Abstract
Scientific research is the process of (1) developing an empirically answerable question, (2) deriving a falsifiable hypothesis derived from a theory that purports to answer the question, (3) collecting (or finding) and analyzing empirical data to test the hypothesis, (4) rejecting or failing to reject the hypothesis, and (5) relating the results of the analyses back to the theory from which the question was drawn. This last step usually involves revising the original theory to handle discrepancies between what the empirical data show and what the original theory posited, although the findings of only a single study usually are not sufficient to warrant major revisions of a theory. Nonetheless, a scientific research study, no matter how small the contribution, must make a new contribution to be considered original scientific research. In other words, a research study adds to our knowledge base. This requirement distinguishes a research paper from a report.
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Lynch, S.M. (2013). Overview of the Research Process. In: Using Statistics in Social Research. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8573-5_2
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