You are on page 1of 48

STEPS IN RESEARCH

PROCESS Ref.book:
(N.K.Malhotra)
By
Prof. Asmatara Khan

Steps in Research:
1. Exploration of the situation.
2. Development of the research
design.
3. Data collection.
4. Analysis and interpretation of the
results.

PLANNING OF
RESEARCH:
Planning Process:
1. Selection of a problem for
research.
2. Formulation of the selected
problem.
3. Formulation of hypotheses.
4. Conceptualization.
5. Research plan or design.

1. Selection of a problem for


research:
The term problem means a question or issue
to be examined. The selection of a problem
for research is not an easy task; it self is a
problem. Vision and imaginative insight ; plays
an important role in this process.
SOURCES OF PROBLEMS:
i. Reading: when we critically study books
and articles relating to the subject of our
interest; pertinent questions may arise in our
mind.

ii. Academic experience: Classroom


lectures; class discussions and out-of
class exchanges of ideas with fellow
students and professors will suggest many
stimulating problems to be studied.
iii. Daily experience: We learn new
things and undergo new exp.every day. If
we're alert ; inquisitive and sensitive to
life situations; we may hit upon questions
worth of investigation.

IV. Exposure to field situations:


Field visits; internship training and
extension work provide exposure to
practical problems which call for
study.
V. Consultations: Discussions with
experts; researchers; administrators
and business executives will help a
researcher to identify meaning full
problems for research.

VI. Brain storming: Intensified discussion


within a group of interested persons may
often be a means of identifying pertinent
questions; and of developing new ideas
about a problem.
VII. Research: research on one problem
may suggest problems for further research.
VIII. Intuition: Sometimes new ideas may
strike to ones mind like a flash. Reflective
minds is a spring of knowledge.

2. FORMULATION OF THE
SELECTED PROBLEM:
Formulation Process:
I. Developing title: the title should be carefully
worded. It should indicate the core of the study ;
reflect the real intention of the researcher and
show on what is the focus.
Ex. Financing small-scale industries by
commercial banks.
II. Building conceptual model: On the basis of
our theoretical knowledge of the phenomenon
under study; the nature of phenomenon; its
properties/elements and their inter-relations
should be identified and structured into a
framework. This conceptual model gives an exact

III. Defining the objective of the study: The


objectives are derived from the conceptual model. They
state which elements in the conceptual model-which
levels of ; which kinds of cases; which properties and
which connections among properties-are to be
investigated.
IV. Setting investigative questions: These subquestions are set up for each of the major research
objectives/questions.
These specific questions guide the details of the
research efforts; including the development of
concepts; operational definitions and measurement
devices.

Ex. Factors affecting a commercial


banks profitability are:
Q.1. What are the factors affecting
interest earned on advances?
a. Has the proportion of the total earning
assets to deposits tended to decline?
b. What is composition of earning assets?
c. What is the rate of yield on each type
of asset?

3.FORMULATION OF
HYPOTHESES:
The hypotheses are tentative
propositions relating to investigative
questions.
They either describe the properties
of variables or show the relationships
between them.
They determine what facts will be
sought and what research procedure
will be used.

4.OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF
CONCEPTS:
The formulation process is to define
operationally the concepts involved in the
title; objectives; investigative questions
and hypo.
It specify the measurement parameters of
the variables ; scales/indices are
constructed for measuring abstract
concepts.
It enable us to decide exactly the data
needs of the research.

5. RESEARCH DESIGN OR
PLAN:
A Res. Design is a logical and systematic plan
prepared for directing a res. study specifies the
objectives of the study; the methodology and
techniques to be adopted for achieving the
objectives.
It constitutes the blue print for the collection;
measurement and analysis of data.
It is the program that guide the investigator in the
process of collecting; analyzing and interpreting
observations.
It provides systematic plan of procedure for the
researcher to follow.

Q: Essentials of a good
Research design:
It should help to specifies that objectives of the
study and the hyp. To be tested.
Provide an outline that specifies the sources
and types of information relevant to the
research questions.
Provide a blueprint that specifying the methods
to be adopted for gathering and analyzing the
data.
It should able to define whether the obtained
information can be generalized to a larger
population or to different situations.

Preparation of the RD:

1.What the study is about?


2.Why is the study made?
3.What is its scope?
4.What are the objectives of the study?
5.What are the propositions to be tested?
6.What are the major concepts to be
defined operationally?
7.When or in what place the study will
be conducted?

