The document outlines the research methodology process in 8 steps: 1) Formulating a research problem by reviewing literature and identifying variables. 2) Conceptualizing a research design such as experimental, longitudinal, or cross-sectional. 3) Constructing instruments for data collection including questionnaires, interviews, and scales to measure variables. 4) Validity and reliability must be established to ensure accurate and consistent measurements from research instruments.

1. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1.- Research : a way of thinking
Research : a way of examining your practice
Application of research
Definitions of research
Characteristics of research
Types of research
Application
Objectives
Paradigms of research
2.- The research process: a quick glance
The research process: an eight step model
Steps in planning a research study
Step 1.- Formulating a research problem
Step 2 .- Conceptualizing a research design
Step 3.- Constructing an instrument for data collection
Step 4.- Selecting a sample
Step 5.- writing a research proposal
Steps in conducting a study
Step 6.- collecting data
Step 7.- processing data
Step 8.- Writing a research report
STEP I.- FORMULATING A RESEARCH PROBLEM
3.- Reviewing the literature
Place of literature review in research
Bring clarity and focus to your research problem
Improve your methodology
Broaden your knowledge base in your research area
Contextualize your findings
Procedure for reviewing the literature
Search for existing literature
Review the literature selected
Develop a theoretical framework
Develop a conceptual framework
Writing up the literature reviewed

2. 4.- Formulating a research problem
The research problem
The importance of formulating a research problem
Sources of research problems
Considerations in selecting a research problem
Steps in the formulation of a research problem
The formulation of objectives
Establishing operational definitions
5.- Identifying variables
The definition of a variable
The difference between a concept and a variable
Concepts, indicators and variables.
Types of variable
From the viewpoint of causation
From the viewpoint of the study design
From the viewpoint of the unit of measurement
Types of measurement scale
The nominal or classificatory scale
The ordinal or ranking scale
The interval scale
The ratio scale
6.- Constructing hypotheses
The definition of a hypothesis
The functions of a hypothesis
The characteristics of a hypothesis
Types of hypothesis
Errors in testing a hypothesis
STEP II.- CONCEPTUALISING A RESEARCH DESIGN
7.- The research design
The definition of a research design
The functions of a research design
8.- Selecting a study design
Study designs based on the number of contacts
The cross-sectional study design
The longitudinal study design

3. Study designs based on the reference period
The retrospective study design
The retrospective study design
The retrospective-prospective study design
Study designs based on the nature of the investigation
The experimental study designs
Others –some commonly used study designs
Action research
Feminist research
The cross over comparative experimental design etc
STEP III.- CONSTRUCTING AN INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION
9.- Selecting a method of data collection
Methods of data collection
Collecting data using primary sources
Observation
Types of observation
Problems with using observation as a method of data collection
Situations in which observation can be made
The recording of observation
The interview
Unstructured interviews
Structured interview
The questionnaire
Choosing between an interview schedule and a questionnaire
Different ways of administering a questionnaire
The contents of the covering letter
Advantages of a questionnaire
Disadvantages of a questionnaire
Advantages of the interview
Disadvantages of the interview
Forms of question
Advantages and disadvantages of open-ended questions
Advantages and disadvantages of closed-ended questions
Considerations in formulating questions
The construction of a research instrument

4. Asking personal and sensitive questions
The order of questions
Prerequisites for data collection
Collecting data using secondary sources
Problems with using data from secondary sources
10.- Collecting data using attitudinal scales
Functions of attitudinal scales
Difficulties in developing an attitudinal scale
Types of attitudinal scale
The summated rating or Scale scale
The equal-appearing interval or Thurstone scale
The cumulative or Guttman scale
The relationship between attitudinal and measurement scales
11.- Establishing the validity and reliability of a research instrument
The concept of validity
Types of validity
Face and content validity
Concurrent and predictive validity
Construct validity
The concept of validity
Types of validity
Face and content validity
Concurrent and predictive validity
Construct validity
The concept of reliability
Factors affecting the reliability of a research instrument
Methods of determining the reliability of an instrument
External consistency procedures
Internal consistency procedures