topic selection, defining objective and research question, research hypothesis

TOPIC SELECTION, DEFINING OBJECTIVE AND RESEARCH QUESTION, RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Dr. Binaya SapkotaBPharm, PharmD

TOPIC

• What the thesis or research project is all about.• Provides focus of writing.• Many shortcomings to be avoided in topic• Researchers choose topics in a variety of ways.

TOPIC SELECTION

• Selection of suitable topic for research is really a difficult task.

• Deciding what to study: 1st step in designing any research study.

• An imp. consideration for choice of topic: It comes from an existing unsolved problem.

• Topic selection process: Influenced by several factors such as areas of scientific field (biology, physics, anthropology, medicine, pharmacy, economics, etc.)

Mistakes in Topic Selection

• Students fail to complete research project (thesis/dissertation), not because they were lazy or badly organized but because their topic was not suitable for research.

• Most common mistake: To choose a topic that is too large at the level the student is studying.

• A topic which is suitable for a Doctoral thesis may not be so for a dissertation for Bachelor or Masters degree. [Reason: Time frame is too short & funding scarcity.]

Importance of Topic Selection

• Topic of research (ie., quality of research idea): Imp. when submitting a research proposal as part of a grant application. [Reason: Topic (quality of research idea) determines the funding decision.]

• Topic determines whether the research idea is creative or not.

• Topic determines whether the results of research study makes a valuable & significant contribution to the literature or practice in a particular field or not.

Criteria to select Research Topic

1. Interest2. Problem Solving3. Previous Research4. Theory

1. Interest

• 1st & foremost: Researchers should choose research topics that are of interest to them.

• They refine those interests over the course of their careers.

• Researchers become interested in particular research ideas by observing the world around them.

• Merely taking an interest in a specific phenomenon: Milestone for a research in all fields of study.

Interest

• They generate new & unanticipated research ideas by conducting research, & long review of other people’s research.

• Thus, researcher’s curiosity about an observed phenomenon provides sufficient motivation for choosing a research topic.

2. Problem Solving

• Research ideas also stem from researcher’s motivation to solve a particular problem.

• In both our pvt. & professional lives, we all come across situation which requires change or improvement.

• For eg., Many researches conducted to make work environments less stressful; diets healthier; automobiles safer; and so on.

Problem Solving

• For eg., Finding ways for employers to reduce work-related stress of employees: Increased productivity & satisfaction of employee, which increase economic growth for organization.

3. Previous Research

• Researchers also choose research topics based on results of prior research (conducted by them or by someone else).

vRequirement: Previously conducted research should be full of research ideas.

• Researcher develops research interest in a particular area by the exposure to the results of previous research studies.

4. Theory

• A conceptualization, or description of a phenomenon that integrates all that we know about the phenomenon into a concise statement or question.

• Serves as good source for research ideas.

• Rich source of hypotheses that can be examined empirically.

vSerlin, 1987: Research ideas, hypotheses & research designs should be based on some theory.

• Predictions suggested by theories: Transformed into testable hypotheses; examined empirically in the context of a research study.

Checklist of Attributes of a Good Research Topic [Sunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2003)]

• Does the topic fir the specifications & meet the standards set by the university?

• Is the topic something with which you are really fascinated?

• Is the research issue technically feasible to undertake?

• Is the issue really researchable?• does your research topic contain issues that

have a clear link to theory?

Checklist of Attributes of a Good Research Topic [Sunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2003)]

• Do you have (or can develop within the project timeframe) the necessary research skills to undertake the topic?

• Is the research topic available in the particular time?

• Is the research topic supported by available financial resources?

• Are you able to state your research questions & objectives clearly?

Checklist of Attributes of a Good Research Topic [Sunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2003)]

• Will your proposed research be able to provide fresh insights into the issue?

• Does your research topic relate to the idea you have been given?

• Does your research topic match your career goals? Will it contribute to attain such goals?

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• Goals that the researcher sets to obtain from his study.

• Expected solution of problems.• Inform the readers & prospective researchers

what the researcher wanted to achieve through his study.

• So, extremely imp. to mention them clearly & specifically.

