problem formulation ppt specific

8/11/2019 Problem Formulation Ppt Specific

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Free Powerpoint Templates

Page 1Free Powerpoint Templates

PROBLEMFormulation

By: Dr Noriza Mohd Jamal
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Page 2

What is Research

The researcher asks a question.

The researcher collects data.

The researcher indicates how the data

answered the question.
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Page 3

Importance of Research

Research adds to our knowledge.

o Addresses gaps in knowledge

o Expands knowledge

o Replicates knowledge

o Adds voices of individuals to knowledge


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Page 4

Importance of research (contd)

Research helps improve practice.

new ideas.

new insights into approaches.

connect with other researchers.


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Page 5

Problems with Research Today

Contradictory or vague findings

Questionable data

Unclear statements about the intent of the study

Lack of full disclosure of the data collection procedure

Inarticulate rendering of the research problem


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Page 6

The Process of Research

Identify theResearchProblem

Review theLiterature

Specify aResearchPurpose

Collect Data

Analyze andInterpret

Data

Report andEvaluateResearch


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Identify the Research Problem


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Specify a Research Purpose

Identify the purpose statement

The major intent of the study

The participants in the study

The site of the study

Narrow the purpose statement

Quantitative: Write research questions and/or hypothesis

Qualitative: Identify a central phenomenon and write

subquestions.


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Scientific Research Process

Identification ofproblemarea

Analysis ofdata

Interpretation

of data

Refinement of theory

(pure research)

Or

Implementation

(applied research)

Observation

Theoretical framework or

Network of associations

Hypotheses

Constructs

Concepts

Operational definitions

Research

design

Data

collection
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1. Choice ofresearch

topic

2a. Problempresentation

3. Researchdesign

4. Measurement

5. Data 6. Sample/respondents

7.Analysis

8. Writing(completing thereport/thesis) 9.Action

2. Research

problem

Literature Review


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Research topic

Research

problem

From research topic to research problem


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Research topic and

problem

RESEARCH

QUESTIONS

and purpose

RESEARCH

STRATEGIES

Basic research

Applied research

What questions

Why questions

How questions

Inductive

Deductive

Explore

Describe

Understand

PredictChange

Evaluate

Assess impact


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Choose a topic andsearch the literature

Review the literature anddefine the researchproblem/research

questions

Design the researchand write the

proposal

Collect theresearch data

Analyse and

interpret theresearch data

Write thedissertation,

thesis or researchreport

Overview of the

research process


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Students experience some difficulty in narrowing

down their general interest.

Often referred to as defining the research

problem and leads on to setting the research

question(s).

The classic way is to consider the literature andidentify any gaps, as these indicate original area

to research.

Many academic articles incorporate suggestions

for further research in their conclusions.

The Research Problem


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You will need to focus your ideas, decide the scope

of your research and set parameters. For example,

perhaps your study will investigate a broad

financial issue, but focus on a particular group of

stakeholders, size of business, industry,

geographical area, or period of time.


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A Problem Statement is a description of a difficulty or

lack that needs to be solved or at least researched to see

whether a solution can be found. It can also be described

as either a gapbetween the real and the desired or a

contradictionbetween principle and practice.


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The ultimate goal of a problem statement is totransform a generalized problem (something that

bothers you; a perceived lack) into a targeted, well-

defined problem one that can be resolved through

focused research and careful decision-making.


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Writing a Problem Statement should help you clearlyidentify the purpose of the project you will propose.

Often, the Problem Statement will also serve as the basis

for the introductory section of your final proposal,

directing your readersattention quickly to the issues thatyour proposed project will address and providing the

reader with a concise statement of the proposed project

itself.


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A persuasive problem statement consists of three parts: 1) the ideal, 2) the

reality, and 3) the consequences.

Part A the ideal: Describes a desired goal or

ideal situation; explains how things should be

Part B the reality: Describes a condition that prevents the

goal, state, or value in Part A from being achieved or realized

at this time; explains how the current situation falls short of the

goal or ideal.

Part C the consequences: Identifies the way

you propose to improve the current situation

and move it closer to the goal or ideal.


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Part A

According to the XY university mission statement, the

university seeks to provide students with a safe,

healthy learning environment. Dormitories are one

important aspect of that learning environment, since

55% of XY students live in campus dorms and most of

these students spend a significant amount of time

working in their dorm rooms.


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Part B

Students living in dorms A B C, and D currently donot have air conditioning units, and during the hot

seasons, it is common for room temperatures to

exceed 80 degrees F. Many students report that they

are unable to do homework in their dorm rooms.

Others report problems sleeping because of the

humidity and temperature. The rooms are not only

unhealthy, but they inhibit student productivity and

academic achievement.


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Part C

In response to this problem, the study proposes to

investigate several options for making the dorms

more hospitable. The study plans to carry out an all

inclusive participatory investigation into options for

purchasing air conditioners (university-funded;student-subsidized) and different types of air

conditioning systems. The research will also consider

less expensive ways to mitigate some or all of the

problems noted above (such as creating climate-

controlled dorm lounges and equipping them withbetter study areas and computing space).


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Step 1 (Statement 1)

The government of Malaysia has a goal toindustrialize by the year 2030 (quote). In this regard it

has encouraged growth oriented micro and smallenterprises (MSEs) that should graduate into mediumand large enterprises capable of contributing to theindustrialization goal. There are several sessional

papers (quote/cite) that contain specific measures toencourage and support MSEs.


