The research problem

The Research ProblemFundamental Issue in Research

What is a research problem?This can be anything that anybody finds

unsatisfactory or unsettlingResearch problems involve areas of concern

or conditions that might need improvement and difficulties that need to be eliminated

Research questions Usually a research problem is initially posed as

a questionApproaches to answering the questions may

involve various methodologies:How can a principal improve faculty morale?

(interview research)How do parents feel about the school

counselling program? (survey research)Does client-centered therapy produces more

satisfaction in clients than traditional therapy?(traditional experimental research)

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

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

What goes on in an elementary school classroom during an average week? (ethnographic research)

Do teachers behave differently towards students of different genders? (causal-comparative research)

How can we predict which students might have trouble learning certain types of subject matter? (correlational research)

Whatever the methods the researcher must collect data of some sort to answer his research problems to make them researchableUnresearchable questions: examples are those

that cannot have empirical or observable valueExample: Should philosophy be taught in high

school? - there is no way to determine what should or what should not be done

The question could be rephrased as: Do people think that philosophy be taught in high school?

By doing so the problem becomes empirical and therefore researchable

Research questions that are metaphysical or transcendental are unresearchableExamples: What is the meaning of life?; Does God exist?;

Are children happier when taught by a teacher of the same gender?; What is the absolute best way to teach history?; What would schools be like today if WWII did not occur

Questions 1 is a metaphysical questionQuestions 1, 4 and 5 are vagueThe last question requires the creation of an

impossible situation

Characteristics of good research questionsResearch questions must be feasibleThese can be investigated without expending

an undue amount of time, energy or moneyWhat would be the level of achievement if

each student is given a laptop to use for a semester?- not feasible

How do students of Magsaysay High School feel about the new social studies textbook issued in the District? - feasible

The research questions must be clearMost people would agree to what the key

words in the question meanExample: How do teachers feel about special

classes for the educationally handicapped?Issues raised: what age group is involved?

What is the level of experience of the teachers? Are all teachers in the country involved? Does “feel” mean “opinion,” “emotional reactions,” What is the definition of educationally handicapped?

A definition of terms maybe necessary in clarifying termsDefine terms clearly and when feasible,

operationally and constitutively

The question must be significant- it must be worth investigatingThe researcher must be guided by these three

cardinal rules:How might answers to this research advance

knowledge in my field? How might answers to this research question

improve educational practice?How might answers to this research question

improve human conditionThis boils down to researcher’s personal and

professional contribution and advancement

The question is ethical-it will not involve physical or psychological

harm to human beings or the social environment of which they are a part

Ethics in research Ethics refers to questions regarding right and

wrongWhen researchers think about ethics they

must ask themselves if it is right to conduct a certain study or to carry out certain procedures

Ethical behavior conforms to the standards of a given profession or group

Examples of unethical practices in researchA researcher requires a group of high school

sophomores to sign a form in which they agree to participate in a research study

Asks first graders sensitive questions without the consent of their parents

Requires university students to fill out a questionnaire about their sexual practices

Deletes data he collects because these do not support his hypothesis

Involves a group of eight graders in a research study that may harm them psychologically

More examplesPossibility of harm to participantsDeception: we are required to ask you to sign this

consent form. You need not read it because it is just routine

A few cases seemed quite different from the rest so we deleted them

As a student in this university you are required to participate in this study

There is no need to tell any of the parents that we are modifying the school lunch diet for this study

Requiring students to participate in class discussion might be harmful to some, but it is necessary for our research

The researcher must:Ensure the confidentiality of his research data –

once the data has been collected he must make sure that no one else save for a few research assistants has access to the data

All subjects have to be assured that any data collected shall be held in confidence

The names of individual subjects should never be used in any publication that describe the research

All participants shall have the right to withdraw from the study or request that the data collected will not be used

Subjects should not be deceivedThe issue of deception is a troublesome matterWhenever possible the researcher must conduct

the research using methods that do not require deception

If alternative methods cannot be devised the researcher must determine whether the use of deception is justified by the prospective study’s scientific, educational or applied value

If the participants are deceived the researcher must ensure that they are provided with sufficient explanation as soon as possible.

Research with minorsAn informed consent of parents or their legal

guardians is required for participants defined as minors. Signers must be provided wiuth all the necessary information in appropriate language and must have an opportunity to refuse

Researchers do not present themselves as diagnosticians or counselors in reporting results to parents.

Children may never be coerced into participation in a study.

Any renumeration for the child’s services does not affect the application of these and other ethical principles.

The researcher must further doMinimize risk to participants by using procedures

that do not unnecessarily expose subjects to harmRisks that may occur are reasonable in relation to

the benefits that are anticipated.Equitable selection – the proposed research does

not discriminate among individuals in the population

Protection of vulnerable individuals – children, pregnant women, children, prisoners, mentally disabled or economically disadvantaged persons, etc.

Informed consent – researchers must provide complete information about all aspects of the proposed study that might be of interest or concern to a potential participant and this must be presented in a form that the participant can easily understand.

Participants have the right to withdraw from the study at anytime without penalty

Informed consent must be appropriately documented

Monitoring of the data being collected to ensure the safety of participants

Privacy and confidentiality – ensuring that any and all information obtained during a study is not released to outside individuals where it might have embarrassing or damaging consequences.

Detect problems and improve:Is education during the American period

better than toda y?How to the students fell about the new

HEKASI and MAKABABYAN curriculum?Teachers are more morally upright today

under the present DepEd SecretaryStudents are more assertive today that ten

years ago.