Lecture 2 & 3: HCBA 3112/HEPM 3106: Business research Methods/Research Methods in

Project Management:
Prof P.K. Njenga
19th September 2024.

Research problem:

The first and foremost stage in the research process is to select and properly define the research
problem. A research problem is a specific issue, difficulty, contradiction, or gap in knowledge
that a researcher aims to address through their study. It provides the foundation for
research, guiding the direction of inquiry and determining what data needs to be collected.
A well-defined research problem ensures the study remains focused and meaningful, addressing
relevant questions and contributing to existing knowledge. In general, a research problem refers to
a difficulty or an unanswered question that a researcher might encounter in the context of either a
theoretical or practical situation, which he/she would like to answer or find a solution to.
According to Kothari (2019), a research problem is generally said to exist when the following
conditions emerge:
1. There is a Gap in Knowledge: A research problem exists when there is a noticeable gap
between what is currently known and what needs to be known. This gap in knowledge
creates the need for investigation and inquiry.
2. An Unresolved Issue or Question: A research problem arises when a specific issue or
question has not been adequately addressed or solved. This could be due to conflicting
evidence, lack of understanding, or incomplete research in a particular area.
3. Practical Difficulties or Challenges: A problem exists if there is a practical difficulty or
challenge in a specific context, such as societal, industrial, or technological issues, which
needs to be resolved. This creates an opportunity for research to provide solutions.
4. Contradictory or Conflicting Findings: A research problem can emerge when there are
conflicting or contradictory findings in the existing body of literature. This inconsistency
indicates the need for further study to resolve the differences.
5. Change in Social or Technological Context: When changes occur in social, economic,
political, or technological contexts, new problems may arise that demand research

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 attention. For example, a new technology might create unforeseen challenges that require
investigation.
6. Theoretical Development: A problem exists when there is a lack of theoretical
development in a particular field. Researchers may identify the need to develop or refine
theories to explain observed phenomena or to better understand a specific issue.
Other conditions that should be met for a research problem to exist are:
i. There should be an individual or an organization, say X, to whom the Problem can be attributed.
The individual or the organization is situated in an environment Y, which is governed by certain
uncontrolled variables Z;

ii. There should be at least two or more courses of action to be pursued to address the issue at hand.
If there is only one course of action that can be pursued to address the problem, we are dealing
with a management problem and not a research problem

iii. There should be a perceived difference or discrepancy between what it is

and what it should be.

v. The reason(s) for this difference should be unclear (so that it makes sense to
develop a research question); and

vi. There should be more than one possible and plausible answer to the question (or
solution to the problem).

NB: If the answer to the research question is obvious, we are dealing with a management
problem that may be solved without further research (examples). These conditions help
researchers recognize the existence of a problem that requires structured inquiry and
scientific investigation to be properly understood and potentially solved.

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Examples:
Example 1:
Problem situation: In sub-county Y, a report showed that in the first month of the year, there were
500 children who enrolled in Grade one but at the end of the year, it was found out that there were
only 25 children who were still actively attending school.

Discrepancy: All the 500 children in sub-county Y should be attending school but only 5% of
those enrolled are still in school.

Problem (research) question: Why only 5% of the children are the ones still enrolled in school

Definite answer: Out of 10 schools in sub-county Y, one school was functioning, the rest were
closed due to insecurity in the area.
In the above example, assuming that all given facts are true, there is no need of undertaking
a research, since a definite answer is obtained to the problem situation.

Example 2:
Problem situation: In town Y with a salaried population of 150,000, there are 5 banks and 10
saccos and all of them function smoothly. However, at the end of the year, it was found out that
residents saving their monies in these institutions were only 10%.

