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Sources of Research Ideas Everyday life—e.g. Kitty Genovese Everyday life—e.g. Kitty Genovese Practical issues—e.g. drug abuse Practical issues—e.g. drug abuse Past research Past research Theory Theory –goal function-summarize and integrate –Tool function-guide research Many other sources Many other sources

Issues Affecting Research Ideas Gender Bias Gender Bias Must be capable of being Scientifically Investigated Must be capable of being Scientifically Investigated

Review of the Literature Purpose of the literature review Purpose of the literature review –Identify if the topic has been researched –Provide design ideas –Identify methodological problems –Identify special needs –Provide information for the research report Doing the search Doing the search –Books –Journals Psychological abstracts Psychological abstracts –Electronic databases –PsycINFO –Internet resources – –Listserv –World Wide Web

Additional Information Sources Professional meetings Professional meetings Contact with individual researchers Contact with individual researchers

Feasibility of the study Is it feasible for you to conduct the study Is it feasible for you to conduct the study

Formulating the Research Problem Definition of a research problem-An interrogative sentence that asks a question Definition of a research problem-An interrogative sentence that asks a question Criteria for good research problems Criteria for good research problems –Variables should express a relation –Stated in question form –Capable of empirical testing Specificity of the research question Specificity of the research question

Hypotheses Definition -- the best guess or prediction of the outcome Definition -- the best guess or prediction of the outcome Criterion--Must be capable of being refuted or confirmed Criterion--Must be capable of being refuted or confirmed Types Types –Scientific –Null