Final answer:
All options listed are essential components of a research study, none is absent. The discussion of research outcomes, however, is not the immediate next step after preliminary work but comes after data collection and analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
None of the options presented (Research problem and purpose, Review of related literature, Study framework, Discussion of research outcomes) are components that are absent in a research study; all are essential. In this context, it is important to clarify each of these components:
- Research problem and purpose: This is the starting point of any research. It identifies the issue that the study aims to address and what the study aims to accomplish.
- Review of related literature: This involves summarizing and commenting on findings from previous research, thereby providing the necessary background and context for the current study.
- Study framework: It encompasses the theories or concepts that guide the research process, including the development of hypotheses or research questions.
- Discussion of research outcomes: This part of the study involves analyzing the data collected, interpreting the findings, and discussing the implications of the study in the broader context of the field.
However, if the question implies identifying which component is not the 'next research step' after preliminary work such as reviewing the literature and forming a hypothesis, the Discussion of research outcomes would not be the next immediate step. This is because the discussion comes after the data has been collected and analyzed, which are themselves subsequent steps following the initial stages of a research study.