RESEARCH PROCEDURE
Dr. Khalid Manzoor Butt
RESEARCH PROCEDURE
7 Basic Steps:
Select a topic
Review existing research and theory that are relevant
Develop a hypothesis or research question
Determine the appropriate methodology/research design
Collect relevant data
Analyze and interpret the results
Present the results in an appropriate form
Research is basically scientific.
Purpose: to provide an objective, unbiased evaluation of data.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN THE CHOICE OF A
RESEARCH TOPIC
Novel
When considering a research topic, the research has to focus
on one which has not been investigated before. In the event
that the problem has been studied before, he has to inject
originality in it by coming up with another research design,
using a different data-gathering tool or a different scheme for
analyzing the research data.
Interest of researcher
The research needs to consider his interest in the choice of a
research problem. If a researcher is not interested in the topic,
it will be difficult on his part to put his heart and soul in it.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN THE CHOICE OF A
RESEARCH PROBLEM
Relevant
The results of the study on a given problem should be of
practical value to the researcher and the significant
others in the field.
This means that once the study had been completed, its
findings, its conclusions and recommendations can be
used in improving practices or solving an identified
difficulty.
Will the results add knowledge to information already
available in the field?
FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN THE CHOICE OF A
RESEARCH PROBLEM
Feasible
This means that a problem that an investigator is going to work on
can be completed without undue amount of time, money or effort.
Feasibility of research also means that the researcher has the
necessary competence or expertise to conduct the study on the
chosen problem.
Is the topic too broad? (e.g. the effects of TV violence on children)
Can the problem really be investigated? (e.g. availability of
information)
What costs and time are involved in the analysis?
FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN THE CHOICE OF A
RESEARCH PROBLEM
Researchable
Data can be collected to answer the problem posed by the
researcher.
Can the data be analyzed? (Can the data be measured?)
Ethical
A Problem is said to be ethical when it does not involve
physical or psychological harm or damage to human beings or
organizations. In other words, a study on a particular topic
should not put people or institutions in a bad light.
REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
The review of literature involves the critiquing or looking over
what other researchers have done in relation to the topic to be
studied.
Purpose:
The review of literature can broaden the researcher’s
knowledge base in research area;
It is means of ensuring originality in the conduct of one’s
research;
It is a way of ensuring clarity and focus on one’s study;
It can also provide the researcher insights on the weaknesses
and strengths of previous studies;
REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
It can provide findings and conclusions of past studies,
which a researcher can use in relating to his own study.
It can help the researcher in formulating the theoretical and
conceptual framework for his research problem.
If it was done on social aspect one could go for economic
aspect.
GUIDELINE IN DOING THE REVIEW
Search for existing literature in the Library and on the web;
Prepare a working bibliography. Record all vital details
concerning the books or research you are including in your
bibliography
Write in 3x5 index cards; group together references from
Books
Journals and periodicals
Unpublished material
Examine each material, then decide which ones will actually
be included in your review
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REVIEW
The text of the review should be brief and to the point.
To ensure brevity and conciseness, you have to summarize or
paraphrase important points. Avoid direct quotations of the
author’s ideas or the results of the studies you are reviewing.
Have a plan on how you are to present the review.
Prepare an outline before finally writing the review. This will
ensure coherence and unity of ideas presented. The problem
you are going to work on can serve as your outline for
discussion of related literature and studies that are relevant to
your proposed research.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REVIEW
Emphasize relatedness
Keep the reader aware of the manner in which the literature
you are discussing is related to your problem.
Try to point out what that relationship is.
Review the literature, don’t reproduce it
Refrain from copying verbatim what authors and researchers
say. Critically review and discuss the literature in relation to
your research work.
WRITING THE REVIEW
Approaches to presenting the review:
Chronological
Literature and studies are presented according to the year they
were written. Sample outline
A. Introduction
B. Recent literature & studies
C. Least recent literature & studies
D. Synthesis of the review
WRITING THE REVIEW
Thematic
Literature and studies with the same findings are grouped together
(Social aspects Economic aspects Political aspects Moral aspects
Psychological aspects Geographic aspects grouped together).
Sample outline:
A. Introduction
B. Literature & studies on Variable 1
C. Literature & Studies on variable 2
D. Synthesis of the review
WRITING THE REVIEW
Country of origin
Literature and studies are categorized based on the
country / continent where they came from.