Discrepancy: Why only 10% were utilizing the banking facilities

Problem (research question): What factors influence low adoption of the banking facilities

Possible answers:
 Illiteracy
 Low wages
 High bank charges
 Insecurity

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Thus, the above problem situation is researchable
Exercise:

In a certain rural town (Population 100,000), sanitary conditions are very poor (only 5% of
households have latrines) and diseases connected with poor sanitation are very common. The
ministry of health has initiated a sanitation project that aims at increasing the number of households
with latrines by 20% each year. The project provides materials and the population should provide
labour. Two years later, less than half of the target has been reached.
State the discrepancy, research question and the possible answers. Is this problem situation
researchable?

Other Researchable Problem situations:

1. Influence of competitive strategies on organizational performance of Kenya commercial
banks (Strategic management).
2. Influence of career development on service delivery in the public sector in Kenya (HRM)
3. Factors affecting effective implementation of strategic plans in non-governmental
organizations in Kenya (HRM)
4. Influence of Human Resource Strategies on Retention of Employees in Universities in
Kenya (HRM)
5. Effect of Islamic Banking on Financial performance of Commercial Banks in Mombasa
County (Finance).
6. Adoption of E-commerce by state owned enterprises in Kenya – A case study of Kenya
Power & Lighting Company Ltd (MBA)
7. Factors influencing growth of deposit taking saccos in Nairobi county (MBA)
8. Penetration rate of general insurance services in Nairobi County, Kenya (MBA)
9. Influence of low cost building materials on housing projects in reduction of housing deficits
in Nairobi County, Kentya (project management)
10. Factors influencing success of county water projects – A case study of Kiambu County,
Kenya (project Management)
11. Influence of stakeholder activities on implementation of rural road projects in Machakos
County (Project Management)

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 12. Entrepreneurial determinants of performance of coffee based micro and small
agribusinesses of the coffee small holders in Muranga County (Doctor of philosophy,
Entrepreneurship)
A practical Example:
A simple research problem in business administration could be:

"The Impact of Employee Engagement on Organizational Performance in Small and

Medium Enterprises (SMEs)."

This research problem aims to explore the relationship between how engaged employees are with
their work and how well the organization performs in terms of profitability, productivity, and
customer satisfaction. Key questions might include:

1. What factors contribute most to employee engagement in SMEs?

2. How does employee engagement directly or indirectly influence key performance
metrics (e.g., revenue, customer retention)?
3. Are SMEs with higher levels of employee engagement more likely to experience
growth compared to those with lower engagement?
4. What engagement strategies are most effective in boosting organizational
performance in SMEs?

This problem is particularly relevant for businesses looking to optimize workforce motivation
and its direct effect on business success.

Sources of Research Problems

Research problems can arise from a variety of sources, helping researchers identify issues or gaps
that need investigation. Here are the main sources of research problems:
1.Literature Review:
o Existing literature is a critical source of research problems. By reviewing published
studies, books, articles, and reports, researchers can identify gaps, inconsistencies,
or areas needing further exploration.
o Unresolved Issues: Many studies highlight limitations or unresolved issues that can
serve as the foundation for new research.
o Contradictory Findings: Conflicting results from different studies can point to
problems needing clarification.

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2.Personal or Professional Experience:
o Everyday experiences or professional challenges can spark the identification of
research problems.
o Practitioners in various fields, such as education, healthcare, engineering, or
business, often encounter practical problems that require investigation to find better
solutions.
3.Social Issues and Trends:
o Changes or emerging trends in society, such as technological advancements,
political shifts, or evolving social norms, can create new research problems.
o Examples include issues like climate change, economic inequality, public health
crises, or shifts in consumer behavior.
4.Policy Gaps and Government Reports:
o Policy documents, government reports, and legislative changes may expose areas
that require further research to guide decision-making or improve policy
implementation.
o Research in this area often focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of policies,
identifying unintended consequences, or exploring alternative solutions.
5.Theoretical Gaps:
o In some fields, there are underdeveloped or inadequately tested theories.
Researchers can identify problems by examining where theoretical frameworks are
incomplete or inadequate in explaining phenomena.
o Developing or refining theories can open avenues for extensive research.
6.Technological Developments:
o Innovations in technology can give rise to new research problems, especially when
there are questions about their impact, effectiveness, or ethical implications.
o For example, advancements in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, or renewable
energy may create research opportunities related to their use, regulation, or
consequences.
7.Conferences and Workshops:

