RESEARCH INTEREST PROBLEM AND PURPOSE Dr Keith Larick
RESEARCH INTEREST, PROBLEM AND PURPOSE Dr. Keith Larick Immersion September 2019
The problem is something to be solved. The purpose addresses a specific aspect of the problem.
Already have topic Already have draft purpose Already have done some reading
A research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated. A troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation.
The research problem establishes the means by which you answer the question “So What? ” 1. Clarity and precision – no sweeping generalizations 2. Demonstrate a researchable topic – is it feasible, can information or data be effectively acquired? 3. Identification of what would be studied 4. Identification of the over arching question – key factors or variables 5. Identification of key concepts and terms 6. Articulation of the study’s boundaries 7. Conveyance of more than the gathering of descriptive data providing only a snapshot of the issue or phenomenon under study.
One of the longest-recognized and most pervasive forms of bias in research, confirmation bias occurs when a researcher forms a hypothesis or belief and uses respondents’ information to confirm that belief. Assumptions about motivations and influences that are based on our cultural lens (on the spectrum of ethnocentricity or cultural relativity) create the culture bias.
1. 2. 3. Begin with an idea and topic of interest Narrow that topic State as question
Broad Topic Women’s Health Computer Games Eating disorders Violence in sports Narrowed Topic Focused Topic Research Question Women and cancer Women smokers and breast cancer Is there an association between cigarette smoking and breast cancer risk? Computer game violence and children How does violence in computer games affect children? Teenagers and eating disorders Teen peer pressure and bulimia What role does peer pressure play in the development of bulimia among teens? Violence in baseball Violence in professional baseball What is the effect of violence in professional baseball on high school baseball players?
Broad Topic Focused Topic WHAT – What is the WHO – Who is What is the topic involved? Whom problem? you would like to does it affect? Is WHEN – When did the problem begin? Is it a research? there a specific recent or long-term Why are you population you problem? interested in the topic? Why is the topic important to study? Narrowed Topic want to focus on? WHERE – Where did it begin? Is there a geographic region you want to focus on? HOW – How does one aspect of your topic affect another? How serious is the problem? Research Question What is the question you want to answer concerning this topic? How – What questions
Single site study Over studied topic Your own organization Access Researchable Calendar
m e l b o he Pr T Introduce the reader to the importance, topic and background to the problem………………. . However, in fall of 2016, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office reported that only 209 out of the 1149 female educational administrators serving across the system were Latina. The absence of Latina leaders in California community colleges may limit access to sponsors, mentors, and role models for Latinas in postsecondary education, and potentially impact the leadership pipeline in higher education (Rodriguez, et al. , 2016). Further examination into the effective strategies and traits exercised by successful Latina leaders is central to higher education today as it may help educators better understand the types of support structures and mentoring programs that need to be in place for future generations of Latinas who aspire to enter into executive level administrative positions. Place the topic in context of the study
Alignment refers to the logical progression of ideas between the structural elements of your dissertation proposal. Problem Significance Purpose Methods Research Population & Sample Questions
m e l b o r P e h T Introduce the reader to the importance, topic and background to the problem………………. . Callahan (2013), reports that EL students are more than twice as likely to drop out of school as their peers. This is exacerbated by the fact that EL students often belong to other groups with significant risk-factors for dropping out, such as immigration status, low parent education levels, poverty, and high mobility. Referencing an ethnographic study by Ek (2009), Callahan notes that the ESL classes designed to remediate EL students’ language deficiencies create a school that is “a prison for immigrant youth, replete with expectations of passive compliance” (p. 19). The lack of social and academic engagement in this environment plays a significant role in an EL student’s decision to drop out of school. Place the topic in context of the study
m e l b o he Pr T Introduce the reader to the importance, topic and background to the problem………………. . Domestic abuse and substance abuse are considered two major risk factors for child abuse and neglect. This type of family dysfunction introduces trauma into a child’s life even without physical or sexual abuse. These two factors are key indicators that child welfare risk exists “even when all other factors are equal” (Berger, Slack, Waldfogel, & Brunch, 2010). Further trauma results when children experience multiple placements while in foster care. Each placement takes the child one standard deviation away from “normal” childhood development (Boris & Rosenblum, 2016). Place the topic in context of the study
TOPIC, PROBLEM, PURPOSE AND QUESTIONS Topic Eating disorders Research Problem Literature Purpose Statement Specific Research Questions Line of Logic General Teenagers and eating disorders Teen peer pressure and bulimia What role does peer pressure play in the development of bulimia among teenagers?
ALIGNNG THE DISSERTATION PROPOSAL Interest Who Problem Rationale Why are you interested Who is involved? What is the problem? Why do you want in this topic? Whom does it affect? When did the problem to study this topic? What is the topic What is the specific begin? Important to study? population to be How serious is the What do you want to studied? problem? Know? Clearly state only one problem. Start with five supported sentences. Be clear: “The problem is that…” Purpose After clarifying the problem statement, the logical question is, so what should we do about it? The purpose statement is the logical answer. Be clear: “The purpose of this study is to…”
Topic and Problem Why are you interested in this topic? Why is the topic important to study? What do you want to know? Who is involved? Whom does it affect? What is the specific population to be studied? What is the problem? When did the problem begin? How serious is the problem? Clearly state only one problem. Start with five supported sentences. Why do you want Be clear. to study this topic?
