Selection and formulation of a research problem Lang, G & Heiss, G.D.

Selection and formulation of a research problemLang, G & Heiss, G.D. 研究方法論課程指導老師:任維廉教授報告人:余惟茵

自我介紹 • 姓名：余惟茵 • 出生地：台北市 • 系級：運管所博一 • 學歷：交大運管碩士 • 成大交管學士 • 研究：航空業營運以及能源問題 • 興趣：旅遊、閱讀、印象派

Outline • Source for ideas • Criteria for selecting a research problem • Delimiting the research problem • Research and value judgments • Appendix B

How to locate a researchable problem? SOURCE FOR IDEAS

Source for ideas • The problems encountered in your daily life or profession could be sources for questions or hypotheses. • experience + observation + needs + interests = research problem • Read professional literature of your field systematically. • Suggestions from investigators • Magazines • Perusal of recent convention programs of your professional organization.

Sustained motivation Adequate training and personal predilections Feasibility Importance to your profession CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A RESEARCH PROBLEM

Criteria for selecting a research problem • Sustained motivation →You should be highly motivated to embark upon a research study. • Are you really interested in the topic which you have chosen? • Are you really excited about what you wish to study? • Will this topic have some practical value in helping you in your future career?

Criteria for selecting a research problem • Adequate training and personal predilections →Is it right in light of your training and personal preferences? • Do you have enough training to undertake a certain study? • Research design • Manage most of your research study by yourself. • Which type of research appeals to you? • Historical, descriptive, experimental research… • Observation, interview, questionnaire, test… • Are you impatient to get fairly immediate results or do you have patience to wait? • How high is your frustration tolerance?

Criteria for selecting a research problem • Feasibility →Is it feasible for you? • Do you have sufficient time to carry it out? • Meet the deadlines at your school or job. • Do you have access to subjects? • Available equipment and research tools • Institutional sponsorship and cooperation • Gathering data • The need to protect privacy of individual • A problem may be too complex • Can you offer examples of intriguing and important problems which seem too difficult to be solved via research at the present time? →Not all the problems are researchable!

Criteria for selecting a research problem • Importance to your profession →Is it important to your profession? • Is the proposed project of some value to your profession? • Original study • Make contribution by replicating a study • Does it add to our store of information? • Does it provide fresh insights for some of your colleagues? • The results may be helpful to guidance counselors. →Make a contribution to your field!

To narrow a general idea down to one that is manageable by you. DELIMITING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Delimiting the research problem • The way to accomplish this task: • Read extensively in the literature related to your field of interest. • Seek assistance from your instructor. • Notice the difference between delimitation and limitation. • Delimitation: a premeditated limitation that the researcher narrows down. • Limitation: a weakness in the study which becomes apparent during or after its completion.

Delimiting the research problem • Categories of delimitations: • The number of observations, subjects or cases • Time and geographic location • The selection of sources (especially in historical-documentary research) →It is helpful to narrow down the topic by telling what the study is not.

The selection of a problem The selection of methods The interpretation of data The reporting of findings Concern for the application of findings RESEARCH AND VALUE JUDGMENTS

Research and value judgments • The ethical considerations enter into: • The selection of a problem →By focusing on one area rather than another, the researcher makes a value judgment. • The selection of methods →the selection of proper methods for investigation that is regulated by professional codes • The interpretation of data →Researchers may be temped to interpret their data selectively.

Research and value judgments • The ethical considerations enter into: • The reporting of findings → Researchers may choose whether or not to report their findings to fellow professionals and to laymen. • Concern for the application of findings → Researchers may or may not feel responsible for the ultimate application of their findings. →A researcher should not operate within a social vacuum and cannot avoid making value judgments!

Format of the proposal for a research project APPENDIX B

APPENDIX B • Title:state the tentative title of your proposal. • Problem-Introduction: discuss the importance or significance of the problem selected. • Related research: present a critical review of related research. • Operational definitions : clearly define the key variables, concepts and terms. • Assumptions-Delimitations : make explicit the assumptions underlying various phases of your study. • Hypothesis or Questions: clearly state the hypothesis and questions to be investigated.

APPENDIX B 7.Method →State clearly and fully the methods to be used in gathering data to test hypotheses or to answer questions posed in section 6. • Subjects: indicated nature, sources, characteristics, and size of population and sample to be used. • Techniques-Instruments: indicated techniques to be used. • Research steps: list all research steps. • Data Analysis: state appropriate methods of analyzing your data.

APPENDIX B 8.Results, Conclusions, Generalizations, Implications, Limitations and Suggestions • Results and conclusions: state probable findings and conclusions. • Generalizations: indicate the extent to which your results and conclusions may apply to other populations and samples. • Implications: the course of action indicated in your study. • Limitations: the deficiencies of your study. • Suggestions for further research: indicated avenues for future research. 9.References or bibliography

THANK YOUQ & A

Selection and formulation of a research problem Lang, G & Heiss, G.D.