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Step 2 and 3 (Statement 2)

Despite the said government efforts there is slow

growth of micro into small enterprises and evenslower growth of small into medium scale enterprises

(quote, show statistics). The government has officially

acknowledged that there exists a missing middle in

Malaysia meaning that there is a gap between smalland large enterprises in the country (cite, quote).


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Statement 3

Should the missingmiddlegap persist then

the industrialization goal may be difficult to

achieve. Need therefore arises to investigate

why despite government efforts there is a

persistent missingmiddle


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Statement 1

In order to accomplish their missions public

universities need motivated workforces.


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Statement 2

There are however frequent and severe

disciplinary actions, absenteeism as well

as various forms of unrests in public

universities which affect the

accomplishment of the set missions. Ourpreliminary investigation reveals to both

non-management and management staff

are not adequately motivated.


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Statement 3

Without effective motivational packagesand procedures the said vices are likely to

continue and retard the achievement of the

universities missions.

Need arises to examine the publicuniversities motivation systems and

procedures hence this proposed research.


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Statement 1

The Ministry of Youth is dedicated to allocating

enterprise development funds to both the youth andwomen. These funds are made available in order to

start entrepreneurial ventures that create and expand

employment. (provide relevant statistics and quote)


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Statement 2

One of the main focuses of the ministry is consistency.

Unfortunately, consistency is allocating in allocating

funds to the next generation of recipients requires prior

knowledge of previous allocations and establishedpractices. The current continuous disbursement method

does not allow for adequate analysis of previous

disbursements before a current disbursement is done.


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Statement 3

Continuing with this current disbursement method

prevents consistency and causes decisions to become

grossly political, which in turn inhibits the achievement

of the goals of the funds. Developing a more informed

disbursement system could help better implement theconsistency focus of the ministry better monitor and

evaluate its funds.


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Statement 4

This proposed research aspires to explore options for

a new funds disbursement system that would focus

on consistency. To do this, the researcher will carry

out a full stakeholder analysis and use it to proposeappropriate policy interventions.


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A Research Question Must Identify

1. The variables under study

2. The population being studied

3. The testability of the question


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Variables in Research

Independent

variable:

has a presumedeffect on the

dependent variable

(outcome)

May or may not be

manipulated

Dependent

variable:

Something thatvaries with a

change in the

independent

variable

Outcomevariable


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Examples of Good Research Problems

(in the form of questions)

Does client-centered therapy produce more satisfaction in clients thantraditional therapy? (experimental design)

Does behavior modification reduce aggression in autistic children?(single-subject experimental design)

Are the descriptions of people in social studies discussions biased?(grounded theory design)

What goes on in an elementary school classroom during an averageweek? (ethnographic design)

Do teachers behave differently toward students of different genders?(causal-comparative design)

How do parents feel about the school counseling program? (surveydesign)

How can a principal improve faculty morale? (interview design)
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Your Research Problem

What is your area of interest?

Where could you look for help in deciding upon aspecific research problem?

What criteria will you apply when deciding upon aspecific research problem?

How could you narrow down your research problem?

How might your value-judgments (preconceived ideas)affect your research endeavors?


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What is a Research Question?

~ is a statement that identifies the

phenomenon to be studied


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REASONS WHY RESEARCH QUESTIONS

ARE CRUCIAL

GUIDE YOUR LITERATURE SEARCH

GUIDE YOUR DECISIONS ABOUT THE KIND OF

RESEARCH DESIGN TO EMPLOY

GUIDE YOUR DECISIONS ABOUE WHAT DATA

TO COLLECT AND FROM WHOM

GUIDE ANALYSIS OF YOUR DATA

GUIDE WRITING-UP OF YOUR DATA

STOP YOU FROM GOING OFF INUNNECESSARY DIRECTIONS


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Steps in Formulating the Research

Questions

Ask these questions

Do I known the field and its literature well?

What are the important research questions in my field?

What areas need further exploration?

Could my study fill a gap? Or lead to greater understanding? Has a great deal of research already been conducted in this

topic area?

Has this study been done before? If so, is there room for

improvement?

Is the timing right for this question to be answered? Is it a hottopic, or is it becoming obsolete?

Will the study have a significant impact on the field?


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Research Questions and

Hypotheses

A process of asking a question, or a series

of related questions, and then initiating a

systematic procedure to obtain valid

answers to that question.


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Formulating Research Question /

Hypotheses A well-thought-out and focused research question

leads directly to your hypotheses.

Hypothesesare more specific predictions about the

nature and direction of the relationship between two

variables.

Hypotheses,

Gives insight into a research question

Are testable and measurable by the proposed

experiments

Each hypothesis is matched with a specific aim and

has rationale.


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Directional vs. Non-Directional Hypotheses

Directional hypothesis

Specifies the direction of the relationship

between independent and dependent

variables

Non-directional hypothesis

Shows the existence of a relationship

between variables but no direction is specified


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Research Objectives

The research objectives pursued in order

to answer the research questions.


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Scope of Research

Masters vs PhD

Amount of research work

Standard of writing

Level of independency


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Expected Outcome of Research

RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE

State clearly why this research is important, what the

benefits will be and how your work will contribute to

knowledge in your field. This may include commercial

benefits, changes in current practice, a new perspective onan old issue or other benefits to the community. You need

to

indicate why it is significant and how it advances

understanding of the issues under discussion.


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Summary Points

Preliminary steps in the

research process include

forming a research

problem, questions andhypotheses

A hypothesis attempts to

answer the question

posed by the researchquestion

Research questions

illustrate a relationship

between variables,

identify independent anddependent variables,

include a population, and

imply that a problem is

testable
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problem formulation ppt specific

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