EDU 540 EDU 540 Problem definitionProblem definition

Lesson objectivesLesson objectives

Define research problem Write problem statement Describe quantitative and qualitative

research

Where we are now…Where we are now…

Observation/ Background survey

Broad area of research

Literature review

Problem definition

Problem statement

Research questions

Theoretical framework

Variables clearly identified

Hypothesis generation

Research design

Methods

Data collection

Analysis

Interpretation

Deduction

Hypothesis substantiated?

RQ answered?

The broad problem areaThe broad problem area

The entire situation where one sees a possible need for research or problem solving

Examples Malay students studying Physics Soft skills of Faculty of Education students Instructors lecturers using instructional

technology

Narrowing your researchNarrowing your research

Narrow it down to specific issues Malay students have problems studying certain Physics

topics More specific Issue : Problem solving skills, Difficulty in

grasping concepts,

P&HE students not displaying soft skills needed More specific issue: Poor communication skills

Women lecturers are having difficulties using instructional technology

Specific issue: technophobia, technology training

Putting things in perspectivePutting things in perspective

Research questions

Background survey

Research problem

Theoretical framework

Problems

RESEARCH INTEREST/AREA

Issues

Concerns

Background surveyBackground survey

Justifying your choice of the area in research What is there a need to do this research

Need backing up Government policies Institutional reports/ strategic plans Research reports Press report/ speeches

Problem definitionProblem definition

Defining a problem Not necessarily something that is seriously

wrong Can be an issues of interest

Find answers to improve existing situation

A situation where a gap exist between actual and desired state

Problem definitionProblem definition

Could be An issue/ matter you want to understand Existing educational problems that you are

seeking to solve Situations that you want to improve Areas where some conceptual clarity is needed Situations in which the researcher is trying to

answer a research question empirically

The research problem is..The research problem is..

a set of conditions needing discussion, a solution, and information.

implies the possibility of empirical investigation, that is, of data collection and analysis

The research problem is not..The research problem is not..

how to do something; a vague or too broad a proposition; a value question.

Try this..Try this..

The purpose of the study is to determine: whether the suspension policy should be changed. the truth of the proposition that Malaysian education has

encouraged exam oriented learners who aim at getting a string of As

how students can overcome test anxiety. if there is a difference in the mean gain scores in

reading achievement between students taught word attack skills and those taught comprehensive skills.

Try one ..Try one ..

Soft skills of Faculty of Education students What is the research problem? What is the background?

Government policies Institutional reports/ strategic plans Research reports Press report/ speeches

What to read in order to justify? What to research?

Problem definitionProblem definition

Essential to define your research problem very carefully, Ask why you’ve chosen it , why not another problem

Helps you to choose a suitable method of researching it

Prevent you from reading rather indiscriminately you don’t know quite what you’re looking for make more notes than you need.

Problem definitionProblem definition

Be as deductive as you can Relate your research problem to a theory

A theory is an explanation of events or phenomena or behaviour Phenomena in education - theories from cognitive psychology,

sociology, psycholinguistics, management, computer science.

Example: Finding out whether providing children with multimedia presentations explaining science concepts will enhance understanding

Theory?

Let’s look at your research Let’s look at your research problemproblem The area of your research State whether

Existing educational problems that you are seeking to solve

Situations that you want to improve Areas where some conceptual clarity is needed Situations in which the researcher is trying to

answer a research question empirically Why do you choose this ‘problem?

Problem TreeProblem Tree

Drawing a problem treeDrawing a problem tree

Identify core problems Identify effects Identify causes Identify all possible causes and effects

Withdrawal, Deferment of studies, Dropout

Failure to achieve meaningful experience

Complaints Poor grades

Anxiety Frustration

Dissatisfaction

Learning outcomes not achieved

Distance Learners not able to learn effectively

Effects

CORE PROBLEMCauses

Epistemological problems (course structure, difficulty

level and so forth)

Learners cannot manage their learning

environment

Learners cannot manage their

learning activities

Institutional / Administrative

Problems

Learners’ personal problems and characteristics

Lack of learning skills/ StrategiesAmbiguous instructions and other pedagogical issuesInability to sustain

motivation

Lack of self-regulation

ProcrastinationPoor time

management

Inability to maintain strong

attention to goals sought

Lack of discipline

Logistic/Infrastructure problems

Isolation

Lack of support and feedback

Poorly designed learning materials

Travel problemsCommunication problems

Anxiety, fear of technology & technology failure

Minimal F2F sessions

Role conflictsFamily problemsFinancial problemsLearning style / approach does not fitLow academic self-concept

Learner problems

Unsure of new learning modeLack readinessLack self-direction Lack of

structure and direction

Lack technical ability

ExampleExample

Let’s try oneLet’s try oneNo harmony on campus

No cooperation between groups

Bitterness

Learners cannot tolerate each other

Learners stay in their own groups

There exists differences between students from

different clusters

Effects

CORE PROBLEM

Causes

Perceived competence

Learner characteristics

Social and economic background

ExerciseExercise

Students do not have the acceptable level of soft

skills

Effects

CORE PROBLEM

Causes

Problem statementProblem statement

Problem statement A clear, precise and succinct statement of the

question/issue that is to be investigated How ?

no one "right" way to state one American vs. British

Problem statementProblem statement

Introduces the reader to the importance of the problem. The reader is oriented to the significance of the study and the research questions or hypotheses to follow. You could relate your problem to the findings of prior

research ( a few) Places the problem in a context ( remember

Botswana elearning readiness?) Provides the framework for reporting the results.

Indicate what is probably necessary to conduct the study and explain how the findings will present this information.

Flow of Ideas in a Problem Flow of Ideas in a Problem StatementStatement

Topic

Evidence for the Issue

Deficiencies in the Evidence

Remedyingthe deficiencies For whom? SelectAudiences

FLOW OF IDEAS

SubjectArea

EducationalIssue

• A Concern• A Problem• Something

that needs a solution

• Evidence from the literature

• Evidence from practical

• experiences

• In this body of evidence, what is missing?

• What do we need to know more about?

How will addressingwhat we need toknow help: researchers– educators– policy-makers– individuals like those in the study

Documenting/ ReportingDocumenting/ Reporting

Visualize the statement of the problem as the first five paragraphs background research problem justification deficiencies relate discussion to audience

ExampleExample

TAKE A BREAKTAKE A BREAKNext: Qualitative and Quantitative ResearchNext: Qualitative and Quantitative Research

Quantitative vs. QualitativeQuantitative vs. QualitativeSee handoutSee handout

Quantitative vs. QualitativeQuantitative vs. Qualitative

Let’s look at one exampleLet’s look at one example

Research problem Since the computer-related technologies became widely

available, companies started to employ the new technologies seeking efficiency and effectiveness benefits. With such huge spending on IT, it is interesting to find out if there is any scientific evidence for association between IT capability and a company’s competitive advantage.

The question posed : Does a company benefit from employing IT? If so, how?

Research 1Research 1

TOPIC: A resource-based perspective on IT capability and firm performance: An empirical investigation  

In this research, IT in a company is studied from the point of resource-based view of company

The research method employed in this paper is statistical testing of hypotheses.

The author comes up with two main hypotheses: Superior IT capability will be associated with significantly higher

profit ratios. Superior IT capability will be associated with significantly lower cost

ratios Sample: 56 companies

Research 2Research 2

Implementing supply chain management: Lessons learned at Medi-Alpha

This research deals with implementation of the IT technology at a major manufacturer of medical equipment and supplies.

The focus of the research is on the question, whether launching of new technology did improve company’s performance.

The object of this single in-depth case study was the company’s strategy.

Research 3Research 3

Approaches to the development of multi-dimensional database: Lessons from four case studies

The research explores the manner in which an organization’s data can be effectively utilized to assist an organization to achieve its business objectives. It presents Multi-Dimensional Data Bases (MDDB) as a new tool of making a more efficient use of company’s data

The research method employed was a combination of classic case study and implementation of a prototype.

Four case studies were carried out. The analysis of the four case studies intended to explore suitability of different approaches to system development.

Statistics anyone?Statistics anyone?

Statistical analysis is helpful when there is a need to determine certain facts, or correlations between facts. Helpful when doing research on a broader scale Generally, it provides an answer to ‘what?’

question ‘How’ question is better answered by qualitative

researching

Qualitative Problem statementQualitative Problem statement

Qualitative research problem statement The problem should be stated clearly and

unambiguously The problem should express what is it that

you want to explore , to understand What is the meaning of A? How does A exist ? Why A happens?

Quantitative Problem statementQuantitative Problem statement

Quantitative research problem statement The problem should be stated clearly and

unambiguously The problem should express a relation between two

or more variables Is A related to B? How are A and B related? How is A related to B under condition C? Is there a difference between A and B in terms of C?

Implies possibilities of empirical testing

TasksTasks

Write your problem statement Conduct background reading Decide on qualitative or quantitative approach

NextNextWriting research questionsWriting research questions