the research process example

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Research Process Steps: What they are + How To Follow

There are various approaches to conducting basic and applied research. This article explains the research process steps you should know. Whether you are doing basic research or applied research, there are many ways of doing it. In some ways, each research study is unique since it is conducted at a different time and place.

Conducting research might be difficult, but there are clear processes to follow. The research process starts with a broad idea for a topic. This article will assist you through the research process steps, helping you focus and develop your topic.

Research Process Steps

The research process consists of a series of systematic procedures that a researcher must go through in order to generate knowledge that will be considered valuable by the project and focus on the relevant topic.

To conduct effective research, you must understand the research process steps and follow them. Here are a few steps in the research process to make it easier for you:

Step 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 preliminary survey
• Case studies
• Interviews with a small group of people
• Observational survey

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 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:

• Exploration and Surveys
• Data Analysis
• Observation

Step 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.

Step 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.

• Questionnaire

Secondary data categories are:

• Literature survey
• Official, unofficial reports
• An approach based on library resources

Step 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.

Step 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:

• 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.
• Introduction: It should state the research’s purpose and methods. This section should include the study’s scope and limits.
• Summary of Findings: A non-technical summary of findings and recommendations will follow the introduction. The findings should be summarized if they’re lengthy.
• Principal Report: The main body of the report should make sense and be broken up into sections that are easy to understand.
• Conclusion: The researcher should restate his findings at the end of the main text. It’s the final result.

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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.

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The Research Process | Steps, How to Start & Tips

Introduction

Basic steps in the research process, conducting a literature review, designing the research project, collecting and analyzing data.

• Interpretation, conclusion and presentation of findings

Key principles for conducting research

The research process is a systematic method used to gather information and answer specific questions. The process ensures the findings are credible, high-quality, and applicable to a broader context. It can vary slightly between disciplines but typically follows a structured pathway from initial inquiry to final presentation of results.

What is the research process?

At its core, the research process involves several fundamental activities: identifying a topic that needs further investigation, reviewing existing knowledge on the subject, forming a precise research question , and designing a method to investigate it. This is followed by collecting and analyzing data , interpreting the results, and reporting the findings. Each step is crucial and builds upon the previous one, requiring meticulous attention to detail and rigorous methodology.

The research process is important because it provides a scientific basis for decision-making. Whether in academic, scientific, or commercial fields, research helps us understand complex issues, develop new tools or products, and improve existing practices. By adhering to a structured research process , researchers can produce results that are not only insightful but also transparent so that others can understand how the findings were developed and build on them in future studies. The integrity of the research process is essential for advancing knowledge and making informed decisions that can have significant social, economic, and scientific impacts.

The research process fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It demands a clear articulation of a problem, thorough investigation, and thoughtful interpretation of data, all of which are valuable skills in any professional field. By following this process, researchers are better equipped to tackle complex questions and contribute meaningful solutions to real-world problems.

From finding the key theoretical concepts to presenting the research findings in a report, every step in the research process forms a cohesive pathway that supports researchers in systematically uncovering deep insights and generating meaningful knowledge, which is crucial for the success of any qualitative investigation.

Identifying key theoretical concepts

The first step in the research process involves finding the key theoretical concepts or words that specify the research topic and are always included in the title of the investigation. Without a definition, these words have no sense or meaning (Daft, 1995). To identify these concepts, a researcher must ask which theoretical keywords are implicit in the investigation. To answer this question a researcher should identify the logical relationships among the two words that catch the focus of the investigation. It is also crucial that researchers provide clear definitions for their theoretical keywords. The title of the research can then include these theoretical keywords and signal how they are being studied.

A piece of useful advice is to draw a conceptual map to visualize the direct or indirect relationships between the key theoretical words and choose a relationship between them as the focus of the investigation.

Developing a research question

One of the most important steps in the research endeavor is identifying a research question. Research questions answer aspects of the topic that need more knowledge or shed light on information that has to be prioritized before others. It is the first step in identifying which participants or type of data collection methods. Research questions put into practice the conceptual framework and make the initial theoretical concepts more explicit.

A research question carries a different implicit meaning depending on how it is framed. Questions starting with what, who, and where usually identify a phenomenon or elements of one, while how, why, when and how much describe, explain, predict or control a phenomenon.

Overall, research questions must be clear, focused and complex. They must also generate knowledge relevant to society and the answers must pose a comprehensive understanding that contributes to the scientific community.

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A literature review is the synthesis of the existing body of research relevant to a research topic . It allows researchers to identify the current state of the art of knowledge of a particular topic. When conducting research, it is the foundation and guides the researcher to the knowledge gaps that need to be covered to best contribute to the scientific community.

Common methodologies include miniaturized or complete reviews, descriptive or integrated reviews, narrative reviews, theoretical reviews, methodological reviews and systematic reviews.

When navigating through the literature, researchers must try to answer their research question with the most current peer-reviewed research when finding relevant data for a research project. It is important to use the existing literature in at least two different databases and adapt the key concepts to amplify their search. Researchers also pay attention to the titles, summaries and references of each article. It is recommended to have a research diary for useful previous research as it could be the researcher´s go-to source when writing the final report.

A good research design involves data analysis methods suited to the research question, and where data collection generates appropriate data for the analysis method (Willig, 2001).

Designing a qualitative study is a critical step in the research process, serving as the blueprint for the research study. This phase is a fundamental part of the planning process, ensuring that the chosen research methods align perfectly with the research's purpose. During this stage, a researcher decides on a specific approach—such as narrative , phenomenological , grounded theory , ethnographic , or case study —tailoring the design to the unique research problem and needs of the research project. By carefully selecting the research method and planning how to approach the data, researchers can ensure that their work remains focused and relevant to the intended study area.

A well-constructed research design is vital for maintaining the integrity and credibility of the study. It guides the researcher through the research process steps, from data collection to analysis, helping to manage and mitigate potential interpretations and errors. This detailed planning is crucial, particularly in qualitative studies, where the depth of understanding and interpretive nature of analysis can significantly influence outcomes.

The design of a qualitative study is more than a procedural formality; it is a strategic component of the research that enhances the quality of the results. It requires thoughtful consideration of the research question, ensuring that every aspect of the methodology contributes effectively to the overarching goals of the project.

Collecting data

Gathering data can involve various methods tailored to the study's specific needs. To collect data , techniques may include interviews , focus groups, surveys and observations , each chosen for its ability to target a specific group relevant to the research population. For example, focus groups might explore attitudes within a specific age group, while observations might analyze behaviours in a community for population research projects. Data may also come from secondary sources with quantitative and qualitative approaches such as library resources, market research, customer feedback or employee evaluations.

Effective data management is crucial, ensuring that primary data from direct collection and secondary data from sources like public health records are organized and maintained properly. This step is vital for maintaining the integrity of the data throughout the research process steps, supporting the overall goal of conducting thorough and coherent research.

Analyzing data

Once research data has been collected, the next critical step is to analyze the data. This phase is crucial for transforming raw data into high-quality information for meaningful research findings.

Analyzing qualitative data often involves coding and thematic analysis , which helps identify patterns and themes within the data. While qualitative research typically does not focus on drawing statistical conclusions, integrating basic statistical methods can sometimes add depth to the data interpretation, especially in mixed-methods research where quantitative data complements qualitative insights.

In each of the research process steps, researchers utilize various research tools and techniques to conduct research and analyze the data systematically. This may include computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) such as ATLAS.ti, which assists in organizing, sorting, and coding the data efficiently. It can also host the research diary and apply analysis methods such as word frequencies and network visualizations.

Interpretation, conclusion and presentation of research findings

Interpreting research findings.

By meticulously following systematic procedures and working through the data, researchers can ensure that their interpretations are grounded in the actual data collected, enhancing the trustworthiness and credibility of the research findings.

The interpretation of data is not merely about extracting information but also involves making sense of the data in the context of the existing literature and research objectives. This step is not only about what the data is, but what it means in the broader context of the study, enabling researchers to draw insightful conclusions that contribute to the academic and practical understanding of the field.

Concluding and presenting research findings

The final step is concluding and presenting the research data which are crucial for transforming analyzed data into meaningful insights and credible findings.

The results are typically shared in a research report or academic paper, detailing the findings and contextualizing them within the broader field. This document outlines how the insights contribute to existing knowledge, suggests areas for future research, and may propose practical applications.

Effective presentation is key to ensuring that these findings reach and impact the intended audience. This involves not just articulating the conclusions clearly but also using engaging formats and visual aids to enhance comprehension and engagement with the research.

The research process is a dynamic journey, characterized by a series of systematic research process steps designed to guide researchers successfully from inception to conclusion. Each step—from designing the study and collecting data to analyzing results and drawing conclusions—plays a critical role in ensuring the integrity and credibility of the research.

Qualitative research is guided by key principles designed to ensure the rigour and depth of the research study. Credibility is crucial, achieved through accurate representations of participant experiences, often verified by peer-review revision. Transferability is addressed by providing rich context, allowing others to evaluate the applicability of findings to similar settings. Dependability emphasizes the stability and consistency of data, maintained through detailed documentation of the research process (such as in a research diary), facilitating an audit trail. This aligns with confirmability, where the neutrality of the data is safeguarded by documenting researcher interpretations and decisions, ensuring findings are shaped by participants and not researcher predispositions.

Ethical integrity is paramount, upholding standards like informed consent and confidentiality to protect participant rights throughout the research journey. Qualitative research also strives for a richness and depth of data that captures the complex nature of human experiences and interactions, often exploring these phenomena through an iterative learning process. This involves cycles of data collection and analysis, allowing for ongoing adjustments based on emerging insights. Lastly, a holistic perspective is adopted to view phenomena in their entirety, considering all aspects of the context and environment, which enriches the understanding and relevance of the research outcomes. Together, these principles ensure qualitative research is both profound and ethically conducted, yielding meaningful and applicable insights.

Daft, R. L. (1995). Organization Theory and Design. West Publishing Company.

Willig, C. (2001). Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology: Adventures in Theory and Method. McGraw-Hill Companies, Incorporated.

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Research Methodology

• Introduction to Research Methodology
• Research Approaches
• Concepts of Theory and Empiricism
• Characteristics of scientific method
• Understanding the Language of Research

11 Steps in Research Process

• Research Design
• Different Research Designs
• Compare and Contrast the Main Types of Research Designs
• Cross-sectional research design
• Qualitative and Quantitative Research
• Descriptive Research VS Qualitative Research
• Experimental Research VS Quantitative Research
• Sampling Design
• Probability VS Non-Probability Sampling
• 40 MCQ on Research Methodology
• MCQ on research Process
• MCQ on Research Design
• 18 MCQ on Quantitative Research
• 30 MCQ on Qualitative Research
• 45 MCQ on Sampling Methods
• 20 MCQ on Principles And Planning For Research

Research process refers to the systematic and organized series of steps taken to investigate and study a specific topic or problem in order to gain knowledge and find answers to questions. It is a methodical approach followed by researchers to collect, analyze, and interpret data to arrive at meaningful conclusions and contribute to the existing body of knowledge in a particular field.

The chart shows that the research process consists of several activities marked from I to VII. These activities are closely related and often overlap instead of following a strict order. Sometimes, the first step determines how the last step will be done. If certain important steps are not considered early on, it can cause serious problems and even stop the research from being completed.

It’s essential to understand that the steps involved in the research process are not completely separate from each other. They do not always follow a fixed order, and the researcher needs to be prepared for the requirements of the next steps at each stage of the research process.

Interpret data to arrive at meaningful conclusions and contribute to the existing body of knowledge in a particular field.

