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Research
Methodology
MODULE 2
RESEARCH PROCESS
Objective 2
Steps Involved in research process
Phases of Research Process 3
Phase I:
Deciding what to research
Phase II:
Planning a research study
Phase IIÏ:
Conducting a research study
Phase I: 4
Deciding what to research
Step I: Formulating a research problem
Phase II: 5
Planning a research study
Step II
Conceptualising a research design
Step III
Constructing an instrument for the data collection
Step Iv
Selecting a sample
Step V
Writing a research proposal
This slide is from Module 4 – Research Designs - Design Lead should map Barclay Research Work to this design
CLASSIFICATION OF RESEARCH DESIGN:
Research design
Exploratory
research Conclusive research design
design
Causal
Descriptive research design
research
Longitudinal
Cross – sectional design
design
Single- cross Multi-cross
sectional sectional
design design
Phase IIÏ: 7
Conducting a research study
Step VI
Collecting data
Step VII
Processing and displaying data
Step VIII
Writing a research report
Phase I: Deciding what to Phase IIÏ: Conducting a research
study
research 8
Step VI
Step I: Formulating a research
Collecting data
problem
Step VII
Phase II: Planning a research Processing and displaying data
study Step VIII
Step II Writing a research report
Conceptualising a research design
Step III
Constructingan instrument for the
data collection
Step Iv
Selecting a sample
Step V
Writing a research proposal
Phase I: DECIDING what to do
Step I: Formulating a research problem
Most important step, because the following steps are influenced by the
research problem
What do you want to find out about?
Have you got sufficient funds to do the research?
Have you got the time available to conduct the study?
Have you got knowledge of relevant disciplines?
Do you have sufficient knowledge of skills needed?
Phase II: PLANNING a research study
Step II: Conceptualising a research design
What you find depends on how it was found
Select an appropriate research design:
Quantitative
Qualitative
Mixed methods
The design has to be
Valid
Workable
Manageable
Be aware of its strengths and weaknesses
Phase II: PLANNING - continued
Step III: Constructing an instrument for data collection
How will you collect your data?
Construct a research instrument or research tool to collect data (interview
schedules, questionnaires, notes on observations, diaries, interview guides,
etc.)
Or use secondary data (information already collected for other purposes)
Do a pre-testing of your research tool (pilot study)
Phase II: PLANNING – continued
Step IV: Selecting a sample
Who will take part in your research?
Select appropriate sample/participants to represent the study population
Avoid bias
Random / probability samples
Non-random / non probability samples
Be aware of strengths and weaknesses of different sampling methods
Phase II: PLANNING - continued
Step V: Writing a research proposal
Write a detailed plan about your research:
What are you proposing to do?
How you plan to proceed?
Why you select the proposed strategy?
Phase III: CONDUCTING a research study
Step VI: Collecting data
Doing the data gathering using one or more data collection method,
such as:
conducting interviews
mailing out questionnaires
conducting nominal/focus groups discussions
making an observation
Be aware of ethical issues!
Phase III: CONDUCTING - continued
Step VII: Processing and displaying data
What did you find how?
Analysing the data depends on the type of information and how to
communicate the findings
Distinguish between
Descriptive
Quantitative (statistical procedures)
Qualitative
Phase III: CONDUCTING - continued
Step VIII: Writing a research report
What have you done? What conclusions have you drawn from the findings?
Different format for quantitative and qualitative research
Structure using main themes of study
Use academic conventions
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