The research process is the blue print of research project. In a research project, researcher engages himself/herself in various scientific activities in order to produce knowledge. Although each research project is unique in some ways, all projects, regardless of the phenomenon being studied, involve, by and large, some common activities. All these activities are interdependent. The research process is a system of these interrelated activities. The various activities are conveniently grouped into six stages as shown below:
Stage I : Selection and Formulation of a Problem
Stage II : Formulation of Hypothesis
Stage III : Formulation of Research Design
Stage IV : Collection of Data
Stage V : Analysis and Interpretation of Data
Stage VI : Generalizations
The stages of research are interdependent. The researcher usually enters the research process at stage I. However, when one enters second stage, one has to draw on past studies to formulate his/her hypothesis. Similarly, to select a research design the researcher has to keep in mind the problem and the hypothesis. A researcher, who has no knowledge of how to collect and analyse data, may find himself / herself unable to formulate a testable hypothesis, or formulate the research design. This brief discussion on the research process makes it very clear that each of these six stages of research process is dependent upon others.
The research process is also cyclic in nature (as shown in Figure). In fact, the research process is not complete even at the stage VI i.e. “Generalization”. The process leads to two situations: The first situation may be that the data did not support or only partially support the hypothesis. In this situation the researcher must return to the stage I. He/she, then, may decide to reformulate the problem and also hypothesis and then list it exactly as before. In the second situation, that is, even if the research is successful and the findings of stage VI confirm the hypothesis of stage II, it is advisable to repeat the study preferably with a different sample with a view to reconfirm the findings. This will also support the contention that the hypothesis cannot be rejected.
Another characteristic feature of the research process is ‘self correction’. In a situation, when the data does support or only partially support the hypothesis and the researcher has sufficient reasons to believe that the hypothesis is adequate then he/she may decide that the failure to confirm the hypothesis is due to error in selecting a sampling design or in the measurement of the key concepts or in analysis of data. In these situations, the researcher may decide to repeat the study beginning with the faulty stage after rectifying the faults. Finally, the six stages of the research process make the study potentially replicable. The researcher designs his/her study in such a way that either the researcher or others can replicate it. The replication of study substantiates the fact further that the findings are not due to mere coincidence.
The research process is the blue print of research project. In a research project, researcher engages himself/herself in various scientific activities in order to produce knowledge. Although each research project is unique in some ways, all projects, regardless of the phenomenon being studied, involve, by and large, some common activities. All these activities are interdependent. The research process is a system of these interrelated activities. The various activities are conveniently grouped into six stages as shown below:
Stage I : Selection and Formulation of a Problem
Stage II : Formulation of Hypothesis
Stage III : Formulation of Research Design
Stage IV : Collection of Data
Stage V : Analysis and Interpretation of Data
Stage VI : Generalizations
The stages of research are interdependent. The researcher usually enters the research process at stage I. However, when one enters second stage, one has to draw on past studies to formulate his/her hypothesis. Similarly, to select a research design the researcher has to keep in mind the problem and the hypothesis. A researcher, who has no knowledge of how to collect and analyse data, may find himself / herself unable to formulate a testable hypothesis, or formulate the research design. This brief discussion on the research process makes it very clear that each of these six stages of research process is dependent upon others.
The research process is also cyclic in nature (as shown in Figure). In fact, the research process is not complete even at the stage VI i.e. “Generalization”. The process leads to two situations: The first situation may be that the data did not support or only partially support the hypothesis. In this situation the researcher must return to the stage I. He/she, then, may decide to reformulate the problem and also hypothesis and then list it exactly as before. In the second situation, that is, even if the research is successful and the findings of stage VI confirm the hypothesis of stage II, it is advisable to repeat the study preferably with a different sample with a view to reconfirm the findings. This will also support the contention that the hypothesis cannot be rejected.
Another characteristic feature of the research process is ‘self correction’. In a situation, when the data does support or only partially support the hypothesis and the researcher has sufficient reasons to believe that the hypothesis is adequate then he/she may decide that the failure to confirm the hypothesis is due to error in selecting a sampling design or in the measurement of the key concepts or in analysis of data. In these situations, the researcher may decide to repeat the study beginning with the faulty stage after rectifying the faults. Finally, the six stages of the research process make the study potentially replicable. The researcher designs his/her study in such a way that either the researcher or others can replicate it. The replication of study substantiates the fact further that the findings are not due to mere coincidence.