EDU7002+Research+Problem+Characteristics


 * **EDU7002-8** ||  ||
 * **Educational Research Methodology** || **3 Characteristics of Research Problems** ||
 * Steve – excellent! I definitely want to use this paper as an example! I will attach your TurnItIn Report and automatic grammar checked paper. After you take a look at it if you make any changes please send so I can use that as the example. You do not need the Running Head. If you do use it though it needs to be in Times New Roman 12pt. I am excited about your grasp of the content of the course and where you are going. **
 * Steve – excellent! I definitely want to use this paper as an example! I will attach your TurnItIn Report and automatic grammar checked paper. After you take a look at it if you make any changes please send so I can use that as the example. You do not need the Running Head. If you do use it though it needs to be in Times New Roman 12pt. I am excited about your grasp of the content of the course and where you are going. **

=Characteristics of Research Problems= Research problem statements delineate and articulate in a concise format a problem such that the reader will be able to understand what will be accomplished by the research, how this research relates to the field and the current literature, and why the research is worthy of time and effort. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the characteristics of a research problem and will focus on (a) what constitutes a researchable problem, (b) the components of a well formed Statement of Research Problem, and (c) what constitutes a reasonable theoretical framework for the need of a study.*

Characteristics of a Researchable Problem
Finding a researchable problem is the first step in addressing a problem that exists in the real world with no adequate current solutions. According to Leedy and Ormrod (2010) a researchable problem should make a difference in the field, advance the knowledge or theory of the field, requires interpretation of data, and needs to be of manageable size and feasible in terms of time and resources. These characteristics are explored and expanded in this section of the paper. **Makes a difference.** Because of the time and effort required to conduct proper scholarly research, an acceptable research problem needs to focus on something important, something that will as Leedy and Ormrod (2010) said, “ make a difference’ in some way ” ( p. 45 ). Ellis and Levy (2011) suggested that although a study’s impact does not have to be enormous; it does have to attempt to solve an identifiable and discernible problem. Looking at the problem in the long term may help determine if the research will be impactful, and sustaining, and determine if it is indeed a research worthy problem. **Advances the field.** Research that does not add to the current body of knowledge related to a field cannot properly be considered research. According to Creswell (2011) contributions to the field are made in one the following ways: (a) filling a known gap in the body of knowledge of a field, (b) replicating or expanding previous research using different experimental conditions, (c) expanding previous research exploring other facets of a problem, or (d) addressing documented shortcomings regarding known solutions. Winsten-Bartlett (2011) supplements that an advancement in the field can “ contribute to theory by adding more support, expanding applications or perhaps demonstrate ways in which the theory may not be as explanatory as originally presumed ” ( para. 2 ). Leedy and Ormrod (2010) add that research should lead to thinking in new ways, or encourage further research in the field. If the problem does not contribute new knowledge to a field or topic in one of these ways it should not be considered research worthy. **Interpretation of Data.** Leedy and Ormrod (2010) signify that a study that just collects data is not research – that to be considered research the data must “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">elicit a mental struggle on the part of the researcher to force the data to reveal their meaning <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">p. 45 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). Ellis and Levy (2011) postulate that the research questions and/or hypotheses will determine the research methodology, which produces the results. It is the results, or data, which then permits conclusions which then provide answers to the research questions and/or hypotheses. A research problem is not complete until the data has been gleaned of meaning and conclusions and answers derived. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Manageable and feasible**. A researchable problem must be of a manageable size, and needs to be delimited in such a way that it can be accomplished in a reasonable timeframe. In addition, there are costs in time and resources in any research project, and these need to be considered to ensure that the research can be conducted in a manner that is feasible. In any project it is essential to identify the probable costs of executing the project and then ensure that there is enough time, money, personnel, material, and equipment to cover these needs. If a project is too large, or the costs are too high, it is not feasible to conduct that particular study, even if it may be worthy.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Components of the Statement of Research Problem
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Leedy and Ormrod (2010) identify the parts of the Statement of Research Problem as clearly stating the problem in concise and precise terms, identifying and stating subproblems, and delineating the hypotheses and/or research questions. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Clearly stated problem**. The Problem Statement is a paragraph that drives the success of a research project (Leedy & Ormrod, 2010; Ellis & Levy, 2011). The statement should be between 250 and 300 words long, should clearly state the general problem or overview, and articulate the specific problem to be addressed along with citations and rational for why the research is worthy to be conducted. According to a study done on the composition of problem statements Hernon and Metoyer-Duran (1993) found nine characteristics consistently associated with them. Most of these characteristics are associated with clearly stating the problem, namely (a) “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">clarity and precision <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">p. 82 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), (b) what will be studied, (c) generalizability, (d) declaration of the projects “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">importance, benefits, and justification <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">p. 83 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), and (e) “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">no use of unnecessary jargon <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">p. 83 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). For Leedy and Ormrod a clearly state problem is the “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">goal for the research effort <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">p. 56 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Identifying and stating subproblems.** Each problem is divided into a small number of smaller, researchable subproblems that are tied into the interpretation of the data and comprise the parts of the whole problem (Leedy & Ormrod, 2010). Each subproblem will have its own data and interpretation of that data, but by combining the analysis of the subproblems the research problem is answered. Subproblems may need to be brainstormed. By looking at the problem critically certain areas may seem to warrant focus before the research problem can be resolved – by determining these areas and tying them to the interpretation of data and then arranging them so that one leads to a resolution of the next, the task can be broken into manageable and deliverable tasks, and the support or conclusions can be derived. According to Leedy and Ormrod identifying the subproblems is the path to arrive at the goal systematically. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Presenting hypotheses or research questions.** Leedy and Ormrod (2010) emphasize that the goal and the path to getting there is not enough to show a clear understanding of the research process. The problem statement needs to include (a) the specific educated guesses that will be tested or questions that will be asked, (b) the boundaries of the research – what will be done and what will not be, (c) the meaning of all special terms, or terms that will be used in a specific way in the study, and (d) what is known – or the assumptions. Hernon and Metoyer-Duran (1993) found similar characteristics in their study of problem statements, specifically (a) a primary question and important factors or variables, (b) vital concepts and terms, (c) the parameters of the study, and (d) going beyond the gathering of data. By identifying the “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">tentative propositions set forth to assist in guiding the investigation of a problem or to provide possible explanations for the observations made <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Leedy & Ormrod, 2010, p. 56 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">) data can then be collected and statistically manipulated to determine whether these hypotheses are supported by the data or not. With this component of the problem statement the reader and researcher have a clear map of the terrain that will be covered.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Reasonable Theoretical Framework
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">It is the literature in the field that serves as the bedrock on which research is built. The existence of a problem, or a gap or weakness in theory, or suggestions of extensions on what is already known comes from the literature in the field. Whether a particular study is appropriate and research worthy is established through knowledge of the existing literature in the field. Research is based on logically sequential arguments; the problem sentence suggests the subproblems that help to answer the research problem, the subproblems delineate the hypotheses and/or research questions, which subsequently establishes the methodology that generates the results that allow the conclusions, which finally answer the research questions. Each argument or section builds carefully on the preceding one. Each argument must be supported by the literature and be persuasive in its logic. For the reader to accept the conclusion, it is essential that each preceding proposition is accepted and logically follows and leads to the next, and the only way to do this is through “ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">an exhaustive understanding of the body of knowledge related to the field or topic of study. Knowledge of what is known is a prerequisite for identifying that which is unknown <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">” ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Ellis & Levy, 2011, p. 24 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">). =<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Conclusion = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">A Problem Statement is a short paragraph that identifies a problem and succinctly documents the reason research is called for. The Problem Statement delineates an important researchable problem clearly, will make some advancement in the knowledge or theory of the field, requires the collection and interpretation of data, and yet is of manageable size and feasibility. The Problem Statement is composed of a concise articulation of what the problem to be researched is that breaks that problem into valid subproblems, and presents hypotheses and/or research questions regarding what may be found in the research. A Problem Statement is based on a thorough literature review that supports each proposition thereby providing a reasonable theoretical framework for why the problem is important, and why it should be researched.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> [DR1] Love this introduction!


 * = References ||
 * * Creswell, J. W. (2011). //Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research// (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
 * Ellis, T. J., & Levy, Y. (2011). Framework of problem<span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math','serif';">‐ based research: A guide for novice researchers on the development of a research<span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math','serif';">‐ worthy problem. //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri-Italic','sans-serif';">Informing Science: The International Journal of an Emerging Transdiscipline, 11(1) //, 17<span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math','serif';">‐ 33. Retrieved from http://inform.nu/Articles/Vol11/ISJv11p017<span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math','serif';">‐ 033Ellis 486.pdf
 * Hernon, P., & Metoyer-Duran, C. (1993). Problem statements: An exploratory study of their function, significance, and form. //Library & Information Science Research, 15//, 71-92. Retrieved from http://www.lis-editors.org/bm~doc/editorial-problem-statement.pdf
 * Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2010). //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri-Italic','sans-serif';">Practical research: Planning and design //<span style="font-family: 'Calibri-Italic','sans-serif';">(9 th<span style="font-family: 'Calibri-Italic','sans-serif';"> ed.) . Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.
 * Winsten-Bartlett, D. (2011, November 15). Call for clarity – an update [Discussion Forum comment]. Retrieved from http://learners.ncu.edu/discussion_forum/ discussion_entries.asp?discussion_header_id=55960&return_to=/discussion_forum/discussion_headers.asp?dis_forum_category_code=p:6 ||