The research process typically involves the following key steps:

• Formulating the Research Problem: Identifying and defining the research question or problem that needs to be addressed.
• Literature Review: Conducting a thorough review of existing literature and research related to the topic to understand what has already been studied and discovered.
• Developing the Hypothesis: Creating a clear and testable statement that predicts the relationship between variables in the research.
• Research Design: Planning the overall structure and approach of the study, including selecting the research methods and data collection techniques.
• Sample Design: Determining the sample size and selecting the participants or subjects that will be part of the study.
• Data Collection: Gathering relevant data through various methods, such as surveys, interviews, experiments, or observations.
• Execution of the Project: Implementing the research plan and collecting the data as per the designed approach.
• Data Analysis: Analyzing the collected data using appropriate statistical or qualitative techniques to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Hypothesis Testing: Evaluating the hypothesis based on the analysis to determine whether it is supported or rejected.
• Generalizations and Interpretation: Making broader connections and interpretations of the findings in the context of the research problem.
• Conclusion and Recommendations: Summarizing the research results, drawing conclusions, and suggesting potential future research or practical implications.

Throughout the research process, researchers must maintain objectivity, rigor, and ethical considerations to ensure the validity and reliability of the results. Each step contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the research topic and the generation of new knowledge in the field.

Research Procedures

• Open Access
• First Online: 28 March 2023

Cite this chapter

You have full access to this open access chapter

• Ivan Buljan   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8719-7277 3  

Part of the book series: Collaborative Bioethics ((CB,volume 1))

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This chapter offers a guide on how to implement good research practices in research procedures, following the logical steps in research planning from idea development to the planning of analysis of collected data and data sharing. This chapter argues that sound research methodology is a foundation for responsible science. At the beginning of each part of the chapter, the subtitles are formulated as questions that may arise during your research process, in the attempt to bring the content closer to the everyday questions you may encounter in research. We hope to stimulate insight into how much we can predict about a research study before it even begins. Research integrity and research ethics are not presented as separate aspects of research planning, but as integral parts that are important from the beginning, and which often set the directions of research activities in the study.

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Ethical Issues in Research Methods

Research Integrity: Responsible Conduct of Research

• Research plan
• Research question
• Study design
• Measurement
• Protocol registration
• Reproducibility

What This Chapter Is About

Case scenario: planning research.

This hypothetical scenario was adapted from a narrative about the process of poor research planning and its consequences. The original case scenario is developed by the Members of The Embassy of Good Science and is available at the Embassy of Good Science . The case is published under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, version 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Professor Gallagher is a leader of a research project on moral intuitions in the field of psychology. She is working on the project with Dr. Jones, a philosopher, and Mr. Singh, a doctoral student. Although she has little experience in the matter, Dr. Jones is put as the principal investigator in the study design and analysis of the two experiments, while Mr. Singh prepares materials and conducts the experiments.

After the first experimental study, Mr. Singh sends the results to Dr. Jones for analysis. After some time, eager to enter the results in his thesis, Singh asks Dr. Jones about the results of the study. She admits that she forgot to formulate the hypothesis before data analysis, and now the results can be interpreted as confirmatory, regardless of the direction. They decide to formulate a hypothesis that will result in a positive finding.

Mr. Singh and Dr. Jones present the results to Dr. Gallagher, who is satisfied and proceeds with paper writing. In the second study, Dr. Jones formulates multiple hypotheses before the study begins. Mr. Singh conducts the study and sends the results to Dr. Jones. She performs the analysis by trying to find only significant differences between groups. Finally, to achieve significance, she excludes participants over 60 years from the analysis and while presenting the results, admits that to Prof Gallagher. Prof Galagher is happy about the results and proceeds with the paper writing, while Mr. Singh enters the results in his dissertation.

Before Mr. Singh has the public defense of his dissertation, one of the internal reviewers notices that some data has been excluded from the second study and only significant results were reported. She invites Mr. Singh for an examination board meeting during which MR Singh admits that the data has been excluded and that in the first study hypothesis was formulated after the results were known.

Questions for You

Why is hypothesizing after the results are known, as described in the first study, considered problematic?

What was wrong about reporting only significant results in Study 2?

How would you improve the entire research process described in the scenario?

Good research practice from the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity:

Researchers take into account the state-of-the-art in developing research ideas.

Researchers make proper and conscientious use of research funds.

What to Do First When You Have an Idea?

It is difficult to come up with a good research idea, and if you struggle to come up with a new research direction, that is perfectly fine. Creative processes are the highest form of learning and developing an idea requires significant cognitive effort. In some cases, you may have an epiphany, where you would suddenly come up with a great idea for your research project. This is something popularized by stereotypes about scientists as eccentric figures who come up with brilliant ways of tackling things using only their intelligence and intuition. However, scientific work resembles ore mining. It takes a tremendous effort to read relevant scientific literature, communicate with your peers, plan, and, in some cases, attempt and fail before you even start digging for gold. As in a mine, you will need to dig a lot of rocks before you come across diamonds and gold.

Usually, the most important decisions are made before digging even begins. To decide where you will start mining, you start with the exploration of the terrain. In research, this means knowing your field of study. You may read an interesting piece in the scientific literature or listen to a presentation at a conference and then think of a hypothesis whose testing will answer an interesting and important question in your research field. On the other hand, sometimes you have to adjust your research interest so that they fit the specific aims of grant funding calls. It does not matter what the source of the idea is, there are always two things to consider when developing research ideas: the current state of the field and the resources available to you. Good research practice is to consider the state of the art in developing your research ideas and make the proper use of research funds. This does not mean that you are not allowed to develop research ideas if they address a research topic that has been neglected. It is the responsibility of a researcher to combine the best of the “old” evidence with new research developments. It is important to keep in mind that research is not performed in a vacuum and that the funds and resources provided by public or private funders are given with an expectation of an honest answer to a specific research question. The main responsibility for the proper use of research funds is on the researcher, and this is overseen by funders during and at the end of the proposal. Another recommendation refers to the use of state-of-the-art information as a basis for your research. The control system in this case is other scientists who read or evaluate your research, and who will recognize outdated research results.

Let’s get back to the analogy of the mine for a moment. If you are paid to dig in the mine, you are expected to find important ore. In our case, a research funder is an employer, and the researchers are workers who need to go down the mine and get their hands dirty in the search for new true information. If you are set to dig a deep hole in the ground with the possibility of finding gold and diamonds, but you do not get any guarantee that you will find them unless you chose an appropriate place in a specific period, you would probably spend a lot of time planning and trying to decide where to start digging, what to do when specific problems arise and to avoid ending with a huge number of worthless rocks instead of gold and diamonds. The process is similar to research planning since a significant amount of the research process can be defined before data collection begins. As valuable as it can be, a research idea is just a thought which needs to be translated into research practice to gain its full impact.

How to Formulate a Good Research Question?

Research is performed to answer a specific question. The research process can be observed as a complex tool that, if used properly, can give a clear answer to a posed question. The research question is the compass of the research process (or the mine if we continue with our mine analogy) since it determines the steps of the research process. It translates into specific research aims and, consequently, into testable research hypotheses. Formulation of a research question is a skill that develops over time, a skill that can be learned. Your research question should have a FINER structure, which stands for: F easible, I nteresting, N ovel, E thical and R elevant. Although initially developed as a set of recommendations for quantitative research, FINER recommendations can be applied to formulating a research question in any given field of science.

The feasibility of a research aim is often defined by time restrictions and funding because research is often burdened by deadlines and output requirements set by the funders. F easibility is also affected by the availability of technology, geographical restrictions, availability of participants, or availability of collaborators. If one considers all those factors, it is obvious that research interests play only a small part in the formulation of a research question. Ask yourself: What research can be published in an excellent journal if you have limited funds and only 1 year for research, with limited access to a specific technology? (Today, highly specialized experts may be a greater problem than the technology in question). You might experience that the formulation of the research question is mostly defined by non-research factors, because, in the end, it is better to have a completed than never-finished research.

There are other elements of the research question that are as important as feasibility. The first one to consider is E thics, which affects all parts of the research process due to its broad nature. If research is not ethical, then it should not be conducted. In a mining analogy, ethics is training and safety, which helps you to protect others and yourself during the entire process. To get back to the best research practices, researchers should make proper use of research funds and fulfill the basic research aim – the benefit to society. This also implies treating members of that society with respect, respecting their privacy and dignity, and being honest and transparent about the research process and results. Therefore, when determining the feasibility of a research study, ethics aspects are the first to consider, along with the objective factors of time, cost, and manpower.

I nterest, N ovelty, and R elevance from the FINER guidance are the elements of the research question that increase the chances of getting funding or the chances for a journal publication, and they are closely aligned. Regardless of the audience (researchers, publishers, non-experts), research should be new to be interesting and relevant. However, doing research just for the novelty’s sake is analogous to the digger who starts digging a new mine every couple of days. It gives you the thrill of a new beginning, but you have not dug deep enough to get to the real results. Relevance, defined in this context as a significant add-on to the current knowledge, can be assessed with a high probability of success by a thorough search for available evidence. The main aim of that process is to identify research or practice gaps that can be filled to improve general knowledge.

Interest is related to the principal internal motivation of an individual to pursue research goals. The interest to pursue research aims is difficult to assess. When planning research, do you consider that research is interesting to you, your peers, potential users, or all three? Probably the last, but here is the catch. Interest is the most subjective part of research planning. Research planning could be understood as a balance between your interest and all other factors that affect the research outcome. A good research idea is often the compromise between objective possibilities and a desire to make a research discovery. If the research idea is interesting but extremely difficult (or even impossible) to conduct in given circumstances, you will end up frustrated. On the other hand, if you decide to perform research based solely on convenience (because it is something for which is easy to get funded or someone is offering you a research topic you are not interested in), it will be very difficult to stay motivated to complete the study.

The more structured your research question is, the easier it is to determine which research design is best to test the hypothesis and statistical analysis is more straightforward. Let’s look at several examples of research questions in biomedical research: Are psychedelics more effective in the treatment of psychosis than the standard treatment? What are the opinions of young fathers on exclusive breastfeeding of their spouses? Which percentage of the population has suffered from post-COVID-19 syndrome? Intuitively, for each of posed research questions, we would try to find answers differently. In cases of comparison of treatment methods and assessment of population percentage, we could express the results quantitatively, e.g., we could state explicitly how much the psychedelics treatment is better compared to standard methods in terms of days of remission or everyday functionality or an explicit number of people in the sample who had COVID-19-related symptoms. On the other hand, the answers to the question about the opinions of young fathers about exclusive breastfeeding are not straightforward or numerical, but more textual and descriptive. It is an example of the research question that would be more suitable for qualitative research. Qualitative and quantitative study designs answer different types of research questions and are therefore suitable for different situations. It is important to carefully consider and choose the most appropriate study design for your research question because only then can you get valid answers.

To conclude, research question development is the crucial factor in setting research direction. Although framed as a single sentence, it defines numerous parts of the research process, from research design to data analysis. On the other hand, non-research factors also have an equal role in research questions and need to be considered.

Literature Search

In a literature search, researchers go through the relevant information sources to systematically collect information, i.e. foreground knowledge, about a specific research phenomenon and/or procedure. While research information is readily available online not only to researchers but to the whole public, the skill of systematic literature search and critical appraisal of evidence is a specific research skill. A literature search is closely tied with the development of the research aim, because you may want to change it after you read about previous research.

When doing a literature search, you must be careful not to omit previous studies about the topic. Here we have two directions that must be balanced. The first one is to do a very precise search to find specific answers, and the other one is to perform a wide, sensitive search that will include many synonyms and combinations of words to discover articles that related to a specific term. Both of those approaches have their advantages and disadvantages: a precise search is less time-consuming and retrieves a small number of studies. However, it may omit important results, so you may end up performing studies for which we already have established conclusions. This creates waste in research because you will spend time and resources, and involve participants in unnecessary work, which would be unethical. You may also miss citing important studies. On the other hand, if you perform a search that is too wide, you will spend a lot of time filtering for useful articles, which leaves less time for doing research.

