Well begun is half done …
In practice, a research often begins with a very broad idea for a topic you’d like to know more about. Based on the idea, you do some preliminary research to identify a problem. After refining your research question(s), you can lay out the foundations of your research design, and then outlines your research plan.
Following are the general steps to start a research:
Step 1: Develop a research idea
The research idea represents the first exposure of the researcher or the researcher-to-be to the possibility of advancing the first steps of the research project. The research idea can be heterogeneous, multifaceted, and only limited by the imaginative capability of the investigator.
Step 2 : Identify a research area
A research area is what a research topic is placed into, but is much broader than the scope of the topic. For examples, computer science, finance, engineering, business, etc.
A research topic is a subject or issue that a researcher is interested in when conducting research. A well-defined research topic is the starting point of every successful research project. Some examples of research topics could be:
- Business in the digital era.
- Remote employees – challenges.
- Internet advertising and its popularity.
- Microfinance companies fighting poverty.
- Cryptocurrency trends.
Here are more articles related to: research idea and research area
Step 3: Identify specific research question(s)
A research question is an inquiry that the research attempts to answer.
Here are more articles related to: research question
Step 4: Identify specific research aims
Step 5: Identify precise research objectives
Aims are statements of intent. They are usually written in broad terms. They set out what you hope to achieve at the end of the project.
Objectives, on the other hand, should be specific statements that define measurable outcomes, e.g. what steps will be taken to achieve the desired outcome.
In brief:
Aim = what you hope to achieve.
Objective = the action(s) you will take in order to achieve the aim.
Here are more articles related to: research aims and research objectives