CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH

1
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

• Systematic research begins with a problem
• A gap in knowledge that one wishes to
  describe or explain
• A felt difficulty that one wishes to solve
• Often phrased as a question that needs to be
  answered

2
THE NATURE OF PROBLEM

• Survey Research Problem
• Asks questions about the nature, incidence or
• distribution of variables
• Correlational Research Problem
• Investigates relationships among variables
• Causal-Comparative Research Problem
• -Determines relationships among two or more
• variables
• -Manipulation of independent variable is not
  possible
• -Independent variable has already occurred

3

• Experimental Research Problem
• Addresses questions concerning relationships
  among variables
• Manipulates the independent variable while
  controlling all other variables
• Observes subsequent changes in the dependent
  variable

4
Experience Deductions from theory Related
literature
SOURCES OF PROBLEM
5
EXPERIENCE

• Most research ideas developed by beginning
  researchers arise from personal experiences.
• Research problem could arise from the need to
  evaluate effectiveness of certain usual method or
  practices.
• Research problem could arise from observations of
  certain relationships with no satisfactory
  explanations.

6
DEDUCTIONS FROM THEORY

• Provide an excellent source of problem.
• Through research one determines whether the
  generalizations embodied in theories can be
  translated into specific recommendations for
  practice.
• From theory, the researcher can generate
  hypotheses stating the expected findings in a
  particular practical situation.

7
RELATED LITERATURE

• Helps us formulate research questions that are
  the next logical step from previous
  investigations.
• Outcomes of a research often lead to new
  questions.
• 3. May stimulate a researcher to see whether the
  procedures employed can be adapted to solving
  other problems.

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Cont.

• 4.May find a study that needs replication
• Replication increases the extent to which the
  research findings can be generalized.
• Replication provides additional evidence of the
  validity of the findings.
• In most replication studies variations are
  introduced in order to clarify some aspects of
  the findings, to investigate factors not included
  in the original study.

9
Cont.

• May raise the question of the applicability of
  their findings to other cultures.
• Recently, considerable emphasis placed on
  cross-cultural research.
• May result in detecting inconsistencies and
  contradictions or in dissatisfaction with the
  conceptualizations, methodology, measuring
  instruments, and statistical analysis used.