Researchers design, carry out, analyze and document research in a careful and well-considered manner.

Researchers report their results in a way that is compatible with the standards of the discipline and, where applicable, can be verified and reproduced.

What Is the Optimal Study Design for My Research?

Study designs are one of the main heuristics related to the reader’s perception of the credibility of research information. Also, different study designs give answers to different research questions. It is intuitively easy to understand that different approaches should be taken if the question is about the percentage of infected people in the population vs about which drug is the most effective in the treatment of the disease. The roughest categorization of the study designs is observational and experimental (Box 3.1 ). However, in different scientific areas, even that type of categorization is not enough, since study designs can be theoretical, as in physics or mathematics, or critical, as in humanities, and those types of research will not be covered in this chapter.

Box 3.1 Types of Study Designs

Observational study designs :.

Case study / case series / qualitative study : All three types of study designs take into account a small number of participants and examine the phenomenon of interest in-depth but cannot make generalizations about the entire population.

Case-control study : Individuals with a certain outcome or disease are selected and then information is obtained on whether the subjects have been exposed to the factor under investigation more frequently than the carefully selected controls. This approach is quick and cost-effective in the determination of factors related to specific states (e.g., risk factors), but it relies too much on records and/or self-report, which may be biased.

Cross-sectional study : Best study design for determining the prevalence and examination of relationships between variables that exist in the population at a specific time. Although it is simple to perform, and relatively cheap, it is susceptible to various types of bias related to participant selection, recall bias, and potential differences in group sizes.

Cohort study : Participants are followed over a certain period (retrospectively or prospectively) and data are compared between exposed and unexposed groups to determine predictive factors for the phenomenon of interest.

Experimental study designs :

Randomized controlled trial (RCT) : Participants are allocated to treatment or control groups using randomization procedures to test the strength of the interventions.

Quasi-experimental trial : Participants are allocated to treatment or control groups to test the strengths of the interventions, but there is no randomization procedure.

For some research areas (e.g. health sciences, social sciences), there is another type of research often referred to as evidence synthesis, or literature review. The literature review is a review of evidence-based on a formulated research question and elements. They differ in their scope and methodology (Box 3.2 ).

Box 3.2 Most Common Types of Review

Systematic review : A type of review that searches systematically for, appraises, and synthesizes research evidence, often adhering to guidelines on the conduct of a review.

Scoping review : Type of review which serves as a preliminary assessment of the potential size and scope of available research literature to identify the nature and extent of research evidence (usually including ongoing research).

Meta-analysis : Statistical synthesis of the results from quantitative studies to provide a more precise effect of the results.

Rapid review : A type of review that assesses what is already known about a policy or practice issue, by using systematic review methods to quickly search and critically appraise existing research to inform practical steps.

Umbrella review : Specific type of review that searches and assesses compiling evidence from multiple reviews into one accessible and usable document. Focuses on broad conditions or problems for which there are competing interventions and highlights reviews that address these interventions and their results.

How to Assess which Study Design Is Most Suitable for Your Research Question?

Based on the research aim, one may already get a hint about which study design will be applied, since different study designs give answers to different research questions. However, very often a research question is not so straightforward. Sometimes the research aim could be to determine whether category X is superior to category Y, related to the specific outcome. In those cases, one must determine what the core outcome of the study is (e.g., testing of the effectiveness of two interventions, the scores on current differences between two groups, or the changes over time between different groups), and then it is not difficult to determine the study type in question. In principle, a single research question can be answered with a single study design. However, what we can also use are substitute study designs that can give approximate answers to the question we are asking but will never give as clear an answer as the appropriate design. For example, if we want to explore the reasons early-career researchers seek training in research integrity using a survey approach, we could list all possible answers and say to participants to choose everything that applies to them. The more appropriate study design would be to use a qualitative approach instead because in the survey approach the assumption is that we already know most of the reasons. The survey approach gives us the answer which answer is the most frequent of all. It is a subtle, but important difference. Similarly, although we can test causation using a cohort approach, the evidence for causation is never strong enough in a cohort study as it would be in an experimental study, simply because in a cohort study the researcher does not have control over the independent variable. For example, if we would test the effects of alcohol uptake on the occurrence of cancer, we would compare participants who drink versus those who do not drink to determine the incidence of cancer and make the conclusion about the association between alcohol and cancer. However, the true study design for testing the causation is the randomized controlled trial, where participants are randomized into the interventional and control group, the researcher can give an exact amount of alcohol based on persons’ weight, over a specific period, and in the end, compare the incidence between two groups. However, that type of study would not be an ethical study, so it is not possible to do it. So, there are subtle, but important differences which answer whether can specific and good formulated research questions can be tested and answered fully with only one study design, but due to the various reasons (time restrictions, ethics, cost-benefit analysis) we often use substitute study designs.

When describing people involved in the research process, researchers often refer to them as “participants” or “respondents” (in the case of surveys). A more precise term would be to name the group based on the population they are drawn from (children, people with specific diseases, or people from a specific geographical area). The appropriate term to use would be “participants”, since people are willingly involved in the research process, and the generation of new findings depends on them. Being a participant in a research process means that a person has willingly entered into a research, without any real or imagined coercion, possesses respect and interest for the research topic, with the understanding that positive aspects of research findings encompass the research situation and contribute to general knowledge. This would be a definition of an ideal participant and the researcher should avoid a situation where the participants are coerced to enter research, whether by situational factors or personal reasons because that will probably result in a decrease in motivation for participation and lower quality of research findings. To act ethically and to improve the quality of the research you have to inform participants about the reasons for the study, its purpose, research procedure, their rights, and expected outcomes. A potential pitfall in the research process can happen if all information were not given to participants at the beginning of a research. On the other hand, if a participant enters willingly into the trial, but possesses no real interest in the research topic, it may also affect the motivation for participation in research, because those participants may consider the topic irrelevant and not take the research process seriously (it is easy to imagine a situation where teenagers in a classroom willingly decide to take the survey and participate in research about personality traits, but quickly lose interest after the second page of the questionnaire). All those things are not reflected in the research report but may have an enormous influence on the research findings. Therefore, it is important to define the population of interest and try to motivate participants by providing them with all information before the research begins. Some additional ways to increase participant retention are financial rewards or similar incentives. There are several sampling strategies used when approaching participants for a study (Box 3.3 ).

Box 3.3 Most Common Sampling Methods

Simple random sampling : Each member of the defined population has an equal chance of being included in the study. The sampling is often performed by a coin toss, throwing dice, or (most commonly) using a computer program.

Stratified random sampling : The population of interest is first divided into strata (subgroups) and then we perform random sampling from each subgroup. In this way, the sample with better reflects the target population in specific (relevant) characteristics.

Cluster random sampling : In cluster sampling, the parts of the population (subgroups) are used as sampling units instead of individuals.

Systematic sampling : Participants are selected by equal intervals set before the data collection begins (e.g., every third of every fifth participant who enters the hospital).

Convenience sampling : Participants are approached based on availability. This is perhaps the most common sampling method, especially for survey research.

Purposive sampling : This is the most common approach in qualitative study designs. Researchers choose participants (or they define their characteristics in detail), based on their needs since participants with those special characteristics are the research topic.

It is difficult to give clear criteria on when to stop collecting data. In the case of pre-registered studies, the stopping rule is defined in the protocol. Examples include time restrictions (e.g. 1 month), or the number of participants (e.g. after collecting data on 100 participants). If the research protocol has not been pre-registered, then the stopping rule should be explained in detail in the publication, with reasons. In the latter case, it is never completely clear if the stopping happened after researchers encountered the desired result or if it has been planned. The practice of stopping after you collect sufficient data to support your desired hypothesis is highly unethical since it can lead to biased findings. Therefore, the best way of deciding to terminate the data collection is to pre-register your study, or at least define the desired number of participants by performing sample size calculation before the study begins and pre-registering your study. More about pre-registration and biases which it eliminates will be said later in the chapter.

Ethics of the Sample Size: Too Small and Too Big Samples

A common problem in sampling is that researchers often determine the desired number of participants in a study. The problem is that the response rate is always lower than 100% (in survey research it is often around 15–20%), and a certain percentage of participants drops out of research, resulting in a sample size significantly lower than initially planned. The sample used in research can be too small, and there is a possibility that you will not find a true effect between groups, and in that case, you would make a type II error. The reason is that in small-scale studies the error margin is big, and you would need an extremely large effect size to reach statistical significance. On the other hand, in cases of a big sample, the problem is different. If you have big samples, even small effects will be statistically significant, but the effect size may be negligible. The reason is that within big samples, the margin of error is small, and consequently, every difference is statistically significant. Once again, the proper solution (practically and ethically) for this issue is to calculate the minimum sample size needed to determine the desired difference between groups to avoid the issues with small samples and report effect sizes also, to avoid issues related to (too) big samples.

What We Can and What Cannot Measure?

When it comes to measuring in research, that part is mostly associated with statistical analysis of research data. The principal thing in statistical analysis is to determine the nature of the main outcome variable. In qualitative research (e.g. interview, focus group) or a systematic review without meta-analysis, statistical analysis is not necessary. On the other hand, for quantitative studies (a term often used for mostly case-control, cross-sectional, cohort, and interventional studies) the most important part of the research plan is to define the outcome which can be measured.

In general, there are two types of variables: qualitative and quantitative. When it comes to statistical analysis of qualitative variables (in a statistical context you will encounter the terms nominal and ordinal variables), we can do only basic functions, like counting and comparing the proportions between different groups, but we are not able to calculate mean or standard deviation, because those variables do not possess numerical characteristics. Examples of qualitative variables in research can be the number of surviving patients in a group at the end of the trial, self-reported socioeconomic status as a demographic characteristic, or any binary (yes/no) question in a questionnaire. In some cases, qualitative variables may be coded with numbers, but that does not make them quantitative. A good example is jersey numbers where numbers serve only as a label and not as a measure of quantity (e.g. if you have team player numbers 2, 4, 6, you probably will not state that the average jersey number is 4 because the very concept of the “average” jersey number is absurd). On the other hand, for quantitative variables, differences between numbers indicate the differences in value (e.g. if you say that person X is 1.80 m high, you know that that person is taller than person Y who is 1.70 m tall). You can also calculate different statistical parameters, like mean and median, and dispersion measures, which gives you a more flexible approach in the choice of statistical tests, especially those tests for differences between groups. On the other hand, applying statistical tests would mean that you are more familiar with statistics, which sometimes may present a problem for less (and more) experienced researchers.

When Is the Time to Consult with a Statistician (and Do You Have to)?

Some (lucky) researchers possess sufficient knowledge to perform data analysis themselves. They usually do not need to rely on somebody else to do the statistical analysis for their study. For everybody else, statistical analysis is a crossroad where one needs to decide on including a person with statistical knowledge in a research team or to learn statistical analyses by themselves. The usual process is that the research team defines the research aim, spends time collecting data, collects data, and then tries to find a statistician who will analyse the data. If we keep in mind that research often has high stakes (e.g. doctoral diploma) and researchers are under a great time and financial pressure, the decision to include a statistician is sound and logical, but is it really necessary? The inclusion of a statistician in research when the data are already collected is similar to the situation when you give a cook an already finished stew and ask him/her how it can be improved. The cook may help with the decorations and give some spice which would make the food look and taste better but cannot change the essence of the food since it is already cooked. It is the same with data. The golden rule of statistics is “garbage in, garbage out”, referring to a situation where poorly collected data or data of poor quality will give rise to wrong conclusions. Researchers should know statistics, not only because of the statistical analysis but because statistical reasoning is important in the formulation of measurable research aims. Therefore, statistical analysis is an important part of responsible research and begins with the formulation of the research aim. Statistical experts should be included in the study at that point.