8.What is the reference period of the study?


9.What is the typology of the design?
10.What kinds of data are needed?
11.What are the sources of data?
12.What is the universe from which the sample
has to be drawn; sample size; sampling
techniques can be used; methods or tools are to
be used for collecting data; type of target
audience; time period required; the cost
involved?
13.What are the significance of the study?

Q: The content of a Research


Design:
1. Introduction: The introduction of a res. Plan or
proposal should place the need for studying it; and
researchers precise interests in the study of the
problem.

2.Statement of the problem: The res.problem


should be well defined; pointing out its core nature
and its importance. This statement gives direction to
the res.process.

3.Review of the previous studies: On the


selected theme ; some studies might have been
previously made by other.A review of available
literature will bring out information on them.

4.Scope of the study: The scope and


dimensions of the study should be delimited
with reference to the topical scope-breadth and
depth ; geographical area to be covered;
reference period; the type of
institutions/respondents to be studied; the
issues to be analyzed; etc.
The purpose of this demarcation is to make the
study manageable in terms of the researchers
aim; interest and competence and available
tech.; time finance and facilities.

5. Objective of the study: The specific


objectives of the study should be stated
clearly.
These refer to the questions to which the
researcher proposes to seek answers
through the study.
What is reasonable depends upon the time
limitation; resources constraints ; capability
etc. it is wise to pick objectives that are
challenging but not impossible to achieve.

The objectives may be stated as


under:
To study the extent of
------------------------- To identify the factors which
influence---------- To examine the nature of relation
between------------and------------------- To investigate the impact of
------------------------

6. Conceptual model: This section is a heart


of the research plan. This is where the
researcher formulates and develops the
structure of relationships among the variables
he is investigating.

7. Hypotheses: These are logically deduced


from the theoretical framework. These refer to
the anticipated outcome or possible answers to
the research questions.
They should be conceptually clear; specific; and
simple.

8.Operational definition of concepts:

The

major concepts used in the title of the study; its


objectives; the investigative questions and the hypotheses
should be identified and defined in operational terms
pertinent to the measurement criteria or operations.

9.The significance of the study:

It is
important to point out the relevance and significance of
the investigation. As
What would be the value of the findings of the study for
policy formulation?
Can the findings contribute to the enrichment of theory
and/or to the solution of some practical problems?

10. Geographical area to be covered:


The territorial area to be chosen depends on the
purpose of the study ; time and other resources
available.

11. Reference period: This period may be


one year or two or more years depending on the
nature of the study and availability of data.
The period should be longer ; say 5 or 10 years;
if the study aims at making a trend analysis of
an activity like production or sale or
profitability.

12.Methodology: In this section; the overall


typology of the design-experimental; descriptive ;
survey; case study or historical study-is specified.
Further the methods to be adopted for collection
of data-- observation; interviewing; or mailingare
specified.
13. Sampling plan: If the study requires
collection of primary data from the field; the
universe must be delineated; and the methods of
sampling to be used for drawing the sample from
the universe and the sample size must be stated.

14. Tools for gathering data: The tools


chosen should be appropriate to the
methods to be adopted for gathering data.
15. Plan for analysis: The statistical
techniques to be used for analyzing the
various techniques should be specified.
The application of appropriate techniques
is essential for testing hypothesis and
drawing inferences.

16. Time budget:

The time period required for


each stage of work and the total time duration of the
study are specified. It may be presented in the following
format.
A. literature review and selection of the problem.
B. problem formulation and preparation of the research
plan.
C. construction of a tools and pre-testing.
D. field work and collection of data.
E. processing and analyzing of data.
F. planning and report-writing.
G. drafting and finalizing the report

17. Financial budget: This should


include an estimate of the expected
costs of the project under various
major categories like salary; printing
and stationary; postage; travel
expenses; computation; secretarial
assistance typing etc.

Sampling Methods.

Basic Terms:
Population:In statistical usage the
term population is applied to any
finite or infinite collection of
individuals.
The aggregate of all the elements;
sharing some common set of
characteristics; that comprises the
universe for the purpose of any
research problem.

Census:
A complete enumeration of the elements of a
population or study object or groups at a point
in time with respect to well-defined
characteristics such as population; production;
traffic on particular roads etc.

