1. Week 2
Research Problem

2. Review What is research? Characteristics of research?
Applied vs Basic research?
Inductive vs Deductive?

3. Problem definition
Problem definition

4. Lesson objectives Define research problem Write problem statement
Describe quantitative and qualitative research

5. The broad problem area
The entire situation where one sees a possible need for research or problem solving
Examples??

6. Background survey Justifying your choice of the area in research
What is there a need to do this research
Need backing up
Government policies
Institutional reports/ strategic plans
Research reports
Press report/ speeches

7. Let’s search for ‘back-ups’

8. Narrowing your research
Narrow it down to specific issues
Broad, general area
Begin with broad questions
Narrow down, focus to operationalize
Observe
Analyse data
Reach conclusions
Generalize back to questions

9. Problem definition Defining a problem
Not necessarily something that is seriously wrong
Can be an issues of interest
Find answers to improve existing situation
A situation where a gap exist between actual and desired state

10. Problem definition Could be An issue/ matter you want to understand
Existing educational problems that you are seeking to solve
Situations that you want to improve
Areas where some conceptual clarity is needed
Situations in which the researcher is trying to answer a research question empirically

11. Problem definition
Essential to define your research problem very carefully,
Ask why you’ve chosen it , why not another problem
Helps you to choose a suitable method of researching it
Prevent you from reading rather indiscriminately
you don’t know quite what you’re looking for
make more notes than you need.

12. Formulating and stating the research problem

13. The research problem is..
a set of conditions needing discussion, a solution, and information.
implies the possibility of empirical investigation, that is, of data collection and analysis

14. The research problem is not..
how to do something;
a vague or too broad a proposition;
a value question.

15. Try this.. The purpose of the study is to determine:
whether the suspension policy should be changed.
the truth of the proposition that Malaysian education has encouraged exam oriented learners who aim at getting a string of As
how students can overcome test anxiety.
if there is a difference in the mean gain scores in achievement between students taught using a blended learning mode and those taught using traditional lecture.

16. Try one ..
1 Malaysia awareness among the Faculty of Education students
What is the research problem?
What is the background?
Government policies
Institutional reports/ strategic plans
Research reports
Press report/ speeches
What to read in order to justify?
What to research?

17. Research problem Be as deductive as you can
Relate your research problem to a theory
A theory is an explanation of events or phenomena or behaviour
Phenomena in education - theories from cognitive psychology, sociology, psycholinguistics, management, computer science.
Example: Finding out whether university students are aware of the 1 Malaysia concept
Theory?

18. Let’s find a research problem
Academic connectedness of Postgraduate part time students

19. Questions What is the research problem? What is the background?
What to read in order to justify?
What to research?
Purpose
Context
Scope

20. Differentiate
A research topic is the broad subject matter being addressed in a study.
A research problem is an educational issue or problem in the study
A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study.

21. Problem Tree

22. Drawing a problem tree Identify core problems Identify effects
Identify causes
Identify all possible causes and effects

23. Distance Learners not able to learn effectively
Example
Withdrawal, Deferment of studies, Dropout
Failure to achieve meaningful experience
Complaints
Poor grades
Anxiety
Frustration
Dissatisfaction
Learning outcomes not achieved
Distance Learners not able to learn effectively
Effects
CORE PROBLEM
Causes
Epistemological problems (course structure, difficulty level and so forth)
Learners cannot manage their learning environment
Learners cannot manage their learning activities
Institutional / Administrative Problems
Learners’ personal problems and characteristics
Lack of learning skills/ Strategies
Ambiguous instructions and
other pedagogical issues
Inability to sustain motivation
Lack of self-regulation
Procrastination
Poor time management
Inability to maintain strong attention to goals sought
Lack of discipline
Logistic/Infrastructure problems
Isolation
Lack of support and feedback
Poorly designed learning materials
Travel problems
Communication problems
Anxiety, fear of technology & technology failure
Minimal F2F sessions
Role conflicts
Family problems
Financial problems
Learning style / approach does not fit
Low academic self-concept
Learner problems
Unsure of new learning mode
Lack readiness
Lack self-direction
Lack of structure and direction
Lack technical ability

24. There are incompetent teachers teaching in schools
Effects
CORE PROBLEM
Causes
Let’s try one

25. Academic connectedness
Effects
CORE PROBLEM
Causes
Your problem?

26. Stating a research problem

27. Let’s look at your research problem
The area of your research
State whether
Existing educational problems that you are seeking to solve
Situations that you want to improve
Areas where some conceptual clarity is needed
Situations in which the researcher is trying to answer a research question empirically
Why do you choose this ‘problem?

28. Problem statement Problem statement How ?
A clear, precise and succinct statement of the question/issue that is to be investigated
How ?
no one "right" way to state one
American vs. British

29. Problem statement
Introduces the reader to the importance of the problem (the concern). The reader is oriented to the significance of the study and the research questions or hypotheses to follow.
You could relate your problem to the findings of prior research ( corroborated)
Places the problem in a context
Provides the framework for reporting the results. Indicate what is probably necessary to conduct the study and explain how the findings will present this information.

30. Flow of Ideas in a Problem Statement
Remedying
the deficiencies
For whom?
Select
Audiences
Deficiencies
in the
Evidence
Educational
Issue
Evidence for
the
Issue
Topic
Subject
Area
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

31. Concern ? Corroborated? Context ?
Look at one..
Remedying
the deficiencies
For whom?
Select
Audiences
Deficiencies
in the
Evidence
Educational
Issue
Evidence for
the
Issue
Topic
Concern ? Corroborated? Context ?

32. Documenting/ Reporting
Visualize the statement of the problem as paragraphs
Background – general info on the issue
research problem – provide context
justification – supporting literature, reports etc
deficiencies – provide the gap in research
relate the above to your purpose

33. Example 1
Example 2

34. Exercise Read the article Find a research problem Draw a problem tree
Find a research problem
Draw a problem tree

35. Next: Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Take a break
Next: Qualitative and Quantitative Research

36. Quantitative vs. Qualitative
See handout

37. Quantitative vs. Qualitative

38. Let’s look at one example

39. Let’s look at one example
Research problem
Since the Malaysian Prime Minister launched 1 Malaysia, there has been a number of government projects initiated to disseminate the concept. Private organizations and NGOs are also conducting events to provide information and exposure to the public; Media and television programs are also portraying the concept in advertisements and documentaries. With such huge spending on IT, it is interesting to find out if the people actually understand and are aware of 1 Malaysia

40. Develop an idea for quantitative research
TOPIC:
Sample: ___

41. Develop an idea for qualitative research
TOPIC:
Sample: ___

42. Statistics anyone?
Statistical analysis is helpful when there is a need to determine certain facts, or correlations between facts.
Helpful when doing research on a broader scale
Generally, it provides an answer to ‘what?’ question
‘How’ question is better answered by qualitative researching

43. Qualitative Problem statement
Qualitative research problem statement
The problem should be stated clearly and unambiguously
The problem should express what is it that you want to explore , to understand
What is the meaning of A?
How does A exist ?
Why A happens?

44. Quantitative Problem statement
Quantitative research problem statement
The problem should be stated clearly and unambiguously
The problem should express a relation between two or more variables
Is A related to B?
How are A and B related?
How is A related to B under condition C?
Is there a difference between A and B in terms of C?
Implies possibilities of empirical testing

45. Tasks Write your problem statement Post your problem statement online
Conduct background reading
Decide on qualitative or quantitative approach
Post your problem statement online
Let there be concern, corroboration and context
Ask yourself –
Will data be accessible?
Where and from whom will you get the data?

46. Writing research questions
Next
Writing research questions

47. Differences
A research topic is the broad subject matter being addressed in a study.
A research problem is an educational issue or problem in the study
A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study.
Research questions are questions the researcher would like answered or addressed in the study.
Survey questions??