Research

Methodology
Lecture:
Research process

By Dr. MURWANASHYAKA Theophile

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 Steps

RESEARCH Define research problem I

PROCESS Review
the
literature
Review conceps
and theories
Review previous
research finding
II

Research process Formulate hypothesis III

consists of series
of actions or steps Design research IV
necessary to (including sample design)

effectively carry Collect data V

out research and (Execution)

the desired
Analyse data
sequencing of (Test hypothesis if any)
VI

these steps.
Interpret and report VII
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RESEARCH PROCESS STAGES

 Problem Definition
 Determining Hypotheses,
objectives, questions and purpose
of the research
 Research Design and Research
Proposal Writing and Presentation

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RESEARCH PROCESS STAGES
 Measurement
 Data Collection
 Data Analysis
 Generalisation, and
Dissemination of findings

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 Stage 1: Problem Definition
Steps:
Research problem definition process
 Research problem statement

 Research problem characteristics

 Determining variables and formulation of a
research topic
 Stating the Topic of the research project

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 Stage 1: Problem Definition
 Research problem is an intellectual stimulus calling
for a response in form of scientific inquiry.

 Research problem is a knowledge gap; a situation

that is continuing to exist despite the solutions that
are being implemented.

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 Stage 1: Problem Definition
 Research problem definition process

This consists of:

 Identifyingthe broad research problem
 Gathering of evidence through a preliminary data collection or pilot study
 Understanding of concepts via a preliminary Literature Survey
 Defining specifically the research problem

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 Stage 1: Problem Definition
A broad problem can arise in the following ways;
 When results of several inquiries disagree.
 When one wants to test the results of earlier investigators.
 When there is desire to follow up new leads and to refine or qualify the findings of
earlier studies.
 When a fact exists in form of unexplained information i.e. deviation from past
experience.
 When there is desire for innovation.
 Other people presenting a problem e.g. customers complaining.
 Performance of competitors
 The desire to repeat a previous study using a different survey population or
different methodology

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 Stage 1: Problem Definition

Specific research problem definition process

 After
preliminary data gathering and literature review, the
researcher is able to narrow down the problem from its original
broad base and define more clearly the issues of concern.

 He/She also attempts to relate the variables and identifies the

missing links.

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 Stage 1: Problem Definition
 Research problem statement
Clarifies in a few sentences the problem to be investigated and
indicators of what a researcher claims to be a problem should
be given.
Role:
 Enables the researcher not only to clarify the problem and possible
factors that contribute to it but also to pool the knowledge of the
problem provided by several resource persons.
 Facilitates making decisions concerning the focus and scope of the
research.
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Stage 1: Problem Definition
 Research problem characteristics
Problem should be:
 Original
 Neither very general nor very specific
 Solvable

 Feasible
 Clear enough

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Stage 1: Problem Definition
 Research problem characteristics
 Determining variables and formulation of

a research topic
 Stating the Topic of the research project

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RESEARCH PROBLEM FORMULATION
What for?
“If one wants to solve a problem, one must generally
know what the problem is” by Kerlinger (1986)

Requirements:
Considerable knowledge of both
the subject area and research
methodology
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RESEARCH PROBLEM FORMULATION

Sources of research problems

Most research in the humanities revolves
around four Ps:
I. People;
II. Problems;
III. Programmes;

IV. Phenomena.

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RESEARCH PROBLEM FORMULATION
Sources of research problems
Most research in the humanities revolves around four Ps:

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RESEARCH PROBLEM FORMULATION
Selection of a research problem
Considerations:
I. Interest;

II. Magnitude;
III. Measurement of concepts;

IV. Level of expertise;

V. Relevance;
VI. Availability;

VII. Ethical issues.

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RESEARCH PROBLEM FORMULATION
Steps
I. Identify a broad field or subject area
of interest to you;
II. Dissect the broad area into subareas;
III. Select what is of most interest to you;
IV. Raise research questions;
V. Formulate objectives;
VI. Assess your objectives;
VII. Double-check.

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RESEARCH PROBLEM FORMULATION
Steps (Illustration)

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 RESEARCH PROCESS STAGES

Stage 2:
Determining Hypotheses, objectives,
questions and purpose of the research

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 Hypothesis
Description
Hypothesis is a tentative statement about
the solution of the problem.

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 Role of Hypothesis
 Investigator’s eyes
 Places clear and specific goals
of research
 Prevent blind research
 Guiding light for the research
…

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Hypothesis source
 A formal theory
 Observation
 Commonly held lay beliefs
 Personal Experiences

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STATING OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
 Objectives indicate what you want to achieve at the end
of the research.

 Objectives should be:

 designedfrom the variables.
 measurable
 Objectives are written in operational format using words
like ‘establish’, ‘examine’, ‘assess’, ‘identify’, ‘determine’,
etc.
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 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 Are the specific questions that the research is going to
answer.
 Researchers usually change objectives into questions.

NB: Where hypotheses are used (especially

quantitative studies), research questions need not be
stated. But objectives must always be stated
accompanied by either hypotheses or research
questions.
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PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

 Gives an understanding of what the study is about.

 Tends to replicate the topic or explain exactly what the

research is intended to achieve.

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STAGE 3: RESEARCH DESIGN AND RESEARCH
PROPOSAL WRITING AND PRESENTATION
 The researcher must have a definite plan of executing the
study i.e. a design.

 This should appear in a proposal.

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STAGE 3: RESEARCH DESIGN AND RESEARCH
PROPOSAL WRITING AND PRESENTATION

What is a research proposal?

 A research proposal is a plan for carrying out the entire
research.

 It shows what, why, when and how one is going to carry

out the study and who will be the respondents.

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STAGE 3: RESEARCH DESIGN AND RESEARCH
PROPOSAL WRITING AND PRESENTATION
Research proposal content
 On the top of research topic, the problem, objective,
research questions and purpose of the study, it should
contain the detailed literature review, research designs,
sampling approach, sources of data, data collection
methods, analytical approach of data, interpretation and
presentation of findings. A researcher specify also the
time and financial requirements of the research, time to
be considered and budget
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STAGE 4: MEASUREMENT
 This is the process of reducing the abstract concepts to
observable behaviour and characteristics.
 In other words, the abstract notions are broken down into
observable characteristic behaviours.
 One has to identify the elements/ behavioural dimensions/
facets/ characteristics/ indicators that we would hope to
find in people or elements with that attribute.

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STAGE 4: MEASUREMENT
 After knowing the indicators, one will then design the
instruments of data collection e.g.: questionnaires,
interview guides etc.

 These will include the questions that one will ask to

establish whether each indicator is present in the person
or element being studied.

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STAGE FIVE: DATA COLLECTION
 This involves getting opinion of respondents or
gathering characteristics of the target population that
one is interested in using different methods and
tools.

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STAGE 6: DATA ANALYSIS
 Collected data are analysed to derive meaning out of it.

 This involves selection of appropriate methods or

techniques depending on whether the study is
quantitative or qualitative.

 After analysis, a research report is written and presented.

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STAGE 7: GENERALISATION, DISSEMINATION OF
FINDINGS AND MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING

 The information so collected will be used to make

decisions and to solve the problems so encountered.

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 Group tasks
In your respective 10 people group,
1. Discuss and identify a research problem in your area
of specialization, develop a problem statement and
compile the final problem statement.

2. State the topic, objectives and research questions,

all related to the problem you identified.

3. Discuss and agree on the most suitable type of

research and approach applicable for address the
problem you identified.
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 Assignment 2
In your respective 10 people group,
1. Further your discussion on your identified problem,
and make a proposal for your research project.
Use KP format guide while compiling your
document.

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