Problem Identification

Research and non-research prob

Non-research prob- obvious reason/ans
o outbreak of cholera fol severe flood
o Price hike after budget
o A hospital used penicillin to treat cholera but the treatment was not effective.
Penicillin is not the choice of drug.

Research prob - Whether a problem requires research depends on three conditions:

o There should be a perceived difference or discrepancy between what exists and
the ideal or planned situation. What it is and what it should be
o The reasons for this difference should be unclear. Why the difference?
o There should be more than one possible answer to the question.
o 75% female attendance at school from one village and 25% in another case. What
are the factors for discrepancies?
Different socio-economic background
Religious issues
Distance of school
A problem well defined is problem half solved
Includes-
o A brief description of the socio-economic and cultural characteristics and an
overview of the issue
o Concise description of the nature of the problem(What it is and what it should
be), size, severity , distribution( who is effected , where , since when)
o An analysis of the major factors influencing the prob. A convincing argument that
existing knowledge is insufficient to solve it
o A brief description of the attempts in past- why further research is needed
o A description of the type of info expected to result from the study and how this
info will be used to help solve the prob.
Written as- a page or two
o First Para Context or background, analysis of maj factors, attempts in past, why
further research
o Second nature and describes the problem
o Type of info expected to result from the study and how this info will be used to
help solve the prob and usefulness.

Prelim Research Ques

Most critical task

Describes the objective of the research
Define nature and scope
Wording is important
Relates topic and hypothesis
 o What Ques- descriptive ans. Discovering/describing patterns
o Why Ques- Cause of / reason for some phenomenon, explaining relation
o How Ques- Bringing about changes in practical outcome and intervention
Example-

o TOPIC: DRUG ADDICTION AMONGST THE YOUNG : CAUSES

o PROBLEM :
o It is noticed with great concern that in recent times, most young people have
become prone to drug addiction in the country, which is unprecedented.

o Questions:
What is the socio-economic background of the people involved in the
incidence?
Why has this habit developed?
How can this habit be changed?

o Primary Ques
Why has this habit of drug abuse risen amongst the young?
o Secondary Ques
What is the socio-economic background of the people involved in the
incidence?
How can this habit be changed?
4/5 Ques, 1 Primary, 3-4 Secondary
Secondary Ques are sub set of primary one, Chapter formulation,
Data collection, Research objective, Variable, Hypothesis

Review of Literature

Why
It avoids duplication of the work that has been done in the recent past
It helps the researcher to find out what others have learned and reported on the
problem.
It helps the researcher to become familiar with the types of methodology followed by
others.
It relates a study to the larger ongoing dialogue in the literature about a topic, filling
in gap and extending prior studies
Book based or theme based
Ways to write-

o First, make a credible list of literatures reviewed

o Second, write your observations with regard to the reviewed literature in following
manner (Findings) :

o What were the broad conclusions drawn related to your research?

 o Third, write down the issues related to your research/variables in which further
research can be carried out, and which ones you want to pursue in your study. Helps
to finalize the questions (Comments)

Finalizing Questions, Objective/Purpose and Hypothesis

Finalize the ques

Research Obj
o The answers to these questions-
What is the purpose of my research?
Why do I want to investigate the problem?
What is my goal?
o Do not confuse the aim with the problem statement.
o There can be only one major aim of your study.
o There will be lesser, or specific aims, which are part of the major aim.
o By attaining the lesser aims, you will be working toward achieving the major aim of
your study.
o Example-
The impacts of the proposed Padma Bridge Project.
The impacts of the proposed Padma Bridge on development of South Bengal area.
To investigate the impacts of the proposed Padma Bridge on the economic
development of South Bengal area.

TITLE : Impacts of Padma Bridge on Economic Development of

North Bengal.

PROBLEM : To investigate the possible impacts of the proposed

STATEMENT Padma Bridge on the economic development of South
Bengal area.

MAJOR AIM : To recommend various measures by which the

economic condition of South Bengal can be improved by
constructing the Padma bridge.

SPECIFIC : To find out the likely impacts of Bridge on the economic

AIM development of North Bengal

Main objective: to find out the effects of alcoholism on the family

Specific objectives:
To ascertain the impact of alcoholism on marital relations
To determine the ways in which alcoholism affects the different aspects of
childrens lives
To find out the effects of alcoholism on the financial situation of the family
 Variable
literature review helps id factors important to a problem/issue
Factors influencing the problem are called variables
anything that can take varying values
Exam scores and absenteeism
Variables not always quantitative gender
Educational Prog( variable)- Time on task, classroom setting, student teacher ratio
Attributes specific value of variable gender: male, female. Agreement might
have 5 attributes : 1-Strongly disagree, 2- disagree, 3- neutral, 4- agree, 5-
Strongly Agree
4 main types ;
o Dependent
Interest of the researcher
Main factor in the problem
The effect the attendance of students
o Independent
The cause, influences the dependent variable
The Time of the day/ Subject Teacher
o Discrete and continuous- no of children vs weight
o Observable and Latent
o Real vs Dummy
Two traits variables should always have
o Exhaustive Cover all poss response, Variable Religion : Muslim, Hindu,
ChristanOthers
o Mutually Exclusive.. No two attribute in same response
Research Hypothesis

o Relation between variables

o A tentative answer to the research problem
o A hypothesis is a tentative explanation, generalization or supposition about
the subject of inquiry
o A proposition that is empirically testable
o An educated guess about a solution
o More relevant in quantitative research
o In qualitative research, may avoid hypothesis, may go with primary question
o Sources- Theory, Cultural values, Past Research, Folk Wisdom, Discussion &
debate, Personal experience, Intuition, Observation, Serendipity
o It indicates the right direction and helps in statistical analysis of variables.
o It helps to solve a research problem by reducing it to a hypothesis.
o It must be conceptually clear, simple; lucid and communicable
o It must be specific and focused and not too general. or vague.
o It should have empirical referents that are testable and not mere judgments
o It should not be biased or based on personal opinion
o It should be related to a body of theory.
 o It should be related to available techniques and not just abstract thought

Non-working women enjoy lower social status than working women

Variables: Womens work and Social status

Directional Hypothesis

-Examines the conjecture relationship or differences, The greater the

teachers efforts, better the students performance

Non-directional Hypothesis

- There is some relation but the researcher is not sure about the
direction, There is difference in the performance pattern
amongst the students in a class

Null

- No relationship between two variables, There is no relationship

between the teacher and the level of student performance

Alternate

- Alternate of Null

Null vs. Research Hypothesis

There is no relationship between gender and knowledge of sexually

transmitted diseases among teenagers

Teenage boys are better informed about sexually transmitted diseases

(STDs) than teenage girls

H1= In most cases there will be a change after the husband became an alcoholic

H2= In majority of cases there will be a change in childrens expectations of their

father.

H3= In most cases, alcoholic families would suffer from financial hardships in
paying grocery, utility and school fees.

So, do we need the hypothesis?

If Quantitative, YES
If QUALITATIVE, using mixed method, you may
If you think it is a QUALITATIVE research and the primary question would do,
MAY NOT
 Research Design
o How you will find answers to your research questions

Conceptualization

Operationalization