• Formulating the research problems
• Extensive literature survey Survey
• Developing the hypothesis
• Preparing research design
• Collecting data
• Execution of project
• Analysis of data
• Hypothesis testing
• Generalisation & interpretation
• Final write up of conclusion reached.

Brief overview of research steps.

Formulating a Research Problem:

There are two types of research problems, viz. those which relate to state of nature & those which relate to relationship between variables.
Essentially two steps are involved in formulating the research problem viz. understanding the problem thoroughly and rephrasing the same into meaningful terms from an analytical point of view.

Extensive Literature Survey:

Once problem is formulated, researcher should undertake extensive literature survey connected with the problem. The earlier studies if any, which are similar to the study in hand, should be carefully studied. Use of on-line information providers such as Dialog and STN International, are extremely useful along with other internet sources. Apart from this no one should deny that libraries are no doubt, major source for literature survey.

Development of Working Hypothesis:

Working hypothesis is a tentative assumption made in order to draw out & test its logical or empirical consequences. It provides focal point for research. Its role is to keep research on the right track.

Preparing Research Design:


Researcher will be required to prepare research design, i.e. he\she will have to state the conceptual structure within which research would be conducted.

The research purposes may be grouped into four categories. A) Exploration B) Description C) Diagnosis D) Experimentation.

The several research designs such as experimental and non-experimental hypothesis testing, Experimental design can be either formal or informal design. There are many formal designs such as completely randomized design, randomized block design, Latin square design, simple complex factorial design.

Determining Sample Design:

The researcher must decide the way of selecting sample or what is known as sample design. A sample design is a definite plan determined before any data are actually collected for obtaining a sample from a given population.

Samples can be either probability samples non-probability samples. Probability samples are those based on simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, cluster / area sampling where as non-probability samples are based on convenience sampling.

Collecting the Data:

There are several ways of collecting data, depending on availability of time, money and other resources at the disposal. Primary data can be collected either through experiment or through survey.

Execution of Project:

If execution of project proceeds on correct lines, the data to be collected would be adequate and dependable. The researcher should see that the project is executed in a systematic manner and in time. If data is to be collected by means of structured questioners, data can be readily machine processed. If data is to be collected through interviews, arrangement should be made for proper training selection of the interviewers.

Analysis of Data:

Analysis of data requires closely related operations such as establishing categories. The application of these categories to raw data through coding, tabulation, & then drawing statistical inferences.

Analysis work is generally based on the computation of various percentages, coefficients, etc. by applying various statistical formulae.

Hypothesis Testing:

After analyzing the data, the researcher is in a position to test the hypothesis. Do the facts support the hypotheses or they are contrary? This is usual question which should be answered while testing hypothesis. Various tests such as t-test, F-test, Chi-square test have been developed by statisticians for the purpose. Hypothesis testing will result in either accepting the hypothesis or rejecting it.

Generalization & Interpretation:

The real value of research lies its ability to arrive at certain generalizations. If researcher has no hypothesis to start with, he \ she might seek to explain his findings on the basis of same theory.

Preparation of Report or Thesis:

Report should be written in a form of i) Introduction ii) Summary of findings iii) Main report iv) Conclusions.