Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 1 Chapter 3 Identifying a Research Problem

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 2 Key Concepts 4 Defining the Research Problem 4 Distinguishing the problem from the research topic, purpose and research questions 4 Determining the research approach 4 Introducing the problem 4 The flow of ideas in a problem statement

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 3 Research Problem Defined A research problem is an educational issue or concern that an investigator presents and justifies in a research study.

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 4 Question to Ask to Find the Research Problem 4 What was the issue or problem that the researcher wanted to address? 4 What is the concern being addressed “behind” this study? 4 Why was the study undertaken in the first place? 4 Why is this study important?

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 5 Distinguishing the Research Problem From Other Research Steps 4 A research problem is an educational issue or problem in the study 4 A research topic is the broad subject matter being addressed in a study. 4 A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study. 4 Research questions are questions the researcher would like answered or addressed in the study.

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 6 Differences Among Topic, Problem, Purpose and Questions General Specific Topic Research Problem Purpose Statement Research Question Distance Learning Lack of students in distance classes To study why students do not attend distance education classes at a community college. Does the use of web site technology in the classroom deter students from enrolling in a distance education class?

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 7 Can and Should the Problem Be Researched? 4 Determine if the study will contribute to educational knowledge by advancing research. 4 Determine if the study will contribute to educational knowledge by adding to effectiveness or practice. 4 Determine if there is adequate access to participants and research sites. 4 Determine of you have the skills, resources and time to conduct the study.

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 8 Questions Regarding Contribution to Knowledge and Practice 4 Does the study fill a void or contribute to existing research? 4 Does the study replicate a study with new participants or new sites? 4 Does the study address a new problem or has this problem been understudied? 4 Does the study give voice to people not heard, silenced, or rejected in society? 4 Does the study inform practice?

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 9 Determining the Research Approach Use quantitative if your research problem requires you to 4 Measure Variables 4 Assess the impact of these variables on an outcome 4 Test theories or broad explanations 4 Apply results to a large number of people Use qualitative if your research problem requires you to 4 Learn about the views of the people you plan to study 4 Assess a process over time 4 Generate theories based on participant perspectives 4 Obtain detailed information about a few people or research sites.

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 10 Introducing the Topic: The Narrative Hook 4 The Narrative Hook is the first sentence of the Study 4 The Narrative Hook performs the following functions: –causes the reader to pay attention –elicits an emotional or attitudinal response from the reader –causes the reader to continue reading

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 11 Stating the Research Problem 4 Questions to ask: –What is the issue or concern the author is addressing? –Is there one issue or several in the study? 4 Types of problems –Practical research problems –Study-based research problems

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 12 Justifying the Research Problem 4 Suggestions from other researchers 4 Personal work experiences

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 13 Identifying Deficiencies in the Evidence 4 Literature or practical experience do not address the research problem 4 The researcher must summarize the ways in which the literature is deficient in the statement of the problem

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 14 Relating the Discussion to the Audience 4 Visualize the statement of the problem as the first five paragraphs –Topic –research problem –justification –deficiencies –relate discussion to audience

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 15 Flow of Ideas in a Problem Statement Topic Evidence for the Issue Deficiencies in the Evidence What Remedying the Deficiencies will do for Select Audiences FLOW OF IDEAS Subject Area Educational Issue A Concern A Problem Something that needs a solution Evidence from the literature Evidence from practical experiences In this body of evidence, what is missing? What do we need to know more about? How will addressing what we need to know help: researchers – educators – policy-makers – individuals like those in the study

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 16 Organizing the literature 4 Copy and file materials 4 Construct a Literature Map

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 17 Procedure for constructing a Literature Map 4 Identify key terms for the topic and put them at the top of the map 4 Sort studies into topical areas or “families of studies.” 4 Provide a label for each box which will become a heading for the review 4 Develop the map on as many levels as possible

Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 18 Procedure for constructing a Literature Map 4 Draw a box toward the bottom of the figure that says “my proposed study” 4 Draw lines connecting the proposed study with other branches of the literature