Selecting a Research Question
The Goldie Locks Theory
Where to begin?
Literature review
What are you doing already at work?
What are your interests?
What are public issues?
Who should help?
Professors
Colleagues
Fellow students
Educational journals
Librarians
Parents
Politicians ;)
Two methods
Find something you are passionate about and live to research about it
Find something doable and get it over with
Methods: Pros & ConsPassion will sustain you
You may still be sick of it when you are finished
You will do a better job
You will naturally gather information as you go
You may wander until you find your passion
You will get started more quickly
You may struggle to finish if you get sick of it
You will be less likely to have solid background information
You will be less likely to become a “true expert”
MethodologiesSome choose the methodology and then find a research question that fits that methodologyI do not recommend this approach. It requires too large of a hammer on occasion
The Best Place to LookChapter five of dissertations
Each department at NIU retains copies of the dissertations completed in their area
Many other research studies will also provide similar information
Start SmallIt is generally easier to widen a studyFew of you will start small enoughInherently, you will narrowSmall bites! Do not pick a topic which will take eight years
General Idea
The influence of technology on instruction
Research Question
Does technology influence instruction?
Focused Research Question
Do web based tutorials have a positive impact on secondary school honors biology students?
The Hypothesis
Based upon sound rationale
Clear and concise statement of relationship between variables and used measurable terms
Must be testable (quantitative)
Some examples
Redheaded girls will excel in math
Boys are more likely to struggle in first grade reading than girls
Students with a last name at the front of the alphabet are more likely to be on the honor roll
Teachers over 6’ tall are more effective
Types of Hypotheses
Inductive –generalization from observations
Deductive – derived from theory and then tested
Research (working) hypothesis – drives your research proposal Directional (relationship with a positive or
negative impact) Non-directional (relationship but not the impact) Null - no relationship
Smoking
There is a relationship between smoking and cancer What is it?
There is no relationship between smoking and cancer
Proposal
1. Introduction and setting of the context of the proposed research
a. Problem statement
b. Significance of the problem
2. Purposea. Purpose of the study
b. Significance of the proposed study
c. Feasibility of the study
d. Research questions
e. Definition of terms
The Format
Chapter 1: Introduction and problem statement
Chapter 2: Review of the literature
Chapter 3: Methodology
Chapter 4: Results
Chapter 5: Conclusions and suggestions for further research
Proposal – cont. 3. Background and Review of the Literature
a. Theoretical basis of studyb. Review of literature
4. Methodologya. Hypothesisb. Research methodc. Data Source/populationd. Sampling technique(s)e. Human subjects compliancef. Variablesg. Data collectionh. Data analysis techniquesi. Limitations
Proposal – cont. 5. Implications
6. References and appendices
Bibliography is the key item here
