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Research Problem

Research Problem. Week 4 Dept. RS & GIS Institute of space technology. Formulating the research problem is, in itself, a BIG problem (Prof. Gladys A. Cruz College of Social Sciences U. P. Baguio). Research Problem. Any Question that you want answered

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Research Problem

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  1. Research Problem Week 4 Dept. RS & GIS Institute of space technology

  2. Formulating the research problem is, in itself, a BIG problem (Prof. Gladys A. Cruz College of Social Sciences U. P. Baguio)

  3. Research Problem Any Question that you want answered Input to a study on which outputs depend Garbage in garbage out Formulating an idea into a researchable problem is not an easy task!!!! “Potential research questions may occur to us on a regular basis, but the process of formulating them in a meaningful way is not at all an easy task” (Powers, et al. 1985)

  4. Initially you may become more confused but this is normal and a sign of progression Remember: confusion is often but a first step towards clarity Take time

  5. Research topics may arise from: A concern with some social (or scientific) problem An interest in some general theme or pattern of behavior Some part of theory Some personal inclination or interest (Selltiz 1976)

  6. Moving from topic to problem!!! Operationalizing the concepts to be used such that they are directly observable: Concept Variables Indicators Hypothesis (optional)

  7. THE FIVE ‘WS’ • What? • is my research? • Why? • do I want to do the research? • Who? • are my research participants? • Where? • am I going to do the research? • When? • am I going to do the research?

  8. Sum up your research project in one sentence Discuss your sentence with others and revise if there is any confusion Then move on to think about How you are going to collect your data

  9. You must have a clear idea with regard to what it is that you want to find out about and not what you think you must find

  10. In short, research problem should explicitly state What relationship between what variables about what units of analysis do I want to study?

  11. Formulating Research Problem Importance Sources of Research Problem Issues to consider Steps

  12. Identification of a destination before undertaking a journey • In absence of a destination, it is impossible to identify the shortest or ANY route • A research problem is like the foundation of a building • The type and design of the building are dependent upon the foundation • May take number of forms • Very simple to the very complex

  13. Prerequisite is to know about Knowledge of subject area Knowledge of research methodology

  14. Research problem vs. Research question • Example: Society & Technology • Problem: Blind cannot communicate with majority of society • Question: How should a computer vision device be developed to address the needs of the blind? • Example: Technology & Health • Problem: Epilepsy cannot be understood experimentally • Question: Can a mathematical model be created to understand and experiment with epileptic brain activity?

  15. Evaluation of a Problem • Is the problem researchable? • A researchable problem always concerns with the relationship existing between two or more variables that can be defined and measured • Is the problem new? • Is the problem significant? • Is the problem feasible for a particular researcher?

  16. Consideration in selecting research problem Interest Magnitude Measurement of concepts Level of expertise Relevance Availability of data Ethical issues

  17. Importance • In absence of a clear research problem, a clear and economical plan is impossible • Research problem serves as the foundation of a research study • If it is well formulated, you can expect a good study to follow “If one wants to solve a problem, one must generally know what the problem is. It can be said that a large part of the problem lies in knowing what one is trying to do” (Kerlinger 1986)

  18. Sources of Research Problem 04 Ps: • People • Problems • Phenomena • Programs

  19. Steps in formulating research problem Step 1: Identify a broad field/subject area of interest to you Step 2: Dissect the broad into subareas Step 3: Select what is of most interest to you Step 4: Raise research questions Step 5: Formulate objectives Step 6: Assess your objectives Step 7: Double check

  20. Example: Dissecting the subject area Profile of families with DV Profile of victims Extent and type of DV Domestic Violence (DV) Reasons Impact on children others

  21. Formulation of research objectives • Main objectives • Overall statement of the thrust of your study • Statement of main associations and relationships that you seek to discover or establish • Subobjectives • Specific aspects of the topic that you want to investigate within the main framework of your study • Should contain only ONE aspect of the study • Listed numerically • Worded clearly and unambiguously • Use action oriented words/verbs: to determine, to find out, to ascertain, to measure, to explore. Wordings of your objectives define if your research is descriptive, correlational or experimental

  22. Characteristics of Objectives

  23. Establishing operational Definitions

  24. Formulating Research Problem • Quantitative Approach: • Usually employs a deductive approach • Be as specific as possible • Narrow the magnitude of your study and confine your search within a framework • Qualitative Approach • researchers tend to employ an inductive approach • Maintain flexibility, openness and freedom to include any new idea or exclude any aspect found irrelevant at later stages • Problem reformulated several times after you have begun data collection • Something very clear to you may be quite difficult for yourself you explain in a manner that other may understand

  25. How to find Research Questions?

  26. Approach 1 The research area The research topic General research questions Specific research questions (Punch, 2008) Data collection questions

  27. data need to be linked to concepts, and concepts to data.

  28. Research area Youth suicide Absenteeism at work Youth culture in high schools Living with Tourette’s syndrome Academic success and failures at university Membership of volunteer organisations (Punch, 2008)

  29. Research topic Suicide rates among different groups [quantitative] Factors associated with the incidence of youth suicide [quantitative] Managing suicide behaviour among teenagers [qualitative] Youth culture and the meaning of suicide [qualitative] (Punch, 2008)

  30. Research topic General research questions What is the relationship between familybackground factors and the incidence of youth suicide? Factors associated with the incidence of youth suicide [quantitative] What is the relationship between school experience factors and the incidence of youth suicide?

  31. Research topic General research questions What is the relationship between family background factors and the incidence of youth suicide? Factors associated with the incidence of youth suicide [quantitative] (Punch, 2008)

  32. Approach 2 Research objectives Research questions

  33. Approach 3 Aims Objectives Research questions

  34. Thank you…

  35. In Class Activity Researching research topic

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