Statements that identifies the phenomenon to

What are Research Questions?

be studied.

Foundation of the research process.

Very often, these research questions will stem

from a good review of literature, which is
recommended to be done before initialising a
research project.

Defining a research problem is the fuel that
drives the scientific process, and is the
foundation of any research method and
experimental design.
 Coming up with Research
Questions
Do I know the field and its literature well?

What areas need further exploration?

Has a great deal of research already been
conducted in this topic area?

Has the study been done before? If so, is there

room for improvement?

Will the study have a significant impact on the

field?
 Types of Research Questions

A study can ask three types of questions:

A. Descriptive Question

B. Relationship Question

C. Difference Question

This general classification scheme helps not only

with the design of the study, but also in choosing
the type of data analysis procedure
 Types of Research Questions
a)A. Descriptive Question

) Seeks to describe phenomena or characteristics

of a particular group of subjects being studied.

) Answers the question "what is".

) Utilizes survey research

) Example: What are the effects of increasing the

break time of employees to their work
efficiency?
 Types of Research Questions
a)B. Relationship Question

) Investigates the degree to which two or more

variables are associated with each other

) Does not establish "cause-and-effect"

) Example: Is there an association between self-

esteem and work efficiency among employees?
 Types of Research Questions
a)C. Difference Question

) Seeks to make comparisons between or within

groups of interest

) Comparison of one group to another on the

basis of existing characteristics

) Often associated with experimental research

) Example: Does participation in extra-curricular

activities affect the work efficiency of employees?
 Problem Distillation

The process of refining the question or

idea into a problem and making it
sufficiently specific so that it is amenable
to investigate.

This process should lead to the
development of a "statement of the
problem" that is clear, concise, and
definitive.
 Statement of the Problem

A very specific statement which clearly identifies

the problem being studied; will usually identify
the key variables as well as give some
information about the scope of the study.

May be in either question or declarative form.

Examples include:
1) The problem of this study was to...
2) This study was concerned with...
3) This study is designed to...
4) The purpose of this study is to...
 Characteristics of Research

Questions
Should relate to the research literature and a
problem/issue to be solved.

Serves to provide an overall focus of the study
and its goals.

Should be narrow, not broad-based. For example:

What can be done to make employees work more

efficiently? is too large a question to answer.
Instead, the researcher can ask What is the
relationship between taking power naps in the work
place and the efficiency of employees?"

A well thought-out and focused research question

leads directly into the....
 Hypothesis!

It is a tentative prediction about the nature of
the relationship between two or more variables.

A clear statement of what is intended to be
investigated.

It should be specified before research is
conducted and openly stated in reporting the
results. This allows to:

a. Identify the research objectives

b. Identify the key abstract concepts involved in

the research

c. Identify its relationship to both the problem
statement and the literature review.
 Nature of Hypothesis

It can be tested verifiable or falsified

Are not moral or ethical questions

It is neither too specific nor too general

It is a prediction of consequences

It is considered valuable even if proven false

 2 Types of Hypothesis
1. Null Hypothesis (H0) is a hypothesis which the
researcher tries to disprove, reject or nullify. This
is the conventional approach to making a
prediction and it involves a statement that says
there is no relationship between two groups that
the researcher compares on a certain variable.

ex. There is no difference in work efficiency

between employees who take power naps and
those who don't take power naps.
 Types of Hypothesis
2. Alternative Hypothesis (H1) affirms the
existence of a phenomenon and acceptance of the
attribute of relationship, effects and difference. It
is only reached if H0 is rejected. Frequently, this is
the actual desired conclusion of the researcher.

ex. Employees exhibit a higher rate of

efficiency when taking a power nap during lunch
break.
 Defining Terms

Its main purpose is to provide definitions of key
terms used in the study.

Specifically, a component of definitions and
terms is to establish how the key term is defined
in your study.

It helps ensure better understanding of the topic.

Are usually arranged alphabetically

 Limitations
A) Limitations and Delimitations
) potential weaknesses in a study that are mostly
out of the researcher's control, given limited
funding, choice of research design, statistical
model constraints, or other factors.

) a limitation is a restriction on a study that

cannot be reasonably dismissed and can affect
your design and results.

) Examples include sampling problems, faulty

research design and techniques and
compromises to internal/external validity.
 Limitations and Delimitations
B. Delimitations

The delimitations are those characteristics that

limit the scope and define the boundaries of your
study.

Are under the control of the researcher.

Examples include number and kinds of subjects,

treatment conditions and location and
environmental setting.