Research in common parlance refers to a search for knowledge. It aims at discovering the truth. Research is undertaken to discover answers to questions by applying scientific method. Research must be based on some problems or on some facts. Inquisitiveness and dissatisfaction are the two main building rocks of any research. In a progressive science the generalized answers may not hold good beyond a certain time period, with the passage of time the facts may change and the problem itself may undergo change and so also the concept. Therefore, a constant search is become essential to know the exact truths. That constant search or research process consists of a series of closely related activities or steps. Such activities overlap continuously rather than following a strictly prescribed sequence.
However, the following steps are involved in research:
1.Formulating the Research Problem: In a research process the first and foremost steps happens to be that of selecting and properly defining the problem. A research problem in general refers to some difficulty with a researcher experiences in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution for the same.
While selecting a research problem, at first the researcher selects a discipline and from that a particular subject is chosen. From this a broad area of that particular subject, and then he selects a few topics for problems. At the final stage he selects a single topic after considering several factors.
Following points may be observed by the researcher in selecting a problem:
Over done subject should not be chosen.
Too narrow or too vague problem should be avoided.
The subject selected for research should be familiar and feasible.
The solvability of the problem should be considered.
The importance of the subject, qualification and training of the researcher, ability of the researcher and availability of data should also be considered.
The time available with the researcher and the availability of money with him etc. should also be considered.
The topic may also be based on the special interest and convenience of researcher.
2.Review of Literature: Once the problem is formulated a brief summary of it should be written down. It is compulsory for a research worker writing a thesis fir PhD degree to write a synopsis of the topic to submit it to the necessary committee for obtaining approval. At this juncture the researcher should undertake extensive literature survey connected with the problem. This is essential to know whether the problem has already been investigated before, if so how and what extent etc. For this purpose the abstracting and indexing journals, published and unpublished bibliographies, academic journals, government reports, books etc. must be tapped depending upon the nature of the problem.
3.Fixing the Objectives: After making the extensive literature review, the researcher fixes the objectives of his study with the help of literature review, discussion with experts etc.
4.Development of Working Hypothesis: Working hypothesis is a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and tests its logical or empirical consequences. They affect the manner in which tests must be conducted in the analysis of data and indirectly the quality of data which is required for analysis. The role of hypothesis is to guide the researcher by delimiting the area of research and keep him on the right track.
5.Preparing the Research Design: Research Design is the conceptual framework structure within which the research is conducted. It constitutes the blue print for collection, measurement and analysis of data. In other words it is a plan of the proposed work. There are several designs mainly coming under experimental and non-experimental designs.
6.Determining Sample Design: For conducting research the researcher needs adequate and accurate data. In order to obtain these data a researcher conducts investigation into a given population. Population means aggregate of all elements possessing all the characteristics which the researcher wants to study. In other words the entire group from which a sample is chosen is known as 'Population'. A complete enumeration of all the items in the population is known as 'Census Inquiry'. This type of equity involves great deal of time, money and energy. Besides these census inquiry is not possible in practice under many circumstances.
Selecting a few items from the universe or population is called a 'Sample'. The researcher must decide the way of selecting a sample, popularly known as 'Sample Design'. In other words, the sample design is a definite plan determined before any data are actually collected for obtaining a sample from a given population. Samples can be either Probability Samples or Non – Probability Samples.
7.Collecting the data or Collection of data: There are several ways for collecting the appropriate data which differ considerably in context of money, costs, time and other resources at the disposal of the researcher.
Primary data can be collected wither through experiment or through survey. If the researcher conducts an experiment, he observes some quantitative measurement of the data with the help of which he examines the truth contained in his hypothesis. But in the case of survey the data can be collected by several ways such as observation, personal interviews, telephone interviews, mailing of questionnaires, schedules etc.
8.Analysis of Data: After the data have been collected, the researcher turns to the task of analyzing them. The analysis of data requires a large number of closely related operations such as establishment of categories, the application of these categories to raw data through coding, editing, tabulation and then drawing statistical inferences. Thus the researcher should classify the raw data into some purposeful and usable categories through coding, editing and tabulation, then analyses this with the help of some statistical measurements.
9.Hypothesis Testing: After analyzing the data the researcher is in a position to test the hypothesis if any, he had formulated earlier. For testing the hypothesis various statistical tests such as T-Test, F-Test, Chi-Square Test etc. are applied. Hypothesis testing will result either in accepting or in rejecting the hypothesis. If the researcher had no hypothesis to start with, generalizations established on the basis of the data collected and analyzed.
10.Generalization and Interpretation: If the hypothesis is tested and upheld several times, it may be possible for the researcher to arrive at generalization, ie., to build up a theory. As a matter of facts the real value of research lies in its ability to arrive at certain generalization. If the researcher had no hypothesis to start with, he might seek to explain his findings on the basis of some theory. It is known as 'Interpretation'. The process of interpretation may quite often trigger of new questions which in turn may lead to further research.
11.Preparation of Report: Finally the researcher has to prepare the report of what has been done by him with utmost care.
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