1. LIS 570 Phase 1: Step 1 Selecting, narrowing, formulating a problem

2. Outline  Starting points  Narrowing and clarifying  Stating the problem Explanatory research Hypothesis  Non-causal/Causal Descriptive research Research Objective

3. Asking the right questions  Research is a disciplined way of answering questions  Researchable questions limited in scope, narrowed in focus and confined to a certain time place and set of conditions some objective, tangible, countable evidence or data can be gathered which are relevant to the question

4. Narrowing and clarifying the problem  Starting point Select a problem Something vexing, perplexing, unknown Suitable for empirical research  Narrow and clarify the problem

5. Narrowing and clarifying the problem  What do I want to know about this topic?  Description or explanation? Descriptive research (De Vaus) What is the time frame of our interest? What is the geographical location of our interest? Are we aiming for broad description or do we want to compare and specify patterns for subgroups? What aspect of the topic are we interested in? How abstract is our interest?

6. Narrowing and clarifying the problem Explanation Are we looking for causes or consequences?

7. Narrowing and clarifying the problem Explanation List possible causes or consequences and then collect relevant data  previous research  the facts  our hunches  talk to informants

8. Narrowing and clarifying the problem Explanation - exploring a simple idea e.g. instead of asking what has caused? We ask has X caused? ?

9. Narrowing and clarifying the problem Explanation - exploring a more complex idea Erosion of absolutes Rejection of wrongness of divorce Religious decline Increased emphasis on self fulfilment Higher expectations of marriage Reduced willingness to stay in unhappy marriage Increased divorce rate De Vaus, 31

10. Narrowing and clarifying the problem  Summary.. For descriptive research be clear and specific about what you want to describe For exploratory research ask.. What am I trying to explain? What are the possible causes? Which causes will I explore? What are the possible mechanisms?

11. “unpacking” the question (Bouma)  What are the major concepts?  What is happening here?  What are the issues?  Is one thing affecting, causing or producing a change in something else?  Why is this so?  Consult what has already been written or researched about the problem

12. Unpacking the question  Identify and note the many issues about the problem that you have chosen and make the choice to study one.  Then….Clarify the research question(s)  Restate the issue as a researchable question hypothesis research objective

13. Hypothesis  “.. Asserts a Relationship Between Concepts” Expectation about Events  Exists/Does Not Exist Time Spent on Leisure Level of Income There is a relationship between Level of Income and types of activities engaged in

14. Types of Relationships  Hypotheses Assert a Type of Relationship  Positive (Direct) Relationship  Negative (Indirect) Level of Income Time Spent on leisure NON-CAUSAL Level of Income Time Spent on Leisure + - Direct Indirect

15. Non-Causal Relationship Words Related (Relationship) Associated (Association) Correlated Linked “Goes with” Income is positively associated with time spent There is a negative correlation between income and time spent There is no association between income and time spent

16. Causal Hypotheses  Asserts that one Concept (Idea) is the cause of the other Level of income determines time spent Level of Income Time Spent on leisure Causal Concept Active Independent X Caused Concept Passive Dependent Y

17. Types of Causal Hypotheses  Positive/Negative Level of Income Time Spent High income causes more time to be spent on leisure High income causes less time to be spent on leisure YX

18. Establishing Causality  Three Basic Requirements A relationship between the concepts needs to be established Has to be the correct time order All other reasons for the relationship must be able to be eliminated Ed Level Health Aware Time

19. Causal Words  Determine  Affect  Effect  Influence  Decrease/Increase  Leads to The Level of Income Determines Time The Level of Income Has an Effect on Time Level of Income Has a Negative Influence

20. Summary  Hypotheses can take many forms Causal/Non-Causal Positive/Negative Relationship Exists or Does Not  Causal hypotheses distinguish between caused and causal variables CausalCaused XY IndependentDependent

21. Research Objectives  When the goal of the research is descriptive rather than explanatory  To determine the leisure time activities of people To determine the types of activities engaged in To determine the amount of time spent on leisure time activities

22. Summary  Without a clear statement of the problem, the research undertaken will be confused and ambiguous. It is impossible to proceed to the next stage of the research process in a satisfactory way without such a statement.