TOPIC 3: STAGES IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS
Research in education is a process which consists of inter-related activities. The
following are the main stages in the research process:-
1. Selection and definition of the research problem
a) Selecting the topic for research and identification of the research problem
b) Reviewing related literature
c) Formulating the research problem
d) Formulating specific research questions, objectives and hypotheses
e) Defining concepts
2. Selection of the research design and methodology
a) Choice of research design
b) Description of the sample and sampling procedures
3. Measurement design
a) Identification of data collection procedures
b) Construction of research instruments
4. Data Collection
Collection of data using a variety of research instruments
5. Data analysis
a) Data organization
b) Data processing
c) Statistical and qualitative data analysis
6. Generalization
a) Interpretation of data
b) Conclusion and recommendations
c) Production of the research report
The research process is a cyclic. It starts logically with problem selection and
formulations. This stage includes the formulation of hypotheses. The process ends in
a tentative empirical generalization. The process is diagrammatically presented in
Figure 3.1 below.
Fig 3.1: The main stages of the research process
1
, Problem
Research
Generalization
Design
Data Measurement
Analysis Design
Data
Collection
Each of the stages of the research process is described briefly as follows:
2
Research in education is a process which consists of inter-related activities. The
following are the main stages in the research process:-
1. Selection and definition of the research problem
a) Selecting the topic for research and identification of the research problem
b) Reviewing related literature
c) Formulating the research problem
d) Formulating specific research questions, objectives and hypotheses
e) Defining concepts
2. Selection of the research design and methodology
a) Choice of research design
b) Description of the sample and sampling procedures
3. Measurement design
a) Identification of data collection procedures
b) Construction of research instruments
4. Data Collection
Collection of data using a variety of research instruments
5. Data analysis
a) Data organization
b) Data processing
c) Statistical and qualitative data analysis
6. Generalization
a) Interpretation of data
b) Conclusion and recommendations
c) Production of the research report
The research process is a cyclic. It starts logically with problem selection and
formulations. This stage includes the formulation of hypotheses. The process ends in
a tentative empirical generalization. The process is diagrammatically presented in
Figure 3.1 below.
Fig 3.1: The main stages of the research process
1
, Problem
Research
Generalization
Design
Data Measurement
Analysis Design
Data
Collection
Each of the stages of the research process is described briefly as follows:
2
