The chart indicates that the research process consists of a number of closely related activities,
as shown through I to VII. But such activities overlap continuously rather than following a strictly
prescribed sequence. At times, the first step determines the nature of the last step to be undertaken.
If subsequent procedures have not been taken into account in the early stages, serious difficulties
may arise which may even prevent the completion of the study. One should remember that the
various steps involved in a research process are not mutually exclusive; nor they are separate and
distinct. They do not necessarily follow each other in any specific order and the researcher has to be
constantly anticipating at each step in the research process the requirements of the subsequent
steps. However, the following order concerning various steps provides a useful procedural guideline
regarding the research process: (1) formulating the research problem; (2) extensive literature survey;
(3) developing the hypothesis; (4) preparing the research design; (5) determining sample design;
(6) collecting the data; (7) execution of the project; (8) analysis of data; (9) hypothesis testing;
(10) generalisations and interpretation, and (11) preparation of the report or presentation of the results,
i.e., formal write-up of conclusions reached.
A brief description of the above stated steps will be helpful.