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March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
S. Hassan Adelyar, Ph.D
Research Methodology
Instructor of Computer Science Faculty
Kabul University
July 2023
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Research Process March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Research is a practical, systematic &
step-by-step approach.
Series of steps / activities
Closely related steps
Each step provides a variety of methods,
Research Methodology
models and procedures.
Overlap of activities
Consider the sub-sequence steps
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March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Input, process & output.
For research there are two important
decisions to make:
What you want to find.
How to find answers.
Research Methodology
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March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
What Research Problem
Literature Review
(Concepts +
Findings)
Research
How Hypotheses
Process
Research Design
Research Methodology
Data Collection
Generalize /
Interpret
Data Analysis
Reporting
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March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Case Study Research (Context)
Design Science Research (Artifact)
Experimental Research (Variables)
Research Methodology
Comparative Research (Cases / Variables)
Systematic Literature Review (Analysis)
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Formulating the Research Problem
March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Problem
Space
Questions Gap
Research Methodology
Objectives Aim
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March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Considerations in selecting a research
problem
Interest
Magnitude
Relevance
Research Methodology
Availability of data
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Decide the general area of interest
(Discuss with colleagues / experts)
Examine available literature
Conceptual literature
Empirical literature
Research Methodology
Rephrase the problem
9 Literature Review
March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Provides theoretical background.
Establish the links between what you are
proposing & what has already been
studied.
Enables you to show how your findings
Research Methodology
have contributed to the existing body of
knowledge.
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
There are four steps involved in
conducting a literature review:
Searching for the existing literature in
your area of study.
Reviewing the selected literature.
Research Methodology
Developing a theoretical framework.
Developing a conceptual framework.
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March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
There are two sources that you can use to
prepare a references / bibliography:
Books
Papers / Articles
Research Methodology
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Developing Theoretical Framework
Examining the literature can be a
never-ending task.
But as you have limited time it is
important to set parameters by
Research Methodology
reviewing the literature in relation to
some main themes relevant to your
research topic.
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Conceptualizing Research Design
Stems from the theoretical
framework.
Focuses on the sections which
become the basis of your study.
Research Methodology
Systematic, controlled, valid and
rigorous description of what is not
known.
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March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
The use of appropriate methods.
The conceptual framework
describes the aspects you selected
from the theoretical framework to
become the basis of your enquiry.
Research Methodology
15 Conceptualizing Research Design
March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Practices
Classic
Learning
XP Security Software
Benefits / e-Learning e-Learning
Challenges
Agile
Comparison
Research Methodology
Ecosystem
Factors e-Learning Elements
Environment
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Unsure assumption
Affect the manner of tests and analysis
Guide the research by delimiting the
area of research and keep him on the
right track.
Research Methodology
17 Research Design
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Conceptual structure for conducting the
research.
Provide for the collection of relevant
evidence with minimal expenditure of
effort, time and cost.
Research Methodology
Depend on the type of research:
Fixed / Strict
Flexible
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Fixed:
Accurate description
Variables
Minimize bias
Maximize reliability
Research Methodology
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March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Sample Design:
The way of selecting the sample
Before data collection
For the accuracy of your findings.
Limitation of cost & time.
Research Methodology
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
General types:
Random / probability sampling
designs
Non-random/non-probability
sampling designs
Research Methodology
Mixed sampling design.
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Deliberate sampling
Random sampling
Systematic sampling
Stratified sampling
The population is stratified into a
Research Methodology
number of non-overlapping sub-
population & samples are selected
from each groups.
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Cluster sampling
Grouping the population and then
selecting the groups rather than
individual elements from the group.
Research Methodology
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Writing a Research Proposal
Define a clear question and approach to
answering it.
Highlight its originality or
significance.
Research Methodology
Explain how it adds to existing
literature in the field.
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Potential supervisors use research
proposals to assess the quality and
originality of your ideas, your skills in
critical thinking and the feasibility of
the research project.
Research Methodology
Research proposals may vary in length,
but generally speaking, a proposal should
be no more than or 5 pages in length; 2-3
pages is normally sufficient.
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Elements of research proposal:
Title
Research Summary (aims, significant,
expected outcome)
Research Details
Research Methodology
Research Questions
Aims / Objectives
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Significance/Contribution
Theoretical Framework and
Methods
Research Plan and Timeline
Research Methodology
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Example of Research Timeline & Plan March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Research Methodology
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Data Collection March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Collect the data from which you will
draw results & conclusions for your
study.
Many methods could be used to gather
the required data.
Research Methodology
Data can be categorized as:
Primary data (real life problems)
Secondary data
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Primary data
Observation
Participant
Non-participant
Interview
Research Methodology
Structured
Unstructured
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March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Questionnaire
Mailed
Collective
Focus-group
Research Methodology
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p March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Interview questions order
Funnel model
Pyramid model
Time-glass model
Note: for question order one of the above
Research Methodology
model is better then random order.
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Secondary Data
Documents
Earlier Research
Governmental publication
Reports
Research Methodology
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Constructing Instrument
Anything that becomes a means of
collecting information for your study
is called a research tool or a research
instrument.
Research Methodology
For example observation forms,
interview question, questionnaires,
survey, or variables.
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Automated Data Collection:
Capture from document with tools
(OCR, OMR, QR Code)
AI & Machine learning
Xplenty (Cloud Based)
Research Methodology
Bright Data (from websites)
Social media and communication tools
p
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The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
The collected data is analyzed to derive
conclusions.
Clear chain of evidence (Empirical).
The process of analysis depends on:
Type of data
Research Methodology
Quantity of data
In qualitative research analysis is
performed in parallel with data
collection.
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Analysis:
Categories
Coding
Tabulation
Theory / generalization
Research Methodology
Compare with hypotheses
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Reporting March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
The outline of the thesis can be as follow
but not necessarily exactly the same:
Topic
Declaration
Acknowledgement
Research Methodology
List of Figures
List of Tables
Table of contents
Abstract
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March 2023
The Research Process: An Eight-step Model
Introduction
Literature Review
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Research Methodology
Conclusion
Appendices
References / Bibliography
End of Chapter 2
Question?