The Research Process

The Research Process Dr Juliana Linnette D’Sa Prof & HOD, Dept of OBG Nursing Dept of Education & Nursing Research Yenepoya Nursing College Yenepoya University, Mangalore

Research • is a way of thinking; it involves thinking what we want to study, how we go about collecting data, analyzing the data and deriving conclusions. • Is the diligent scientific search or inquiry to discover facts.--Webster’s dictionary • Is an active, diligent and systematic process of inquiry in order to discover, interpret or revise facts, events, behaviors or theories. --Wikipedia

Research • Kerlinger (1987) defines research as “the • systematic, controlled, empirical and critical • investigation of natural phenomena guided by • theory and hypotheses about the presumed • relations among the phenomena” (p.10).

Major steps in the Research Process Phase I – The conceptual phase Phase II – The design & planning phase Phase III – The empirical phase Phase IV – The analytic phase Phase V- The Dissemination phase

Phase I – The Conceptual Phase Step I: Formulating and delimiting the problem (Identifying the problem) Step 2. Reviewing the literature Step 3: Developing a theoretical framework

Phase I – The Conceptual Phase Step 4: Formulating Hypothesis

Step IFormulating and delimiting the problem (Identifying the problem) Develop a research question Broad Topic Area Narrow down

Evaluation of the Research Problem • Is it significant ? • Is it Researchable? • Is it Feasible? Time & timing Availability of subjects Cooperation of others Facilities and equipment Cost

…Evaluation of the Research Problem • ….Is it Feasible? Time & timing Ethical Considerations Interest and experience of the researcher

Statement of the problem Criteria: Should identify key variables Possible relationship between variables Population under study Empirically testable

Purpose and Objectives Purpose: A clear concise statement of the specific aim or goal of a study

Step 2. Reviewing the literature Why review of literature? • To determine what is already known about the topic • To help plan the studies

Sources for Review of Literature • Primary Sources: Report of the investigation written by the person • Secondary Sources: Description prepared by anyone else other than the investigator

Step 4: Formulating Hypothesis Is a statement of the predicted relationship between two or more variables. (prediction of the expected outcome).

Purposesof Hypothesis • Guide scientific inquiry Provide direction to • The research design • Data collection • Analysis • Interpretation

Types of Hypotheses • Simple Vs Complex • Null Vs Research • Directional Vs Non directional

Step 5:Selecting the Research Design Step 6:Identifying the population to bestudied Step 7:Specifying methods to collect the research Step 8: Designing the sampling plan Step 9: Finalizing and reviewing the research plan Step 10: Conducting the pilot study and making revisions Phase II: The Design and Planning Phase

Step 5:Selecting the Research Design • The plan for how the study will be conducted. • The types of data that will be collected. • The means used to obtain these data.

What makes a good Research Design? • Should be appropriateto the question being asked. • Results in data that are not biased • Achieves the highest possible precision by controlling extraneous variables. • Will be able to detect relationship between variables, which makes it powerful.

Types of Designs • Descriptive • Quasi-experimental • Experimental

Research Designs

Step 6:Identifying the population to bestudied Population • Is the entire set of individual (or objects ) that possess some common characteristics.

Population .Target population: Is the entire population in which the researcher is interested; to which he/she would like to generalize the results of the study. Accessible population: Is the population of subjects available for a particular study; Is a subject of the target population

Step 7:Specifying methods to collect the research • A method is developed to observe ormeasure the research variables as accurately as possible. • The research variables are defined: • Select or design an appropriate method of measuring the variables (collecting the data) • A data collection plan is prepared.

Major techniques of data collection • The techniques are self-reports, observation and biological measures.

Developing a data collection plan Procedure: • identifying the data needs, • selecting types of measures, • selecting and developing instruments, • pretesting the data collection package • developing data collection forms and procedures.

Qualities of the tool • Reliability: Consistency with which the tool measures what it is intended to measure. • Validity: The tool measures what it is intended to measure.

Step 8: Designing the sampling plan Researcher can anticipate: • cost involved in sample selection • the feasibility and the • precision with which the sample is selected.

Steps in Designing the sampling plan • Identify the target population of interest • Determine the accessible population • Determine the inclusion and exclusion criteria • Identify the elements in the population to be studied • Choose a sampling approach • Probability • Non probability • Determine the sample size

Choose a sampling approach • ProbabilityExample: Random Sampling Lottery Method • Non probability Example: Purposive Sampling

Step 9: Finalizing and reviewing the research plan • The research plan needs to be reviewed by experts, before actual implementation of the plan. • Modifications are made on the basis of suggestions given. • Approval needs to be sought by Ethical Committee, when humans are used as subjects in scientific investigations

Step 10: Conducting the pilot study and making revisions • Is a small scale version, or trial run of the major study (Feasibility Study) • is carried out to identify any weaknesses. • The function is to obtain information for improving the project and for assessing the feasibility. • The subjects for the pilot study should possess the same characteristics as those of the same sample

Phase III – TheEmpirical Phase • Actual collection of the research data and the preparation of data for analysis. • Step 11: Collecting the data • Step 12: Preparing the data for analysis

Step 11: Collecting the data • The prior experience of the research staff with data collection, • Congruity with sample characteristics, • Personality, • and availability of the data collectors for the entire data collection period

Step 11: Collecting the data According to the pre established plan: • for describing the study to participants, • for obtaining their consent, and if necessary, • for training those who will be involved in the data collection.

Step 12: Preparing the data for analysis • Look through the questionnaire to determine if they are usable, before coding is done. • Coding refers to the process of translating verbal data into categories or numerical form.

Phase IV: The Analytic Phase • Step 13: Analyzing the data • Step 14: Interpreting the results

Step 13: Analyzing the data Descriptive Statistics: • Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation Inferential Statistics: • ‘t’ test: Difference in mean • Chi-square: Association • Correlation: relationship

Step 14: Interpreting the results The interpretive task involves consideration of five aspects of the study: • Their accuracy • Their meaning • Their importance • The extent to which they can be generalized & • Their implications

Phase V: The Dissemination Phase Step 15: Communicating the findings Step 16: Utilise the findings

Step 15: Communicating the findings The results of a research investigation will be a great utility only if they are communicated. The various forms of research reports are term papers, dissertation, journal articles, papers for presentation at conferences, books etc.

Step 16: Utilise the findings • Plan for its utlilisation in the real world. • Recommendation in the reports studies states how the results of the studies can be utilized

Thank you

The Research Process