The Research Problem

Name: Siti Uswatun Khasanah
Nim: 932201813
Subject: IRM (A Class)
The Research Problem
(Ary, Chapter 3)
A. SOURCES OF PROBLEMS

 

1. Experience Among the most fruitful sources for beginning researchers are their own experiences as educational practitioners.
2. Theorities Theorities are a good source of problems for research. A theory may be defined as a set of interrelated statement, principles, and propositions that specify the relationships among variables.
3. Related literature Another valuable source of problems is the published literature in your area of interest. In conclusion, publised research can be a great source of ideas for research. With critical analysis of  the research in your  field and a bit of creativity.
4. Noneducation sources The inspiration for much valuable research in education has come from such noneducation sources.
5. Qualitative Research Problems Just as is true for quantitative researchers, beginning qualitative researchers can look to their personal experiences and interests, to theory, to the profesional literature, or to current social issues and real-world concerns to find a potential problem.
6. Evaluating the problem After you have tentatively selected a question that interests you, you need to ask if it is question that warrants an expenditure of time and effort to investigate.

B. STATING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
1. The problem statement in quantitative research
The problem statement in quantitative research specifies the variables and the population of interest. The problem statement can be a declarative one such as “This study investigates the effect of computer simulations on the science achievement of middle school students”. The statement can ask a question about a relationship between the two (or more) variables.
2. The problem statement in qualitative research
Qualitative researchers also begin with a problem, but they state it much more broadly than in qualitative research. A qualitative problem statement or question indicates the general purpose of the study. Formulation of a qualitative problem begins with the identification of a general topic or an area you want to know more about. This general topic of interest is sometimes referred to by qualitative researchers as the focus of inquiry.

C. IDENTIFYING POPULATION AND VARIABLES
The Research Problem
(Fraenkel, Chapter 2)
A. Research problem
Research problem is the focus of a research investigation
B. Research questions
1. Many research problems are stated as questions
2. The essential characteristic of a researchable question is that there be some sort of information that can be collected in an attempt toa answer the question
C. Characteristics of good research questions
1. Research questions should be feasible-that is , capable of being investigated with available resources.
2. Research questions should be clear-that is, anambiguous
3. Research questions should be significant-that is, worthy of investigation
4. Research questions should be ethical-that is, their investigation should not involve physical or psycological harm or damage to human beings or to the natural or social environment of which they are a part.
5. Research questions often (although not always) suggest a relationship to be investigated. The term relationship, as used in research, refers to a connection or association between two or more characteristics or qualities.

D. Defining terms in research
1. Three common ways to clarify ambiguous or unclear terms in a research question involve the use of constitutive (dictionary-type) definitions, definition by example, and operational definitions.
2. A constitutive definition uses additional terms to clarify meaning
3. An operational definition describes how examples of a term are to be measured or identified.