Statisticians usually analyse data based on the initially set research aim. They send back the results of the data analysis to the research team, and they all together (in an ideal scenario) write the manuscript. The dataset remains in the possession of the principal researcher and the paper is published in a journal. Many journals and funders require that the data are publicly available so that anyone can use it, respecting the FAIR principles. Keeping that in mind, the process when somebody else is doing statistical analysis for you requires an enormous level of trust for statisticians, because they can do analysis wrong but you may never know it. Unless, of course, someone else analyses publicly available data and sees the error. In that case, you are also responsible for the analysis because it does not matter that you did not perform it. In some cases, this may lead to the retraction of the paper, which consequently may lead to certain consequences for you (especially if the articles are the basis for a doctoral thesis). If you are willing to put trust in someone to do data analysis, that is perfectly fine, just be aware of this risk, and remember that people make mistakes, very often unintentionally, and therefore a double check by a third party would be recommended.

On the other hand, if you are willing to learn how to do statistical analysis, the good news is that today there are lots of resources to help you. The first thing about statistics you need to know is that you do not need to know all statistics to do statistics. The only knowledge about statistics and statistical programs you need is the one that would help you do the analysis of your research aim and test the research hypothesis. To do that, you will have to see the data you have and search online for ways to analyze a specific problem. You can use tutorials of the statistical program that simultaneously give instructions about the statistical principles and procedures for analysis. Today, most of those programs have online videos and detailed tutorials. Some of those programs are user-friendly and free (e.g., JAMOVI or JASP ), some are commercial (e.g., SPSS, Statistica), and some are less user-friendly but free and available (e.g., R programming language ). If you are a beginner, use a more user-friendly program that has detailed instructions and try to do the statistical analysis by yourself. It is expected that you will make errors, so it would be good if someone more experienced looked at the results and provides feedback on your first attempts.

There are many tutorials on how to do statistical analysis, but far less on how to do proper data entry, which is the preparation of data for statistical analysis. Usually, the data entry table is made in a computer program that provides a tabular view of the data (e.g., Microsoft Excel). The golden rule is that each column represents a variable collected in research, by the order it was collected in the research and that each row represents the unit of the analysis (usually participant, text, article, or any other unit). In a separate sheet or a document, there should be a codebook that contains information about each level of each variable in the dataset, in a way that a person who is not familiar with research can understand the nature of the variable. The codebook should always accompany the dataset, so if the dataset is shared publicly, the codebook should also be shared. The rule of thumb for the data entry is that textual variables are entered as texts and quantitative variables as numbers, and textual variables can later be coded with numbers if necessary. The table for data entry should be made before the research begins, and it is good to seek help from a statistician when defining that, too.

Researchers publish results and interpretations of research in an open, honest, transparent, and accurate manner, and respect the confidentiality of data or findings when legitimately required to do so.

Preregistration of Research Findings

Pre-registration refers to the presentation of the research plan before the research begins. This process serves as the quality control mechanism because it prevents a change in the research hypothesis and methodology to fit the data collected. Pre-registration of research findings should be done after the research has been approved by the ethics committee. There are various registries, some of which are more discipline-specific (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov for clinical studies) while others are open to different disciplines and study designs (e.g., Open Science Framework ). For the pre-registration of a study, one should clearly define all steps related to the research aim, methods, planned analysis, and planned use of data. Pre-registration of data is nothing more than the public sharing of a research plan. However, even that relatively simple procedure helps eliminate specific biases and decreases the probability of unethical behavior. Pre-registration eliminates the problem of h ypothesizing a fter the r esults are k nown (so-called HARKing) because you need to state your hypothesis publicly before the research begins. Pre-registration should be done before the actual research begins, since you may have already collected the data and modified your hypothesis so that it fits your data (this is called PARKing – p re-registering a fter the r esults are k nown), which should be avoided since it is not a true pre-registration.

Why is pre-registration good for research? When a study is pre-registered, researchers will follow the research plan and planned analysis and will not alter the study protocol and statistical analysis unless there is a valid and strong reason for protocol modification. Many journals today require that studies are pre-registered and that research data are shared. It is recommended to pre-register not only the study aim and methods, planned analysis, but also planned impact, data use, and authorship. When pre-registering authorship, you make clear from the beginning of the study the roles and expectations of each member of the research team. If during the research process some changes happen with the study protocol, those should be clearly explained and pointed out in the final publication, because deviations from the protocol can sometimes bring suspicion in the interpretation of the results if they are not reported. Pre-registration can be peer-reviewed and some problems, which would affect the final interpretation of the results, can be addressed even before the study begins. Finally, when pre-registered, you have the evidence that it was you who came up first with a specific research idea.

One problem that pre-registration cannot prevent is research spin or exaggeration in the scope of study results. Even if data have been carefully collected and properly analyzed, the interpretation of the results is up to the researcher. You should be honest (and modest) when interpreting the results of your study, by stating the true magnitude of your results and putting them in the context of the previous studies.

After the research has been published, the data used in research should be made available to everyone who wants to use them, since data sharing helps research replication and evidence synthesis. You can read more about data sharing in the chapter on Data Management and the chapter on Publication and Dissemination.

With this knowledge in mind, how would you improve the research procedure from the case scenario at the beginning of this chapter?

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AllTrials campaign: https://embassy.science/wiki/Theme:0bb5e4f7-9336-4ca8-92e3-c506413d1450

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Buljan, I. (2023). Research Procedures. In: Marusic, A. (eds) A Guide to Responsible Research. Collaborative Bioethics, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22412-6_3

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Research Process

Dissertation markers expect you to include the explanation of research process in methodology chapter. A typical research process comprises the following stages:

1. Selecting the research area . Your dissertation marker expects you to state that you have selected the research area due to professional and personal interests in the area and this statement must be true. Students often underestimate the importance of this first stage in the research process. If you find a research area and research problem that is genuinely interesting to you it is for sure that the whole process of writing your dissertation will be much easier. Therefore, it is never too early to start thinking about the research area for your dissertation.

2. Formulating research aim, objectives and research questions or developing hypotheses . The choice between the formulation of research questions and the development of hypotheses depends on your research approach as it is discussed further below in more details. Appropriate research aims and objectives or hypotheses usually result from several attempts and revisions.

Accordingly, you need to mention in your dissertation that you have revised your research aims and objectives or hypotheses during the research process several times to get their final versions. It is critically important that you get confirmation from your supervisor regarding your research questions or hypotheses before moving forward with the work.

3. Conducting the literature review . Literature review is usually the longest stage in the research process. Actually, the literature review starts even before the formulation of research aims and objective. This is because you have to check if exactly the same research problem has been addressed before and this task is a part of the literature review. Nevertheless, you will conduct the main part of the literature review after the formulation of research aim and objectives. You have to use a wide range of secondary data sources such as books, newspapers, magazines, journals, online articles etc.

4. Selecting data collection methods . Data collection method(s) need to be selected on the basis of critically analyzing advantages and disadvantages associated with several alternative methods. In studies involving primary data collection, you need to write about advantages and disadvantages of selected primary data collection method(s) in detailed manner in methodology.

5. Collecting the primary data . You will have to start primary data collection only after detailed preparation. Sampling is an important element of this stage. You may have to conduct pilot data collection if you chose questionnaire primary data collection method. Primary data collection is not a compulsory stage for all dissertations and you will skip this stage if you are conducting a desk-based research.

6. Data analysis . Analysis of data plays an important role in the achievement of research aim and objectives. This stage involves an extensive editing and coding of data. Data analysis methods vary between secondary and primary studies, as well as, between qualitative and quantitative studies. In data analysis coding of primary data plays an instrumental role to reduce sample group responses to a more manageable form for storage and future processing. Data analysis is discussed in Chapter 6 in great details.

7. Reaching conclusions . Conclusions relate to the level of achievement of research aims and objectives. In this final part of your dissertation you will have to justify why you think that research aims and objectives have been achieved. Conclusions also need to cover research limitations and suggestions for future research .

8. Completing the research . Following all of the stages described above, and organizing separate chapters into one file leads to the completion of the first draft. You need to prepare the first draft of your dissertation at least one month before the submission deadline. This is because you will need to have sufficient amount of time to address feedback to be provided by your supervisor.

Individual stages in the research process outlined above are interdependent and the sequence has to be maintained. Moreover, the process of any research tends to be iterative, meaning that you may have to return back to the previous stages of the research process several times for revisions and improvement. In other words, no stage of the research process is fully completed until the whole dissertation is completed.

John Dudovskiy

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Conducting research.

• The Process
• Step 1: Exploring an idea
• Step 2: Finding background info.
• Step 3: Finding Print/E-Books
• Step 4: Finding Articles (Current Research)
• Step 5: Evaluating your sources
• Step 6: Citing your sources
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• Research in the Humanities
• Research in the Social Sciences
• Research in the Sciences

The Research Process

If you have any questions, please reach out to a Subject Librarian.

The Research Process can be broken up into many steps. For the purposes of this guide, it has been broken into six (6) steps:

• Exploring an Idea
• Finding Background Information
• Gathering More Information
• Locating Current Research
• Evaluating your Sources
• Citing your Sources

Additionally, the guide also provides information on conducting research in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences.

• Next: Step 1: Exploring an idea >>
• Last Updated: Aug 14, 2024 7:12 AM
• URL: https://libguides.wustl.edu/research

Basic Steps in the Research Process

The following steps outline a simple and effective strategy for writing a research paper. Depending on your familiarity with the topic and the challenges you encounter along the way, you may need to rearrange these steps.

Step 1: Identify and develop your topic

Selecting a topic can be the most challenging part of a research assignment. Since this is the very first step in writing a paper, it is vital that it be done correctly. Here are some tips for selecting a topic:

• Select a topic within the parameters set by the assignment. Many times your instructor will give you clear guidelines as to what you can and cannot write about. Failure to work within these guidelines may result in your proposed paper being deemed unacceptable by your instructor.
• Select a topic of personal interest to you and learn more about it. The research for and writing of a paper will be more enjoyable if you are writing about something that you find interesting.
• Select a topic for which you can find a manageable amount of information. Do a preliminary search of information sources to determine whether existing sources will meet your needs. If you find too much information, you may need to narrow your topic; if you find too little, you may need to broaden your topic.
• Be original. Your instructor reads hundreds of research papers every year, and many of them are on the same topics (topics in the news at the time, controversial issues, subjects for which there is ample and easily accessed information). Stand out from your classmates by selecting an interesting and off-the-beaten-path topic.
• Still can't come up with a topic to write about? See your instructor for advice.

Once you have identified your topic, it may help to state it as a question. For example, if you are interested in finding out about the epidemic of obesity in the American population, you might pose the question "What are the causes of obesity in America ?" By posing your subject as a question you can more easily identify the main concepts or keywords to be used in your research.

Step 2 : Do a preliminary search for information

Before beginning your research in earnest, do a preliminary search to determine whether there is enough information out there for your needs and to set the context of your research. Look up your keywords in the appropriate titles in the library's Reference collection (such as encyclopedias and dictionaries) and in other sources such as our catalog of books, periodical databases, and Internet search engines. Additional background information may be found in your lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve readings. You may find it necessary to adjust the focus of your topic in light of the resources available to you.

