ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the basic process for conducting and reporting on research. Researchers can get ideas for research from the literature on the topic of interest and from real-life problems. They should start with a topic and a goal. Next, they should formulate potential research questions, identify the type of research that might help them address the questions, and finally identify the methods that would best collect data that might address those questions. The process of conducting a research study closely parallels the elements of a formal research report: introduction, review of literature, description of methodology, report of results, and discussion. Research is often based upon a sample—a small subset—of the population of interest. A sample should be representative of the population. Researchers must gain the necessary permissions for their research, which may include approval from an Institutional Review Board, a sponsoring organization, and the participants themselves. Gaining informed consent from participants requires that they understand what they will be asked to do, how the researcher will protect their privacy, and that their participation is voluntary.
