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W5 Research Objective, Question & Hypothesis

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9 views

W5 Research Objective, Question & Hypothesis

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g-ipgp15202119
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© © All Rights Reserved
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RESEARCH

OBJECTIVES,
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS &
RESEARCH
HYPOTHESIS

LECTURE – WEEK 5
DEFINITIONS
Research aim A statement indicating the general aim or purpose of
a research project. Usually a research project will
have only one broad aim

Specific statements indicating the key issues to be


Research objectives focused on in a research project. Usually a research
project will have several specific research
Objectives

Research questions An alternative to research objectives, where the key


issues to be focused on in a research project are
stated in the form of questions

A prediction of a relationship between two or more


Research hyphotheses variables, usually predicting the effect of an
independent variable on a dependent variable.
The independent variable is the variable assumed to
have causal influence on the outcome of interest,
which is the dependent variable
Term Description

A research The broad subject matter addressed by the study. E.g Maria
topic seeks to study handphone possession by students in schools.

A research A general education issue, concern or controversy addressed in


problem research that narrows the topic. E.g. the problem Maria
addresses is the escalating use of handphone in the school
compound as students bring them to school.

A purpose The major intent or objective of the study used to address the
problem. E.g. The purpose of the study will be to identify factors
that influence students to bring handphones to schools.

Research Narrow the purpose into specific questions that the researcher
questions would like answered or addressed in the study. E.g Do peers
influence students to bring handphones to schools?
Example:

General

Topic Distance learning


Research Lack of students in distance education classes
problem

Purpose To study why students do not attend distance


statement education classes at a community college

Research Does the use of Web site technology in the


Specific questions classroom deter students from enrolling in a
distance education class?
WRITING YOUR RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

– Your objectives are structured using action-words like:


– assess or reassess - Elucidate
– Develop - provide (an understanding of
…)
– Articulate - Establish
– Examine - Construct
– Analyse - Evaluate / Re- evaluate
–
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

– Research objectives is a concrete statement describing what the


research is trying to achieve. A well-worded objective will be
SMART, i.e Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, & Time-
bound.
– Research objective should be Relevant, Feasible, Logical,
Observable, & Measurable.
– Objective is a purpose that can be reasonably achieved within the
expected timeframe & with the available resources.
DETERMINING THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

General to specific
General objective
To develop students’ academic information literacy skills through
Academic Support Programme (ASP)
Specific Objective
To improve students’ academic information literacy skills in order
to complete their assignments through scaffolding activities in
the ASP.
TYPES OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. General objective
 General objectives are broad goals to be
achieved.
 The general objectives of the study state what
the researcher expects to achieve by the study
in general terms.
 General objectives are usually less in number.
cont…

2. Specific objective
 Specific objectives are short term & narrow in focus.
 General objectives can be broken into small logically connected parts to
form specific objectives.
 General objective is met through accomplishing all the specific objective.
 The specific objectives are more in number & they systematically address
various aspects of problem as defined under ‘the statement of problem’
& key factor that is assumed to influence or causes the problem.
 They should specify what the researcher will do in the study, where, &
for what purpose.
EXAMPLES OF GENERAL & SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

General objective: To asses the knowledge of TESL students


studying in IPGKRM regarding English grammar.
Specific objective:
To assess the knowledge regarding English grammar
among Sem 7 TESL students in IPGKRM.
To evaluate the effect of direct planned teaching on
grammar among Sem 7 TESL students in IPGKRM
METHODS OF STATING OBJECTIVES

While stating objectives of the study, the following guidelines must be


taken care of:

– The objectives should be presented briefly & concisely.


– They cover the different aspects of the problem & its contributing
factors in a coherent way & in a logical sequence.
– The objectives are clearly phrased in operational terms, specifying
exactly what researcher is going to do, where, & for what purpose.
– They are realistic considering local conditions.
– Use action verbs that are specify enough to be evaluated.
WHAT IS A RESEARCH QUESTION?

– A research question is a way of expressing your interest


in a problem or phenomenon.
– RQ – the starting point of the study
– Everything flows from the RQ
– RQ determines:
 The population to be studied
 The setting
cont…

– Each question should be clear and specific, refer to the


problem or phenomenon, reflect an intervention in
experimental work, and note the target population or
participants.
– Identifying a research question will provide greater focus to
your research or clarify the direction of your investigation,
whether the research is descriptive or experimental. Quite
significantly, a well-written research question will also shed
light on appropriate research methods (e.g., specify the
intended actions of the variables and how an experimental
intervention might be measured)
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD
RESEARCH QUESTIONS

– Are specific.
– Are clear.
– Refer to the problem or phenomenon.
– Reflect the intervention in experimental research.
– Note the target group of participants.
TYPES OF QUESTIONS

- What .. Which … - Descriptive


Where… ?

– Why …. ? - Exploratory

– How ….? - Interpretive


RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

– A research hypothesis essentially is a declarative


statement of how you expect the research to turn out. In
a way, it is a possible answer to your research question.
– It should be brief, note your important variables, and
suggest something you can test or descriptively
investigate.
WRITING A RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

– Question: Do Science teachers evaluate student


homework differently than ESL teachers, based on five
criteria?

– Possible hypothesis: Science and ESL teachers evaluate


student homework significantly different on each of five
given criteria.
DETERMINING THE RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

– Question: Will students who are taught history by a


teacher of the same gender like the subject more than
students taught by a teacher of a different gender?
– Hypothesis: Students taught history by a teacher of the
same gender will like the subject more than students
taught history by a teacher of a different gender.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN QUALITATIVE AND
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. Quantitative Research uses hypothesis. Qualitative research does not use


hypothesis.
2. Quantitative research identifies variables and seeks to measure them.
There are no variables in Qualitative research but gather information on a
central phenomenon.
3. Quantitative research often to test theories. Qualitative research does
not test theories.
4. Quantitative research uses words conveying cause and effect relationship
such as affect, relate, compare, determine, cause and influence.
5. Qualitative often uses actions verbs such as generate, discover,
understand, describe and explore.
TASK FOR THIS WEEK

Choose 4 articles (2 Qualitative and 2


Quantitative) and extract these information:
a. Research Objectives
b. Research Questions
c. Research Hypothesis

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