Which of the following sequences correctly represents the steps of research…

Concept

The quantitative (positivist / hypothetico-deductive) paradigm treats research as a structured, deductive process: it begins with a clearly stated problem, moves to a testable hypothesis, gathers empirical data to test that hypothesis statistically, and ends by generalising the verified findings and drawing out their implications. The defining feature is that everything flows from, and is organised around, a pre-stated hypothesis.

Applying it here

A correct quantitative sequence must therefore contain, in order, all of these governing stages:

1. Establish the research problem — define precisely what is to be investigated.

2. Frame the hypothesis — state a testable prediction derived from the problem.

3. Test the hypothesis — collect empirical data and apply statistical analysis.

4. Generalize and draw conclusions — infer from the sample to the population.

5. State the implications of the results — relate the verified findings back to theory and practice.

The sequence beginning "Establishing a research problem, Hypothesis framing, Hypothesis testing, Generalization and conclusions, Implications of results" contains every stage in the right order, so it is the correct representation.

Cross-check (why the others fail)

• "Hypothesis framing, Hypothesis testing, Conclusions and Reporting" omits the opening step of establishing the problem — without a defined problem there is nothing from which to derive the hypothesis.

• "Problem identification, Sample selection, Developing a research design, Field work" lists data-gathering activities and stops at fieldwork; it never reaches hypothesis testing, conclusions, or implications, so it does not span the full paradigm.

• "Defining a problem, Survey of related studies, Sampling, Data collection, Data analysis" is a generic descriptive/survey flow with no hypothesis framing or hypothesis testing, which is exactly what the quantitative hypothetico-deductive paradigm requires.