Module 4

Systematic process and steps of research

• Statement of problem
• Review of concepts and theories and presentation of observation with
a reference of previous study
• Formulation of hypothesis
• Design the course and methods of research
• Data collection
• Data analysis and testing of hypothesis
• Interpretation of data and generalization and conclusion
• Preparation of report and its submission
before the 10th plan of ugc synopsis of
research plan has the following
• 1.The problem to be investigated
• 2.objectives of the study
• 3.Hypothesis
• 4.Research design and methodology
• 5.Tools to be used in collection of data
• 6.significance of study
• 7.its relevance to present day problem and needs of the society and
country
• 8.its contribution to knowledge
In 10th plan ugc revised the requirement as
follows
• 1.project title
• 2.Introduction
• Origin of research problem
• Review of literature and development in the subject
-International status
-National status
-Significance of study
3.Objectives
4.Methodology
5.Year wise plan of work and targets to achieve
6.Details of collaboration , if any intended
Research proposal
• 7.Research Methodology
a)coverage-proposal should clearly indicate the universe of the
study , sampling frame, sampling methods , sampling size , units of
observation etc.
b)Data collection –should indicate sources of data, types of data
and techniques for data collection of various categories of
proposed data
c) Data analysis –it should indicate the statistical techniques if any
for proposed data
8.References –should include the list of references along with important additions to
the literature on the theme . The references should indicate the author,
title ,publisher and year of publication.
Topic Selection Considerations
• Personal interest;Organizational support;Ethical issues;Relevance of the study;Contribution to the
field;Time constraints; scope;Economic factors
• Criteria
• Topic of research selected should be within the range of resources and time
• Data should be accessible
• Selected problem should have a solution
• Research methodology should be manageable and understandable
• Interest in the problem as well as selected topic should be within the range of researcher’s
knowledge and skill
• Should have enough variables
• Selected problem should be of theoretical importance fill the gap of literature
• Solution of the problem should be practical enhance and broaden researcher’s knowledge as well
as skills.
Possible sources of problem
• Existing theory
• Existing literature-Journals, books, and dissertations in
your field
• Discussion with experts
• Previous research study-Recommendations about future
research
• Replication
• Media
• Online library services
• Conferences, workshops, presentations
Why the Research Problem Is Important

• It establishes the importance of the topic.

