Identifying A Research Problem, Creswell

Identifying a research problem,
Creswell.
 ◆ Define a research problem and explain its importance in a study.
 ◆ Distinguish between a research problem and other parts of research process.
 ◆ Identify criteria for deciding whether a problem can and should be researched.
 ◆ Describe how quantitative and qualitative research problems differ. ◆ Learn the
five elements in writing a “statement of the problem” section.
 ◆ Identify strategies useful in writing a “statement of the problem” section
Define a research problem and explain its
importance in a study.
 Research problems are the educational issues, controversies, or concerns that
guide the need for conducting a study.
 ◆ What was the issue, problem, or controversy that the researcher wanted to
address?
 ◆ What controversy leads to a need for this study?
 ◆ What was the concern being addressed “behind” this study?
 ◆ Is there a sentence like “The problem addressed in this study is . . .”?
Distinguish between a research problem and other parts of
research process.
 ◆ A research topic is the broad subject matter addressed by the study. Maria, for
example, seeks to study weapon possession by students in schools.
 ◆ A research problem is a general educational issue, concern, or controversy
addressed in research that narrows the topic. The problem Maria addresses is the
escalating violence in schools due, in part, to students possessing weapons.
 ◆ A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study used to address the
problem. Maria might state the purpose of her study as follows: “The purpose of
my study will be to identify factors that influence the extent to which students
carry weapons in high schools.”
 ◆ Research questions narrow the purpose into specific questions that the
researcher would like answered or addressed in the study. Maria might ask, “Do
peers influence students to carry weapons?”
 Homesickness is a major issue on college campuses today. When students get
homesick, they leave school or start missing classes, leading to student attrition or
poor achievement in classes during their first semester of college
 Women in Third World countries are restricted from attending universities and
colleges because of the culturally oriented, patriarchal norms of their societies.
◆ Identify criteria for deciding whether a problem can and
should be researched.
 1. Study the problem if your study will fi ll a gap or void in the existing literature.
 Study the problem if your study replicates a past study but examines different
participants and different research sites
 3. Study the problem if your study extends past research or examines the topic
more thoroughly.
 4. Study the problem if your study gives voice to people silenced, not heard, or
rejected in society
 5. Study the problem if your study informs practice.
Describe how quantitative and qualitative
research problems differ.
 Explaining or predicting relations among variables is an important characteristic

of quantitative research
 Exploring and understanding is a characteristic of qualitative research
Quantitative Qualitative
◆Measure variables Tend to use qualitative research if your research problem
◆ Assess the impact of these variables on an outcome requires you to:
◆ Test theories or broad explanations ◆Learn about the views of individuals
Apply results to a large number of people ◆ Assess a process over time
◆Generate theories based on participant perspective
◆ Obtain detailed information about a few people or
research sites
Learn the five elements in writing a “statement of the
problem” section.
The statement of the problem section includes the actual research problem as well as four
other aspects:
 1. The topic: is the broad subject matter that a researcher wishes to address in a study and
that creates initial interest for the reader
 2. The research problem: Authors may present it as a single sentence or as a couple of
short sentences
 3. A justification of the importance of the problem as found in the past research and in
practice
 4. The deficiencies in our existing knowledge about the problem: past literature or
practical experiences of the researchers does not adequately address the research problem
 5. The audiences that will benefit from a study of the problem

Identifying A Research Problem, Creswell

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Identifying A Research Problem, Creswell

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Identifying A Research Problem, Creswell

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Identifying a research problem,

 Explaining or predicting relations among variables is an important characteristic

You might also like