The research process and Research Toolbox

Experienced researchers are free to choose whether they wish to use all or only some of the tools provided by RESEARCH TOOLBOX. Our tools are very easy to customise and should complement any others already available to them.


2. The same research process for all researchers!

Researchers from all fields have to answer the same questions. In short, these entail what you want to research, why it is important, how and when you are going to do the research and what resources are needed. Each stage of the research process deals with one or more of these questions.

Figure 1: Elements of the generic research process (usually not well integrated)

The researcher first has to avail him/herself of present knowledge in their specific research field through literature or information surveys. The "need" for a specific research problem (i.e. why?) is further identified here.

The research must also be focused and an appropriate strategy decided upon. This is usually achieved through writing a proposal. In this document, the what? (problem statement), why? (background) and how? (research method) questions are briefly discussed.

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