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Week 4 What is a Research Problem 09032024 102410pm 4

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8 views

Week 4 What is a Research Problem 09032024 102410pm 4

Uploaded by

mariumzahid987
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is a research problem?

A research problem is a statement that addresses a gap in knowledge, a challenge or a contradiction in a


particular field. Scientists use research problems to identify and define the aim of their study and
analysis. Researcher may decide to conduct research based on a problem if interested in contributing to
social or scientific change or supplying additional knowledge to an existing topic. A research problem
may also help identify key concepts and terms, overarching questions and variables associated with a
study.

Characteristics of an effective research problem


There are several factors that ensure a research problem is clear, well-defined and easy to follow
throughout the duration of a study. Understanding these aspects of a research problem can help as you
identify and create your own. Some characteristics to consider when aiming to define a research
problem include:

 Reflecting on issues or required knowledge in a particular field prior to conducting a study

 Ensuring that the topic you aim to examine has a sufficient amount of relevant data

 Relying on reputable evidence and data and disregarding information that you can't verify

 Remaining practical, manageable and communicative with researchers involved in data


collection and analysis

 Adhering strictly to a budget and timeline

How to define a research problem


Consider following these steps when aiming to define research problem:

1. Identify a general area of interest


 Contradictions between two or more theoretical perspectives

 Situations or natural relationships that haven't been investigated thoroughly

 Processes in an institution or organization that you and your research team could improve

 Areas of concern raised by individuals who work or are experts in a particular industry

2. Learn more about the problem


The next step is to learn more about the area of interest. What a researcher need to know about a
particular topic. Assess who or what it might affect and how a research could address relationships.
3. Determine relationships between variables
After identifying the variables involved in research, researcher can learn how they're related to one
another and how these relationships may contribute to research problem. Consider generating as many
potential perspectives and variable interactions as possible. Identifying the relationships between
variables may be useful when deciding the degree to which researcher can control them in study.

4. Select and include important variables


A clear and manageable research problem typically includes important variables. A research team
summarizes how they plan to consider and use these variables and how they might influence the results
of the study. Selecting the most important variables can help the study's audience better understand the
trajectory of research and the potential impact of the solution.

What is a variable?
A variable is any kind of attribute or characteristic that researchers are trying to measure, manipulate
and control in statistics and research. All studies analyze a variable, which can describe a person, place,
thing or idea. A variable's value can change between groups or over time. For example, if the variable in
an experiment is a person's eye color, its value can change from brown to blue to green from person to
person.

Types of variables
Researchers organize variables into a variety of categories, the most common of which include:

1. Independent variables

2. Dependent variables

3. Quantitative variables

4. Qualitative variables

5. Intervening variables

6. Moderating variables

7. Control variables

8. Composite variables
Independent vs. dependent variables
Independent variables Dependent variables

A variable that stands alone and isn't changed by other A variable that relies on and can be changed by
Definition
variables or factors that are measured other factors that are measured

Age: Other variables such as where someone lives, what A grade someone gets on an exam depends on
Example they eat or how much they exercise are not going to factors such as how much sleep they got and how
change their age long they studied

In studies, researchers often try to find out whether an independent variable causes other variables to
change and in what way. When analyzing relationships between study objects, researchers often try to
determine what makes the dependent variable change and how. Independent variables can influence
dependent variables, but dependent variables cannot influence independent variables.

Quantitative vs. qualitative variables


Quantitative variables Qualitative variables

Definition Data sets that involve numbers or amounts Non-numerical values or groupings

Examples Height, distance or number of items Eye color or dog breed

Types Discrete and continuous Binary, nominal and ordinal

Researchers can further categorize quantitative variables into discrete or continuous types of variables:

 Discrete: Any numerical variables one can realistically count, such as the coins in your wallet or
the money in your savings account.

 Continuous: Numerical variables that you could never finish counting, such as time.

Researchers can further categorize qualitative, or categorical, variables into three types:

 Binary: Variables with only two categories, such as male or female, red or blue.

 Nominal: Variables one can organize in more than two categories that do not follow a particular
order. Take, for example, family types: nuclear family, joint family, extended family.

 Ordinal: Variables one can organize in more than two categories that follow a particular order.
Take, for example, level of satisfaction: Unsatisfied, neutral, satisfied.
Intervening vs. moderating variables

Intervening variables Moderating variables

A variable that changes the relationship between dependent


A theoretical variable used to explain a cause or
Definition and independent variables by strengthening or weakening
connection between other study variables
the intervening variable's effect

Access to health care: If wealth is the Age: In a study looking at the relationship between
independent variable, and a long life span is a economic status (independent variable) and how frequently
dependent variable, a researcher might people get physical exams from a doctor (dependent
Example
hypothesize that access to quality health care is variable), age is a moderating variable. That relationship
the intervening variable that links wealth and might be weaker in younger individuals and stronger in older
life span. individuals.

An intervening variable, also known as a mediator or mediating variable, explains the process through
which two variables are related, while a moderating, or moderator, variable affects the strength and
direction of that relationship.

Other kinds of variables


Control variables Composite variables

Characteristics that are constant and do not change Two or more variables combined to make a more
Definition
during a study complex variable

Overall health is an example of a composite variable if


In an experiment about plant development, control
a researcher uses other variables, such as genetics,
variables might include the amounts of fertilizer and
Example medical care, education, quality of environment and
water each plant gets. These amounts are always the
chosen behaviors, to determine overall health in an
same so that they do not affect the plants' growth.
experiment.

Control, or controlling, variables have no effect on other variables and are often kept the same
throughout an experiment to prevent bias. Composite variables are often made up of two or more
variables that are highly related to one another conceptually or statistically.

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