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 o Academic conferences, seminars, and workshops are venues where researchers
present their findings and discuss challenges in their fields. These discussions often
spark ideas for new research problems.
o Researchers may also collaborate with peers to tackle problems that arise from
interdisciplinary perspectives.
8.Industry Needs:
o Industry and business organizations often face specific challenges that require
research to solve, such as improving production efficiency, understanding
consumer behavior, or developing new products.
o Collaboration between academic researchers and industry professionals can
generate problems that are both practically relevant and academically valuable.

9.Community or Client Concerns:

o Concerns raised by specific communities, clients, or stakeholders can also serve as
the basis for research. Researchers may focus on issues that directly affect certain
populations or seek to solve practical problems for particular groups.
o For example, in healthcare, patient feedback may inspire research into improving
treatments or addressing disparities in care.
10. Exploration of New Phenomena:
o Unexplored or newly discovered phenomena, whether in natural sciences, social
sciences, or humanities, can provide fertile ground for research.
o These phenomena often need explanation, understanding, or contextualization,
making them ripe for study.
Each of these sources can help researchers define problems that are relevant, feasible, and
impactful for their fields of study.

Criteria for prioritizing problems for research:

Each problem that is proposed for research has to be judged according to certain guidelines

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or criteria. There may be several ideas to choose from. Before deciding on a research topic, each
proposed topic must be compared with all other options
1. Relevance:
o The problem should be significant and relevant to the field of study or to society at
large. It should address an important issue that can contribute to advancing
knowledge or solving a real-world problem.
o Questions to consider:
 Does the problem fill a gap in existing knowledge?
 Does it address a pressing need or demand in society, industry, or a specific
field?
2. Feasibility:
o The problem should be researchable within the constraints of available resources,
time, and technical capabilities.
o Factors such as access to data, availability of necessary tools or technology, and the
researcher's skills should be considered.
o Questions to consider:
 Can the problem be investigated within the time and budget available?
 Are the required tools, equipment, or expertise accessible?
3. Novelty and Originality:
o The research problem should offer an opportunity for original contribution. It
should explore new ideas, challenge existing theories, or open new avenues of
inquiry.
o While replication studies are valuable, prioritizing problems that bring something
new to the table often enhances the significance of the research.
o Questions to consider:
 Does the problem offer something new or different from previous research?
 Will solving it challenge conventional thinking or advance current theories?
4. Impact and Implications:
o The potential impact of solving the problem should be considered. Research that
has practical applications or can influence policy, industry, or community practices
may be more valuable.

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 o Consideration should be given to whether the research results will be useful to a
wide audience or if they will have implications for practice, policy, or further
research.
o Questions to consider:
 What are the potential benefits of solving this problem?
 Who will be affected by the findings (e.g., policy makers, practitioners,
society at large)?
5. Ethical Considerations:
o Research problems should be examined for their ethical implications. The problem
must be one that can be studied without causing harm or violating ethical
guidelines.
o Some problems may not be ethical to investigate, particularly those that involve
sensitive populations, risk of harm, or violations of privacy.
o Questions to consider:
 Can the problem be investigated without violating ethical standards?
 Are participants and stakeholders protected throughout the research
process?
6. Researcher's Interest and Expertise:
o The problem should align with the researcher's own expertise and interests. Passion
and understanding of the problem can drive the quality and depth of the research.
o A strong personal or professional connection to the problem can ensure the
researcher remains motivated and engaged throughout the process.
o Questions to consider:
 Is the researcher passionate or interested in the problem?
 Does the researcher have the necessary background or experience to tackle
the problem effectively?
7. Data Availability:
o The availability of data or the potential for data collection is critical when
prioritizing research problems. If adequate and reliable data cannot be gathered, the
problem may not be suitable for investigation.

