Research 05 the research topic

Research

The Research Topic

Problem Identification

• A problem is a perceived difficulty, a feeling of discomfort with the way things are, a discrepancy between what someone believes should be and what is.

• A potential research situation arises wen three conditions exists:• A perceived DESCRIPANCY between what is and what

should be.

• A QUESTION about why the discrepancy exists

• At least TWO POSSIBLE AND PLAUSIBLE ANSWERS to the question.

Example of a Non-Research Problem

• A recent survey in District A found that 1,000 women were continuous users of contraceptive pills. But last month’s service statistics indicate that none of these women are using contraceptive pills.

Example of a Non-Research Problem

Discrepancy All 1,000 women should be using contraceptive pills,

but all 1,000 women are not using contraceptive

pills

Problem

Question

What factor or factors are responsible for 1,000

women discontinuing their use of contraceptive

pills?

Answer A monsoon flood has prevented all new supplies of

pills reaching District A, and all old supplies have

been exhausted

Example of a Research Problem

• District A is always flooded during the monsoon season, Recognizing this problem, the national family planning program established a new supply logistics system for the district. Each pill user is given a four-month supply before the monsoon begins. During the monsoon, small motorboats are available to transport new supplies to selected distribution centres accessible to village-level family planning workers. Despite these new measures, this year’s service statistics indicated that there are no pill supplies for District A.

Example of a Research Problem

Discrepancy The new logistics system should be able to assure a

continuous supply of pills, but this year there are

no supplies.

Problem

Question

Why has the new supply logistics system been

incapable of delivering contraceptive pills to users?

Answer 1. An order for new pill supplies was not placed in

time before the monsoon rains

2. The riverboats used to transport the supplies

are out of order

3. Field workers were not told about the new

system and failed to give users a four-month

supply of pills before the monsoon

Situations to avoid when considering a problem for research


• Research projects should not be a ruse for achieving self-enlightenment• Example:

• “The problem of this research is to learn more about the way in which the Panama Canal was built.”

• Note: the information gathering may add knowledge but not “new” knowledge.

Leedy & Ormrod, 2005


• A problem whose sole purpose is to compare two sets of data is not a suitable research problem.• Example:

• This research project will compare the increase in the number of women employed over 100 years –from 1870 to 1970 – with the employment of men over the same time span.

• Note: a simple table completes the project.



• Calculating a coefficient correlation between two sets of data to show a relationship between them is not acceptable as a problem for research.• Example:

• “Research has shown that the correlation between the intelligence of the parents and that of their children are such-and-such.”

• Note: This is mere statistical exercise and does not include interpretation. The causes for the correlation should be researched.



• Problems that result in a yes or no answer are not suitable for research.• Example:

• “Is homework beneficial to children?”


“

”

“It can be said with complete confidence that any scientist of any age who wants to make important discoveries must study important problems. Dull or piffling problems yield dull or piffling answers. It is not enough that a problem should be “interesting” –almost all problem is interesting if it is studied in sufficient depth.

P.B. Medawar (1979) – Nobel laureate who investigated causes of the human body’s rejection of organ tissues transplanted from other human beings.


Finding legitimate problems

Danilo B. Largo, Director, USC Research Office


• Look around you.• Be more observant

• Question what is happening around you.

• Look at everything with intellectual curiousity.



• Read the literature• Find out what things are already known about your

topic of interest

• There is no need to reinvent the wheel

• The existing literature is likely to tell you what is “not” known in the area – in other words, what still needs to be done

• Reading also gives you a theoretical base on which to build a rationale for your study.



• Attend professional conferences• Most experienced researchers are happy to talk with

people who are just starting out. In fact, they may feel flattered that you are familiar with their work and that you would like to extend or apply it in some way.



• Seek the advise of experts• Ask: what needs to be done? What burning questions

are still out there? What previous research findings seemingly don’t make sense?



• Choose a topic that intrigues and motivates you• Remember, the problem you’re about to undertake

will take you many months, quite possible a couple of years or even longer. So it should be something that you truly believe is worth your time and effort.

• “You’re going to be married to it, so you might as well enjoy it.” (Peter Leavenworth, doctoral student in history)



• Choose a topic that others will find interesting and worthy of attention.• Conference coordinators and journal editors are

often quite selective about the papers they accept for presentation or publication, and they are most likely to choose those papers that will have more broad appeal.


Defining the research problem

Defining the problem

• From the available research literature, current service statistics, educated opinions, and other sources of information, try to add details to the problem situation you have just identified.

• Look for theoretical concepts and operational variables that you may have missed.

• List these concepts and variables on a piece of paper as you come across them.

Questions

• What is the incidence and prevalence of the problem?

• What geographic areas are affected by the problem?

• What population groups are affected by the problem?

• What are the findings of other research studies?

• What has been done to overcome the problem in the past?

• How successful were past efforts to overcome the problem?

• What seem to be major unanswered questions about the problem?


• From the information you have collected from a literature review and other sources, rewrite your statement identifying and defining the problem.

• Use the format of Problem Situation, Discrepancy, Problem Question, and Possible Answers.

• Add details that help to define the problem, but organize the information.

• Try to establish the boundaries of the problem.

• Focus your attention on the most important, researchable aspects of the problem.

• Be clear and be specific.


• Have one or more friends read your final statement identifying and defining the problem situation.

• Have the friend tell you what he or she thinks the problem is.

• If your friend is unclear about the problem situation, if your friend cannot describe the discrepancy between what is and what should be, then go back to the beginning and start all over.

Additional guidelines in stating the problem

Guidelines in stating the problem

• State the problem clearly and completely.• Incorrect: “Welfare of children”

• Correct: “What effect does welfare assistance to parents have on the attitudes of their children toward work?”



• Think through the feasibility of the project that the problem implies• Incorrect: “This study proposes to study the science

programs in the secondary schools in the United States for the purpose of…”

• Correct: “This study proposes to survey the science programs in selected secondary schools throughout the United States.”



• Say precisely what you mean• Do not assume that others will read your mind.

People will always take things at face value.

• Absolute honesty and integrity are assumed in every statement a scholar makes.



• Edit your work• Editing is sharpening a thought to a gemlike point

and eliminating useless verbiage.

• Unedited: “We have been discussing several common difficulties relating to the statement of the problem. These can be improved or remedied through a careful editing of your words.”

• Edited: “You can avoid the difficulties we have been discussing by carefully editing your words.”


References

• Paul Leedy and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod, PRACTICAL RESEARCH: PLANNING AND DESIGN, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005, New Jersey

Data & Analytics

Research 05 the research topic