PPA 501 – Analytical Methods in Administration Lecture 1d – Selecting a Research Topic

Introduction  Beginning researcher often find themselves at the start of the research process struggling for answers to such questions as What shall I research? How shall I begin? Once I’ve gathered my data, how can I make sense of it? How will I know what my findings really mean?  For some simply choosing a research topic may be the most difficult task.

Introduction  No subject is undesirable: How subjects are researched and reported make them desirable or undesirable, interesting or uninteresting.

Introduction  Guidelines. Research and write about something interesting to you. Be sure enough material about the topic is available to do a good job. Make sure that the topic is not so big it is overwhelming. Be sure the topic fits your abilities and understanding. Make sure you take good notes once you start reading on the topic. Ask your reference librarian for guidance on your research topic. Get assistance from your instructor. Focus, focus, and focus!

Selecting a Problem to Study  A key requirement of all research is the clear, concise, and thorough definition of the problem for which the research will be carried out.  This does not mean you have to have answers to the questions, only that you have a specific goal for the research.

Tasks in Problem Definition  Relate the problem to the program mission and objectives. The project must be worth the effort, time, and money it will consume. Questions:  What is it specifically that we do?  Whom do we serve, and why?  What information do we need to improve the way we function?  Does what I want to know fit these functions, programs, or operations?  Do we need this information for personal reasons or is it needed for operations?  Is this something I really need to know, or is it something I would like to know?  Has someone else already researched this question, or am I just repeating something that has already been done?  Could these resources be put to better use elsewhere?

Tasks in Problem Definition  Review the background of the problem. Internal background – total body of knowledge on the topic that exists within the organization. External background – total body of external literature on the topic. Literature review. You can use the literature review to narrow or focus your topic.

Tasks in Problem Definition  Establish problem subareas, components, and factors. Break the problem into as many parts or subproblems as are feasible. Include only the most important. Limited by what the researcher can do in the time allowed and what will give the greatest payback for the time and labor resources expended.

Tasks in Problem Definition  Determining what is to be measured. Which relevant components of the problem should be measured? This can materially affect the analysis. What elements are accessible?

Tasks in Problem Definition  Determine relevant variables. Variables are study questions rephrased into testable statements. They can be measured. Categorical versus continuous. Independent versus intervening versus conditional versus dependent.

Tasks in Problem Definition  Establish research objective and sub- objectives. Statements of what the researcher wants to accomplish by completing the research activity.

Tasks in Problem Definition  Pretest to redefine variables, objectives, and sub-objectives. What the researcher thinks she or her is asking may not be what the research subject is reading or hearing.

Selecting a Research Focus  What part of the problem should I study, and what parts should I ignore?  What point of view are you proposing for the research? The sponsor, the client, the elected official, someone else?

Selecting a Research Focus  Five different approaches. Thesis or “position” studies. Compare-and-contrast studies. Analysis studies. Summary studies. Basic research studies.

Finding Information on a Topic  Traditional library research. Secondary literature analysis.  Begin with a research plan. General topic, focusing on relevant parts. Keywords, with qualifiers to narrow the focus. Periodicals first, usually.

Finding Information on a Topic  Research using electronic sources. The Internet is actually a collection of electronic sources.  Online databases, CD-ROM databases, local area networks, and library networks.  Its accessibility also reduces its reliability.  Resources for evaluating accuracy of Internet information. Virginia Tech Johns Hopkins University

Finding Information on a Topic  Search tools. Internet directory (e.g., Yahoo). Search engine (e.g., Google).  Online databases. Most literature search information is available in online databases. Web link to Walter Stiern Library online databases: