1. The Research Problem PE 357

2. Selecting the problem Can be for research or a literature review -To break the problem down more … -needs to be of interest to you -can ask professors -go with your own hunches -read text books

3. Once the basic problem is defined.. You need to do a literature search for background information Search conceptual literature – written material by experts or authorities Search related research – studies to learn what is known on the subject

4. Does the problem need further study? 1) Is it still interesting? 2) is it worthwhile? 3) is it manageable? Best way to do research is to develop an outline

5. A research proposal consists of three chapters 1) Introduction 2) Review of Literature 3) Methodology

6. Title often the last decision takes crafting –can’t be too long but also needs to be long enough to get the content across

7. General rules for titles ·1) Keep it clear and descriptive for indexing 2) Identify key variables and scope –(I.e., does the title precisely identify the problem 3) Avoid unnecessary phrases: “effect of”, “relationship between”, “analysis of”, “a review of”

8. Introducing the problem leader paragraphs hour glass approach specify the problem provide rationale (why is it important?)

9. Introducing the Problem Cont... use broad references but leave the literature review to the literature review section the introduction can be quite short provide the purpose (why) and problem (what) statement watch the term “the study investigated…”

10. Developing the hypotheses Expected results based on theory or experience Stated as outcomes Null hypotheses –No significant differences or relationships –Used for statistical tests

11. More on Hypotheses 1) should be based on theory or previous findings 2) should state a relationship between at least two variables 3) simple statement 4) can be tested 5) can be refuted 6) related to design, procedures, and statistical technique

12. Writing the Introduction Omit technical jargon. Know who you are writing for. Write introduction after the problem, purpose, and hypotheses. Catch the reader’s attention!

13. significance of the study (I.e., why?) -knowledge gaps -more and better knowledge is needed -present knowledge needs validation -present knowledge needs clarification -solution to the problem needs to be found

14. Define Independent variables (IV) Dependent variables (DV) Extraneous variables (EV)

15. Making Your Problem and Hypotheses Clear Operational definitions –Key terms with specific meaning Assumptions Limitations –Possible shortcomings Delimitations –Characteristics imposed by the researcher

16. Examples of limitations Research design sampling problems uncontrolled variables faulty independent variables faulty dependent variables

17. How do we control for Extraneous Variables? Random Selection Matching Removal Statistical Control