The first step in research, often called observation, is that you have to have an idea about what you want to do. This idea can come from almost anything or anywhere. The problem may be assigned to you by others. What you are looking for is something that you think has not been solved or has not been worked on before, you are interested in it and you think you may have an approach to working on it.

Then you should step back and apply the scientific method. While the method below is linear, it is often applied in a nonlinear way. Often as a researcher, you will be stuck. Something did not go right or something breaks. You may need to go back one or more steps in the method because of what you have found or because of an insight you have gained.

1. Define the problem:
a. Define the domain of the problem
b. Perform a literature search of the area to determine
i. what other people have done in the area and
ii. whether or not the proposed problem still exists,
iii. whether or not work is still needed
iv. whether or not you have an idea how to attack the problem
c. Collect/document references and resources found in the literature search
2. Write a hypothesis for a solution
a. Answer the question “how will the problem be solved?”
b. What is the method to solve the problem?
c. If the problem is solved, what will the result look like?
d. Determine what results are needed to prove the hypothesis is correct
3. Testing the hypothesis
a. Determine the resources (people, equipment, sensors, laboratory space, materials, storage space, etc.) needed to perform the work
b. Collect the resources needed
c. Write a plan for the work
i. Determine the work/test steps in detail (who does what, when and how)
ii. Determine what data will be taken, when, in what manner and how the data will be stored
4. Perform the work per the test plan
a. As the work is performed, document who did what, when.
b. If there were unexpected events, document these
c. If you gained any insights while performing the work, document these
5. Analyses the data
a. Review the documentation to this point
b. Review the data to this point
c. Use accepted statistical practices including error analysis
d. Do the results make sense?
e. Do the results support the hypothesis
f. If the results do not support the hypothesis, why not?
6. Validate the results
a. Replicate the tests and analysis
7. Determine future work in the area
8. Publish the results
a. Determine where the results should be published
b. Determine what should be published
c. Write and rewrite the papers
d. Submit the papers
e. Perform edits as needed