1. Identifying a Research Problem
Text Chapters 2
Identifying a Research Problem
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating
Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

2. By the end of this powerpoint, you should be able to:
Distinguish between a research problem, the topic, the purpose, and the research questions
Describe the five elements that compromise a “statement of the problem” section
Identify strategies useful in writing a “statement of the problem” section
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

3. What Is a Research Problem?
A research problem is an educational issue or concern that an investigator presents and justifies in a research study.
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

4. Why the Research Problem Is Important
It establishes the importance of the topic.
It creates reader interest.
It focuses the reader’s attention on how the study will add to the literature.
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

5. How the Problem Differs From Other Parts of Research
A research problem is an educational issue or problem in the study.
A research topic is the broad subject matter being addressed in a study.
A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study.
Research questions are those that the researcher would like answered or addressed in the study.
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

6. Differences among the Topic, Problem, Purpose, and Questions
General
Topic
Distance learning
Research
Problem
Lack of students in distance classes
To study why students do not attend distance education classes at a community college
Purpose
Statement
Does the use of Web site technology in the classroom deter students from enrolling in a distance education class?
Research
Question
Specific
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

7. Research Problems in Quantitative Research
Use quantitative research to:
Measure variables
Assess the impact of these variables on an outcome
Test theories or broad explanations
Apply results to a large number of people
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

8. Five Elements of a “Problem Statement”
FLOW OF IDEAS
What
Remedying
the Deficiencies
Will Do for
Select
Audiences
Deficiencies
in the
Evidence
Educational
Issue
Evidence for the
Issue
Topic
Subject
area
A concern
A problem
Something that needs a solution
Evidence from
the literature
practical
experiences
In this body of
evidence, what is missing?
What do we
need to know
more about?
How will addressing
what we need to
know help:
researchers
educators
policy makers
individuals such as
those in the study
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

9. Advancing the Topic The topic is introduced in the first paragraphs.
The topic includes the general subject matter.
The topic must be introduced so that the reader can relate to it.
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

10. The Narrative Hook
The narrative hook should be the first sentence of the study.
Functions of the narrative hook
Causes the reader to pay attention
Elicits an emotional or attitudinal response from the reader
Causes the reader to continue reading
Information that can be included in the narrative hook
Statistics
A provocative question
Need for research
Intent of the study
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

11. Stating the Research Problem
State the problem in the opening paragraph
Identify an issue
Research-based research problems
Practical problems
Use content from your popular media and trade journals
Reference the problem using your research journal (and other research that you will add later on).
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

12. Justifying the Importance of the Research Problem
Justify your study based on what other researchers have found
Justification based on personal or workplace experiences
Justification based on the experiences others have had in the workplace
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

13. Identifying Deficiencies in the Evidence
What do we still need to know?
What else do we need to know to improve practice?
What is missing from what other researchers have found?
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

14. Identify the Audience
Ask the following question: “Who will profit (benefit) from reading your study?”
Other researchers
Practitioners
Policy makers
Special populations (e.g., parents)
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

15. Writing the Statement of the Problem Section
Include one paragraph for each of the five elements
Heavily reference this section to the literature
Provide statistics to support trends
Use quotes from participants (in moderation)
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

16. Example of the Flow of Ideas in the Problem Statement
Justification
for Research
Problem
Relating the
Discussion
to Audiences
Topic
Research
Problem
Deficiencies in
the Evidence
Subject
area
Concern or issue
A problem
Something that needs a solution
Evidence from the literature
Evidence from practical experience
In this body of evidence what is missing or what do we need to know more about?
How will addressing what we need to know help researchers, educators, policy makers, and other individuals?
An Example
Ethical
issues
in colleges
Ethical violations
among football recruiters
Gap in the literature
Reports of violations
Description identifying and characterizing violations
Assessing violations
Helps recruiters develop better ethical standards
Helps athletes
understand ethical issues
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

17. Quantitative Purpose Statements and Research Questions
Probable cause/effect
(“Why did it happen?”)
Use of theories (“Why did it happen in view of an explanation or theory?”)
Assess differences and magnitude
(“How much happened?”)
(“How many times did it happen?”)
(“What were the differences among groups in what happened?”)
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

18. Explaining or Predicting Variables
Quantitative
Explaining or Predicting Variables
The independent variable (X)
influences a dependent
variable (Y)
X Y
John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition