Statement of the Problem :

The Heart of the Research

Project

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 Introduction
 Selection and the definition of a research
topics is the first stage in applying the
scientific and disciplined inquiry method
 The research topic (also called the research
question, problem and purpose) focuses and
provides structure for the remaining steps in
the scientific method; it is thread and binds
everything together.

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 Is to focus the study to defined,
manageable size
 Common difficulties; to broad and
complex and unable to implement
 Will work with in succeeding stages
 Related to your area of study or interest
 ‘Living with your study’

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 Bab 1 Pengenalan
1.1 Pendahuluan 1.7 Hipotesis Kajian
1.2 Latar belakang Kajian 1.8 Definisi
1.3 Pernyataan Masalah Operasional
1.4 Kerangka Konseptual
Kajian 1.9 Signifikan Kajian
1.4 Soalan Kajian 1.10 Limitasi Kajian
1.5 Tujuan Kajian
1.6 Objektif Kajian

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 Chapter 1 - Introduction
1.1 Introduction 1.7 Research
1.2 Background of the Study Hypotheses
1.3 Statement of the Problem
1.4 (Conceptual/Research
1.8 Operational
Framework) Definition
1.4 Research Questions 1.9 Significance of the
1.5 Aims of the Study Study
1.6 Objectives of the Study
1.10 Limitations of the
Study

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 Mengenal pasti masalah
The problem is the axial center around
which the whole research effort turns.
The statement of the must be expressed
with the utmost precision. The problem
is then fractionated into more
manageable sub problems. So stated, we
can then see clearly the goal and the
direction of the entire research process.

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 Problems That Have Not Been
Resolved
 In winter why do we try to keep the house warm as it
was summer when we complained about the heat?
 Why do we sing ‘Take me out to the ball game’, when
we already there?
 If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
 How come abbreviated is such a long word?
 Why do slow down and slow up mean the same thing?

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 Realities and Topic
Identification
 What educational research is and is not?
 Is not a process in which the researcher
knows the outcomes before the study is
completed.
 Is not a haphazard data gatherings
 Is not the selective or biased
interpretation of results
 Is truly a process of trial and error

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 Guidelines for Finding a
Topic
 Be aware of the research being done
at our institution.
 Be alert at any controversial issues.
 Read a review paper.
 Look for causes not effects.

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 Two theoretical levels

1. The aim to increase our knowledge

2. Prime purpose is to make life better

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 Characteristics
 Personal or researchable problems
 Rarely happen by accident
 Grounded and possess the ability
 Fruitful conclusions
 Specialist rather than generalists
 Rifle rather than shotgun
 Limited rather than broad
 Testing rather than proving

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 Sources?
 Derived from theory.
 Personal Educational Questions
 Replication
 Library search

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 Sources?
 Daily classrooms
 School
 Community
 Technical changes
 Curricular developments
 Educational innovations
 Academic experiences
 Reading assignments, textbooks, journals
 Consultation

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 Narrowing the Topic
 A broad topic enlarges the scope of the
review of related literature
 Too broads tend to result in a study that is
general, difficult to carry out, difficult to
interpret
 Talk to advisors or specialist in the area
 Related to your area of expertise
 Worth the time, effort and make contribution
to knowledge;

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 Keeping in Focus
 Acceptable research problem?
 What is to ‘think’?
 What is to do?
 What am I doing, for what purpose
am I doing it?

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 A Good Research Problems
 Qualities of significance
 Originality
 Feasibility
 Researchable
 Has theoretical and practical significance
 To improve or understand education or
educational practice
 Ethical

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 What is not a Research
Problem?
 Don’t use a problem in research as a ruse for
achieving self-enlighten.
 Problem whose sole purpose is merely to
compare two sets of data.
 Finding correlations between two sets of data
merely to show relationship.
 Problems that result in a yes or no answer are
not suitable problems for research.

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The Statement of the Research
Problem
 In a complete grammatical sentence
in as few words as possible.
 Think, consider and estimate.
 Say precisely what you mean.

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 Edit your writing
- Least words possible
- Use a thesaurus
- Keep sentence short.
- Look critically at each thoughts
- Be alert to modification.
E.g: Piano for sale by a woman with beautifully
carved mahogany legs that has arthritis and
cannot play anymore.

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 Discussion 1
1. Make a list of at least 3 educational topics for
which you or your group would be interested
in conducting a research study.
2. Select one and identify several references
relate to the selected problem.
3. Distinguish the methods [qualitative or/and
quantitative]
4. Formulate a testable or descriptive hypothesis
for the problem.

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 Evaluating the Problem
 Can be effectively solved through the process of
research?
 Significant?

 Is the problem new one?

 Feasible?

- Am I competent?
- Are pertinent data accessible?

- Financial resources.

- Time to complete.

- Social hazards.

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 Varies in form according to the type of research
undertaken/preferences
 Gives the direction to the remaining aspects of the
research plan and report
 Should be accompanied by the topic’s background, the
justification for the study in terms of its significance
and a list of limitations
 Ready to attack the review of related literature

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 Using the Library
 Finding Related Literature
ERIC (Educational Resources Info Center)
www.acceseric.org/index.html
The Education Index
Resources in Education
Current Index to journals in Education
Index to Doctoral Dissertations
DAI
Psychological Abstracts, SSCI

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 //uncwerb.carl.org
 //gort.ucsd.edu/newjour/
 www.eduweek.org/
 www.csu.edu.au/education/library.html
 www.psychology.net/
 www.nces.ed.gov/ - edu statistics
 //specialed.miningco.com
 www.csteep.bc.edu/
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