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2/24/2015 DefiningaResearchProblemWhatexactlyshouldyouinvestigate?
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Home Research Methods Defining a Research Problem
Martyn Shuttleworth 401.1K reads 13 Comments
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ScientificMethod
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1 Overview
2 Null Hypothesis
3 Research Hypothesis
4 Test Hypothesis
5 Selecting Method
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1 Scientific Method
2 Formulate a Question
2.1 Defining a Research Problem
2.1.1 Null Hypothesis
2.1.2 Research Hypothesis
2.2 Prediction
2.3 Conceptual Variable
Defining a Research Problem
Defining a research problem is the fuel that drives the scientific process, and is the
foundation of any research method and experimental design, from true
experiment to case study.
It is one of the first statements made in any research
paper and, as well as defining the research area,
should include a quick synopsis of how the hypothesis
was arrived at.
Operationalization is then used to give some
indication of the exact definitions of the variables, and
the type of scientific measurements used.
This will lead to the proposal of a viable hypothesis. As
an aside, when scientists are putting forward
proposals for research funds, the quality of their
research problem often makes the difference between
success and failure.
Structuring the Research Problem
Look at any scientific paper, and you will see the
research problem, written almost like a statement of
intent.
Defining a research problem is crucial in defining the
quality of the answers, and determines the exact
research method used. A quantitative experimental
design uses deductive reasoning to arrive at a testable
English
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3 Collect Data
4 Test Hypothesis
5 Conclusion
6 Overview
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hypothesis.
Qualitative research designs use inductive reasoning
to propose a research statement.
Defining a Research Problem
Formulating the research problem begins during the first steps of the scientific process.
As an example, a literature review and a study of previous experiments, and research, might throw
up some vague areas of interest.
Many scientific researchers look at an area where a previous researcher generated some interesting
results, but never followed up. It could be an interesting area of research, which nobody else has
fully explored.
A scientist may even review a successful experiment, disagree with the results, the tests used, or
the methodology, and decide to refine the research process, retesting the hypothesis.
This is called the conceptual definition, and is an overall view of the problem. A science report will
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generally begin with an overview of the previous research and real-world observations. The
researcher will then state how this led to defining a research problem.
The Operational Definitions
The operational definition is the determining the scalar properties of the variables.
For example, temperature, weight and time are usually well known and defined, with only the exact
scale used needing definition. If a researcher is measuring abstract concepts, such as intelligence,
emotions, and subjective responses, then a system of measuring numerically needs to be
established, allowing statistical analysis and replication.
For example, intelligence may be measured with IQ and human responses could be measured with
a questionnaire from 1- strongly disagree, to 5 - strongly agree.
Behavioral biologists and social scientists might design an ordinal scale for measuring and rating
behavior. These measurements are always subjective, but allow statistics and replication of the
whole research method. This is all an essential part of defining a research problem.
Examples of Defining a Research Problem
An anthropologist might find references to a relatively unknown tribe in Papua New Guinea.
Through inductive reasoning, she arrives at the research problem and asks,
How do these people live and how does their culture relate to nearby tribes?
She has found a gap in knowledge, and she seeks to fill it, using a qualitative case study, without a
hypothesis.
The Bandura Bobo Doll Experiment is a good example of using deductive reasoning to arrive at a
research problem and hypothesis.
Anecdotal evidence showed that violent behavior amongst children was increasing. Bandura
believed that higher levels of violent adult role models on television, was a contributor to this rise.
This was expanded into a hypothesis, and operationalization of the variables, and scientific
measurement scale, led to a robust experimental design.
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