Identifying and stating
a research Problem
Identifying a research
Problem
The first thing to do in selecting a research problem is to identify a general topic that is related to your area of expertise and is of particular interest to you.
The research Problem
It is said that the selection and definition of a research problem helps the application of the scientific method. The selection and definition of a problem should have considerable thought because a complex and extensive problem can be unmanageable for the study, and the researcher must reduce its scope in order to apply the study.
Sources of Research Problems
The main sources are:
Theories
A theory is an organized body of concepts, generalizations, and principles that can be investigated. Educationally relevant theories, such as theories of learning and behavior, can provide the inspiration for many research problems.
Personal Experiences
Questions mayarise when we participate in class discussion, read articles in local newspapers and educational journals, or interact with others.
Studies That Can Be Replicated
A replication is a repetition of a study using different subjects to retest its hypothesis. No single study, regardless of its focus or breadth, provides the certainty needed to assume that similar results occur in all or most similar situations.
Library Searches
Although some research problems may emerge from library
immersion, they are considerably fewer than those emerging from theories, personal experiences, and previous studies.
Electronic Mailing Lists
Researchers use email to seek advice and dialogue with experts in their fields. The easiest way to do this is to subscribe to an email list service.
Narrowing the Problem
The topic to be investigated for the should be specific and reduced is what most of the quantitative researchers think and some qualitative as it had already been said a too wide topic would be a problem for the researcher
Characteristics of Good Problems
The potential personal benefits to be derived from publication include increased professional status and job opportunities, not to mention tremendous self-satisfaction. Working with an interesting problem helps a researcher stay motivated during months of study.
Stating the Research Problem
Developing Research Questions
Formulating and stating a hyPothesis
The way in which a problem is stated varies according to the type of research undertaken and the preferences of the researcher. As with other parts of the research process, the approach differs somewhat for quantitative and qualitative studies.
Stating Quantitative Research Problems
Stating Qualitative Research Problems
SubtoResearch questions add another level of specificity to research development and provide the researcher with a plan of action for the development and identification of research instruments.
A hypothesis in a quantitative study is formulated based on theory or on knowledge gained while reviewing the related literature.
An inductive hypothesis is a generalization made from a number of observations. A
A research hypothesis states the expected relation or difference between variables,
A nondirectional hypothesis predicts only that a relation or difference exists; a directional hypothesis indicates the direction of the difference as well.