1. My version of the research process
Presentation by
Lenore Benefield

2. A research question is developed...
Out of the darkness...
A pattern is noticed...or
...Something stands out
Beckoning to be explored
A research question is developed...
(Sometimes a research question arrives as a memo)

3. No Yes Research question Is it worth the research Effort? Memo
Refrain from rolling your eyes
Memo or
request
Curiosity
arousing
observation
Research question
Is it worth the research
Effort?
Can anyone possibly benefit if you do this research?
Will anyone use the information you find? No
Yes

4. Write it in your journal
And move on ...

5. Literature Review No Yes Gather Sort Synthesize
What is known about this subject?
What research has been done? How?
What theories apply?
What information can you add?
Gather
Sort
Synthesize
Look for previously published
Instruments designed to gather the
Data you need...
Still need to research?
Need to revise research
question? No
Yes

6. Revisit research question
Considering what you learned during your
Literature review, you might need to modify your
Research question. If not, that’s ok. It is still a
“jumping off point.”
Design the study
Define variables
Define the population
Select or develop instrument
Select sampling method – if any
Collect data

7. Descriptive Statistics
Look at the data
Are there any obvious errors?
Descriptive Statistics
Sometimes errors show up here.
Does anything interesting
show up?
Need more info?
Yes No

8. Perform more sophisticated
Statistical measures
The possibility exists that you may need to gather more data from your participants.
Maybe some issues need clarification... A focus group might clear things up...
Need more info? No
Yes

9. the knowledge base of the profession.
Write the Report
“Rhetoric is the bucket
we carry our statistics in...”
Frank 2001 SAIR conference
Distribute results
Get published
Make a contribution to
the knowledge base of the
profession.