Sample:

A part of a population; or a
subset from a set of units; which is provided by
some process or other; usually by deliberate
selection with the object of investigating the
properties of the parent population or set.

Sample Survey:
A survey which is carried out using a sampling
method; ie. in which a portion only; and not the
whole population; is surveyed.

Sampling Unit :

One of the units into


which an aggregate is divided or regarded as
divided for the purposes of sampling; each unit
being regarded as individual and indivisible when
the selection is made.
The definition of unit may be made on some
natural basis; eg. Households; persons; units of
product ; tickets; etc.

Q: SAMPLING METHODS
1. Random sampling/ probability sampling.
2. Non-random sampling/non-prob.
sampling.

1. RANDOM SAMPLING METOD:

a. Simple random sampling


b. Stratified sampling
c .Systematic sampling
d. Multistage sampling

2.NON- RANDOM
SAMPLING

a. Judgment sampling
b. Quota sampling
c. Convenience sampling
d. Snowball sampling

a. Simple random sampling:


In this technique ; each and every item of the
population is given an equal chance of being included in
the sample.
The selection of the samples is free from bias.
This is also called method of chance selection.
The process of selecting a sample is independent of
human judgment.
To ensure this; there are two methods that are followed
when drawing a random sample.
i) lottery method ii) the use of random
numbers.

i) lottery method:
In this method ;each unit of the
population is numbered and shown
on a chit of a paper or disc.
The chits are folded and put in a box
from which a sample of the requisite
size is to be drawn.

ii) the use of random numbers:


In this method ; the table of random
numbers are used. The members of
the population are numbered from 1
to N from which n members are
selected.

b. Systematic sampling:
It is simpler than the earlier one. First
sampling fraction is calculated .

For instance; a sample of 50 out of


500 units was chosen. The sampling
fraction k is N/n.
K=N/n
Where
N= total no. of units in the
population.
n= size of the sample. so;
K= 500/50=10

So number between 1-10 is chosen


at random.
Suppose the no. thus selected
happens to be 9. Then; the sample
will comprise no.
9; 19; 29; 39; 49;489
and 499.

C. Stratified random sampling :


A str. Sampling is one where the population is
divided into mutually exclusive and mutually
exhaustive strata or sub-groups and then a
simple random sample is selected within each
of the strata or sub-groups.
Thus human population may be divided into
certain strata on the basis of gender; age;
occupation; education or region .

d. Multistage sampling:
It refers to a sampling procedure ; which is carried out in
several stages.
Suppose we want to take a sample of 5000 households
from the state of Maharashtra.
In such case ; the first stage sample may involve the
selection of districts; suppose 32 districts out of say 25
districts are selected.
The second stage may involve the selection of cities say
5 cities from each district.
Finally 50 households from each selected city may be
chosen.

2.Non-random sampling
Methods:
a .Judgemental sampling : A form of
convenience sampling in which the population
elements are purposely selected based on the
judgement of the researcher.
The researcher; exercising judgment or expertise;
choose the elements to be included in the
sample; because he or she believes that they are
representative of the population of interest.
Ex. Test markets selected to determine the
potential of a new product.
Experts witness used in court; etc.

b. Quota sampling:
It is a type of judgment sampling . In this
quotas are set up according to given criteria;
but within the quotas the selection of sample
items depends on personal judgment.
Ex. Out of every 100 persons to be
interviewed ; 60 are to be housewives;
25 farmers ; 15 children.
Within the quota the interviewer can
select any people from the area
concerned.

c. Convenience
Sampling:
It is also known as Accidental Sampling.
This is also called Chunk.
A Chunk is a fraction of one population
taken for investigation because of its
convenient availability.
A sample obtained from readily available
lists ; such as telephone directories;
automobile registration is a convenience
sample.

d. Snowball Sampling:
A non probability sampling technique in
which an initial group of respondents is
selected randomly.
Subsequent respondents are selected based
on the referrals or information provided by
the initial respondents.
This process my be carried out in waves by
obtaining referrence from referrals.
Ex. It is used in industrial buyer-seller
research to identify buyer-seller pairs.

Sampling Error:
That part of the difference between a
population value and an estimate
thereof; derived from a random
sample; which is due to the fact that
only a sample of values are
observed; as distinct from errors due
to imperfect selection; bias in
response or estimation; errors of
observation and recording etc.

You might also like