This document provides an overview of the research process in 8 steps: 1) formulating a research problem, 2) conceptualizing a research design, 3) constructing a data collection instrument, 4) selecting a sample, 5) writing a research proposal, 6) collecting data, 7) processing data, and 8) writing a research report. It defines research and discusses its key characteristics. It also categorizes research by application, objectives, and inquiry mode. The document provides details on each step of the research process and considerations for carrying out research systematically and rigorously.

1. INTRODUCTIONT
O RESEARCH

2. Outline
 What is Research?
🞑 R
esearchisa way of thinking
 Characteristicof Research
 T
ypes of Research
🞑 Based on application
🞑 Based on objective
🞑 Based on inquiry mode
 Research Process:an eight step model

3. What is Research?
 Re and Search
R
e  again, anew or over again
Search  to examine closely and carefully, to test and try
 Researchisa structuredinquiry that utilisesacceptable
scientific methodology to solve problems and creates new
knowledge that is generally applicable (Grinnell, 1993)
 “a course of critical inquiry leading to the discovery of fact
or information which increases our understanding of human
health and disease (WHO, 2002)
 Researchisa logical and systematicsearchfor new and
useful information on a particular topic (Rajasekar, 2006)

4. R
esearchas a Way of Thinking
IS A WAY OF THINKING, UNDERTAKENWITHIN MOST PROFESSION:
 Examiningcritically thevariousaspectss.o.profession;understanding& formulating
guiding principles that govern a particular procedure; developing & testing new theories
for enhancement of s.o. profession.
 It is a habit
🞑 of questioning what you do
🞑 of systematically examining observed information to find answers
🞑 of using methods tested for validity and reliability
 Research is one of the ways to collect and understand information and find answers to
your questions
 The difference (research vs other ways) in obtaining answers, in research, the process has
to satisfy the following:
🞑 Should be within a framework of a set of philosophies
🞑 Must use procedures, methods and techniques which have been tested for their validity
and reliability
🞑 Must be designed to be unbiased and objective

5. Characteristics of Research
⚫ Controlled
 Establishing causality with minimized effects from other factors affecting
the relationship
⚫ Rigorous
 Methods and procedures used need to be relevant, appropriate and
justified
⚫ Systematic
 Certain sequence has to be followed. Can not be in a haphazard way.
⚫ Valid and Verifiable
 R
esults are correct and repeatable
⚫ Empirical
 Conclusionsdrawnare based on hard evidence
⚫ Critical Scrutiny
 Methods, procedures and results must withstand critical scrutiny by others

6. T
ypes of R
esearch
T
ypes of
research
From the viewpoint of
Application
Pure
research
Applied
research
Objectives
Descriptive
research
Exploratory
research
Correlational
research
Explanatory
research
Inquiry mode
Quantitative
research
Qualitative
research

7. Based on Application:
Basic (Pure) vs Applied R
esearch
Basic research Applied research
Seeks generalization Studies individual or
specific cases without the
objective to generalize
Aims at basic processes Aims at any variable
which makes the desired
difference
Attempts to explain why things
happen
Tries to say how things
can be changed
Tries to get all the facts Tries to correct the facts
which
are problematic
Reports in technical language
of
the topic
Reports in common language

8. Based on Objectives
 Descriptive
to describe a situation, phenomenon, problem, or
issue
 Correlational
to establish or explore a relationship between two or
more variables
 Explanatory
to explain why certain things happen the way they
do

9. Based on Inquiry Mode:
Qualitative vs Quantitative R
esearch

10. Lanjutan

11. R
esearch Process: An Eight Step Model
 Steps in planning a research study
🞑 Step I
🞑 Step II
🞑 Step III
🞑 Step IV
🞑 Step V
: formulating a research problem
: conceptualising a research design
: constructing an instrument for data collecting
: selecting a sample
: writing a research process
 Stepsin conducting study
🞑 Step VI : collecting data
🞑 Step VII : processing data
🞑 Step VIII : writing a researchreport

12. Formulating a
research
problem
Conceptualisin
g a research
design
Constructing an
instrument for
data collection
Selecting
a sample
Writing a
research
proposal
Collecting
data
Processing
data
Writing a
research
report
Considerationsand
stepsinformulating a
researchproblem
Research
design:
functions
Methodsand
tools of data
collection
Sampling theory
and designs
Methodsof data
processing: Use
computers and
statistics
Principlesof
scientificwriting
Variablesand
hypotheses:
definitionand
typology
Study designs
Validity and
reliability of the
researchtool
Contents of the
research
proposal
Literature
review
Field test of
the research
tool
E
diting of
the data
Developing a
code book
Coding
Research Process
Operational
steps
Theoretical
knowledge
Required
intermediary
knowledge
Deciding Planning Doing

