Methods of Research - Choosing Research Project (Modules 2)

MODULE 2 CHOOSING RESEARCH PROJECT

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME

• Formulate research project topic and objectives through gathered relevant information.

IDENTIFYING RESEARCH PROJECT TOPICS

A. Possible sources of ideas

• Brainstorming

• Asking question

• Identifying needs or problem• Scanning book and videos

• Reading about new and emerging technologies


A. Possible sources of ideas

• Personal experience• Recommendations from previous

project studies• Review of old proposals


B. Other sources

• Unexpected successes• Unexpected failures• Unexpected external events• Process weaknesses• Industry / market structure changes• High growth areas• Converging technologies


B. Other sources

• Demographic changes• Perception changes• New knowledge

SELECTING RESEARCH PROJECT TOPICS

• Choose a topic of interest• Narrow your topic to something

manageable• Review the guidelines on topic

selection

• Refer to lecture notes and required texts to refresh your knowledge of the course and assignment

SELECTING RESEARCH PROJECT TOPICS

• Talk about research ideas with a friend

• Think of the who, what, when, where and why questions

OTHER FACTORS IN SELECTING RESEARCH PROJECT TOPICS

• Nature and size of the problem• Economy

• Capabilities and limitations• Uniqueness

DEFINING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

• The problem must be well-defined• Identify the main problem• Distinguish the specific problems

• Create interest in your reader through the Introduction

CHARACTERISTICS OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM

• S - specific• M - measurable• A - achievable

• R - realistic• T – time-bound• E - enthusiastic

• R - rewarding

CRITERIA OF A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM

• Interesting• Relevant to the needs of the people

• Innovative• Cost efficiency• Measurable and time-bound

SETTING THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• General or Main Objective– response to solve the main or overall

problem presented

• Specific objectives– relate to the specific problems given and

must be presented in the descending order of importance

– the criteria must be SMART

GATHERING RELEVANT INFORMATION

• Start gathering from printed materials• Begin searching information about

the topic from general references• Narrow down the subject into a

manageable topic using background facts

• Background facts are basically the existing knowledge about the data


• Answer the lead questions– What: Description and types– Who: Users and beneficiaries– Where: Uses and applications

– Why: Importance and relevance

– When: Historical background– How: Process, functions and operation


• Another good source of information is the current facts

• Current facts are specific information people would like to know

• Helpful to present the government rules and regulations affecting the technology

• Available fund from the Government or Non-Government Organizations.


• Primary Data - data collected by the investigator himself/ herself for a specific purpose.

• Secondary Data - data collected by someone else for some other purpose (but being utilized by the investigator for another purpose).

Education

Methods of Research - Choosing Research Project (Modules 2)