Step 3: Locate materials

With the direction of your research now clear to you, you can begin locating material on your topic. There are a number of places you can look for information:

If you are looking for books, do a subject search in One Search . A Keyword search can be performed if the subject search doesn't yield enough information. Print or write down the citation information (author, title,etc.) and the location (call number and collection) of the item(s). Note the circulation status. When you locate the book on the shelf, look at the books located nearby; similar items are always shelved in the same area. The Aleph catalog also indexes the library's audio-visual holdings.

Use the library's  electronic periodical databases  to find magazine and newspaper articles. Choose the databases and formats best suited to your particular topic; ask at the librarian at the Reference Desk if you need help figuring out which database best meets your needs. Many of the articles in the databases are available in full-text format.

Use search engines ( Google ,  Yahoo , etc.) and subject directories to locate materials on the Internet. Check the  Internet Resources  section of the NHCC Library web site for helpful subject links.

Step 4: Evaluate your sources

See the  CARS Checklist for Information Quality   for tips on evaluating the authority and quality of the information you have located. Your instructor expects that you will provide credible, truthful, and reliable information and you have every right to expect that the sources you use are providing the same. This step is especially important when using Internet resources, many of which are regarded as less than reliable.

Step 5: Make notes

Consult the resources you have chosen and note the information that will be useful in your paper. Be sure to document all the sources you consult, even if you there is a chance you may not use that particular source. The author, title, publisher, URL, and other information will be needed later when creating a bibliography.

Step 6: Write your paper

Begin by organizing the information you have collected. The next step is the rough draft, wherein you get your ideas on paper in an unfinished fashion. This step will help you organize your ideas and determine the form your final paper will take. After this, you will revise the draft as many times as you think necessary to create a final product to turn in to your instructor.

Step 7: Cite your sources properly

Give credit where credit is due; cite your sources.

Citing or documenting the sources used in your research serves two purposes: it gives proper credit to the authors of the materials used, and it allows those who are reading your work to duplicate your research and locate the sources that you have listed as references. The  MLA  and the  APA  Styles are two popular citation formats.

Failure to cite your sources properly is plagiarism. Plagiarism is avoidable!

Step 8: Proofread

The final step in the process is to proofread the paper you have created. Read through the text and check for any errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Make sure the sources you used are cited properly. Make sure the message that you want to get across to the reader has been thoroughly stated.

Additional research tips:

• Work from the general to the specific -- find background information first, then use more specific sources.
• Don't forget print sources -- many times print materials are more easily accessed and every bit as helpful as online resources.
• The library has books on the topic of writing research papers at call number area LB 2369.
• If you have questions about the assignment, ask your instructor.
• If you have any questions about finding information in the library, ask the librarian.

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A Beginner's Guide to Starting the Research Process

When you have to write a thesis or dissertation , it can be hard to know where to begin, but there are some clear steps you can follow.

The research process often begins with a very broad idea for a topic you’d like to know more about. You do some preliminary research to identify a  problem . After refining your research questions , you can lay out the foundations of your research design , leading to a proposal that outlines your ideas and plans.

This article takes you through the first steps of the research process, helping you narrow down your ideas and build up a strong foundation for your research project.

Table of contents

Step 1: choose your topic, step 2: identify a problem, step 3: formulate research questions, step 4: create a research design, step 5: write a research proposal.

First you have to come up with some ideas. Your thesis or dissertation topic can start out very broad. Think about the general area or field you’re interested in—maybe you already have specific research interests based on classes you’ve taken, or maybe you had to consider your topic when applying to graduate school and writing a statement of purpose .

Even if you already have a good sense of your topic, you’ll need to read widely to build background knowledge and begin narrowing down your ideas. Conduct an initial literature review to begin gathering relevant sources. As you read, take notes and try to identify problems, questions, debates, contradictions and gaps. Your aim is to narrow down from a broad area of interest to a specific niche.

Make sure to consider the practicalities: the requirements of your programme, the amount of time you have to complete the research, and how difficult it will be to access sources and data on the topic. Before moving onto the next stage, it’s a good idea to discuss the topic with your thesis supervisor.

>>Read more about narrowing down a research topic

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So you’ve settled on a topic and found a niche—but what exactly will your research investigate, and why does it matter? To give your project focus and purpose, you have to define a research problem .

The problem might be a practical issue—for example, a process or practice that isn’t working well, an area of concern in an organization’s performance, or a difficulty faced by a specific group of people in society.

Alternatively, you might choose to investigate a theoretical problem—for example, an underexplored phenomenon or relationship, a contradiction between different models or theories, or an unresolved debate among scholars.

To put the problem in context and set your objectives, you can write a problem statement . This describes who the problem affects, why research is needed, and how your research project will contribute to solving it.

>>Read more about defining a research problem

Next, based on the problem statement, you need to write one or more research questions . These target exactly what you want to find out. They might focus on describing, comparing, evaluating, or explaining the research problem.

A strong research question should be specific enough that you can answer it thoroughly using appropriate qualitative or quantitative research methods. It should also be complex enough to require in-depth investigation, analysis, and argument. Questions that can be answered with “yes/no” or with easily available facts are not complex enough for a thesis or dissertation.

In some types of research, at this stage you might also have to develop a conceptual framework and testable hypotheses .

>>See research question examples

The research design is a practical framework for answering your research questions. It involves making decisions about the type of data you need, the methods you’ll use to collect and analyze it, and the location and timescale of your research.

There are often many possible paths you can take to answering your questions. The decisions you make will partly be based on your priorities. For example, do you want to determine causes and effects, draw generalizable conclusions, or understand the details of a specific context?

You need to decide whether you will use primary or secondary data and qualitative or quantitative methods . You also need to determine the specific tools, procedures, and materials you’ll use to collect and analyze your data, as well as your criteria for selecting participants or sources.

>>Read more about creating a research design

Finally, after completing these steps, you are ready to complete a research proposal . The proposal outlines the context, relevance, purpose, and plan of your research.

As well as outlining the background, problem statement, and research questions, the proposal should also include a literature review that shows how your project will fit into existing work on the topic. The research design section describes your approach and explains exactly what you will do.

You might have to get the proposal approved by your supervisor before you get started, and it will guide the process of writing your thesis or dissertation.

>>Read more about writing a research proposal

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Research can be the thing that makes or breaks a project. Whether it's an essay, a presentation, or an important scientific endeavor, without thorough research, it's likely that the work will fall flat. With that in mind, how do we ensure that our research process is effective? 

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Is it possible to use both qualitative and quantitative research methods during the research process, or do you need to choose only one type?

What should you link your data analysis back to when interpreting your findings?

Which of these is NOT an example of a research question?

Define "hypothesis".

List three kinds of digital resources.

Why is the research process important?

Which of these descriptions best fits the term “research process”?

Briefly describe the two types of research.

Which of these research methods can be found in both qualitative and quantitative research?

What type of research do these research methods belong to?

• scientific experimentation
• questionnaires
• statistical analysis

What are the six key steps of the research process?

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In this explanation, we'll cover the research process from top to bottom, learning all the details about implementing effective and carefully considered research. By the end of this article, you'll have the tools necessary to smash any research project!

Research Process Definition

Before we dive head-first into the details, let's start with a definition of the research process :

The r esearch process is a set of ordered steps a researcher takes to ensure that all parts of an investigation are completed to a high standard. Following the research process allows the researcher to cover all angles and ensure that the information they gather is reliable and effectively presented.

Once a researcher has completed all the research process steps, they can write up their findings appropriately.

Research Process Steps

We know that the research process is about ensuring research is completed effectively and appropriately. But how can you make sure you don't forget any important aspects of the research process?

The key steps to think about are as follows:

• Identify the purpose or research question
• Design a research plan
• Collect the required data
• Interpret the collected data
• Present the research findings

By following these five ordered research process steps, you'll ensure your research is complete.

Research Writing Process

In this section, we'll delve deeper into each step of the research writing process listed above. We'll also look at some tips for how to approach writing your research project.

Identify Your Purpose

Before researching a topic, you need to know what information you want to find out. There's no point simply Googling "Ernest Hemingway" when what you're specifically interested in is the effects of the narrative perspective used in his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls .

Identifying your brief or devising a research question is vital to ensure you are looking for the right information and not being too broad. This will also help you find information that is relevant and helpful for your investigation.

A research question is a targeted and specific question that sets the basis for your research.

How has the development of technology impacted our language use?

A hypothesis is an idea or proposition used as a basis for research, which sets a foundation for further investigation. A hypothesis is an idea that is not necessarily assumed to be correct but is simply used as a basis for further exploration.

For example: "Younger people are more likely to use acronyms when communicating using social media than older people."

Not all types of research will require a hypothesis – for example, literature-based research. However, things like scientific research or other kinds of primary research (research where you are contributing your own ideas to the field) may require one.

Design a Research Plan

It's now time to design your research plan. Before you begin your research, you'll need to consider the type of research you'll undertake, i.e., qualitative or quantitative, and whether you'll create new research (primary) or conduct research by analyzing the research of others (secondary). You must also decide what types of sources you might use. We'll also discuss ethical research processes.

Research Types

There are two key types of research: Qualitative and Quantitative:

Qualitative research is concerned with investigating opinions, values, or characteristics that cannot be counted or quantified. Qualitative research is generally holistic in approach and provides more descriptive data.

• Observations
• Focus groups
• Questionnaires (with open-ended questions)
• Literature reviews

On the other hand,

Quantitative research is concerned with statistics, facts, and values that can be counted or quantified. Quantitative data is often numerical and often used to map correlations and patterns or make predictions.

• Scientific experimentation
• Questionnaires (with closed-ended questions)

Research methods are not only qualitative or quantitative but also primary or secondary. What do these terms mean?

Primary research is research that you, yourself, conduct. This could include conducting a survey or questionnaire or carrying out an observation on a participant group. Primary research produces information that can add to the existing resources on that topic.

Secondary research is when you conduct research by analyzing the research of others - this is sometimes called "desk-based" research. A literature review is an example of secondary research.

We've seen the word "source" pop up a few times, but what are these?

You'll need to consider what sources you will use in your research. The majority of research projects will require you to use a combination of primary sources and secondary sources:

Primary sources are directly linked to an event or topic – for example, photographs, artifacts, diaries, or journals. Primary sources are directly connected to an event/situation, so they're less likely to be biased.

Secondary sources are interpretations of events or topics – for example, textbooks, journal articles, and research papers. Secondary sources add context to primary sources.

Ethical Considerations of Research

Regardless of the type of research you conduct, you'll need to ensure your research is carried out ethically. Here are some considerations you should take into account:

Consent : If you involve participants in your research (such as conducting an interview or observation), you'll need their consent to participate in your study. You must also ensure their identifying information is kept confidential.

Intent : You must make the intent of your research clear. Participants should have the chance to make informed decisions about their input, and readers of your research should not be misled about its purpose.

Relevance : Your research methods should be necessary and relevant. There is no point wasting time and resources conducting research that does not further your study.

Bias : When researching, you should remain impartial and should look for secondary resources that are impartial too. Using materials that are biased can lead to skewed results and unsubstantiated arguments.

Referencing: ALWAYS reference your research to avoid plagiarism and give proper credit to the original writers of your secondary sources. You should use the proper in-text citations and should include a bibliography or reference list at the end of your paper.

Collect the Required Data

The data collection process can be split into two sub-categories.

Firstly, you must collect secondary research data by conducting your own research based on primary and secondary sources that already exist. These existing sources could include journal articles, news articles, textbooks, and literary works.

In some cases, your data collection may end here, and you could move on to interpreting your findings. However, you may need to conduct primary research as well.

Your primary research could include conducting surveys , interviews, or questionnaires, among other qualitative and quantitative research methods. When conducting primary research, you must remain ethical and keep clear records of your data for analysis.