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 o Researchers should consider whether the data is already available or if it can be
obtained ethically and feasibly.
o Questions to consider:
 Are there enough data or sources available to support the research?
 Can data be collected or accessed without significant barriers?
8. Urgency and Timeliness:
o Some problems may need to be prioritized because of their timeliness or urgency.
Issues such as public health emergencies, economic crises, or emerging
technologies may demand immediate attention.
o Timely problems that are part of current societal or technological discussions may
also attract more interest and funding.
o Questions to consider:
 Is the problem urgent or time-sensitive?
 Will the relevance of the problem decrease over time if not addressed now?

9. Solvability:
o It is important that the problem be solvable or at least offer a path toward solutions.
The problem should be framed in a way that allows for the development of clear
research questions and hypotheses.
o Overly broad or complex problems may be difficult to address in a single study, so
narrowing the focus can improve the solvability of the problem.
o Questions to consider:
 Is the problem defined in a way that allows for a solution or partial solution?
 Can specific research questions or hypotheses be formulated from the
problem?
10. Political acceptability: It is advisable to research a topic that has the interest and support
of the authorities. This will facilitate the smooth conduct of the research and increases the
chance that the results of the study will be implemented.
11. Controversial subjects should not become the choice of an average researcher.

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By evaluating research problems through these criteria, researchers can ensure that they focus on
problems that are important, feasible, and impactful, maximizing the chances of conducting
meaningful and successful research.

Technique involved in defining a problem:

Defining a problem involves the task of laying down boundaries within which a researcher shall
study the problem with a predetermined objective in view. The technique involves undertaking the
following steps one after the other:

i. Statement of the problem in a general way: A pilot study can then be done especially in the
social sciences. This is because a problem stated in a general way normally has a lot of ambiguities.
A pilot study would help to narrow down the problem in operational terms.

ii. Understanding the nature of the problem: The best way of understanding the problem is to
discuss it with those who first raised it in order to find out how the problem originally came about
and with what objectives in view.

iii. Surveying the available literature: This is done to find out what data/information is available
for operational purposes. This would also help a researcher to know if there are certain gaps in the
theories applicable to the problem under study.

iv. Developing ideas through discussions: This is known as experience survey. Its done with
people knowledgeable in the area. They help the researcher sharpen his focus of attention on
specific aspects within the field.

v. Rephrasing the research problem: Finally the researcher must rephrase the research problem
into a working proposition. Through rephrasing, the researcher puts the research problem in as
specific terms as possible so that it may become operationally viable and may help in the
development of a workable hypothesis.

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Information that should be included in statement of a research problem:

 Basic description of the research problem

 Discrepancy between what is and what should be
 Its size, distribution and severity (who is affected, where, since when etc)
 An analysis of the major factors that may influence the problem and a convincing argument
that available knowledge is insufficient to answer a certain question and to update the
previous knowledge
 Brief description of any solutions that have been tried in the past, how well they have
worked and why further research is needed
 A description of the type of information expected to result from the project and how this
information will be used to solve the problem

Literature Review in research:

It’s an essential preliminary task in order to acquaint oneself with the available body of knowledge
in the area of interest. Literature review is integral part of entire research process and makes
valuable contribution to every operational step.

Purpose of literature Review:

1. Main purpose is to determine what has been done already related to the research problem being
studied. This helps to:
 Avoid unnecessary duplication
 Form the framework within which the research findings are to be interpreted
 Demonstrate his or her familiarity with the existing body of knowledge. This increases the
reader’s confidence in the researchers’ professional ability.

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2. A review of literature will reveal what strategies, procedures and measuring instruments have
been found useful in investigating the problem in question. This information helps one to avoid
mistakes that have been made by other researchers and also helps one to benefit from other
researchers’ experiences.

