Development of Ideas and Refining Research Topics

25
Development of Ideas Development of Ideas and Refining Research and Refining Research Topics Topics Dr. Ahmad Tajuddin Othman Dr. Ahmad Tajuddin Othman [email protected] [email protected] 11 December 2006 11 December 2006

description

The process of getting a good research topic.

Transcript of Development of Ideas and Refining Research Topics

Development of Ideas and Development of Ideas and Refining Research TopicsRefining Research Topics

Dr. Ahmad Tajuddin OthmanDr. Ahmad Tajuddin Othman

[email protected]@gmail.com

11 December 200611 December 2006

Where did I study?Where did I study?

BSc Health & Physical Education, BSc Health & Physical Education, Oklahoma State University, 1986Oklahoma State University, 1986

MSc Exercise Physiology & Physical MSc Exercise Physiology & Physical Fitness, University of Tennessee, Fitness, University of Tennessee, 19881988

PhD Health Promotion & Disease PhD Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Purdue University, 2000Prevention, Purdue University, 2000

WARNING !!!WARNING !!!

Few reminders before we begin …Few reminders before we begin … There’s no “one” way of doing things.There’s no “one” way of doing things. Based on personal experience and Based on personal experience and

feedback from previous students.feedback from previous students. Please bear with me if most of the Please bear with me if most of the

examples I used are not related to you. examples I used are not related to you. Too much American influence …Too much American influence …

Guess what?Guess what?

Most probably you started off with Most probably you started off with the wrong foot.the wrong foot.

Do you remember “how” you’ve got Do you remember “how” you’ve got the “title of research” that you filled the “title of research” that you filled in the USM application form? in the USM application form?

Do you mind sharing your Do you mind sharing your experience? Anyone?experience? Anyone?

What to do? What to do?What to do? What to do?

Two “wannabes” common errors:Two “wannabes” common errors: Noble laureate errorNoble laureate error

Unrealistically grand thinking, ambitiousUnrealistically grand thinking, ambitious Undergraduate research paper errorUndergraduate research paper error

Unrealistically miniscule thinking, ‘aneroxic’Unrealistically miniscule thinking, ‘aneroxic’

Both errors reflect poor reality Both errors reflect poor reality testingtesting

Where do ideas come from?Where do ideas come from?

Master’s studentMaster’s student Your supervisor might give you a specific Your supervisor might give you a specific

ideaidea Replicate and extend work already Replicate and extend work already

publishedpublished

Doctoral studentDoctoral student Idea should be originalIdea should be original Make a novel contribution to the literatureMake a novel contribution to the literature

Finding a researchable topicFinding a researchable topic

Step OneStep One Identify the general area in which you Identify the general area in which you

want to do researchwant to do research Step TwoStep Two

Come up with a research question and Come up with a research question and hypotheseshypotheses

Select a General Topic Area Select a General Topic Area FirstFirst

Shop aroundShop around Get to know the faculty members, read Get to know the faculty members, read

about their work, see what interest youabout their work, see what interest you Criteria (identify, not a full plan ..)Criteria (identify, not a full plan ..)

It must interest you enough that you will It must interest you enough that you will spend hours reading about it, writing spend hours reading about it, writing about it, analyzing data having to do with about it, analyzing data having to do with itit

You must find a faculty member You must find a faculty member interested in supervising your projectinterested in supervising your project

Identifying an area ..Identifying an area ..

What topics interest you?What topics interest you? What do you find yourself stopping to read What do you find yourself stopping to read

in the library?in the library? What academic topics come up frequently What academic topics come up frequently

when you are talking shop with other when you are talking shop with other students and faculty?students and faculty?

Identify faculty and share these interests, Identify faculty and share these interests, you might ask if they have a project for you might ask if they have a project for your thesis (master’s student). your thesis (master’s student).

Words of wisdom …Words of wisdom …

Better to choose a slightly Better to choose a slightly engrossing area that a faculty will engrossing area that a faculty will support than an exotic one that only support than an exotic one that only you find fascinatingyou find fascinating

Avoid going it aloneAvoid going it alone Remember the “guy” you used to call Remember the “guy” you used to call

your “supervisor” … develop ideas your “supervisor” … develop ideas in in conjunction withconjunction with your supervisor your supervisor

Develop the Research Develop the Research Question Question

Forget the Forget the formform for now, first identify for now, first identify the the sourcesource of such questions of such questions

Ask questions that interest the Ask questions that interest the scientific communityscientific community

Not because there is a lack of Not because there is a lack of research on a topicresearch on a topic

Keep in mind that it should have a Keep in mind that it should have a place in the literatureplace in the literature

Best Source of IdeasBest Source of Ideas

The BestThe Best Research that you are already doingResearch that you are already doing Suggestions from faculty involved or Suggestions from faculty involved or

collaborating with in a researchcollaborating with in a research Research often stimulates more Research often stimulates more

questions than it answersquestions than it answers

Worst Source of IdeasWorst Source of Ideas

The WorstThe Worst Own personal experience, something Own personal experience, something

with a degree of personal emotional with a degree of personal emotional relevancerelevance

But, if you can approach them But, if you can approach them objectively in a detached, relatively objectively in a detached, relatively disinterested, and unbiased manner, go disinterested, and unbiased manner, go ahead.ahead.