Interpret the Collected Data

To interpret your findings, you should organize them so that the data relates to a certain point or argument. By doing this, you'll be able to see how your collected data supports, disproves or influences the research question or hypothesis made in the beginning.

Your evidence might show something different from what your research question or hypothesis suggested – that's ok.

You can analyze the data to see what conclusions can be drawn. In other words, explore the data you collected to understand what it means or suggests.

Suppose you were investigating the impact of social media on language use. In that case, you might have conducted a range of surveys and questionnaires to gain data on how your participants use language via social media. These surveys and questionnaires are your primary sources. You might also have researched the effects of social media on language use using secondary sources such as existing articles and research papers on the subject. By collating this collected data, you could pick out patterns across your participant group (such as people using more acronyms such as LOL and BRB when instant messaging). You could then use your secondary research to suggest reasons for these patterns.

Present Findings

It's finally time to create your final report or presentation on your findings. Whether your project is an essay or a visual presentation, you need to carefully consider how to portray your results and conclusion so that they are easy to follow.

Think about what you want your reader or audience to understand from the research and how the data you collected supports this. Make sure your conclusion is decisive and backed up with appropriate evidence.

A good way to ensure you have supported your argument or investigation sufficiently is to use the PEEL method in each paragraph:

Point : Make the point, or state the argument you want to discuss.

Evidence : Provide evidence to support your argument or point.

Explanation : Explain how and why the evidence backs up what you are saying.

Link : Provide a link to your next paragraph, where you make your next point.

An effective way of presenting visual data is with charts and graphs.

For example, out of 100 participants, 40 said they use more acronyms on social media than when using other forms of written communication.

Referencing

References and citations are so important. You must reference and cite your work correctly and fully. Some standard referencing formats include MLA, Chicago, and APA, but you should check with your teacher which one to use.

Referencing is essential as it gives credit to the people who have written the secondary resources you use in your research and acknowledges when you've used an idea that isn't your own. It also contextualizes your work and shows how extensive your research has been. Finally, referencing will stop you from being pulled up for plagiarism.

Research Process Example

Now you have a good idea of how the research process works, let's look at an example:

1.) Identify the research question.

How does language use differ between 18-26-year-olds and 45-60-year-olds using social media?

2.) Formulate a hypothesis (this step will only be necessary for primary research or scientific research).

Younger people are more likely to use social media for communication and are more likely to use short-form language such as abbreviations and acronyms.

3.) Design a research plan.

A research plan for this investigation could include:

• Selecting two groups of participants that match the research criteria, gaining their consent to be included in the study
• Use qualitative research methods, such as interviews, to gather data on different variables.
• Consider how to record the data (e.g., detailed notes from secondary research and collating questionnaire and survey answers).

4.) Collect the required data.

Use a range of primary and secondary sources to conduct secondary research and conduct a semi-structured interview to gain primary qualitative data. Record this data in an organized and meaningful way.

5.) Interpret the data.

Use your secondary research knowledge to help analyze the results gained from your primary research. Link your analysis back to your research question and hypothesis, drawing a conclusion that is backed up by evidence found during your investigation.

6.) Present your findings.

This research could be reported in an essay or turned into a visual presentation using graphs and images to illustrate different points.

Research Process - Key Takeaways

• The research process is a set of ordered steps that can help you to ensure your research is complete.
• The research process is comprised of 5 steps: identifying the purpose, designing a research plan, collecting the data, interpreting the data, and reporting the findings.
• There are two key types of research with their own research methods: qualitative and quantitative research.
• A research question demonstrates the aim of the research.

Flashcards in Research Process 96

It is possible to use both.

Your hypothesis and research question

Onions create fumes that make you cry when you cut them. 

A hypothesis is an idea or proposition used as a basis for research, which sets a foundation for further investigation.

Any from this list, or any others you can think of: 

• search engines
• audio recordings

All of these answers.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Research Process

What are the steps of the research process?

The steps of the research process are: 

Identify the problem or research question.

Formulate a hypothesis.

Design a research plan.

Collect the required data.

Interpret and analyze the collected data.

Report or present the research findings.

What is the purpose of the research process?

The purpose of the research process is to ensure that all necessary steps are completed in order to gather the most accurate, reliable, and helpful information. The research process helps to focus research and make sure that all important aspects of the research are covered. 

The research process is important because it can help to bring your research to the highest possible standard. The research process allows you to see all the steps you need to complete in order for your research to be effective, allowing you to work more efficiently and in a more focused way.

What is a research question in the research process?

A research question is a carefully considered question that targets the information you want to find out during your research. This is an important part of the research process as it will help you to decide what research methods to use and what information you're specifically looking for. 

How to begin the research process?

To begin the research process, you first need to decide what information you want to find out. This is called identifying the problem or creating a research question. This will form the foundation for your research and ensure that you remain on target. 

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Program Management

5 steps in the research process overview, step 1 – locating and defining issues or problems, step 2 – designing the research project, the research design involves the following steps:, step 3 – collecting data, data collection techniques can include:, step 4 – interpreting research data, analysis steps, step 5 – report research findings, research reporting formats:, typical formal research report format, acqnotes tutorial, research process lessons learned, qualitative research in the research process, acqlinks and references:, leave a reply.

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Speaker 1: One of the most frequently asked questions that I am asked all the time across my social media platforms, across my YouTube, across my comments, is about the research process. So how do you start? Where do you even begin? You need to submit a dissertation, you need to submit a research proposal, you need to think of a hypothesis, you need to think of a problem statement, you need to find a gap in literature where do you even begin with the whole research process now it isn't as hard as it seems it's just one of those things that you're never told or you're never taught how to do it's one of those things that you just kind of figure out so hopefully in today's video i will be talking to you about the overview and kind of a quick beginner's guide to the research process, giving you the steps of how you get from zero to having something, having a question, having a hypothesis, having somewhere to start. I'm going to be making this into a bit of a series so in today's video I'm going to be giving you an overview as to the different chapters, the different sections of the process, how you get from nothing to something and then in the following videos I will be going through each of those sections in a bit more detail and hopefully if you are someone who is within one of those kind of parts you can just jump to that video and have a have a quick quick watch if you are someone who is just starting off then this is the best place for you to begin have a little think about how you're going to navigate your research process and how you're going to get from the start to the end it is not difficult but it does require a few steps, a few technicalities, which I'll talk you through today. I'll leave the timestamps down below so you feel free to go and jump to the different sections that you are interested in watching. And if you do enjoy this kind of video and you want to see the rest of the videos from me, then don't forget to subscribe to see more on my channel. So step number one is to choose a topic. Now this is the beginning of something beautiful. This is where you choose what you're actually going to be studying and when you're actually going to be reading about now it's really important that you have chosen a topic that you are interested in that there is an interest in within the research space that has something missing so you don't want to choose a topic that we know everything about you want to choose a topic that we don't know everything about and there are things that we want to try to find more about you want to choose a topic that is within your university guidelines so as much as i would love to do a research on the solar system about space well if my course is to do with cell biology well then i can't so you have to think about your limits think about what you are allowed to do within your university guidelines as well but you do need to think about taking that broad topic and making it into something a bit more narrow so it's not good enough to just say i want to do research on alzheimer's okay alzheimer's fine you've got a topic, but you now need to narrow it down. So what about it are you looking at? Are you looking at the risk factors? Are you looking at what happens once you have Alzheimer's? Are you looking at a specific group of people? Are you looking at a specific cell type? What is it that you are looking at? You need to narrow that down. In order to narrow it down, you need to do a bit of a literature search. So whilst choosing a topic, whilst in this first stage, you need to look at literature. So to find literature you want to go to different websites where you have literature and this could be for example Google Scholar is a good place to start, PubMed is a good place to start. These are places where you can find literature about that topic and kind of read around the subject and identify whether firstly is it something that you are actually interested in and secondly is there enough information for you to gather to be able to write your literature review in the future so that first step your first step of your research process is thinking about the topic because without a topic you there's nothing you can't do anything else so the first step has to always be to find a topic and think about it now once you've thought about a topic and you've narrowed it down to the thing that you're interested in at this stage you will then go to your supervisor to your lecturer to your professor to your mentor to your tutor and you will ask them do you think this is a good topic and that is where you will get some feedback and most likely you'll have to go back have another think or try to refine a bit more or try to think about it in a different way but that is always the first step. In the video that I make about finding a good topic we'll talk about it in a lot more depth but to start off with to introduce this is always the first step. So the second step is to identify a problem and this is what we like to call in as you know in research the gap in literature. So a problem slash gap in literature is the part of research that we that is missing. So when you do research in fact in order to graduate from a PhD you have to and this is one of the criteria you have to produce research it has to be in a thesis or in a in a published paper it has to be research it has to be a finding that is new something that we do not know before we did not know before your research right and that is the number one criteria for for actually getting a phd it is the fact that it has to be something new has to be something novel that you have discovered okay so you need to think about the gap in literature where is there a missing piece i understand this i understand that we know this we know that but what is there that we don't quite know and that is the bit that you are then going to try to identify during your research process right chosen a topic now we need to find the problem where is the missing information now in order to do this you need to have read a lot of papers around your topic. So that's why I said initially, you need to have had approval from your committee, from your tutor, your supervisor to say, right, that's okay. It's good for me to go there. Now you've got that topic that you're looking at. You then want to try to find the gap. Where are you going to slot in? What is it that you are going to provide in terms of knowledge? Now, the identifying a problem is actually quite an important and quite critical part of the research process it's almost impossible you to continue on with your research without having identified the problem because if you don't have a problem you don't know what it is you're looking at you don't know what methods you're using you don't know what your research question is going to be or your hypothesis so at this stage you have to have a very well-defined research problem and your question in order to continue on to the next steps so when i say research problem and we'll talk about this more in in the following video that i'm going to produce about it but when i talk about research problem it could be a number of different things so it could be that we understand or we have the knowledge of a certain situation but now you're comparing it to a different situation so it could be more theoretical where you're comparing two things to each other that haven't been compared before so that would be fine as long as what you have is something original or you may be trying to explore a specific relationship let's say for example in my case with my PhD I was looking at two different proteins and the relationship between them so that is one type of research that you can do as well and so just think about your topic and think about where the gap is in the literature you have to read a lot to be able to find this and a question I get a lot emailed to me and directed to me is about this problem so how do I find a problem like how do i find a gap in literature and it's almost impossible for me to to give you any answers because i have to have read all the papers within your topic in order to answer that question which is almost impossible so it's something that you have to do independently and you can always discuss with me you can discuss kind of trying to refine that question but for the most part you need to read around your subject yourself to get that question then step number three is to actually write down your research question now this is usually in the form maybe of a hypothesis or maybe it could be just a you know a standalone question so this is just you saying this is what i'm looking at so i'm looking at whether actin and myosin bind together to have an impact on the motility of the cortex like that is my question and then i'll have a hypothesis saying actin and myosin bind together and they do this so this is just my question and you're just following on from your problem so you've identified your topic you found the problem the gap in literature and then you write down what your question is so what it is exactly that you are looking for and this will be like your guiding star this will be the thing the question the statement that you have at the top you know at the top of your mind whenever you are looking at literature whenever you're writing a literature review whenever you speak to someone you have that question in mind and so that needs to be something that's really well defined it should also be really specific so it can't just be saying is obesity caused by i don't know fatty food i'm just giving a random example that is too vague is obesity in children in male in female different ages what fatty foods what like you need to be very very specific so specific that someone else should be able to pick up your research question and know what it is you're looking at they need to be able to know sort of what methods you're using is it qualitative or is it quantitative what type of research are you actually doing that should really be in the research question so a good research question is one where that is really well defined then step number four is to write a research design so this is where you're kind of creating a bit of a method a bit of a process within a process so you are now writing down and you're now thinking about how you're going to conduct this research so to follow this will be the research proposal but at this stage here you're just thinking about your research design so how are you going to get this research done what are the factors that you need to think about who are the people the participants that you may need are you doing a lab-based thing do you need cells are you you know what do you need humans do you need animals is it just a review paper so do you just need to think about researchers out there what kind of study are you going to conduct in order to find out the results and the answer to your question essentially the research design is a practical framework so it's giving laying out that frame for you in order to answer your research question. And here, it's more of a thinking process. It's more of a discussion. You might want to ask your supervisor, you might want to ask your tutor to talk about it. How are we going to get the answer to this question? And then to finish off the research process, you now want to write a research proposal. And I have a really good video about this, and I'll leave the link for it down below, where you are detailing all the steps for your research so you're detailing your the background of your research the literature review and you're justifying that there is a need for this research you then want to detail your methods your materials the aim your you know your timeline how long it's going to take you to do these things and then that document is what you take with you to your supervisor and say look this is my research proposal you might take it to a potential phd supervisor and say look this is what i've found and this is what i'm really interested in and here is the proposal and you have it all outlined there for you or it's a document that you're able to use in order to build upon your dissertation and so if you're writing an essay dissertation you are able to use that as well so with your research proposal you are detailing the context you are detailing the purpose the plan and your aims the whole process going from finding a topic finding a problem finding the research question defining the actual research and then now you're compiling all of that and you're putting it into a document called the research proposal and all of this information is in there someone should be able to pick that up see what you found find the review of the literature and say right this is a good study this is a good bit of research we are going to approve this and then you can go on and plan the rest of your research so i hope this video helped you summarizing the steps of the research process to begin with and as i mentioned i'm going to be doing each of these five steps as single videos so i can expand on them and i'll make it into a playlist so you're able to sort of follow up and click on the next couple videos but for now i hope this did help with thinking about the research process and thinking about maybe what stage you are at if you are at any of them if you do want further support you can contact me on thepagedoctor.com where i give support and we have a team of consultants top consultants and top editors that can support you through the process of writing your research proposal or even through the post process of thinking about how you're going to find a gap in literature how you're going to find you know your hypothesis and define that for you so don't forget to leave me a comment and let me know if this was helpful and don't forget to leave me a thumbs up and subscribe to see more from me and I'll see you in my next one. Bye.

