Selecting Research Topic

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Selecting a Research Problem


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Problem!1. A question raised for inquiry,

consideration or solution

2. An intricate unsettled question

Source: Websters 7th New Collegiate Dictionary


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What do we do with

Problems? Ignore them

Talk about them

Try to solve them


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What is a Research Problem?

It is a problem that someone would like

to investigate.

It is considered a situation that needs tobe changed or addressed.

These problems consist of:

Areas of concern

Conditions to be improved

Difficulties to be eliminated Questions seeking answers


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The Research Problem In educational research, the research

problem is typically posed as a

question.


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Factors to consider in

Selecting a Research Problem

The topic should be important (significant)

Writing a thesis or dissertation is an exercise to

learn how to conduct research.

However, graduate students can learn the

research process on an important topic just as

easy as learning the research process on a piddle

topic!


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actors to Consider Consider the feasibility of the project.

How much time do you have available

Do you really want to do a longitudinal study that willtake 3 years to complete for a MS thesis?

How difficultis it. Are data available?

How much will it cost?


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actors Make sure the topic is ethicalto study.


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Factors to Consider in

Selecting a Research Problem You should have a personal interestin

the topic.

By the time you are done, you may really

be tired of the topic


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actors to Consider The newness of the topic may hold

you interest longer, however there is

some value in repeating previousresearch


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actors Make sure the research question is

clear.


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Researchable vs. Non-researchable

Questions


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Writing Clear Questions

Dont use words open to interpretation

Humanistic, teacher centered classroom

Be very specific 4-H agents, not extension agents

It is measurable

End of Course Test Scores, not learning


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Defining Terms

There are 3 ways to clarify important

terms or meaning in a research question:

1) use of constitutive definition (the dictionaryapproach)

2) use of proper example(s)

3) use of operational definition (specifying

operations used to measure or identifyexamples of the term)

See p. 53, Key Terms to Define in a Research Study


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When Operational Definitions would be Helpful (Figure 2.2)


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How does one find

topics to research? Become a scholar in an area of specialization

Read, listen, discuss and think critically

Follow up on ideas that stem from presentresearch

Explore areas of dissatisfaction


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Steps in Zeroing In

on a Problem Identify a broad area that interests you

Read the literature

Narrow the area to 2 or 3 topics Thoroughly examine the literature on the 2-3

topics

Select a single problem from 2-3 topics


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I want to research the

effect of providingimmediate feedback to

university students!

Way too general and broad!


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Refining the Topic

The topic has to be clarified!

The topic needs to reworded so that it

states clearly and unambiguously thematter to be investigated, the variables to

be investigated, and participants, if any,

that will be involved.


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Refining the Topic

A series of research questions or one ormore hypotheses, or both, should be

stated. Such questions and hypotheses orient

the study, add cohesiveness, and areessential in helping solve the problem.


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Does the use of e-Information

responders to provide

immediate feedback to graduatestudents in AEE classes:

1. Increase student learning?

2. Improve student evaluations ofclasses?


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The Research Process

Select and define the problem

Accumulated pertinent knowledge and

information Develop specific objectives

Design the study, the collect and analyzedata

Interpret data Prepare the research report


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The Research Proposal/Report

For graduate students, the research proposalis presented to your committee for theirapproval before you conduct the research or

For others, the research proposal is typicallypresented to a funding agency, school boardor extension administration forapproval/funding


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The Research Proposal/Report

A research proposal is future tense, a

research report is past tense

A research report may be longer (as in thecase of a thesis or dissertation) or it may be

shorter (as is the case in a journal article or

research paper presented at a conference)


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What should be in a

research proposal/report? Typically a thesis or dissertation in AEE has five

chapters/sections.

Introduction Review of the Literature

Methodology

Findings

Conclusions/Implications


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Research proposal/report

The length of a thesis or dissertation will befrom 50-150 pages.

A journal article or research paper willcontain the same content in the samesequence as listed in the previous slide butwill be greatly abbreviated.

A research proposal will contain the first 3chapters listed in the previous slide.


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Introduction Section or

Chapter The introductory section introduces the

problem to be studied and could range from3 or so paragraphs to several pages

This is often followed by a section titledNeed for the Study. This is 1- 3 paragraphsin length. Here you make the case forstudying the problem you have selected.