Sample outline:
A. Introduction
B. Foreign literature & Studies
c. Local literature & studies
D. Synthesis of the review
WRITING THE REVIEW
Some notes:
It is in the introduction where you make your readers aware
of your approach in presenting the related literature;
It is the synthesis where you specify the uniqueness of your
study vis-à-vis the literature you had just discussed in the
review.
ASSIGNMENT:
After approval of topic.
Start Researching for and writing your review of related
Literature.
Timetable:
July 11-13 Consultation of research topic
July 27Submission of Review of Related list oral reports
on methodology beings
Aug 3& 10 Continuation of oral reports
Aug 24Submission of problem statement and delimitation
Sept 7 Submission of proposed theory and methodology
Sept 28 Submission of 1st draft of completed proposal
FOCUSING ON THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM
The problem is the heart of any research project. Without
a focused problem, there is no research.
In order to be able to identify a research problem, a
researcher needs to know what the available sources.
A research problem is usually posed as a question,
preferably a direct and simple one.
FOCUSING ON THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM
Types of Research Problems:
Descriptive research-ask “ what is” and suggests a
survey research design;
Some examples:
What is the status of democracy in Pakistan?
What is the status of Center-provinces relations in
Pakistan?
What is the level of ethical awareness of Politicians?
FOCUSING ON THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM
Relationship research- (cause and effect relation) asks what
the relationship between two or more variables is and
implies a correlation design.
Some examples:
Does a commitment to ethics among politicians depend on
their education?
How does the relationship between the government and
media affect the democracy in Pakistan?
FOCUSING ON THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM
Difference research- asks what is the difference between two
or more groups/ approaches;
Some examples:
Is there a significant difference in politics of the politicians
hailed from GCU and PU?
What are the significant differences in politics between the
politicians of Sindh and Punjab?
How do male and female politicians compare in their conduct
in politics?
FOCUSING ON THE RESEARCH
PROBLEM
There are generally two ways of stating a research Problem:
Declarative or descriptive –usually used in stating the main
problem/general objective
In question form-usually used in stating the sub-problems/
specific objectives
Sub- Problems/ specific objectives simply breakdown the main
problem into small units. It should be:
Each sub-problem should be a completely researchable unit;
Interpretation of data must be apparent with each sub-problem;
The sub-problems must add up to the totality of the main
problem.
DEFINING KEY TERMS
In any study, you need to define the key terms or concepts in
the statement of the problem to avoid confusion or
ambiguity. e.g. This research shall attempt to probe the
relationship between the political culture and democracy.
a. Political Culture
b. Democracy
c. Good or bad impacts
DEFINING KEY TERMS
Two types of definitions:
Conceptual definition- definition of a term as given by
authoritative sources (e.g. Webster’s dictionary; a well-
Known research study; textbook, etc.)
Operational definition researcher’s own definition, based
on how it will be used in the study
This requires the researcher to specify actions or operations
necessary to identify and measure the term
Political Culture-Democracy
IDENTIFYING VARIABLES
To ensure the objectivity in the study of an identified
problem, the researcher has to be clear as to what variables
are to be examined or investigated.
A variable is a property or characteristic that takes on
different values.
It is a symbol to which numbers or values can be attached or
assigned.
IDENTIFYING VARIABLES
Types of variables:
Independent variables the cause supposed to be responsible
for the bringing about change in a phenomenon or situation.
Dependent variables the outcome of change brought about
change in independent variable
Intervening variable a variable whose existence is inferred
but cannot be manipulated or controlled
Moderator variable a variable that may or may not be
controlled but has an effect on the research situation /
phenomenon.
IDENTIFYING VARIABLES
For example:
Does a commitment to ethics among politicians depend
on their education?
1. Independent variable: education attainment of
politicians.
2. Dependent variables: ethical behavior, knowledge of
code of Ethics
3. Intervening variable: environment of politics
4. Moderator variables: civil status, age, years of work
experience
DELIMITING RESEARCH
One way of making a study on problem more focused is by
delimiting it.
Delimiting research is giving full disclosure of what the
researcher intends to do or does not intend to do.
When a researcher in able to set the scope and delimitation of
his study, he can make his research manageable. At the same
time, this can direct him to the choice of research method to
employ.
DELIMITING RESEARCH
Points for delimiting study:
1. Purpose of study
2. Time coverage of investigation
3. Geographical coverage of inquiry
4. Variables to be studied
5. Specific indicators of variables
6. Types and size of respondents of the study
7. Data collections tools
