The following outlines the steps of a proposed research flow for technical engineering students:

I. Situational analysis – this includes needs assessment and rationale of the project study.

II. Statement of the Problem - this specifies the problem that emerged in the situational analysis.

III.Benchmarking – this includes literature search and actual accounts/observations of similar problems and their solutions. Solutions include specifications.

IV. Proposed Solution – This is an innovative solution that may arise from benchmarking or from the researcher’s theories.

V. Design and Implementation/Fabrication – this refers to the detailed plan of the proposed solution.
This has the following sub-parts:

1. Specific research design and Schema

2. Materials and Methods for design implementation

3. Design Implementation – This refers to the specific step by step procedure of putting the design into physical reality (item).

VI. Testing – this refers to testing the workability of the item and evaluation of the item against a set of specifications.
This part includes the following subparts:

1. Materials and Methods for Testing

2. Standards and Specifications

3. Data Presentation

4. Data Analysis

5. Evaluation and Acceptability

6. Conclusion

7. Recommendations

VII. Market Feasibility

Note1: For Complete Research: Students may be required only to do I-VI.

Note 2: For a Research Proposal: The students may be required to do I-VI w/o Implementation of the design into a physical reality, and testing.

IVI Market Feasibility is optional

THE THEORETICAL FRAME of the study follows the following flow (DeFTA):

1. DESIGN - situational analysis, benchmarking, and proposed solution (hypothesis) are important preliminary to designing.

2. FABRICATION/PRODUCTION

3. TESTING - this include testing for workability, efficiency, and effectiveness.

4. Users' ACCEPTABILITY - this includes market feasibility.

Design, Fabricate, Test, and users' Acceptance (DeFTA)