Research is a process through which new knowledge is discovered. Conducting research has to follow certain steps and these may vary with the type and goals of research. But the variation in the process would be minor according to the study involves quantitative or a qualitative approach and data.

1. Research
A scientific quest
Process

2. Design Professional
M.Des. IDC, IIT Bombay,
B.Tech Mechanical Engineering
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3. Audience of this content
• Research scholars
• Who are pursuing or want to pursue Ph.D.
• Those who want to write papers of their research
• UX Researchers / Psychologist /Doctors / Pharmacists who are interested in research
• Academic Students who want a direction on projects and reports

4. Content
Research
Research Principles
Research Types
Research Qualities
What should be considered?
Steps
References

5. Research process
re search
A careful, systematic, patient study, and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to establish factors or principles.
(Grinnell 1993)

6. Research process
re search
A systematic investigation to find answers to a problem
(Burns 1994)

7. Research process
re search
Research is a process through which new knowledge is discovered.

8. Research process
Principles
of good research

9. Research process
Principles
Purpose should be clearly defined
Procedure should be properly planned
Planned to generate results to maintained objectively
Research report should be transparent to test the findings
Data analysis should reveal its significance and method of analysis

10. Research process
Types
of research

11. Research process
Types
1. Exploratory Research
To get awareness or familiarity with a phenomenon (fact / experience / incident) or to achieve new insights
2. Descriptive Research
To describe the characteristics of a incident, individual, people, or a group
3. Diagnostic Research
To determine the frequency with which something occurs or with which it is associated with something else.
4. Hypothesis Testing Research
To test a hypothesis of a relationship or variables

12. Research process
Qualities
of research

13. Research process
Qualities
1. Systematic
Research is structured according to set of rules to follow in a sequence
Provide basis for creativity, and avoid guess work
2. Empirical
Evidence based conclusions derived from data collected from experiences and observations
Provide basis for external ability to research
3. Valid and Verifiable
Precise observation and accurate results by using valid instruments to collect data and statistical measures respectively
Provide basis to verify at any point of time

14. Research process
Qualities
4. Develops Theories and Principles
Provides accurate prediction of variables under study
Provide basis for formulating and generalizing the findings and goes beyond the factors or situation
5. Replicable
Procedures and results of the research are replicable as well as transmittable
Provide means to assess the research validity

15. Research process
Considerations
of research

16. Research process
Considerations
Idea research
sequencegetting Test the findings
context of discovery context of justification

17. Research process
Context of Discovery
1. Theories
Any theory focuses on specific aspect will be measured through new ideas or hypothesis
2. Hypothesis
A tentative and testable explanation of the relationship between two or more events or variables.
Variable is any factor that changes, or varies, in size or quality. E.g., test performance – a person’s score may vary from one test to the next.
3. Paradigm
A model of the functions and interrelationships of a process.
A way of thinking about the world and how to study it.

18. Research process
Context of Discovery – Research Biases
1. External Influences
One’s culture or the media influence
2. Personal Bias
Distorts eliminating or evaluating processes as a result of personal beliefs, attributes, or past experiences.
3. Observer Bias
Occurs when some events are taken as meaningful by some and not taken meaningful by others.
Researchers do come from different cultures, observations which can also influence

19. Research process
Context of Discovery – Research Biases
4. Expectancy Bias
Affect observation of behavior by encouraging reactions to the events being observed.
5. Placebo biases
Occurs when people strongly want to believe a treatment is successful.
Outcome involves a subjective judgment about the results. E.g., how well a patient feels well or whether the pain has been reduced or relieved.
Researchers do expect to find specific outcome.

20. Research process
Context of Justification – Attitudes and Values
To get accurate data and reliable evidence scientific methods are applied
Scientific method is a general set of procedures for gathering and interpreting evidence in ways that limit errors and yield dependable
conclusions.
Science is not a set of rules but rather a process of
• Asking
• Observing
• Explaining
• Testing
• Retesting explanation of reality
In all the above eventually to be transparent and open to the public

21. Research process
Context of Justification – Objectivity Safeguards
1. Procedural Safeguards
Keeping complete records or observations and data analyses, to that other researchers can understand and evaluate. Open for criticism.
2. Standardization
Uniform, consistent procedures in all phases of data collection
3. Operationalization
Defines how it is measured or what operations produce it
All subjects should receive same instructions

22. Research process
Steps
Research process
Problem Identification Hypothesis Creation Variable Research Design
Data Analysis Conclusions Report
Ask Questions Research existing sourcesFormulate a Hypothesis Draw and Conduct a study
Understand the data Insights and concepts Report Results

23. Research process
Step 1 – Problem Identification
What you want to find about?
Ask question or identifying a need that arises of curiosity. Few of the questions:
What are the events that cause or determine a given behavior or response?
What is the nature of behavior or action (i.e., its structure) and how it is linked wit other actions and behaviors?
What are the relationships of internal psychological processes with behavioral phenomenon?
Formulate the research problem by
• Understanding it thoroughly
• Rephrasing the same in a meaningful terms.
Question and Question