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How to Start a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide

Starting a research paper can seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process much easier. This guide will walk you through each stage, from choosing a topic to finalizing your paper, ensuring you stay organized and focused. Whether you're new to research or looking to improve your skills, these steps will help you create a strong, well-structured paper.

Key Takeaways

• Select a topic that interests you and has enough available resources.
• Formulate a clear and focused research question to guide your study.
• Conduct a thorough literature review to understand existing research and identify gaps.
• Develop a detailed research plan with a timeline and methodology.
• Ensure proper formatting and citation to maintain academic integrity.

Choosing a Research Topic

Choosing a research topic is a crucial first step in writing a research paper. It sets the stage for your entire project, so it's important to choose wisely. Here are some steps to help you select a topic that is both interesting and feasible.

Identifying Your Interests

Start by thinking about what excites you. Pick a topic that you find fun and fulfilling. This will keep you motivated throughout your research. Make a list of subjects you enjoy and see how they can relate to your field of study. Your job will be more pleasant if you choose a topic that holds your interest.

Evaluating the Scope of the Topic

Once you have a few ideas, check if they are too broad or too narrow. A good topic should be manageable within the time you have. Ask yourself if you can cover all aspects of the topic in your thesis. For example, exploring the link between technology and mental health could be narrowed down to how WhatsApp use impacts college students' well-being.

Ensuring Availability of Resources

Before finalizing your topic, ensure that there are enough resources available. Conduct preliminary research to see if there is sufficient data and literature on your chosen topic. This step is vital as you may discover issues with your original idea or realize you have insufficient resources to explore the topic effectively. This key bit of groundwork allows you to redirect your research topic in a different, more feasible, or more relevant direction if necessary.

Formulating a Research Question

Understanding the importance of a research question.

A well-defined research question is the cornerstone of any successful research paper. It provides a clear focus and direction for your study, ensuring that your efforts are both relevant and meaningful. A strong research question helps you stay on track and avoid unnecessary detours. It also makes it easier to communicate the purpose and significance of your research to others.

Techniques for Crafting a Strong Research Question

To develop a compelling research question, start by identifying your interests and the gaps in the existing literature. Use the 5 W's: who, what, where, when, and why , to explore different aspects of your topic. This approach will help you narrow down your focus and create a question that is both specific and researchable. Additionally, consider the feasibility of your question by evaluating the availability of resources and the scope of your study.

Aligning Your Question with Objectives

Your research question should align with the objectives of your study. This means that it should be directly related to what you aim to achieve through your research. Clearly defined objectives will guide your research process and ensure that your question remains relevant throughout your study. By aligning your question with your objectives, you can produce a coherent and focused research paper that effectively addresses the problem at hand.

Conducting a Literature Review

Gathering Relevant Sources

Start by collecting sources that are related to your research topic. Use libraries, online databases, and academic journals to find books, articles, and papers. Skimming sources initially can save you time; set aside those that seem useful for a more thorough read later.

Analyzing Existing Research

Once you have gathered your sources, read through them carefully. Take notes on key points and different viewpoints. This will help you understand the current state of research in your field. Look for common themes and debates that can inform your own work.

Identifying Research Gaps

As you analyze the existing research, look for areas that haven't been explored or questions that haven't been answered. These gaps can provide a direction for your own research and make your thesis more valuable. Identifying these gaps is crucial for crafting a strong research question and ensuring your work contributes new knowledge to the field.

Developing a Research Plan

Creating a solid research plan is crucial for the success of your thesis. It helps you stay organized and ensures that you cover all necessary aspects of your research.

Writing the Thesis Introduction

Establishing context.

Starting your thesis introduction can be daunting, but it's crucial for setting the stage for your research. Establishing the context for your study helps readers understand the background and significance of your work. This section should provide a clear overview of what your thesis will cover, making it easier for readers to follow your arguments.

Crafting a Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the heart of your introduction. Typically, it is placed at the end of the introductory paragraph. This statement should succinctly present the main argument or focus of your thesis, guiding the reader on what to expect.

Justifying the Research Problem

Once you have your research question, you need to justify why it is important. Explain the significance of your research problem in the context of existing literature. Highlight the gaps your research aims to fill and how it will contribute to the field. This step is crucial for crafting a bachelor thesis that stands out.

Structuring the Research Paper

Organizing sections.

A well-structured research paper is essential for clarity and coherence. Start by dividing your paper into key sections: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Each section should serve a specific purpose and contribute to the overall argument of your paper. Organize your research by identifying main topics and subtopics, gathering relevant sources, and summarizing key points. This will help you maintain a logical flow throughout your paper.

Ensuring Logical Flow

Ensuring a logical flow between sections and paragraphs is crucial. Use transitions to connect ideas and guide the reader through your arguments. Each paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea, followed by supporting evidence and analysis. This approach not only enhances readability but also strengthens your argument.

Maintaining Coherence

Coherence is achieved when all parts of your paper work together to support your thesis statement. To maintain coherence, make sure each section and paragraph aligns with your research objectives. Regularly review your work to ensure that your ideas are presented logically and that your voice remains dominant. Cite sources carefully to avoid plagiarism and to give credit to the original authors.

Data Collection and Analysis

Choosing data collection methods.

Selecting the right data collection methods is crucial for the success of your research. Data collection is the process of gathering, measuring, and analyzing accurate data. Consider methods such as surveys, interviews, or experiments based on your research needs. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, so choose the one that best fits your study.

Analyzing Data Accurately

Once you have collected your data, the next step is to analyze it accurately. Use statistical tools and software to help you interpret the data. Create tables and graphs to illustrate your findings clearly. This will help you present your results in a structured and understandable way.

Interpreting Results

Interpreting your results is an essential part of your thesis. Discuss how your findings relate to your research questions and the existing literature. Highlight the significance of your analyses and the reliability of your findings. This will help you draw meaningful conclusions and provide valuable insights into your research topic.

Drafting and Revising the Paper

Writing the First Draft

Start by writing your first draft without worrying too much about perfection. Focus on getting your ideas down on paper. This initial draft is your chance to explore your thoughts and structure your argument. Remember, the goal is to create a foundation that you can build upon.

Incorporating Feedback

Once you have a draft, it's time to incorporate feedback. Share your work with your thesis supervisor and peers. Their insights can help you see your work from different perspectives and identify areas for improvement. Revising is a continuous process of re-seeing your writing. It involves considering larger issues like focus, organization, and audience.

Polishing the Final Draft

Finally, polish your final draft. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Ensure that your thesis is clear, concise, and free of errors. This step is crucial for making a strong impression and effectively communicating your research findings.

Proper Formatting and Citation

Adhering to style guides.

When formatting your research paper, it's crucial to follow the specific style guide recommended by your institution. Common styles include APA, MLA, and Chicago. Each style has its own set of rules for formatting headings, tables, and references. Adhering to these guidelines ensures your paper meets academic standards and is easy to read.

Citing Sources Correctly

Citing your sources correctly is essential to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original authors. Typically, a citation can include the author's name, date, location of the publishing company, journal title, or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) . Use the citation style specified by your university, such as APA or MLA . For example, in APA format, an in-text citation might look like this: (Smith, 2020).

Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. To avoid it, always cite the sources you use in your research. This not only gives credit to the original authors but also adds credibility to your work. Use tools like Grammarly’s Citation Generator to ensure your citations are flawless and your paper is free from plagiarism.

Maintaining Academic Integrity

Understanding academic integrity.

Academic integrity is the foundation of any scholarly work. It involves being honest and responsible in your research and writing. Maintaining academic integrity ensures that your work is credible and respected. It also means giving proper credit to the original authors of the sources you use. This practice not only helps you avoid plagiarism but also strengthens your arguments by backing them up with credible sources.

Strategies to Avoid Plagiarism

To avoid plagiarism, always cite your sources correctly. Use a consistent citation style, such as APA or MLA, and make sure to include all necessary information. Here are some tips to help you:

• Paraphrase information in your own words and cite the source.
• Use quotation marks for direct quotes and include a citation.
• Keep track of all the sources you consult during your research.
• Use plagiarism detection tools to check your work before submission.

Ensuring Originality

Ensuring the originality of your work is crucial. This means that your ideas and findings should be your own, even if they are based on existing research. Here are some ways to ensure originality:

• Conduct thorough research to understand what has already been done in your field.
• Identify gaps in the existing research and focus on filling those gaps with your work.
• Develop your own unique perspective or approach to the topic.
• Regularly review and revise your work to ensure it reflects your original ideas.

By following these steps, you can maintain academic integrity and produce a research paper that is both credible and original.

Finalizing the Research Paper

Proofreading and editing.

Before submitting your research paper, it's crucial to proofread and edit your work thoroughly. Start by reviewing the content for clarity and coherence. Ensure that each section flows logically and that your arguments are well-supported. Pay close attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, as these can detract from the professionalism of your paper. Consider reading your paper aloud or using a text-to-speech tool to catch mistakes you might have missed.

Preparing for Submission

Once you have polished your paper, it's time to prepare it for submission. Make sure you adhere to the specific formatting guidelines provided by your institution or the journal you are submitting to. This includes checking the font style and size, margins, and page numbering. Ensure that all citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required style guide, such as APA or MLA. Double-check that your paper meets all the submission requirements, including word count and any additional documents that need to be included.

