EL110

• Research is a systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions
• Research is defined as the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies, and understandings
• According to Kerlinger, a problem is an interrogative sentence or statement that asks what relation exists between two or more variables, providing what is being sought in the research
• R.S. Woodworth defines a problem as 'a situation for which we have no ready & successful response by instinct or by previous acquired habit, requiring an investigation to find a solution
• Three main purposes of research are exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory
• Exploratory research is conducted to explore new problem areas that haven't been explored before, laying the foundation for more conclusive data collection and analysis
• Descriptive research focuses on expanding knowledge on current issues through data collection, describing the behavior of a sample population
• Explanatory research, also known as causal research, is conducted to understand the impact of specific changes in existing standard procedures, often through experiments
• Qualitative research collects data using conversational methods, helping researchers understand what participants think and why they think in a particular way
• Quantitative research deals with numbers and measurable forms, investigating events or data systematically to explain, predict, or control a phenomenon
• A research problem is a gap in existing knowledge, a contradiction in an established theory, or a real-world challenge that a researcher aims to address in their research
• Characteristics of a good research problem should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound
• A practical research problem allows for the formulation of hypotheses and the design of research methodologies, considering budgetary and time constraints
• Attachment is a strong reciprocal emotional bond between an infant and a primary caregiver

  
• Schaffer and Emerson's 1964 study on attachment:

  • Aim: identify stages of attachment / find a pattern in the development of an attachment between infants and parents
  • Participants: 60 babies from Glasgow
  • Procedure: analysed interactions between infants and carers
  • Findings: babies of parents with 'sensitive responsiveness' were more likely to have formed an attachment
• Freud's superego is the moral component of the psyche, representing internalized societal values and standards
• How to define a research problem:

  • Look for a broad problem area
  • Learn more about the problem by reading literature and consulting researchers
  • Identify relevant variables and their relationships
  • Think of practical aspects for feasibility
  • Formulate a concise problem statement
  • Stick to plans but be flexible

  
• Elements of a research problem include:

  1. Aim or Purpose

  2. Subject matter or topic

  3. Place or locale

  4. Period or time of the study

  5. Population or universe from where data are collected
• Sources of research problem:

  • Personal experiences
  • Literature sources
  • Existing theories
  • Previous research
  • Academic experiences
  • Brainstorming
  • Intuition
  • Consultations
  • Social issues
  • Professional experience
• Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background:

  • Introduction should show the existence of a problem needing a solution
  • Background should discuss historical context and theoretical framework
  • Conceptual framework should be consistent with the theoretical framework
  • Statement of the problem should be stated in general and specific terms
  • Hypotheses should be stated in the null form
  • Scope and limitation define the boundaries and constraints of the study
  • Significance of the study explains the rationale and relevance of the study
  • Definition of terms clarifies key terms used in the study
• Research is a systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions
• Research is defined as the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies, and understandings
• Kerlinger defines a problem as an interrogative sentence or statement that asks what relation exists between two or more variables, with the answer providing what is being sought in the research
• R.S. Woodworth defines a problem as 'a situation for which we have no ready & successful response by instinct or by previous acquired habit, requiring investigation to find a solution
• Research purposes include exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory studies
• Exploratory studies are conducted to explore a group of questions, laying the foundation for more conclusive data collection and analysis
• Descriptive research focuses on expanding knowledge on current issues through data collection, describing the behavior of a sample population with the primary purposes of describing, explaining, and validating findings
• Explanatory research, also known as causal research, aims to understand the impact of specific changes in existing standard procedures, often conducted through experiments
• Qualitative research collects data using conversational methods, helping researchers understand participants' thoughts and reasons behind them
• Qualitative methodologies include ethnography, phenomenology, and narrative inquiry, each focusing on different aspects of collecting and interpreting data
• Descriptive research aims to accurately and systematically describe a population, situation, or phenomenon, answering what, where, when, and how questions
• Action research focuses on solving a problem or informing individual and community-based knowledge to impact teaching, learning, and related processes
• A case study is an in-depth research design primarily using qualitative methodology, used to examine an identifiable problem or investigate an individual, group, organization, or event
• Quantitative methods deal with numbers and measurable forms, investigating events or data systematically to explain, predict, or control a phenomenon
• Quantitative methods include research design, variables, hypotheses, sampling, data analysis, and data collection
• A research problem is a gap in existing knowledge, a contradiction in an established theory, or a real-world challenge that a researcher aims to address in their research
• Characteristics of a good research problem include being specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound, following the SMART acronym
• An ideal research problem should be novel, significant, and feasible, introducing fresh perspectives, holding significance, and being practically investigable
• Practical research problems consider budgetary and time constraints, as well as limitations that may arise due to constraints in methodology, resources, or the complexity of the problem
• Steps to define a research problem:

  • Look for a broad problem area
  • Learn more about the problem by reading literature and consulting researchers
  • Identify relevant variables and their relationships
  • Think of practical aspects to make the study feasible
  • Formulate a concise problem statement
  • Stick to plans but be flexible