3. In most cases, literature review will suggest other procedures and approaches. This is very useful
information because a researcher could try out suggested approaches especially if they will
improve the research study

4. To make the researcher familiar with previous studies and thus facilitate interpretation of the
results of the study.

5. Literature review helps the researcher to limit the research problem and to define it better.

6. Literature review helps determine new approaches and stimulate new ideas.

7. Approaches that have proved futile will be reviewed through literature review. Enables
researcher to ignore such going forward

8. Recommendations from previous authors can only come to light from literature review. Such
recommendations can then be taken up by the researcher to enrich his research.

9. Literature review reveals gaps in information and where major questions still remain

Sources of Literature:

Information sources are generally categorized into three levels:

(1) primary sources, (2) secondary sources, and (3) tertiary sources.

a) Primary sources: This is a direct description of any occurrence by an individual who actually
observed or witnessed the occurrence. In research, this is the description of a research by a person

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who actually carried out the research. Review of literature of literature should be based on primary
sources as much as possible because information from secondary sources may be altered by
writers. Primary sources are original works of research or raw data without interpretation or
pronouncements that represent an official opinion or position. Included among the primary sources
are memos; letters; complete interviews or speeches (in audio, video, or written transcript formats);
laws; regulations; court decisions or standards; and most government data, including census,
economic, and labor data. Primary sources are always the most authoritative because the
information has not been filtered or interpreted by a second party. Other internal sources of primary
data are inventory records, personnel records, purchasing requisition forms, statistical process
control charts, and similar data

b). Secondary sources: Secondary sources are interpretations of primary data. Encyclopedias,
textbooks, handbooks, magazine and newspaper articles, and most newscasts are considered
secondary information sources. Indeed, nearly all reference materials fall into this category.
Internally, sales analysis summaries and investor annual reports would be examples of secondary
sources, because they are compiled from a variety of primary sources. These include any
publication written by an author who was not a direct observer or participant in the events
described.

c). Tertiary sources may be interpretations of a secondary source but generally are represented
by indexes, bibliographies, and other finding aids (e.g., Internet search engines).

NB: It is important to remember that all information is not of equal value. As the source levels
indicate, primary sources have more value than secondary sources, and secondary sources have
more value than tertiary sources.

Examples of sources of information:

1. Scholarly journals: Nowadays many journals are online. Journals provide you with the
most up- to -date information even though there is a gap of two to three years between the
completion of a research project and the publication in a journal. Properly referenced

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 journal articles will have the authors name, year of publication, title of article, title of
journal and the volume.
2. Theses and dissertations; all graduate students who wish to receive a masters or Doctor of
philosophy(Ph.D.) undertake original work which they write up as a thesis or dissertation.
3. Government documents; These include policy papers, research reports etc.
4. Papers presented in conferences. Such are normally published in conference proceedings
5. Books: These comprise a central part of any literature review. The main advantage of books
is that the material published generally is of good quality and the findings are integrated
with other research to form a coherent body of knowledge. The main disadvantage is that
the material is not completely up to date as it can take a few years between the completion
of a work and publication in the form of a book.
6. References quoted in books: The references given at the back of a relevant book may reveal
more relevant sources eg books or journals
7. International indices: these list theses and dissertations which have been written in a
particular area of specialization. It has the authors, titles and universities.
8. Abstracts: These give a list of journal articles with summaries. Abstracts will give the
name, volume and issue number of the journal where the full article can be found
9. Periodicals: Includes journals, magazines, newspapers which are published periodically
10. Grey Literature: Refers to anything written but not published eg lecture notes, papers
presented in conferences etc.
11. A handbook. A handbook is a collection of facts unique to a topic. Handbooks often include
statistics, directory information, a glossary of terms, and other data such as laws and
regulations essential to a field
12. Encyclopedias. Researchers use an encyclopedia to find background or historical
information on a topic or to find names or terms that can enhance search results in other
sources. For example, you might use an encyclopedia to find the date that Microsoft
introduced Windows and then use that date to draw more information from an index to the
time period. Encyclopedias are also helpful in identifying the experts in a field and the key
writings on any topic. One example of an encyclopedia is the Online TDM Encyclopedia
published by the Victoria Transportation Policy Institute. Another example drawn from the
area of fi nance is the Encyclopedia of Private Equity and Venture Capital, published by

