research lesson problem statement

The Scientific Method1. Develop the problem2. Develop a theoretical solution to the

problem3. Formulate the hypothesis or question4. Formulate the research plan (methods)5. Collect and analyze the data6. Interpret the results and form

conclusions7. Refine the theory

Identification of the Research Problem

Steps to be Taken

1. Identify a general problem area2. Revise & narrow the problem

statement

1. Identify a general problem area

Criteria to use: Interest Theoretical value Practical value Workability Critical mass

Worthwhile?


Why do people drop out of recreation programs?

How do you make this applied research vs. basic research vs. action research?


Review the literature Get broad overview using secondary

sources Write a general problem

statement

Outline of the Problem

I. Topic: Attrition in Recreation Programs

II. Statement of the Problem: The problem was to determine why participants in recreation programs drop out.

Writing Problem Statements Tells what will be (or was) done Identifies variables & relationships

to be studied

2. Revise & narrow the problem statement

Review primary sources in the literature

Identify primary sources Read & record the literature Focus should be on identifying

questions that need to be answered (theoretically & practically)

2. Revise & narrow the problem statement

Review primary sources in the literature

Make a list of research questions Provide a rationale for the

problem Identify variables to be studied Rewrite the problem statement

Outline of the Problem

III. Results of Previous StudiesIV. Questions to be Answered:

A. What is the extent of the attrition?B. What is the nature of the attrition?C. What are the causes of the attrition?D. What is the relationship of the cause of

attrition to each type of attrition?E. Are there any factors that explain the

causes of attrition?

Statement of the Problem The problem was to determine the

extent to which participants in recreation programs drop out, the reasons for their dropping out, and the relationship of various facts to loss of enrollment.

Development of the Research Question or Hypothesis

Steps to be Taken

1. Delimit the problem2. Rewrite the problem statement3. Write the hypotheses/research

questions4. Identify assumptions & limitations5. Develop operational definitions

Identify independent (cause, what is manipulated) and dependent (effect, what is measured) variables to be measured

Outline of the Problem What is the extent of the attrition?

In each season? In different programs?

Outline of the Problem What is the nature of the attrition?

Males and females? People of different ages? People of different geographic

regions? People with different backgrounds in

recreation? Combinations of the above?

Outline of the Problem What are the causes of attrition?

Economic reasons? Personality differences? Personal (other than economic)

reasons? Other?

Steps to be Taken



Variables Any characteristic or phenomenon

that can vary (or change) across organisms, situations, or environments

Types of Variables

VariableKey

Characteristic

Example

Independent(Situational)

Presumed cause

Eating apples (none or one per day)

Dependent(Response)

Measured outcome (effect)

Number of doctor visits for colds or flu

Attribute(Subject)

Subject characteristic

Male vs. female

Extraneous(Mediating)

Controlled influence

Prior health, other foods

Statement of the Problem The problem was to determine the

extent to which participants in outdoor recreation programs in college drop out and the reasons for their dropping out.

Steps to be Taken



Which should it be?

Hypotheses Research hypothesis Alternative hypothesis Null hypothesis

Examples of Research Hypotheses

If children are taught to read via whole language, then their reading comprehension will be higher.

If children watch 3 or more hours of TV per day, then their behavior on the playground will become more aggressive.

If children learn in small cooperative groups, then their social interactions will be more positive.

Form of Research Hypotheses

IF, THEN: If young children take piano lessons, then they will have higher math aptitude 10 years later.

STATEMENT: Young children who take piano lessons will have higher math aptitude 10 years later.

QUESTION: Will young children who take piano lessons have higher math aptitude 10 years later?

Null Hypothesis & Statistics

STATISTICAL QUESTION: How likely is it (what is the probability) that the actual findings in the sample would be obtained if the null hypothesis was true?

STATISTICAL ANSWER: p value(probability value p =.05)

There is a 5% (5 in 100) chance that the actual findings in the sample would be obtained if the null hypothesis is true.

Examples RESEARCH: If children watch violent TV,

then they will act more aggressively at recess.

ALTERNATIVE: Children prone to aggression simply watch more violent TV.

NULL: In a population of school-age children there is no relationship between TV violence and aggressive behavior.

Steps to be Taken



Limitations - Example This sample represented college

students in the Northwest United States. Caution should be taken in extrapolating these results to people of other age groups in other geographic locations.

Assumptions - Examples All participants who sign up for

recreation programs do so voluntarily.

All outdoor recreation programs are taught by qualified personnel.

Assumptions - Examples All subjects completed the

questionnaire honestly and correctly.

The subjects understood the directions as they were intended.

The subjects were a representative sample of college students in the Northwest.

Steps to be Taken



Operational Definition Presumed indicator of a construct Makes construct observable

(empirical) & quantifiable

Caution: loss of meaning

Creativity: Operational Definition Teacher’s ratings on a scale of 1-10 Number of recognized science projects Number of unusual uses for a briick

named within one minute Ratings of a short story written by

students as judged by a creativity “expert”

Score on a researcher-developed test of creativity

Intelligence: Operational Definition Correctly solving

logic problem Answering questions

about word meanings

Repeating backward strings of 8 numbers

Solving a math problem

Using “street smarts” to achieve a goal

Starting a new business

Paraphrasing the theme of a written paragraph

Solving an equation Executing a triple lutz

Construct Operational definition

IntelligenceScore on GRE; score on Stanford-Binet scale

Anxiety HR; BP; self-report rating

Motivation GPA

Hyperactivity

Number of fidgets in 15 minutes

Self-esteem

Score on Coopersmith test

CreativityNumber of novel uses for paper clips described in 3 minutes

Source www.educ.uidaho.edu/.../

Developing%20the%20Problem.ppt -

research lesson problem statement

Technology

develop operational

general problem

identify assumptions

recreation

scientific

operational

recreation

revise amp