Role of Statistics in the Research Process Essay

Role of Statistics in the Research Process - Essay Example Research process follows the following basic steps: Problem identification, data collection, conduct of methods, data presentation and analysis, interpretation of data and formulation of conclusions and recommendations. As far as research is concerned, statistical methods play a significant and active role in the discovery phase. The methods involve in statistics are an intermediate measure between the theoretical speculations and anecdotal evidence, which lead to the discovery of new information, and validate known facts. Statistics has also a role in the justification phase of a research process. This is the phase whereby, theories needs to be elaborated further in order that comprehensive understanding will be established. Ideally, statistical methods are designed in order to observe or detect and measure the cause-effect relationships in certain situations where outcomes cannot be equally replicated due to normal variability in the applied measurements of interest.