Research

: For the suburb of Melbourne, Australia, see Research, Victoria.

Research process

Generally, research is understood to follow a certain structural process. Though step order may vary depending on the subject matter and researcher, the following steps are usually part of most formal research, both basic and applied:

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• Formation of the topic
• hypothesis
• conceptual definitions
• operational definitions
• Gathering of data
• Analysis of data
• Conclusion, revising of hypothesis

A common misunderstanding is that by this method a hypothesis can be proven. By these methods a hypothesis cannot be proven, rather a hypothesis can only be disproven. A hypothesis can survive several rounds of scientific testing and be widely thought of as true (or better, predictive), but this is not the same as it having been proven. It would be better to say that the hypothesis has yet to be disproven.

Related Topics:
Hypothesis

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A useful hypothesis allows prediction and within the accuracy of observation of the time, the prediction will be verified. As the accuracy of observation improves with time, the hypothesis may no longer provide an accurate prediction. In this case a new hypothesis will arise to challenge the old and to the extent that the new hypothesis makes more accurate predictions than the old, will supplant it.

Related Topics:
Hypothesis

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