Seeking Peer Review

Before finalizing your research paper, seek feedback from peers or mentors. A fresh set of eyes can provide valuable insights and help identify areas for improvement that you might have overlooked. Share your paper with colleagues or use online platforms to get constructive criticism. Incorporating feedback from others can enhance the quality of your work and ensure that your arguments are clear and compelling.

Wrapping up your research paper can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Our step-by-step Thesis Action Plan is here to guide you through every stage, making the process smoother and less stressful. Ready to conquer your thesis challenges? Visit our website now and discover how we can help you achieve your academic goals.

Starting a research paper can seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes the process much easier. By choosing a topic that interests you, conducting thorough research, and organizing your findings, you lay a strong foundation for your paper. Remember to create a clear thesis statement to guide your writing and keep your arguments focused. Drafting, revising, and seeking feedback are crucial steps to refine your work. Finally, ensure your paper is well-formatted and free of errors. With dedication and careful planning, you can successfully navigate the research paper writing process. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i choose a research topic.

Start by thinking about what interests you. Pick a topic that you find fun and fulfilling. This will keep you motivated throughout your research. Also, make sure there are enough resources available on the topic.

Why is a research question important?

A research question guides your study, helping you focus on a specific issue. It makes your research more organized and meaningful.

What is the purpose of a literature review?

A literature review helps you understand what has already been studied about your topic. It shows gaps in the research that your study can fill.

How do I create a research plan?

Outline your methodology, create a timeline, and allocate resources. This helps you stay organized and ensures you cover all necessary aspects of your research.

What should be included in the thesis introduction?

Your thesis introduction should establish the context, present your thesis statement, and justify the research problem. This sets the stage for your study.

How do I ensure my research paper is well-structured?

Organize your sections logically, ensure a smooth flow of ideas, and maintain coherence throughout the paper. Each part should connect well with the others.

What are the best methods for data collection and analysis?

Choose methods that best suit your research needs, such as surveys, interviews, or experiments. Use statistical tools to analyze data accurately and interpret your results.

How can I avoid plagiarism in my research paper?

Always cite your sources correctly and follow the citation style recommended by your institution. Use plagiarism checkers to ensure your work is original.

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• 10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project

10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023.

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper , thesis or dissertation . It’s important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.

The exact form of your question will depend on a few things, such as the length of your project, the type of research you’re conducting, the topic , and the research problem . However, all research questions should be focused, specific, and relevant to a timely social or scholarly issue.

Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question , you can use these examples to craft your own.

Note that the design of your research question can depend on what method you are pursuing. Here are a few options for qualitative, quantitative, and statistical research questions.

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

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• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Cite this Scribbr article

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McCombes, S. (2023, October 19). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Scribbr. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/

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You’re on a business trip in Oakland, CA. You've been working late in downtown and now you're looking for a place nearby to grab a late dinner. You decided to check Zomato to try and find somewhere to eat. (Don't begin searching yet).

• Look around on the home page. Does anything seem interesting to you?
• How would you go about finding a place to eat near you in Downtown Oakland? You want something kind of quick, open late, not too expensive, and with a good rating.
• What do the reviews say about the restaurant you've chosen?
• What was the most important factor for you in choosing this spot?
• You're currently close to the 19th St Bart station, and it's 9PM. How would you get to this restaurant? Do you think you'll be able to make it before closing time?
• Your friend recommended you to check out a place called Belly while you're in Oakland. Try to find where it is, when it's open, and what kind of food options they have.
• Now go to any restaurant's page and try to leave a review (don't actually submit it).

What was the worst thing about your experience?

It was hard to find the bart station. The collections not being able to be sorted was a bit of a bummer

What other aspects of the experience could be improved?

Feedback from the owners would be nice

What did you like about the website?

The flow was good, lots of bright photos

What other comments do you have for the owner of the website?

I like that you can sort by what you are looking for and i like the idea of collections

You're going on a vacation to Italy next month, and you want to learn some basic Italian for getting around while there. You decided to try Duolingo.

• Please begin by downloading the app to your device.
• Choose Italian and get started with the first lesson (stop once you reach the first question).
• Now go all the way through the rest of the first lesson, describing your thoughts as you go.
• Get your profile set up, then view your account page. What information and options are there? Do you feel that these are useful? Why or why not?
• After a week in Italy, you're going to spend a few days in Austria. How would you take German lessons on Duolingo?
• What other languages does the app offer? Do any of them interest you?

I felt like there could have been a little more of an instructional component to the lesson.

It would be cool if there were some feature that could allow two learners studying the same language to take lessons together. I imagine that their screens would be synced and they could go through lessons together and chat along the way.

Overall, the app was very intuitive to use and visually appealing. I also liked the option to connect with others.

Overall, the app seemed very helpful and easy to use. I feel like it makes learning a new language fun and almost like a game. It would be nice, however, if it contained more of an instructional portion.

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UX Research Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for You

A well-organized UX research process isn’t the same as a strict, unchangeable process. There isn’t a single right way to do UX research. The best methods are flexible, adaptable, and customized to fit the specific needs of your users, team, and business.

In this blog, we’ll explore a 6-step guide for you on how to conduct UX research.

What is the UX research process?

The UX research process involves steps that help product teams learn what users need, how they act, and what they like.

UX researchers use different research methods to identify problems and find ways to stand out from competitors. Organizations also conduct UX research to observe how customers interact with their products or services in real life.

6 Steps of the UX Research Process

The UX research process helps you understand your users’ needs, behaviors, and how they use your product. By following this process, you make sure your design choices are based on real user needs. Here’s how you navigate the UX research process in 6 steps:

Step 1: Understanding the Research Goals and Objectives

Clear goals and objectives will guide your process, help you use resources wisely, garner stakeholder support, and gather valuable user insights.

• Define the Problem: Clearly outline the problem you want to solve. This involves understanding the business goals, user needs, and the context in which the product will be used.
• Set Research Goals: Identify what you need to learn from your users. This might include understanding user behavior, preferences, pain points, or workflows.

Step 2: Planning the Research

After setting your goals, the next step is planning the research and determining the data type you want to gather. This includes:

• Choose Research Methods: Selecting the appropriate UX research methods is like picking the right tools for a job. The UX research method you choose depends greatly on the type of project, your resources, the size of your research team, methods that best suit your goals, and the deadlines you need to meet.
• Common methods include: – Surveys and Questionnaires – User Interviews – Focus Groups – Usability Testing – A/B Testing – Contextual Inquiry – Field Studies
• Recruit Participants: Identify the target users you want to research. Use user research methods and ensure that the participants reflect the diversity of your actual user base.
• Prepare Research Materials: This includes creating interview guides, questionnaires, and prototypes or tools used during the research.

Step 3: Conducting the Research

Execute the planned research activities. This step involves making surveys, organizing usability tests, interviewing users, or using other methods. UX researchers use various techniques to carry out their studies. By talking directly with users, you can learn about their behaviors, preferences, and challenges firsthand.

Take detailed notes, record interviews (with permission), and collect data useful for analysis later.

Step 4: Analyze Research Data to Gather Insights and Communicate

How you analyze the data you gather in your research sessions depends on your objectives. Let’s explore some common types of analysis and the valuable insights you can gather:

• Synthesize Feedback: Organize the data collected from research activities. Look for patterns, trends, and significant insights to inform design decisions.
• Create User Personas: Based on the research, develop personas representing key user groups. Personas help the design team understand and empathize with the users.
• Identify Pain Points and Opportunities: Highlight the problems users face and identify areas where the product can be improved or new features can be added.

Sort your data into categories and tags, paying special attention to user pain points. Look for patterns and common issues. If you spot any, ask users more questions if needed. Make sure your research insights are easy to search, organize, and access for everyone on the team.

Next, communicate with other departments outside the UX team. Keep them informed and involved in your UX research process.

Step 5: Applying Research Insights into Action

The UX research data you collect is incredibly valuable. It can help you make smart decisions, improve user satisfaction, and increase engagement and retention. But it would be best if you acted on those insights.

Use the data to decide which problems to fix first and which updates to make. Focus on urgent issues that impact important metrics and prevent users from achieving their goals.

Use the research findings to guide the design process. This might involve redesigning features, refining user flows, or addressing specific pain points identified during the research.

For example, if your users need help finding the right features because the menu is too messy, you can simplify it. Using data from welcome surveys, you can also personalize it based on user needs.

Continue testing the design as it evolves. Incorporate user feedback through iterative cycles of prototyping, testing, and refinement.

Step 6: Evaluating Outcomes

After launching the product, evaluate its success by measuring user satisfaction, engagement, and overall experience. UX research is an ongoing process. Continue to gather feedback and make iterative improvements to the product based on user needs.

Best Practices for the UX Research Process

To make the most of your UX research and ensure that your findings lead to actionable and impactful design decisions, follow these best practices:

• Engage key stakeholders from the beginning of the research.
• Focus on the right research questions.
• Frame your questions in a way that avoids bias.
• Recruit the right participants.
• Use a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Be ethical in your research.
• Pay close attention to what users say.
• Involve your team in the analysis process.
• Present your findings in a way that is easy to understand and act upon.

By following these best practices, you’ll ensure that your UX research is thorough, ethical, and ultimately effective in guiding user-centered design decisions.

UX research isn’t something you do just once and then ignore. It should be a continuous part of designing and developing your product. Regular research, testing, and talking to users help shape and keep your design user-focused. Keeping UX research a priority will enhance your design process, increase conversions, and keep users happy and engaged.

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Data Use Agreements

What is a data use agreement.

A Data Use Agreement (DUA) is a contract between parties that outlines how data will be shared, used, and protected. It ensures data security and privacy, especially for sensitive information like medical records or intellectual property.

Who Reviews DUAs?

Several offices at Boise State review DUAs, depending on the data involved:

• Office of General Counsel (OGC) : Ensures agreements comply with legal requirements.
• Office of Information Technology (OIT) : Evaluates and implements necessary security measures.
• Office of Research Compliance (ORC) : Reviews for ethical research practices, especially with human subjects.
• Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) : Ensures agreements meet sponsor requirements.

The Process

Investigator submits intake form (initial assessment).

Investigators must submit a Research Data Classification Form to provide details about the data, intended use, users, etc.

The offices noted above will determine if they need to be involved in any next steps for the DUA based upon the information provided.

Office Review and Follow Up

Relevant offices determine their involvement and if additional information is required or further action is required by the investigator. This may include:

• OIT assessing minimum security requirements
• Investigator submitting the DUA through OGC Contract Routing
• Committee approval for human subjects research through ORC
• OSP review for specific sponsor requirements/restrictions

Investigator Receives Applicable Office Approvals

All offices involved in the DUA review must approve prior to the DUA and associated documents being signed.

Investigator and Offices Address Terms and Conditions

Prior to signing and data transfer, offices may need to work with the investigator to ensure the terms and conditions of the DUA can be met. Some examples include:

• User specific access agreements
• User training
• Physical security requirements – restrict room access to applicable data users
• Cybersecurity – air gapped (no network) computer, specific IT storage requirements
• Committee approvals

Review and Implementation Timeline

Review and implementation times vary by complexity and requirements. Some examples:

• OGC requests a minimum of 10 business days for contract/agreement reviews.
• Human subjects research reviews typically take 2-6 weeks depending on the risk.
• OIT may need to setup an air-gapped computer or establish a new secure environment with special user permissions.
• A work order may be needed to rekey an office.

Investigators should submit as soon as possible and work with the offices on a timeline based the unique situation.

Need assistance? Contact:

• Office of Research Compliance (ORC): [email protected]
• Office of Information Technology (OIT): [email protected]

These offices can answer questions and guide you to the appropriate resources.