Researchers lay out the foundation of the entire research study in the research process, which entails multiple steps. The foundation of the research work defines the overall trajectory of the research, and everything is interlinked. Foundation is important for everything. For example, if you are building a house, then, first of all, you will have to build the foundation for constructing it. Foundation is the basis of a research work that gives direction to the entire research. So, before carrying out the research, the researchers must be aware of creating a foundation for the research. This article will guide you about the fundamental constituents of creating a foundation for the entire research work.
What Is The Foundation Of A Research Study?
The foundation of research study is the fundamental framework that gives structure and supports the entire research work. Researchers lay down the research foundation by identifying research problems and questions. Research questions enable the researchers to formulate the conceptual framework of the research. The foundation of a research study encompasses the research process and the sequential steps that are necessary to conduct research. If you cannot complete the research work, you can get help from PhD dissertation writing services. However, the foundation of a research work comprises of the following steps:
Research Problem
The first step of the research process or building the foundation of research study is identifying the research problem. A research problem is an assertion about a problem that needs to be solved. It is a situation that needs improvement. A research problem is a challenge that needs to be rectified or a perplexing question in published research, established theories or in real life that necessitates in-depth study and systematic inquiry. Researchers often pose the research problem in the type of a question. It is important to remember that research problem is the primary building block of your research, and you need to keep the following things in mind:
- The first process of research is to identify a broad area of study and narrow it to a specific question or thesis statement
- You must have a clear direction of what you want to investigate
Literature Review
The next phase evaluates previous research after selecting and defining the research problem. The researcher should acquire a deeper understanding of the issue under consideration. For that reason, the researcher needs to undertake an analysis of relevant literature related to the study question. This procedure gives background information about the area of concern. The researcher will also learn about previous studies, how they were analysed and the implications of those studies. To gather background information on the research problem, you can do the following things:
- Use online sources or journals to learn more about your topic
- Background study helps you in concentrating on its most important aspects
- It can also enable you in determining whether to extend or narrow your emphasis.
Formulating Hypothesis
While laying out the foundations for the research work, the researcher develops a hypothesis to test the validity of a theory and prove or refute a claim. Hypothesis helps the researcher in dealing with the research with pinpoint accuracy.
Research Design
After building the hypothesis, the researcher must then determine a research plan. The research design determines how the materials for the study will be gathered. Depending on the research goals, the researcher can choose the following research methods:
- Experiments
- Surveys
- Interview
All of the methods mentioned earlier are chosen based on the research goals. Research goals are the following:
- Exploratory
- Descriptive
- Solution-based
- Experimental
What is the importance of a good research foundation?
The value and reliability of your conclusion and recommendation are directly related to your research foundation's quality and soundness. A weak research foundation will not allow you to make a clear, convincing argument for your conclusions. A good research foundation helps you in the following ways:
Makes your Research Systematic
It makes your research systematic because you will follow the steps and procedures sequentially if you have a good foundation. Certain steps in the research process must always be followed to obtain the most reliable findings.
Keeps your Research Organised
A good research foundation keeps the research organised because there is a predefined framework or procedure for conducting research. It is a deliberate method that helps the researcher define the scope of the study and stay focused.
Which creates the foundation of the entire research work?
Hypothesis determines the foundation of the entire research work because of the following reasons:
- It specifies the form of data the researcher will gather
- Determines the techniques which the researcher will utilize to collect the data
- Determines the statistical procedures the researcher will adopt for data analysis
A hypothesis is the primary foundation of a research design. The type of hypothesis determines what kind of research the researcher will undertake. For example, if a researcher wants to test a specific theory, the hypothesis will be designed to validate or refute the theory. On the other hand, in exploratory research, the researcher develops a tentative hypothesis that seeks to explore a phenomenon.
Furthermore, a good hypothesis helps in creating a good research work in the following ways:
Specifies the Research Design
Hypothesis builds the foundation of the research work because it determines what kind of data the researcher will collect. It helps the researcher specify the variables and examine them in light of data. In this manner, a hypothesis provides a synoptic overview of the research design. Hypothesis helps the researcher deal with the research problem more concretely and tangibly. It lets the researcher define the measurement criteria that will be included in the research methodology.
Determines the nature of variables
The purpose of any research study is to explain the interaction among different variables. Hypothesis specifies the anticipated relationships among the variables. Researchers employ a variety of verb phrases to explain the relationship between independent and dependent variables while writing a hypothesis. Research tends to extend the analysis and findings to a larger population, while hypothesis determines the research study's generality and prediction power. Also, it equips the researchers in formulating broad statements that establish relationships among variables at a general level.
Conclusion
Research foundation is the epistemological and ontological assumptions and philosophy that underlie a research study. Researchers with a solid research foundation tend to make strong and clear inferences from the findings. Hypothesis determines the foundation of the entire research and specifies the type of study the researcher wants to conduct.