Research Problem Statement and Questions

Formulating Clear Research Problem Statement

• A research problem is a statement expressing a concern in any field, a problem needing immediate solution, a recurring difficulty requiring resolution, or a practical question arising from scholarly inquiry across various disciplines.

Considering Research Questions

• Key considerations for research questions include factors like Specificity, Measurability, Achievability, Relevance, and Time-bound.

SMART Research Questions

• Specific: Clear and concise; states exactly what will be done using action verbs.
• Measurable: Provides a way to evaluate progress, using metrics or data targets.
• Achievable: Realistic within the researcher's scope and possible to accomplish.
• Relevant: Meaningful within the job function and improves the business.
• Time-bound: States a specific timeframe for completion.

Specific Research Problem Statements

• A specific research problem statement communicates the exact inquiry or question needing an answer.

Measurable Research Problem Statements

• Quantitative research doesn't need measurability. Qualitative research considers measurability from an epistemological aspect – must be objectively observable.

Attainable Research Problem Statements

• Research questions need to be easily answered within a reasonable time frame.

Realistic Research Problem Statements

• Feasibility of the research must be clearly considered, particularly if experimentation and observation are needed.

Time-Bound Research Problem Statements

• Time is vital in research; questions should be adequately focused.

Types of Research Questions

• Factor Isolating Questions: Categorize, label, or name factors and situations.
• Factor Relating Questions: Establish relationships between and among identified factors.
• Situation Relating Questions: Emphasize the observable changes that happen to related variables.
• Situation Producing Questions: Open opportunities for creating action plans, policies, or conditions to achieve specific goals.

Examples of Types of Research Questions

• Factor Isolating: What are the contributing factors to low student motivation?
• Factor Relating: What is the relationship between study time and academic performance?
• Situation Relating: What are the effects of changing curriculum structures on student learning outcomes?
• Situation Producing: What innovative technologies can improve accessibility in education?

Defining Literature

• Literature: A collection of written works, fiction or nonfiction, providing information in a specific subject area; sometimes spanning a particular period. The operational definition for research uses published materials of a particular subject or topic area.

Types of Resources for Literature Reviews

• General References: Books, monographs, conference proceedings, research articles, professional journals
• Primary Sources: Academic research, university journals, reputable organizations
• Secondary Sources: Articles, analyses, essays, newspapers, single or multiple authored textbooks
• Tertiary Sources: Books based on secondary sources, interpreting other works

Material Criteria for Literature Review

• Recency: Materials should be recent to ensure relevance and accuracy; older material may be used for established theories/concepts
• Objectivity: The materials should be fair, objective, and bias-free, reflecting the researcher’s findings.
• Relevance: The materials should be relevant to the specific research topic and add to its understanding.
• Conciseness: The review should be concise; adequate, but not excessive, material that provides the sufficient depth

Number of Required Literature

• For senior high school research, 4-6 local or international publications are sufficient. For graduate / post-graduate work, 15-50 publications might be needed.

Organizing a Literature Review

• Chronological Organization: Examines research over time; shows how understanding (and issues) evolve. Frequently used for qualitative studies.
• By Topic/Concept: Groups related ideas from various authors, highlighting concepts and their interrelationships; used for all research methods
• By Author/Writer: Examines the ideas of individual scholars, explaining their claims and supporting arguments.

Additional Points from Presented Materials

• Various authors and studies highlight the role of literature, language skills, and context for effective learning
• Research involves a process of asking clarifying questions (and identifying suitable types of questions) to investigate concerns.

This quiz focuses on formulating clear research problem statements and designing effective research questions using the SMART criteria. Participants will explore how to create specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound questions applicable across various disciplines.