13. Step I: Formulating a R
esearch Problem
 Main function: to decide what you want to find out about
 It is the first and most important step in the research process.
 A research problem identifies your destination, what you
intend to research → Should be specific and clear
 It isextremely important to evaluate theresearch problem
inthelight of thefinancial resourcesat your disposal, the
time available, and your own and your research
supervisor’s expertise and knowledge in the field of study

14. Step II: Conceptualising a Research
Design
 Main function: to explain how you will find answer
to your research question
 A researchdesign should include:
🞑 Logistical arrangements
🞑 Measurement procedures
🞑 Sampling strategy
🞑 Frame of analysis
🞑 Time-frame

15. Lanjutan
 Selecting a research design
🞑There is an enormous variety of study designs and
you need to be acquainted with some of the most
commonones
🞑Select or develop the design that is most suited to
your study
🞑 Y
ou must have strong reasonsfor selecting a
particular design; you must be able to justify your
selection; and you should be aware of its strengths,
weaknesses, and limitations

16. Step III: Constructing an Instrument for
Data Collecting
⚫ Anything that becomes a means of collecting information for
your study is called a research tool or a research instrument,
For example:
 Observation forms
 Interview schedules
 Questionnaires
 Interview guides
⚫ The construction of a research tool is the first practical step
in carrying out a study
 Decide how you are going to collect data, then
 Construct a research instrument for collecting data

17. Lanjutan
⚫ Data collected:
 Primary data (data specifically for your study)
⯍Y
ou need to either construct a research instrument or
select an already constructed one
 Secondary data (data already collected for other
purposes)
⯍Youneedto develop a form to extract therequired
data

18. Step IV: Selecting a Sample
 Basic objective: to minimize, within the limitation of cost,
the gap between the values obtained from your sample
and those prevalent in the population
→ If a relatively smallnumberof unitsisscientifically
selected,it canprovide—with a sufficiently high
degree of probability—a fairly true reflection of the
sampling population that is being studied
 Sampling theory is guided by two principles:
🞑 The avoidance of bias in the selection of a sample
🞑 The attainment of maximum precision for a given
outlay of resources.

19. Lanjutan
 There are three categories of sampling design:
🞑R
andom/probability sampling designs
🞑Non-random/probability sampling designs

20. Step V: Writing a R
esearch Proposal
 Main function: to detail the operational plan for obtaining
answers to your research questions
 A research proposal should provide the following information:
🞑A statement of the objectives of the study
🞑A list of hypotheses, if you are testing any
🞑 The study design you are proposing to use
🞑 The setting for your study
🞑 The research instrument(s) you are planning to use
🞑Information on sample size and sampling design
🞑 Information on data processing procedures
🞑An outline of the proposed chapters for the report
🞑 The study’sproblemsand limitations
🞑 The proposed time-frame

21. Step VI: Collecting Data
⚫ Many methods could be used to gather the required
information. Forexample,youmightcommence
interviews, mail out a questionnaire, conduct
nominal/focused group discussions, or make
observations.
⚫ Collecting data through any one of the methods
may involve some ethical issues

22. Step VII: Processing Data
 The way you analyze the data largely depends
upon two things:
🞑 Thetype of information— descriptive, quantitative,
qualitative or attitudinal
🞑 Theway you want to write your report
 There are two broad categoriesof the report:
quantitative and qualitative

23. Lanjutan
⚫ If your studyis purely descriptive, you can write
your thesses/report on the basis of your field notes,
manually or use a computer program
⚫ If you want quantitative analysis, it is also necessary
to decide upon the type of analysis required (i.e.,
frequency distribution, cross-tabulations, or other statistical
procedures, suchasregression analysis, factor analysis, analysisof
variance) and how it should be presented

24. Step VIII: Writing a R
esearch R
eport
⚫ Writing the report is the last and, for many, the most difficult step
of the research process
⚫ This report informs the world of what you have done, what have
you discovered, and what conclusions you have drawn from your
findings
⚫ If you are clear about the whole process, you will also be clear
about the way you want to write your report
⚫ Yourreport shouldbe written inanacademicstyle and be
divided into different chapters and/or sections based upon the
main themes of your study

25. R
eference
 Kumar, R
anjit. 2019. R
esearchmethodology. A step
by step guide for beginner. California: Sage
publications