EDU 702
Problem definition
Lesson objectives
Define research problem
 Write problem statement
 Describe quantitative and qualitative
research

Where we are now…
Observation/
Background
survey
Broad area of
research
Literature
review
Theoretical
framework
Problem
definition
Variables clearly
identified
Research
design
Problem
statement
Research
questions
Hypothesis
generation
Deduction
Methods
Hypothesis
substantiated?
Data
collection
RQ answered?
Analysis
Interpretation
The 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 research

Narrow it down to specific issues

Malay students have problems studying certain Physics
topics


P&HE students not displaying soft skills needed


More specific Issue : Problem solving skills, Difficulty in
grasping concepts,
More specific issue: Poor communication skills
Women lecturers are having difficulties using
instructional technology

Specific issue: technophobia, technology training
Putting things in perspective
Problems
Research questions
Issues
Concerns
RESEARCH
INTEREST/
AREA
Background
survey
Research
problem
Theoretical
framework
Background 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 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 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..
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..
how to do something;
 a vague or too broad a proposition;
 a value question.

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 ..

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 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 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
problem
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 Tree
Drawing a problem tree
Identify core problems
 Identify effects
 Identify causes
 Identify all possible causes and effects

Example
Withdrawal, Deferment of
studies, Dropout
Complaints
Failure to achieve
meaningful experience
Poor
grades
Anxiety
Frustration
Dissatisfaction
Effects
CORE PROBLEM
Learning outcomes not
achieved
Distance Learners not able
to learn effectively
Causes
Epistemological problems
(course structure, difficulty
level and so forth)
Institutional /
Administrative
Problems
Learner problems
Logistic/Infrastructure
problems
Learners cannot
manage their learning
environment
Learners cannot
manage their learning
activities
Poorly
designed
learning
materials
Travel
problems
Communi
cation
problems
Anxiety, fear of
technology &
technology
failure
Lack technical
ability
Unsure of new
learning mode
Lack readiness
Lack self-direction
Minimal F2F
sessions
Isolation
Lack of
structure and
direction
Lack of
support and
feedback
Inability to sustain
motivation
Inability to
maintain strong
attention to goals
sought
Learners’ personal
problems and
characteristics
Lack of learning
skills/ Strategies
Ambiguous
instructions and
other pedagogical
issues
Lack of selfregulation
Role conflicts
Family problems
Financial problems
Learning style / approach
does not fit
Low academic selfconcept
Lack of discipline
Procrastination
Poor time
management
No harmony on campus
Let’s try one
No cooperation between
groups
Bitterness
Learners cannot tolerate
each other
Effects
CORE PROBLEM
Causes
Perceived
competence
Learners stay in their
own groups
There exists differences
between students from
different clusters
Social and economic
background
Learner
characteristics
Exercise
Effects
CORE PROBLEM
Causes
Students do not have the
acceptable level of soft
skills
Problem 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 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
Statement
FLOW OF IDEAS
Topic
Subject
Area
Educational
Issue
Evidence for
the
Issue
• A Concern • Evidence
• A Problem
from the
• Something
literature
that needs a • Evidence
solution
from practical
• experiences
Deficiencies
in the
Evidence
• In this body
of evidence,
what is
missing?
• What do we
need to know
more about?
Remedying
the deficiencies
For whom?
Select
Audiences
How will addressing
what we need to
know help:
researchers
– educators
– policy-makers
– individuals like
those in the study
Documenting/ Reporting

Visualize the statement of the problem as
the first five paragraphs
background
 research problem
 justification
 deficiencies
 relate discussion to audience

Example
TAKE A BREAK
Next: Qualitative and Quantitative Research
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
See handout
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Let’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 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 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 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?

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 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 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
Tasks

Write your problem statement
Conduct background reading
 Decide on qualitative or quantitative approach

Next
Writing research questions