Research this is it!
Chapter 1: what do you want to know?
1.1 What are the problem statement, the research objective, and the research
question?
The Basics of Research:
Research plan always start with an introduction (discuss context of research):
Reason
The issue
How it resulted in the research questions
Translating a problem into a research question requires you to consider the following
issues in order:
1. Problem statement
2. Research objective(s)
3. Research ethics
4. Research question(s)
Problem statement: is the context that gives rise to the research question.
Context
What is the source of the idea of your study, what is it based on?
Analyzing the problem
Policy question: when a production company hires a researcher to offer
suggestions on how to improve their market share.
Look for information that already exist. Has the problem ever been previously
identified?
Research objective(s): is the answer to the question: for what reason and to what end
are you performing the study?
Research is always performed with a certain goal or objective mind.
It also demonstrates the difference between basic scientific research and applied
research.
o Basic scientific research: the objective of using research purely as a
means of acquiring knowledge. Also known, simply, as basic, pure or
fundamental research. Not the same as performing in a study in a
scientifically sound manner (=research that is performed in a responsible
and verifiable way).
o Applied research: also result in acquired knowledge, but this knowledge
is subsequently applied. The knowledge you gather should contribute to
the solution of the problem.
, o
o Applied research in particular hinges on the fact that your research
objective – the answer that you hope to achieve – is very clearly defined
and discussed with your client at the beginning of your study.
Research ethics: before beginning, you should ask yourself whether your study is
ethically responsible. In some case, you may even need to obtain written permission form
the ethics committee of your educational institution. You should only take part in a
research study if you can give a positive answer on the following questions:
Is the respondent taking part voluntarily?
Will there be no harmful consequences for the respondent as a result of the study?
Has the researcher properly explained the goal and procedure of the study?
Are the research results threated at least confidentially, but preferably
anonymously?
Is the study being performed in a reliable and sound manner?
Quality research firms are certified and recognized by MOA.
Research question(s): is the question a study is intended to answer. The research
question is the common theme of both a study’s design and its actual implementation.
Throughout every phase of a study, you must ask yourself: will this (help to) answer the
research questions?
Research questions are mentioned in the end of the introduction, by way of a
conclusion.
It should be phrased as actual questions.
A clearly described research questions lets the client know what to expect.
NOT research questions: how can I improve… those are research objectives.
A research question can be divided into sub-questions. Those sub-questions can also be
divided in more sub-questions.
1.2 Qualitative or quantitative; an open or closed-ended research question
Qualitative research: open-ended research questions.
the research question is broad in scope, and the amount of available prior knowledge is
relatively small. As a consequence: you tend not to work with a fixed list of questions or
observations.
Respondents van trigger new ideas or insights, leading you to pose questions or
take notice of things you had not previously considered.
It is mainly about gaining insights, and less about hard, numerically supported
data.
There is always the justified criticism that no individual is entirely unbiased.
A qualitative researcher must also clarify HOW they came to their conclusions –
conclusions which must be PLAUSIBLE, and obtained through a work method that
is TRANSPARENT. This is known as the verifiability requirement. Often,
qualitative researchers list their interview and observation reports in appendices
to their overall report, and use-in-text examples of how these interviews and
observations were analysed.
“Qualitative research is research that describes and interprets problems involving
situations, events, and persons using data that is qualitative in nature, such as
Chapter 1: what do you want to know?
1.1 What are the problem statement, the research objective, and the research
question?
The Basics of Research:
Research plan always start with an introduction (discuss context of research):
Reason
The issue
How it resulted in the research questions
Translating a problem into a research question requires you to consider the following
issues in order:
1. Problem statement
2. Research objective(s)
3. Research ethics
4. Research question(s)
Problem statement: is the context that gives rise to the research question.
Context
What is the source of the idea of your study, what is it based on?
Analyzing the problem
Policy question: when a production company hires a researcher to offer
suggestions on how to improve their market share.
Look for information that already exist. Has the problem ever been previously
identified?
Research objective(s): is the answer to the question: for what reason and to what end
are you performing the study?
Research is always performed with a certain goal or objective mind.
It also demonstrates the difference between basic scientific research and applied
research.
o Basic scientific research: the objective of using research purely as a
means of acquiring knowledge. Also known, simply, as basic, pure or
fundamental research. Not the same as performing in a study in a
scientifically sound manner (=research that is performed in a responsible
and verifiable way).
o Applied research: also result in acquired knowledge, but this knowledge
is subsequently applied. The knowledge you gather should contribute to
the solution of the problem.
, o
o Applied research in particular hinges on the fact that your research
objective – the answer that you hope to achieve – is very clearly defined
and discussed with your client at the beginning of your study.
Research ethics: before beginning, you should ask yourself whether your study is
ethically responsible. In some case, you may even need to obtain written permission form
the ethics committee of your educational institution. You should only take part in a
research study if you can give a positive answer on the following questions:
Is the respondent taking part voluntarily?
Will there be no harmful consequences for the respondent as a result of the study?
Has the researcher properly explained the goal and procedure of the study?
Are the research results threated at least confidentially, but preferably
anonymously?
Is the study being performed in a reliable and sound manner?
Quality research firms are certified and recognized by MOA.
Research question(s): is the question a study is intended to answer. The research
question is the common theme of both a study’s design and its actual implementation.
Throughout every phase of a study, you must ask yourself: will this (help to) answer the
research questions?
Research questions are mentioned in the end of the introduction, by way of a
conclusion.
It should be phrased as actual questions.
A clearly described research questions lets the client know what to expect.
NOT research questions: how can I improve… those are research objectives.
A research question can be divided into sub-questions. Those sub-questions can also be
divided in more sub-questions.
1.2 Qualitative or quantitative; an open or closed-ended research question
Qualitative research: open-ended research questions.
the research question is broad in scope, and the amount of available prior knowledge is
relatively small. As a consequence: you tend not to work with a fixed list of questions or
observations.
Respondents van trigger new ideas or insights, leading you to pose questions or
take notice of things you had not previously considered.
It is mainly about gaining insights, and less about hard, numerically supported
data.
There is always the justified criticism that no individual is entirely unbiased.
A qualitative researcher must also clarify HOW they came to their conclusions –
conclusions which must be PLAUSIBLE, and obtained through a work method that
is TRANSPARENT. This is known as the verifiability requirement. Often,
qualitative researchers list their interview and observation reports in appendices
to their overall report, and use-in-text examples of how these interviews and
observations were analysed.
“Qualitative research is research that describes and interprets problems involving
situations, events, and persons using data that is qualitative in nature, such as