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 VC Experts, Inc., a provider of expertise and opportunity in private equity and venture
capital.
13. Internet:
14. Electronic storage devices

Cited reference and bibliography:

Cited reference refer to a list of references which the researcher actually read and cited in
the text. Bibliography refers to the list of materials that were read whether they are cited or
not.
There are various ways of writing references and bibliographies. The format will depend on the
university or on the journal publishing the research work. The following are selected formats of
referencing taken from the American Psychological Association (APA) manual, one of the most
commonly used by social scientists.
The following examples show how to reference different sources of information using APA
referencing format:
1. Journal article-one author: Njenga, P. (2024). Business Research Methods. Journal of
International Business, 20. 300 – 320.
2. Journal article- more than two authors: Njenga, P, Omondi, W & Kosgey, L.K (2024).
Ethic in Business research. International Journal of Business Ethics, 22. 100-120.
3. Paper presented at a conference: Njenga, P.K. (2024). Research Methods. Paper presented
at Business Research Symposium, Nairobi, Kenya, May 2022.
4. Newspaper article: Njenga, P.K. (February 1st 2024). Business Ethics. The Daily Nation pp
20.

Tips on good reviewing of Literature:

1. Do not conduct a hurried review for fear of overlooking important studies
2. Do not rely too heavily on secondary sources
3. Many people concentrate only on findings from journals when reviewing literature. One
should also read about the methodology used and the measurement of variables
4. Its important to check daily newspapers as they contain very educative current information

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 5. Its extremely important to copy references correctly in the first place so as to avoid the
frustration of trying to retrace a reference later.

Evaluating Information Sources:

A researcher using secondary sources, especially if drawn from the Internet, will want to conduct
a source evaluation. Researchers should evaluate and select information sources based on five
factors that can be applied to any type of source, whether printed or electronic. These are:

• Purpose —the explicit or hidden agenda of the information source.

• Scope —the breadth and depth of topic coverage, including time period, geographic limitations,
and the criteria for information inclusion.
• Authority —the level of the data (primary, secondary, tertiary) and the credentials of the source
author(s).
• Audience —the characteristics and background of the people or groups for whom the source was
created.
• Format —how the information is presented and the degree of ease of locating specific
information within the source.

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Lecture 3:

Research Process

Overview of the Research Process

The research process is a systematic approach used to address a research problem or question. It
involves a series of steps, from identifying the research problem to reporting the findings. Below
is an overview of the key stages in the research process:
1. Identifying the Research Problem
 Description: The first step in the research process is to clearly define and identify the
research problem or question. This involves recognizing a gap in existing knowledge or an
issue that requires investigation.
 Key Considerations:
o Is the problem relevant and significant?
o Can the problem be addressed with research?
o Is the problem well-defined and researchable?
2. Review of Literature
 Description: A literature review involves gathering and analyzing existing research related
to the problem. This helps in understanding what is already known, what methods have
been used, and what gaps remain.
 Purpose:
o Avoid duplicating previous research.
o Identify potential frameworks, models, or theories that can guide the research.
o Discover research methodologies and approaches used in similar studies.
 Outcome: A comprehensive literature review helps refine the research problem and
provides context for the study.