TYPES OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. General Objective (Main Objective)2. Specific Objectives (Sub-objectives)

v General Objective:• An overall statement of thrust of the study.• Also a statement of the main association &

relationship that the researcher seeks to discover or explore or establish.

Specific Objectives

• Specific aspects of the topic that the researcher wants to investigate within the main framework of his study.

• Should be numerically listed or in bullet form.• Should be mentioned clearly &

unambiguously.• Make sure that each specific objective

contains only one aspect of the study.

Specific Objectives

• Use action oriented verbs while writing objectives eg., “To determine…”, “To find out…”, “To ascertain…”, “To measure…”, “To explore…”, “To calculate…”, “To analyze…”, etc.

FUNCTIONS OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• The way General & Specific Objectives are written determines how your research is classified (ie., descriptive or correlational or experimental or any other).

• In other words, wordings of Research Objective determine type of research design. [So, be careful while wording research objectives.]

Importance of Research Objectives

• To focus the study or to narrow it down to the essentials.

• To avoid data collection that are not strictly necessary for understanding & solving the problem.

• To organize the study in clearly defined parts or phases.

CRITERIA FOR GOOD RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• Should be closely related to the statement of problem.

• Should cover different aspect of problem & its contributing factors in a logical sequence.

• Should be clearly phrased in operational terms specifying exactly:vWhat you plan to do ?vTo whom it will be done ?vWhen it will be done ?vFor what purpose ?

Relation of Objectives & Type of studyClear Complete Specific Identify main variables to be

correlatedIdentify the direction of relationship

+ + + +

Descriptive Studies

Correlational Studies (Experimental & non-experimental)

Hypothesis Testing Studies

RESEARCH QUESTION

• After getting a research idea, researcher translates that research idea into an answerable “Q”.

• It will be unrewarding endeavor to attempt to answer an unanswerable research “Q” through scientific investigation.

Answerable vs. Unanswerable Research Question

• Unanswerable research “Q”: “Is there an exact replica of me in another universe?”

[Reason: Although intriguing question, & yield imp. Information, current state of science cannot provide an answer to that question.]

• Answerable research “Q”: “Does exercising reduce cholesterol levels?”

[Reason: This “Q” can be researched & answered using established scientific methods.]

FINER Criteria for Good Research Question

1. Feasible2. Interesting3. Novel4. Ethical5. Relevant

RESEARCH QUESTION

1. Feasible:• Adequate no. of subjects• Adequate technical expertise• Affordable in time & money• Manageable in scope

2. Interesting: Getting the answer intrigues the investigator.

RESEARCH QUESTION3. Novel:• Confirms, refutes or extends previous findings• Provides new findings.

4. Ethical: Amenable to a study that IRB will approve.

5. Relevant:• To scientific knowledge• To clinical & health policy• To future research

HYPOTHESIS

• Proposition that predicts a particular relationship between the variables under study.

• Hypothesis is to be tested empirically & it may be correct or incorrect.

• A tentative answer to a research problem.

Importance/Functions of Hypothesis

• It tells what specific aspects of a research problem to investigate.

• It tells what data to collect & what not to collect.• It enables researcher to add to the formulations

of theory. • It enables researcher to conclude what is true or

what is false.• It guides the researcher in the research process.

Formulating Hypothesis

• Formulation of hypothesis makes the research problem clear & specific.

• However, it should be noted that research can still be conducted & valid conclusion can be derived even without constructing hypothesis.

• But hypothesis should be constructed to give proper direction to the study in case of experimental research, analytical research

Choice between Research “Q” & Hypothesis

• Depends on nature of research design, methodology used, & objectives of study.

• Both Research “Q” & Hypotheses: Should be tested by collecting facts.

RESEARCH QUESTION HYPOTHESIS

Often used in Qualitative researches, but can also be used in Quantitative researches.

Mainly used in Quantitative researches.

States relationship between variables in the form of a question.

Declarative statement of relationship between variables.

Eg., What is the relationship between inflation & rate of unemployment?How many people are below the poverty line?

Eg., All the public enterprises are operating on profit in Nepal. Labor productivity is higher in pvt. sector than in public sector.