Read, Read, and Read ..Read, Read, and Read ..

Existing literature as a source of ideasExisting literature as a source of ideas The simplest and logical place is from The simplest and logical place is from

recent literature in an arearecent literature in an area Suggestions for future researchSuggestions for future research

Look for theseLook for these Discuss with your supervisorDiscuss with your supervisor Contact the original author and find out what Contact the original author and find out what

he/she is doing currently in the areahe/she is doing currently in the area Ask the author whether has already Ask the author whether has already

researched it or knows of anyone who hasresearched it or knows of anyone who has

More suggestions …More suggestions …

Another good approach to developing Another good approach to developing researchable questions is to apply a researchable questions is to apply a paradigm used with one population to paradigm used with one population to another population.another population.

Eg. Eg. Research on the leadership styles Research on the leadership styles of executive women might easily of executive women might easily suggests similar studies with executives suggests similar studies with executives who are members of a specific ethnic who are members of a specific ethnic groupgroup

And more …And more …

Reviews of the literature in particular Reviews of the literature in particular areasareas Annual Review of PsychologyAnnual Review of Psychology Developmental ReviewDevelopmental Review Edited books that contain literature Edited books that contain literature

reviews (authors point out gaps in the reviews (authors point out gaps in the research knowledge and correctable research knowledge and correctable flaws in existing studies)flaws in existing studies)

Here’s A Tip …Here’s A Tip …

ATO MatrixATO Matrix Handout 1Handout 1 Handout 2Handout 2 Handout 3Handout 3

Researchable QuestionsResearchable Questions

Put the research questions in Put the research questions in researchable formresearchable form Criteria of a research questionCriteria of a research question

Phrase it in the form of a questionPhrase it in the form of a question Question should suggest a relationship to be Question should suggest a relationship to be

examinedexamined Relationship in the questions is empirically Relationship in the questions is empirically

testabletestable

Develop Scientific Develop Scientific HypothesesHypotheses

Hypotheses are declarative Hypotheses are declarative sentences that conjecture a sentences that conjecture a relationship between two or more relationship between two or more variables (Kerlinger, 1986).variables (Kerlinger, 1986).

Well stated hypotheses are derived Well stated hypotheses are derived directly from the research questionsdirectly from the research questions

Example 1Example 1

RQ = What is the relationship RQ = What is the relationship between test anxiety and between test anxiety and performance on complex cognitive performance on complex cognitive tasks?tasks?

RH = Performance on complex RH = Performance on complex cognitive tasks will be an inverted U-cognitive tasks will be an inverted U-shaped function of level of anxiety.shaped function of level of anxiety.

Example 2Example 2

RQ = Are nonabused children interviewed with RQ = Are nonabused children interviewed with sexually anatomically correct (SAC) dolls more sexually anatomically correct (SAC) dolls more likely to describe sexual behavior than such likely to describe sexual behavior than such children interviewed with dolls without secondary children interviewed with dolls without secondary sexual characteristics?sexual characteristics?

RH = Nonabused children interviewed with SAC RH = Nonabused children interviewed with SAC dolls will describe sexual behavior more frequently dolls will describe sexual behavior more frequently than nonabused children interviewed with dolls than nonabused children interviewed with dolls without secondary sexual characteristics.without secondary sexual characteristics.

Ho = There is no difference in the frequency of Ho = There is no difference in the frequency of descriptions of sexual behavior by children when descriptions of sexual behavior by children when they play with SAC dolls or with non-SAC dollsthey play with SAC dolls or with non-SAC dolls

More about hypotheses …More about hypotheses …

Understanding the different type of Understanding the different type of hypotheseshypotheses Research and null hypothesesResearch and null hypotheses

Characteristics of well-worded Characteristics of well-worded hypotheseshypotheses Carefully phrased hypothesis will indicate Carefully phrased hypothesis will indicate

the specific relationships to be examined the specific relationships to be examined and suggests the nature of the and suggests the nature of the relationshiprelationship

ExamplesExamples

There is a relationship between There is a relationship between education level and preference for education level and preference for liberal causesliberal causes

There is a positive relationship between There is a positive relationship between education level and preference for education level and preference for liberal causesliberal causes

There is a positive relationship between There is a positive relationship between education level and preference for education level and preference for liberal causes in executive womenliberal causes in executive women

ConclusionConclusion

Read, read, readRead, read, read Meet your supervisor regularlyMeet your supervisor regularly I thanked you all and GOOD LUCK !!!I thanked you all and GOOD LUCK !!!

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Go ask your supervisors … hehehe!Go ask your supervisors … hehehe!