The research purpose is a statement of “why” the study is being conducted or the goal of the study. The purpose statement is a destination.
nif Sig em Research Questions l ob Pr ica nc e Why Where Purpose
Purpose Statement Template Dissertation Handbook
Qualitative purpose statements contain infinitives and verbs related to the emergent, non-predictive nature of Qualitative research such as: to describe, to discover, to develop, or to explore. Quantitative purpose statements use infinitives and verbs that indicated prediction and comparison such as: to examine the relationship, to compare, to test, to identify, to examine the correlation between. (Creswell, 2003)
An effective statement of purpose should be: • • Specific and precise – not general or broad Concise – one or two sentences Clear – not vague or ambiguous Goal-oriented – stated in terms of desired outcomes Some common introductory phrases for purpose statements include: The purpose of this mixed methods study was…. . The purpose of this case study was twofold: to _____ and _____ The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe ____ The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was ______
QUANTITATIVE PURPOSE STATEMENT TEMPLATE The purpose of this __________(experimental, single-subject, casual comparative, correlational, quantitative, descriptive, mixed method) study was to _______(Identify, Describe, Examine, Compare) the __________(central focus of the study – independent variable – control variable) for ____(the unit of analysis: Group, Groups, Site(s)).
EXAMPLE Purpose Statement The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary university presidents use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to determine the degree of importance to which followers perceive the behaviors related to character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration help to create personal and organizational meaning.
EXAMPLE The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine the relationship between teacher job satisfaction and the teacher-perceived leadership traits of principals within K-12 unified school districts in Orange County California. Satisfaction theory Teacher satisfaction Retention Leadership & employee satisfaction Leadership trait theories
QUALTITATIVE PURPOSE STATEMENTS The purpose of this _____________ (strategy of inquiry, such as biographical, phenomenological, grounded theory, ethnographic, historical, case study) was to ________ (understand, describe, develop, discover) the ___________(central phenomenon/focus) for the _______________ (unit of analysis/participants) such as the individual, groups, organization). Patton – page 132 -233 – Variety in Qualitative Inquiry
EXAMPLE The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate individual experiences of African Americans, who overcame obstacles and attained the rank of chief of police. Literature • • Family background Educational history Mentorship Socioeconomic status Peer relations Leadership experience and philosophy Racial and cultural issues Politics of law enforcement
EXAMPLE The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe the personal and organizational factors promoting and limiting law enforcement officers (LEO’s) seeking mental health assistance following a stressful/traumatic event. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to identify recommendations mental health professionals have for reducing barriers and promoting awareness and support for health seeking behaviors within both the mental health and law enforcement communities.
EXAMPLE Purpose Statement The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and describe how Latino college students of first-generation Latino immigrant parents in the Coachella Valley perceived the impact of their parents and their high school experience on their decision to seek a college education.
Words of Importance QUANTIATIVE Identify Measure Compare Examine Correlation Relationship Degree Relate Influence Impact Effect Cause Generates data that is measurable requiring mathematical analysis should relate to data in Takes the form of numerical quantities such as measurements or counts. QUALITATIVE Describe Explore Probe Understand Discover Learn Investigate How What Generates data requiring identification of themes, Observations. Requires coding, Frequently tables, etc.
Purpose Statement
POPULATION Definition – a population is a complete set of elements (persons or objects) that possess some common characteristics define by the sampling criteria. Example: All pregnant teens in California Composed of two groups – target population & accessible population Target population – the entire group of people or objects to which the researcher wishes to generalize the study findings. Example: All pregnant teens in San Bernardino County. Meet set of criteria of interest to researcher Assessible population – portion of population to which the researcher has reasonable access. Example: Teens enrolled in pregnant minor programs in San Bernardino County Unified School Districts.
POPULATION OF INTEREST What is the N? Largest population possible? What is the Target population? What is the accessible population? What is the criteria for selection? Estimate of how many meet this criteria NOW READY TO DETERMINE THE SAMPLE.
Purpose Checklist 1. Key identifier words are used to signal the reader, such as “The purpose of this (qualitative/quantitative/mixed method/(methodology) is to ……” The methodology needs to be appropriate for this purpose. 2. The central phenomena being explored are explicated. 3. The statement is clear and precise. Does not contain sweeping generalizations or pronouncements. 4. Is a researchable topic or issue. 5. Avoids use of value-laden words and terms. 6. Identifies key concepts and terms. 7. The variables, if quantitative, are clearly defined. 8. The intent of the study (to analyze, determine, identify, explore, describe…. ) is delineated with words that reflect higher order thinking skills. 9. The issue or phenomenon is clear. 10. Articulation of the study boundaries or parameters. 11. The participants of the study (sample and/or population are mentioned. 12. The setting of the study is explained.
THE PURPOSE STATEMENT Preparing for the Prospectus
A research prospectus is a preliminary plan for conducting a study. This is not a detailed, technical research proposal, but, rather, a considered analysis of the issues you are likely to confront in such a study.
The Prospectus is a necessary and preliminary step in the dissertation process that allows instructors to determine if the research topic and problem statement are appropriate in scope and significance for an Ed. D. Dissertation. The main purpose of a Prospectus is to formulate and clarify the purpose of a research project and develop an initial research plan. A successful Prospectus reveals if the topic and research problem are feasible and meet program requirements. IT IS YOUR PLAN!
PROSPECTUS Introduction – 2 pages Background – 7 -9 pages Problem Statement – 4 -5 paragraphs Purpose and Research Questions Significance of the Study – 1 -2 pages Literature Outline Description of the proposed methods CHAPTER I Introduction Background Problem Statement Purpose and Research Questions Significance of the Study Definitions Delimitations Overview of the Study
Research is Messy
Research is an iterative process Feedback Guidance and support Accountable Initiative High Standards
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