Step 1: Identify the Problem

The first step in the research process is to identify a problem or a gap of deficient information.

Step 2: Reviewing literature.

Step 3: Setting research questions, objectives, and hypotheses.

To Formulate a research question using  (PICOT) 

P population / patient / problem

I intervention (Intervention or exposure being considered ) 

C comparison (when relevant) 

O outcome 

T time

Step 4: Choosing the study design

Does the study describe the characteristics of a sample? If yes, it is a descriptive study.

does the study attempts to analyze (or draw inferences about) the relationship between two variables? if yes, it is an analytical study.

Descriptive studies: Case report , Case series and Cross-sectional study

Analytical studies: Case control study, cross sectional study and Cohort study, RCT.

The type of study design depends on four factors:

Type of the problem.

Objectives of the study.

The existing state of knowledge about the problem that is being studied, and

The resources are available for the study.

Step 5: Collecting data.

Data is the facts (Pieces of information) collected and not yet interpreted, organized or processed by any means. 

There is Many methods used to collect data depending of the nature and the need of the study, including questionnaire, interviews, observation, records and files.

Step 6: Processing and analyzing data.

This step focuses on examining the data and coming up with a conclusion that give us the deficient information or solves the problem.

Step 7: Writing the report.

Step 8: publication