Selecting Research a Problem

Systematic research begins with a research problem. Your first step in the research process is therefore to select a problem for investigation.

A good research question:

• Is of importance

• Has not been answered

• Is of interest to the researcher

• Falls within the scope of expertise of the researcher

Researchers must "justify the gap", what is lacking that necessitates the research in question.

1. Select a problem

Common sources of research questions:

• Experience

• Theory

• Relevant Literature

• Outside Sources

From Experience / Observation:

• Ideas or needs seen \at work"

• Patterns of behavior apparently observed \at work"

• Requirement by superior

• Example: See 5th-grade students respond well to group-oriented Mathematics exercises

From Theory:

• Theories may require empirical support

• Theories may need to be challenged

• Theories can be extended

• Example: \Facilitation Theory" of Carl Rogers may be applied specially to dierent age groups of learners

From Relevant Literature:

• Replication of published article, with \updates"

• Extension suggested at the end of an article

• A gap identified

• Example: Your specialty may not be represented in a closely related study

From Outside Sources:

• Current social / political issues

• Discussion with another researcher

• Completely unrelated literature

• Example: Reading about social habits of mammals may lead to an idea of how to promote focus in 8th graders

2. Evaluate the problem

• The Research Question should make a significant novel contribution

• The solution should lead to future research

• The Research Question should be of interest to and within the

• skill range of the researcher

• The question and solution should be ethical

• The question must be \researchable"

IRB (Institutional Review Board) Website: http://www.unco.edu/osp/ETHICS/irb/hsguide.htm

"Researchable" means:

• Can be addressed using data

• Avoid constructs that are dicult to measure

• Avoid philosophical questions

• Avoid matters of opinion

3. State the problem

• Case 1: Quantitative Investigations

  • Declarative Statement

  • General Question

  • Special Question

• Case 2: Qualitative Investigations

  • Statement of General Purpose

  • General Question: "Focus of Inquiry"

Whereas the quantitative researcher always states the problem before collecting data, the qualitative researcher amy formulate problems after beginning to collect data. In qualitative research, the statement may be somewhat general in the beginning, but it will become more focused as the study proceeds.

4. Identify population and variables

• The population is the collection of subjects about whom conclusions will be made.

• A good research question will make clear the population of interest and the variables to be measured.

• Example: What is the eect of parental homework involvement on Mathematics test performance of females between the ages of 9 and 12?