3. Formulating Research Questions and Hypotheses

 Description: Based on the problem and literature review, the researcher formulates
specific research questions or hypotheses. These guide the direction of the study.
 Key Aspects:

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 o Research Questions: Open-ended questions that the research aims to answer.
o Hypotheses: Testable statements predicting the relationship between variables.
 Examples:
o Research Question: What factors influence consumer behavior in online shopping?
o Hypothesis: Increased product reviews lead to higher sales in online stores.

4. Developing the Research Design

 Description: The research design is the blueprint for conducting the study. It outlines the
methodology, data collection techniques, and analysis methods.
 Key Types of Research Design:
o Descriptive Research: Describes characteristics or phenomena.
o Experimental Research: Tests causal relationships between variables.
o Exploratory Research: Investigates new or unclear topics.
o Correlational Research: Studies the relationships between variables without
manipulating them.
 Considerations:
o Quantitative or qualitative approach?
o How will data be collected and analyzed?

5. Sampling and Data Collection

 Description: In this phase, the researcher decides on the sample size and population for
the study and collects data accordingly.
 Key Aspects:
o Sampling: The process of selecting participants or units from a population.
 Probability Sampling: Random selection, where each member of the
population has an equal chance of being selected.
 Non-probability Sampling: Non-random selection based on certain
criteria.
o Data Collection Methods:
 Surveys/Questionnaires: Structured tools for gathering data from
respondents.

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  Interviews: Open-ended or semi-structured dialogues with participants.
 Experiments: Controlled studies that manipulate variables to observe
effects.
 Observations: Systematically recording behaviors or phenomena.
o Key Considerations: Ensure data collection methods align with research
objectives and ethical standards are upheld (informed consent, confidentiality, etc.).
6. Data Analysis and Interpretation
 Description: After collecting data, the researcher analyzes it to extract meaningful insights
and answer the research questions.
 Types of Data Analysis:
o Quantitative Analysis: Statistical methods used to analyze numerical data (e.g.,
regression, ANOVA).
o Qualitative Analysis: Non-numerical analysis used to interpret themes, patterns,
or narratives (e.g., content analysis, thematic analysis).
 Key Steps:
o Organize and clean the data.
o Apply appropriate statistical tests or analytical methods.
o Interpret the results in the context of the research problem and literature.
 Outcome: The data analysis helps to confirm or reject hypotheses and provides answers to
the research questions.
7. Formulating Conclusions and Recommendations
 Description: Based on the analysis, conclusions are drawn about the research problem.
The researcher reflects on the significance of the findings and their implications.
 Key Considerations:
o Were the hypotheses supported or rejected?
o How do the findings contribute to existing knowledge or theory?
o What are the practical applications of the research?
o Are there limitations that need to be addressed?
 Recommendations: The researcher may suggest future research directions or practical
recommendations based on the study's outcomes.

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8. Reporting and Presenting the Research
 Description: The final step involves documenting the research process and findings in a
formal report, thesis, or journal article. It may also include presenting the results at
conferences or seminars.
 Key Components of a Research Report:
o Introduction: Outlines the research problem, objectives, and significance.
o Literature Review: Summarizes existing knowledge and research gaps.
o Methodology: Describes the research design, data collection, and analysis
techniques.
o Results: Presents the findings of the study.
o Discussion: Interprets the results in relation to the research questions and
hypotheses.
o Conclusion: Summarizes the key insights and their implications.
 Presentation: Research findings can be communicated through academic publications,
posters, presentations, or policy briefs.
9. Evaluation and Reflection
 Description: After completing the research, it is important to reflect on the entire process
to identify strengths, weaknesses, and lessons learned.
 Key Questions:
o Was the research question fully addressed?
o Were the methods appropriate for the research problem?
o What could be improved in future studies?
o Were there any unexpected challenges or findings?
Conclusion:
The research process is systematic and designed to guide researchers from the initial identification
of a problem through to the final reporting of results. Each step is crucial for ensuring that the
research is thorough, valid, and meaningful. By following this process, researchers can contribute
valuable knowledge to their field and help solve complex problems.

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