24. Research process
Step 1 – Problem Identification
Factors
Identify the factors that has to be examined to answer the question.
Other factors
• Age of the child (simple)
• Effects of violent video games on a child’s behavior
• Emotional
• Family communication
• Etc.
Factors should start with
• Does any investigation done before?
• Answer and understand the question
• Sources of investigation are available or not
• Lead to another question

25. Research process
Step 1 – Problem Identification
Review Literature
Purpose of Review
1. Identifies variables and selecting them
2. Provides estimate of previous work and provides opportunity for the meaningful extension of the previous work.
3. Plot a systematic procedure to expand which is useful drawing the conclusions and its applications
4. Help in redefining the variables and determine relations and patterns that can build up a case for investigation.
Further Advantages
• Identifies known and unknowns
• Eliminates duplication

26. Research process
Step 2 – Formulating a Hypothesis
Hypothesis
Hypothesis is a tentative statement showing a relationship between two variables under study. It is a kind of suggestive
answer to the problem
Types
• Null hypothesis – states there are no relationships between two variables or concepts
• Correlative hypothesis – states there is a relationship between two or more variables or concepts, but doesn’t specify the
nature of relationship
• Directional hypothesis – states the relationship between two concepts or variables. Relationships can include positive,
negative, high, low of influence, etc.
• Casual hypothesis – states that one variable causes the other
Goals
• State the purpose of the research
• Identify the variables are used

27. Research process
Step 2 – Formulating a Hypothesis
Hypothesis
• Helps in formulating and guiding the study.
• Derived from previous research findings, existing theories, personal observations and experiences
• For unbiased research the hypothesis should be formulated in advance of the data gathering process.
• No hypothesis should be formulated after the data are collected.
• Hypothesis layout the questions that will be tested and either verified or rejected.
Examples -
• If a prisoner learns a work skill while in jail, then he is less likely to commit a crime when he is released.
• If I raise the temperature of a cup of water, then the amount of sugar that can be dissolved in it will be increased.

28. Research process
Step 3 – Variables
Identifying Variable
Variables are those characteristics which are manipulated, controlled and observed by the experimenter.
Dependent variable
characteristic or condition that changes as the experimenter changes the independent variables.
Independent variable
characteristic or condition which is manipulated or selected by the experimenter is order to find out its relationship to some observed
phenomena.
Extraneous variable / Relevant variable
is the uncontrolled variable that may affect the dependent variable.
Note – experimenter is not interested in extraneous variable, so it will controlled as much as possible.

29. Research process
Step 3 – Variables
Identifying Variable
Special variable
Operational variable
Operational definition specifies the actual operations that define a given variable which is important for quantifying through measuring.
Usually measured by verbal measures, behavioral measures and psychological measures.

30. Research process
Step 4 – Research Design
Blueprint
Procedures which are adopted by researchers for testing relationship between the dependent variable and independent variable. Its
derivation depends on
• Purpose of research
• Types of variables
• Conditions / context at which experiment has to be conducted.
• Is it valid and workable?
Advantage of having procedures defined is to
• Control extraneous variables upon independent variables.
• Sets logic for the inquiry.
• To arrive a valid findings, comparisons and conclusions.
Should Include
1. Logic
2. Measurement procedure
3. Sampling strategy

31. Research process
Step 4 – Research Design
Tools for Observation and Measurement
Questionnaire
Interview with prevalent participants or groups
Interview plan and schedule
Data Collection
Observations
Experiments
Case study
Surveys
Participatory workshops
Walkthroughs

32. Research process
Step 5 – Data Analysis
Data Analysis
Making sense of data
1. Uni-variant – Single characteristic
2. Bivariate – two characteristics
3. Multi-variate – more than two characteristics
Parametric or non-parametric statistics is chosen for statistical analysis. Its purpose is to reject null hypothesis and accept the other.

33. Research process
Step 6 – Concluding
Conclusions
Make a statement about the research problem derived by research study and generalize it to the population. This can accepted or
rejected.
Depending upon results original theories can be modified.

34. Research process
Step 7 – Report
Documentation
• Document all research process that is followed
• Provide real time scenarios / artifacts
• Describe case studies
• Explain any statistical formulas, data and results
• Publish in scientific journals or books in public domains
Advantages
• Anyone should be able to understand
• Replicate the study for further researches

35. Research process
References
• Foundations of Behavioural Research, New York, Kerlinger, F.N.
• Research Methodology, New Delhi, Kumar. R
• Introduction to Experimental Method, Townsend
Web References
http://research-methodology.net/research-methodology/research-process/
http://www.nhcc.edu/student-resources/library/doinglibraryresearch/basic-steps-in-the-research-process