrary? This is the usual question
which should be answered while testing hypotheses. 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) Generalizations and interpretation:
After hypothesis is tested than researcher can go further for drawing of general inferences so that
he can arrive at making of statement. The ability of any research is largely based on its capacity
of making general statement.
If a hypothesis is tested and upheld several times, it may be possible for the researcher to arrive
at generalization, i.e., to build a theory. As a matter of fact, the real value of research lies in its
ability to arrive at certain generalizations. If the researcher had no hypothesis to start with, he
might seek to explain his findings on the basis of some theory. It is known as interpretation. The
process of interpretation may quite often trigger off new questions which in turn may lead to
further researches.

11) Preparation of the report or the thesis:

Report writing is final job to be done by the researcher. Research work which is conducted by
him is finally presented in form of research report.
Report must be written in systematic manner, which normally should have following parts.
o Preliminary part
o Main text of the report
o Conclusion part
o End of the report
 In its preliminary pages the report should carry title and date followed by acknowledgements
and foreword. Then there should be a table of contents followed by a list of tables and list of
graphs and charts, if any, given in the report.
 The main text of the report should have the following parts:
o Introduction: It should contain a clear statement of the objective of the research and an
explanation of the methodology adopted in accomplishing the research. The scope of the
study along with various limitations should as well be stated in this part.

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 o Summary of findings: After introduction there would appear a statement of findings and
recommendations in non-technical language. If the findings are extensive, they should be
summarized.
o Main report: The main body of the report should be presented in logical sequence and
broken-down into readily identifiable sections.
 Conclusion: Towards the end of the main text, researcher should again put down the results of his
research clearly and precisely. In fact, it is the final summing up.
 At the end of the report,
1. Appendices should be enlisted in respect of all technical data. Bibliography, i.e., list of books,
journals, reports, etc., consulted, should also be given in the end. Index should also be given
specially in a published research report.
2. Report should be written in a concise and objective style in simple language avoiding vague
expressions such as ‘it seems,’ ‘there may be’, and the like.
3. Charts and illustrations in the main report should be used only if they present the information
more clearly and forcibly.
4. Calculated ‘confidence limits’ must be mentioned and the various constraints experienced in
conducting research operations may as well be stated.

////End of Chapter Three////

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