• It creates reader interest.
• It focuses the reader’s attention on how the study will add to the
literature.
Stating the Research Problem
• State the problem in the opening paragraph (i.e., something that
needs a solution)
• Identify an issue
• –Research-based research problems
• –Practical problems
• Reference the problem using the literature
• Common pitfall: defining the problem based on the solution
How the Problem Differs From Other Parts of Research
• A research problem is an educational issue or problem in the study.
• A research topic is the broad subject matter being addressed in a
study.
• A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study.
• Research questions are those that the researcher would like answered
or addressed in the study.
Justifying the Importance of the Research
Problem
• Justification based on what other researchers have found
• Justification based on personal or workplace experiences
• Justification based on the experiences that others have had in the
workplace
Locating the Research Problem
• Read the opening paragraphs of existing studies for one or more of
the following:
• –What is the issue or problem?
• –What controversy leads to the need for a study?
• –What concern is being addressed behind the study?
• –Is there a sentence such as, “The problem being addressed in this
study is…”?
Determining Whether a Problem Should Be Researched
• Can you study the problem?
• –Do you have access to the research site?
• –Do you have the time, resources, and skills to carry out the research?
• Should you study the problem?
• –Does it advance knowledge?
• –Does it contribute to practice?
• Will your study fill a gap or void in the existing literature?
• Will your study replicate a past study but examine different participants and different
research sites?
• Will your study extend past research or examine the topic more thoroughly?
• Will your study give voice to people not heard, silenced, or rejected in society?
Formulating the research problem
• 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 for study, i.e., 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.
• Concern or issue •A problem •Something that needs a solution-A research problem is a
statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved upon, a difficulty to be
eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice
that points to the need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation. In some
social science disciplines the research problem is typically posed in the form of one or more
questions
• Essentially two steps are involved in formulating the research problem, viz., understanding
the problem thoroughly, and rephrasing the same into meaningful terms from an analytical
point of view.
Statement of problem
• Description of an issue currently need to be addressed
• It provides the context for the research and generates the
questions which researcher aims to answer
• It should be accompanied by a few paragraphs that elaborate on
the problem and various paragraphs that synthesise and
evaluate past related studies , leading to the identification of the
gap in literature
• Problem is something to be solved or framed as a question
raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution or explained as a
source of perplexity , distress or cause of worry .Thus research
problem is something that needs to be investigated .
Statement of Problem
• Topic- Subject area
• Research Problem –
• a . Include explicit statement of significance specific to the topic studied.
• b. Why is it important to conduct the study?
• c. This section will probably not be very long but it should be very powerful!
• d. What theoretical/practical reasons are there for wanting to know the
answers to the research questions?
• Justification for Research Problem-•Evidence from the literature •Evidence
from practical experience
• Deficiencies in the Evidence-•In this body of evidence what is missing or what
do we need to know more about?
• Relating the Discussion to Audiences-•How will addressing what we need to
know help researchers, educators, policy makers, and other individuals?
Statement of problem should include
• Context –facts or details about the problem from literature or previous
research which helps to understand the dimensions of the problem
• Significance –Why is it a problem ? Who is affected by it ? Who cares ?
• Gap –in knowledge between what we know( past studies ) and what we
don’t know. Gaps are the areas or issues yet to be focused on or missing
links that are required to justify the study.
• Purpose –Why its importance to study this gap
• Statement of the problem need not be long,but powerful enough to
emphasize the relevance of the study
What is an objective
• Objective is the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed
to be attainable) . Structurally, the objectives are seen as small
particles which constitute the problem
• Why develop Research Objectives?
• To Focus the study (narrowing it down to essentials);
• To Avoid the collection of data which are not strictly necessary for
understanding and solving the problem we have identified
• To Organize the study in clearly defined parts or phases.
• Properly formulated, specific objectives will facilitate the
development of our research methodology and will help to orient the
collection, analysis, interpretation and utilization of data.
Research objective
• Research objectives are derived from the purpose.
• They set out what is to be achieved in a research study in specific terms.
• They are crucial in any research since they determine the kind of
questions and procedures to be used in data collection, and analysis. In
stating objectives, just like in purpose of the study, non-biased verbs
should be used.
• To determine, to find out, to investigate, to examine, to explore, to test,
to establish, to differentiate, to inquire, to compare etc.
• The objectives of a research project summarize what is to be achieved
by the study and they should be closely related to the statement of the
problem.
In formulating objectives, care must be taken specifically to:
• 1) State the objectives that are clear, well written and precise
• 2) Make objectives specific, significant, realistic, and achievable
• 3) Ensure that objectives flow logically from the statement of need
and address the problem.
• 4) Make objectives fall within the range of results, which are expected
to be achieved within the limit of time, money and human resources
available
• 5) State the objectives as far as possible in terms, which allow
measurements or at least observation of their achievement
• 6) Objectives should be hierarchical and/or chronological
Types of research objectives:
• 1. Broad/main objective (aims of study);2. Specific objectives(sub-objectives)
• Broad/main objective(General objective )
• − States what is to be achieved by the study in general terms.
• − The main objective is an overall statement of the thrust of your study.
• − It is also a statement of the main associations and relationships that you seek to discover or establish.
• − Usually only one per study −
• Related to core problem and topic of the study Shows target population and place.
• Specific objectives (sub-objectives)
• − Describe the variables that are measured by the study.
• − The sub-objectives are some specific aspects of the topic that you want to investigate within
the main framework of your study.
• − Several in one study
Importance of research objectives
• Achievement of research aim provides answer to the research
question.
• − Research objectives divide research aim into several parts and
address each part separately.
• − Moreover, research aim specifies WHAT needs to be studied and
research objectives comprise a number of steps that address HOW
research aim will be achieved.
• − As a rule of dumb, there would be one research aim and several
research objectives to facilitate the achievement of this aim.
Study population
• The study objectives provide clarification regarding which group the
research findings can be applied to or for which group the findings
can be generalized. In study, this kind of group is called a population.
some researchers use the word ‘universe’ in place of ‘population’, but
there is a minute difference between these two.
• Population refers to the set or group of all the units on which the
findings of the research are to be applied.
• Universe refers to the set of all the units, which possess a variable
characteristic under study.
Types of population
• Finite and Infinite Population
• The population in which number of units is finite and can be counted precisely, is called finite
population. The following are some examples of the same.Eg:- Population of the students who
appeared in S. S. C. Exam in Gujarat in March 2017.
• The population, in which the number of units is infinite and cannot be counted is called
infinite population.
• If all the units of population are identical or similar in terms of certain characteristic/s, it is
called homogeneous population.
• If all the units of population differ completely or in some aspects with one another, the
population is called heterogeneous population.
• If the units of population have physical existence, it is called existent population. Finite and
existent populations can be considered as alternative of each other in most of the cases.
• The population, units of which do not have physical existence but their existence is assumed
or probability of their existence is found by statistical method is called hypothetical
population. Such population is also known as statistical population.
Operational definition
• An operational definition allows the researchers to describe in a
specific way what they mean when they use a certain term.
• Generally, operational definitions are concrete and measurable.
• Defining variables in this way allows other people to see if the
research has validity.
• A thorough description of the technical phrases and measures used
during data gathering is referred to as an operational definition of
terms. The purpose of this is data standardization.
• Anytime data is being gathered, it is imperative to specify the data
collection process in detail.