LIS 570

Phase 1: Step 1Selecting, narrowing, formulating a

problem

Outline

Starting points Narrowing and clarifying Stating the problem

Explanatory researchHypothesis

Non-causal/Causal

Descriptive researchResearch Objective

Asking the right questions

Research is a disciplined way of answering questions

Researchable questions limited in scope, narrowed in focus and confined

to a certain time place and set of conditions some objective, tangible, countable evidence or

data can be gathered which are relevant to the question

Narrowing and clarifying the problem

Starting point Select a problem

Something vexing, perplexing, unknown

Suitable for empirical research

Narrow and clarify the problem

Narrowing and clarifying the problem

What do I want to know about this topic? Description or explanation?

Descriptive research (De Vaus)

What is the time frame of our interest?What is the geographical location of our interest?Are we aiming for broad description or do we want to

compare and specify patterns for subgroups?What aspect of the topic are we interested in?How abstract is our interest?

Narrowing and clarifying the problem

ExplanationAre we looking for causes or consequences?

Narrowing and clarifying the problem

ExplanationList possible causes or consequences and then collect

relevant data previous research the facts our hunches talk to informants

Narrowing and clarifying the problem

Explanation - exploring a simple ideae.g. instead of asking what has caused? We ask has X

caused?

?

Narrowing and clarifying the problem

Explanation - exploring a more complex ideaErosion of absolutes

Rejection of wrongness of

divorce

Religious decline

Increased emphasis on self fulfilment

Higher expectationsof marriage

Reduced willingnessto stay in unhappy

marriage

Increased divorcerate

De Vaus, 31

Narrowing and clarifying the problem

Summary.. For descriptive research be clear and specific

about what you want to describe For exploratory research ask..

What am I trying to explain?What are the possible causes?Which causes will I explore?What are the possible mechanisms?

“unpacking” the question (Bouma)

What are the major concepts? What is happening here? What are the issues? Is one thing affecting, causing or producing a

change in something else? Why is this so? Consult what has already been written or researched

about the problem

Unpacking the question

Identify and note the many issues about the problem that you have chosen and make the choice to study one.

Then….Clarify the research question(s) Restate the issue as a researchable question

hypothesis research objective

Hypothesis

“. . Asserts a Relationship Between Concepts”

Expectation about Events Exists/Does Not Exist

TimeSpent on Leisure

Level of Income

There is a relationship between Level of Income and types of activities engaged in

Types of Relationships

Hypotheses Assert a Type of Relationship Positive (Direct) Relationship Negative (Indirect)

Level of Income

Time Spent on leisure

NON-CAUSAL

Level ofIncome

Time Spent on Leisure

+

-

Direct

Indirect

Non-Causal Relationship Words

Related (Relationship) Associated (Association) Correlated Linked “Goes with”

Income is positively associated with time spent There is a negative correlation between income and time spent There is no association between income and time spent

Causal Hypotheses

Asserts that one Concept (Idea) is the cause of the other

Level of income determines time spent

Level ofIncome

TimeSpent on leisure

Causal ConceptActiveIndependent X

Caused ConceptPassiveDependentY

Types of Causal Hypotheses

Positive/NegativeLevel ofIncome

Time Spent

High income causes more time to be spent on leisure

High income causes less time to be spent on leisure

YX

Establishing Causality

Three Basic Requirements A relationship between the concepts needs to be

established Has to be the correct time order All other reasons for the relationship must be

able to be eliminatedEd Level Health Aware Time

Causal Words

Determine Affect Effect Influence Decrease/Increase Leads to

The Level of Income Determines Time

The Level of Income Has an Effect on Time

Level of Income Has a Negative Influence

Summary

Hypotheses can take many forms Causal/Non-Causal Positive/Negative Relationship Exists or Does Not

Causal hypotheses distinguish between caused and causal variables Causal Caused

X YIndependent Dependent

Research Objectives

When the goal of the research is descriptive rather than explanatory

To determine the leisure time activities of people To determine the types of activities engaged in To determine the amount of time spent on leisure

time activities

Summary

Without a clear statement of the problem, the research undertaken will be confused and ambiguous. It is impossible to proceed to the next stage of the research process in a satisfactory way without such a statement.