1.    Problem definition

2.    Research design

3.    Measurement

4.    Data collection

5.    Data analysis

6.    Results and findings

The Literature Review is a key aspect of the process (problem definition).  The Literature review is a summary of previous research on a topic.  It surveys scholarly articles, books, and other sources relevant to a particular area of research or interest.  The literature review may also identify gaps or controversies in the literature and topics needing further research (Bailey, 2017) .

Literature reviews serve two main purposes:

Bailey (2017) outlines the following six steps to conduct a Literature Review:-

1.    Select a topic. The topic must be researchable and stated as a well-defined question.

2.    Search the literature

3.    Develop the argument 

4.    Survey the literature

5.    Critique the literature. The critique interprets the research and explains how current knowledge answers the question you are researching.

6.    Write the review.

.

 

The Research Proposal is a written plan for research in order to address a specific problem.    The researcher communicates what, why, how where and to whom the research will be done.

Once the Research Proposal is accepted, the researcher will commence the research process and present his/ her findings in the format of a Research Report. The research produced should find a solution to the identified problem or adds to scientific discourse depending on the objectives of the study and whether it is an applied research study or basic/academic research study

The oral presentation allows for open discussions on the findings of the research.

This unit has provided great insight on the preparation of a research proposal and report and how to orally present the report.

1.       Qualitative Research focuses on narrative data 

2.       Quantitative Research focuses on numerical data

3.       Mixed Methods Research combines qualitative and quantitative research to study a problem 

Another key term learned is Sampling.  Sampling is defined “as a procedure that uses a small number of units of a given population as a basis for drawing conclusions about the whole population” 

The unit provided practical lesson in preparing a concept map.   In preparing the concept map on sampling, I was better able to understand the concept of sampling.