DAR ES SALAAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (DIT)
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING.
MODULE NAME; RESEARCH METHODS FOR ENGINEERS.
MODULE CODE; GSU 07611
GROUP NUMBER 4.
Group assignment: 2
GROUP MEMBERS.
S/N NAMES REGISTRATION NUMBERS
1 KARIM SHABAN LWINDE 2106307226038
2 USSI, Mohamedi A. 2106307227069
3 DIANA [Link] 2106307124035
4 CHRISTINE J. NSUMBA 220647428332
5 SHABANI R. ATHUMANI 2106307228976
Question: Define research process.
Research process. It is the journey which a researcher takes from the initial point to the last
point of the study. This process entails steps which are logically arranged to enable a researcher
meet the targeted objective(s). There are two main parts which a researcher needs to develop in
order to complete the research process. The research has to develop a research proposal at the
beginning of the process and end with a research report as the final document showing the results
and implications of the research done. The following are the short explanation on research
processes.
1. Identify the Problem.
Finding an issue or formulating a research question is the first step. A well-defined research
problem will guide the researcher through all stages of the research process, from setting
objectives to choosing a technique. There are a number of approaches to get insight into a topic
and gain a better understanding of it. Such as:
a) A preliminary survey
b) Case studies
c) Interviews with a small group of people
d) Observational survey
2. Evaluate the Literature.
A thorough examination of the relevant studies is essential to the research process. It enables the
researcher to identify the precise aspects of the problem. Once a problem has been found, the
investigator or researcher needs to find out more about it. This stage gives problem-zone
background. It teaches the investigator about previous research, how they were conducted, and
its conclusions. The researcher can build consistency between his work and others through a
literature review. Such a review exposes the researcher to a more significant body of knowledge
and helps him follow the research process efficiently.
3. Create Hypotheses
Formulating an original hypothesis is the next logical step after narrowing down the research
topic and defining it. A belief solves logical relationships between variables. In order to establish
a hypothesis, a researcher must have a certain amount of expertise in the field. It is important for
researchers to keep in mind while formulating a hypothesis that it must be based on the research
topic. Researchers are able to concentrate their efforts and stay committed to their objectives
when they develop theories to guide their work.
4. The Research Design
Research design is the plan for achieving objectives and answering research questions. It outlines
how to get the relevant information. Its goal is to design research to test hypotheses, address the
research questions, and provide decision-making insights. The research design aims to minimize
the time, money, and effort required to acquire meaningful evidence. This plan fits into four
categories:
a) Exploration and Surveys
b) Experiment
c) Data Analysis
d) Observation
5. Describe Population
Research projects usually look at a specific group of people, facilities, or how technology is used
in the business. In research, the term population refers to this study group. The research topic and
purpose help determine the study group. Suppose a researcher wishes to investigate a certain
group of people in the community. In that case, the research could target a specific age group,
males or females, a geographic location, or an ethnic group. A final step in a study’s design is to
specify its sample or population so that the results may be generalized.
6. Data Collection
Data collection is important in obtaining the knowledge or information required to answer the
research issue. Every research collected data, either from the literature or the people being
studied. Data must be collected from the two categories of researchers. These sources may
provide primary data.
a) Experiment
b) Questionnaire
c) Observation
d) Interview
Secondary data categories are:
a) Literature survey
b) Official, unofficial reports
c) An approach based on library resources
7. Data Analysis
During research design, the researcher plans data analysis. After collecting data, the researcher
analyzes it. The data is examined based on the approach in this step. The research findings are
reviewed and reported. Data analysis involves a number of closely related stages, such as setting
up categories, applying these categories to raw data through coding and tabulation, and then
drawing statistical conclusions. The researcher can examine the acquired data using a variety of
statistical methods.
8. The Report-writing
After completing these steps, the researcher must prepare a report detailing his findings. The
report must be carefully composed with the following in mind:
a) The Layout: On the first page, the title, date, acknowledgments, and preface should be on
the report. A table of contents should be followed by a list of tables, graphs, and charts if
any.
b) Introduction: It should state the research’s purpose and methods. This section should
include the study’s scope and limits.
c) Summary of Findings: A non-technical summary of findings and recommendations will
follow the introduction. The findings should be summarized if they’re lengthy.
d) Principal Report: The main body of the report should make sense and be broken up into
sections that are easy to understand.
e) Conclusion: The researcher should restate his findings at the end of the main text. It’s the
final result.
Conclusion
The research process involves several steps that make it easy to complete the research
successfully. The steps in the research process described above depend on each other, and the
order must be kept. So, if we want to do a research project, we should follow the research
process steps.
Fig: Research processes. Source: QuestionPro