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Introduction Section

Statement of the Problem is next. This

is one or two sentences clearly stating

what it is being study. If often startswith The purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine if

immediate feedback in AEE graduate classes

improves student learning and course evaluations.


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Research Question(s)

Sample Research Questions

Does the use of e-Information responders toprovide immediate feedback to graduate

students in AEE classes increase studentlearning?

Does the use of e-Information responders toprovide immediate feedback to graduatestudents in AEE classes improve student

evaluations of classes?


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Research Question(s)

One may have several research question For data analysis avoid research questions

with an and

Does the use of e-Information responders toprovide immediate feedback to graduate studentsin AEE classes increase student learning andimprove student evaluations of classes?

One part of the question may be yes and the

other no. It is best to compartmentalize

everything.


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The Hypothesis

In proposing or reporting research, two typesof hypotheses are normally stated:

Directional AEE graduate students will learn more in classes in

which e-Instruction responders are used than in classeswhere they are not used.

Null There will be no difference in AEE graduate student

learning in classes in which e-Instruction respondersare used and in classes in which they are not used.


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Introduction continued

The introductory section generally

contains:

Assumptions you think people willanswer honestly, they have knowledge of

the subject, they are representative, etc.

Typically this is included in a proposal and intheses and dissertations but is not reported in

journal articles or research presentations.


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contains:

Limitations Things that happened duringthe study they may impact on your

findings or the generalizability of the

research

Typically this is included in a proposal and in

theses and dissertations but is not reported in

journal articles or research presentations unless

there is a glaring problem.


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contains:

Definitions Define the terms in yourresearch that the average person might not

know

Typically this is included in a proposal and in

theses and dissertations but is not reported in

journal articles or research presentations.It is

assumed your audience will know the words.


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Section 2 Review of

Literature By the time you finish your research,

you should know more about the topic

than anyone else, including members ofyour committee. You accomplish thisby a thorough review of existingresearch regarding the problem.


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Literature Review

In a thesis or dissertation, this section may be

10-50 pages.

In a journal article it may only be 2-3 pagesat the most. You have to prove you know the

research but cant go overboard because of

page limitations on manuscripts.


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Literature Review

It is generally best to start globally andthen narrow it down to the specific

research question you have. Next weeks class focuses on how to

conduct a literature review.


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Literature Review You want to synthesize and merge what

others had done, not just string a bunch ofquotes together!!!!

M

oving around the classroom helps to maintainstudent interest (Banks, 2001; Carpenter, 1996;James, 1998)

Banks (2001) says it is important to move aroundin the classroom.

Carpenter (1996) believes movement in theclassroom helps students to focus on the teacher.

James (1998) says teachers should change theirposition every 3-4 minutes in order to keepstudent attention.

YES!

NO!


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Section 3-Methods

Describe the research methodology(correlational, descriptive, etc.) you are used(or plan to use) and why.

Describe the population you are studying andhow it is described.

If a sample is used, tell how big the sampleis, why that sample size was chosen, and thesample was selected (I.e stratified randomsample, cluster sample, etc.)


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Section 3 - Methods

If the research is experimental, describe

the research design and what was done

to control extraneous variables. If the research is historical discuss

sources of data.


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Section 3-Methods

Describe the research instrument used.

How many sections and items or on it and howdo people respond.

What is the rating scale? What is a high score?What is a low score?

How was it developed.

Was it field tested?

How do you know it is valid. How do you know it is reliable.


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Section 3-Methods

Describe how the data were collected

(Personal interview,Mail survey, etc.)

When and where were the data collected What was done about non-respondents?

How were the data coded.


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Section 4- Findings

Report the data you have collected.

Follow the same sequence in presenting thedata so that is corresponds with your researchquestions or hypotheses.

Data should be reported both in writing andin graphic form (tables, graphs, etc.)

Report any statistical tests. Just report the facts, dont make anyinterpretations.


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Section 5- Conclusions

Based upon the findings section, what can be

concluded?

What are the implications of this research forpractice?

What recommendations do have for further

research?

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Selecting Research Topic