This document outlines the steps in the basic research process. It begins with identifying a broad area of research interest. The researcher then conducts preliminary data gathering through literature reviews and interviews to better understand the problem area. Next, the researcher defines the specific research problem. This involves delineating the issues that need to be addressed. The researcher then develops a theoretical framework and generates hypotheses to guide the rest of the research process.

1. CHAPTER 3
The Research Process – Steps 1 to 3

2. 1. Observation
1. Observation
Broad area of
Broad area of
research interest
research interest
identified
identified
The Research Process for Basic
& Applied Research
3. Problem
3. Problem
Definition
Definition
Research problem
Research problem
delineated
delineated
2. Preliminary
2. Preliminary
Data Gathering
Data Gathering
Interviewing
Interviewing
Literature survey
Literature survey
4.
4.
Theoretical
Theoretical
Framework
Framework
5.
5.
Generation
Generation
of
of
Hypothesis
Hypothesis
Variables
Variables
clearly
clearly
identified
identified
and
and
labelled
labelled
6.
6.
Scientific
Scientific
Research
Research
Design
Design
7. Data Collection
7. Data Collection
Analysis, and
Analysis, and
Interpretation
Interpretation
8. Deduction
8. Deduction
Hypotheses substantiated?
Hypotheses substantiated?
Research question answered?
Research question answered?
No
No
Yes
Yes
9. Report
9. Report
Writing
Writing
2
10. Report
10. Report
Presentation
Presentation
11.
11.
Managerial
Managerial
Decision
Decision
Making
Making
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3. Broad Problem Area
3
 The specific issues that need to be research in a certain
situation refers to ‘Broad Problem Area’. These issues might
be:
 Problems currently existing in an organization
 Areas that a manager believes need to be improved in the
organization
 Some research questions that a basic researcher wants to
answer empirically
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4. Preliminary Data Collection
4
Prevailing knowledge on the topic
Nature of data to be gathered
Background information on the organization
Information on structural factors & management
philosophy
Perceptions, attitudes & behavioral responses
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5. Literature Review
5
 Literature Review is the documentation of a
comprehensive review of the published work.
 Purpose is to ensure no important variable is ignored
that has in the past been found repeatedly to have had
an impact on the problem.
 Helps integrate information gathered - gives a
framework for the investigation.
 integrate information from literature into the research
design
 develop theoretical framework
 not reinventing the wheel
 determine originality of study
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6. Writing up the Literature Review
6
The write up needs to:


convince the reader that the researcher is knowledgeable about
the problem area and has done the background work
the theoretical framework will be built on work already done
and will add to the foundation of the existing knowledge
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7. Writing a literature review cont...
7
Get as many relevant articles as possible.
Read all and highlight points of interest or
importance.
Note down key issues that are arising across the
articles.
Plan the writing up of the literature review
around these key points.
Begin writing by drawing on the points you
found and discussing each authors’ work
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8. Writing a literature review cont...
8
Keep a record of all citations and quotations -
keep a running reference section. It is easy to
forget where you read something.
Keep reading while you are writing to add to the
literature review.
Take note of key references / citations made by
authors you are reading.
References must be current unless it is a
seminal piece. Eg Doll (1988) on user
satisfaction factors.
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9. Writing a literature review cont...
Supporting your case
9
To provide evidence either use quotations from a
reliable source or follow statement with citation e.g.
‘Most organizations use SQL’ (Smith 1998, Lo 1992)
When citing a book as evidence, include the page
number even if you are not quoting from the book.
See pg 52 Sekaran e.g.
The failure of information systems is often caused
by poor communication. (Bresko 1993, 41)
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10. Reference Style
10
You are expected to use the Harvard style/ APA for
referencing. Example
• Journal Article
• Jeanquart, S., & Peluchette, J. (1997).
Diversity in the workforce and
management models. Journal of
Social Work Studies, 43 (3), 72-85.
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11. Problem Definition
11
Define a problem as any situation where a gap exists
between the actual and the desired ideal states
Examples:


How has the new packaging affected the sales of the product?
Has the new advertising message resulted in enhanced recall?
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12. Ethics in the preliminary stages of investigation
12
It is necessary to inform all the employees about the
research
It is important to keep information related to
employees confidential
Every step should be transparent
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