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

 Experiment
 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.

 Experiment
 Questionnaire
 Observation
 Interview

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:


o 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.


o 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.

LEARN ABOUT: 12 Best Tools for Researchers

Conclusion
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.

What are the steps of the research process?

You can follow these steps to help ensure your final project accomplishes your
desired goal and meets any educational or professional standards required:

1. Identify the project topic

A successful research process often begins with a clearly defined intent for the
research project. You can focus on a topic in nearly any field of study, as the
research process broadly applies across all academic and professional fields. The
more precisely you identify the topic for your research, the more effectively you
can design a process in order to conduct your research.Related: 66 Research
Ideas for Your Next Project or Assignment

2. Review any available literature

When working on a research project, understanding existing information related to

your topic can be a foundational element of the process. Researching existing data
and writing regarding the topic allows you to identify the need for your intended
research, and it can help provide the information you need in order to design your
research approach effectively in later steps.Related: Basic Research vs. Applied
Research: What’s the Difference?

3. Submit process for review

When you plan to submit the results of your research process for formal
assessment, such as for a higher education degree project or in professional work,
you may need to submit your process for approval before beginning your research
project. This allows the individuals you will report to the opportunity to examine
your intent and ensure that it meets their standards and specifications. Receiving
approval before continuing with the research process can help you ensure you
spend your time wisely and your project is acceptable.Related: Research Design:
What It Is (Plus 20 Types)

4. Create an initial hypothesis

Using the information you have gathered, you can form your initial hypothesis for
your research. Your hypothesis represents what you expect to discover through
your research process, based on your previous knowledge and any information you
gathered from your preliminary reading. The research you perform in later steps
tests this hypothesis, in order to confirm or invalidate it based on new
information.Related: What Is a Hypothesis? (With Examples)

5. Design the research approach

Working on a large research project can require careful planning. Designing your
overall research structure is an important step in the process in order to ensure that
you spend your time well. During this phase, you can determine what resources
you will use to further enhance your understanding, as well as any sources of data
or experiments required to further inform you and help you reach an accurate
conclusion.Related: How To Write a Research Paper Step-by-Step

6. Begin gathering data

After creating your designs and any experiments required. You can organize your
data into structures that make it easy to execute it. You can gather new data and
information from your research sources for you to work with it and identify key
pieces for your research process.Related: What Are Research Skills: Definition,
Examples and Tips

7. Analyze the results

After sorting all of your information into organized sets, you can begin performing
analysis on it. Through this phase, you examine the data or research in order to
identify new relevant information and how it relates to your original hypothesis
and chosen topic. The goal of analysis is not to find information that supports your
original hypothesis specifically, but to assess all information and come to the most
accurate conclusion about what the information shows.Related: 23 Research
Databases for Professional and Academic Use

8. Create your report

Compiling a report once you've reached your conclusions allows you to sort that
information into a format you can share with others. For extensive research
projects, it is common to include an executive summary at the start of a report,
which provides a brief look at the key points for your audience. It's important to
check any rules and guidelines provided to ensure your report complies. This can
improve your chances of having the report accepted and makes it more effective
for those reading it by ensuring it covers the desired points your audience is
interested in.Related: Social Research: Definition, Types and Common
Methods

9. Proofread and submit

After completing your report, it is important to take time to proofread the entire
document before formal submission. This allows you to identify any typos or
mistakes that can affect the document's accuracy and provides the last opportunity
to check any logic you used in the development of your report. Doing so may also
raise the overall quality of your report and make it a more effective process.