rs 3
Designing Your Research Study
Walden University Academic Residencies
PhD Residency 3
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Session Learning Objectives
Understand the logical connections among research components
Distinguish between a social problem, a gap in the research literature, and a specific research problem
Recognize how the research question derives from the specific research problem
Identify a potential gap and develop the research problem, research question, framework, data/variables, and population/ participants that are logically connected
Integrate these key research components into the Prospectus Form
Download the new prospectus form as you will work right on the form in the exercises.
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New Prospectus form
Walden University has rolled out a new, simplified, all-in-one prospectus form
Information & Activities in this seminar will help you complete the form
If you have completed this stage, we encourage you:
to assist others in their efforts
share your experiences in identifying a social problem and broad gap in the research literature
in deriving a specific research problem and research questions
and in aligning the research purpose, design, and theoretical/conceptual framework with the other key components
Let’s take a quick peek at the new form
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Distinguishing Between
The Social Problem
The Broad Gap
in Research Literature
The Specific
Research Problem
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
Social Problem: Technology affects the environment (food, water) that impacts human health and well-being.
Broad Gap: Other researchers have explored mitigating the effect of technology on the environment but have not explored the role humans can play in balancing the benefits of technology with stewardship of the earth.
Specific Research Problem: The scholarly community does not know the experiences of or behavior changes of users of a new “real-time environmental impact app” that monitors a user’s activities, providing feedback and alternative activities to reduce one’s carbon footprint.
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Social Problem or Phenomenon of Interest
Books have been written
about social problems
A brief paragraph
Describe a situation or issue
Experienced by a population or within your discipline
That is meaningful to research
For your prospectus
Social Problem: The issue that prompted me to search the literature are the ways in which technology affects the environment (e.g., food, water) that impacts human health and well-being. Research indicates that technology can change human behavior. Some technologies may help humans change behavior to reduce their carbon footprint.
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A broad statement on what appears to be missing in the scholarly literature
Broad Gap: Other researchers have explored mitigating the effect of technology on the environment but have not explored the role humans can play in balancing the benefits of technology with stewardship of the earth.
Broad Gap in Research Literature Defined
A research problem is typically only one sentence.
It is a sentence about something “specific” that scholars do not know about the underlying social problem.
It fills in “one” piece of the broad gap in the research literature.
Research Problem Defined
Extrinsic Motivation
Transformational Leadership
Creativity in the Workplace
Intrinsic
Motivation
Diffusion of Innovation
Creative Capacity
Demand-Control Model
Broad Gap
Specific Research Problem
Specific Research Problem: The scholarly community does not know the experiences of or behavior changes of users of a new “real-time environmental impact app” that monitors a user’s activities, providing feedback and alternative activities to reduce one’s carbon footprint.
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The broad gap is “not” the specific research problem
“Gap in literature on a population or phenomenon”
What specifically is the research problem?
“No or few studies”
Doubtful. How can you expand relevant search parameters?
“Understudied population or phenomenon”
What specifically is understudied?
IF you claim that the research gap is that there are no or few studies, that a population or phenomenon is understudied or constitutes a gap, THEN, to be a bona fide research gap, your research must be about collecting data to discover why there are no or few studies or why a population or phenomenon is understudied!
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Inverted Triangle of Social Problem, Broad Gap, & Research Problem
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
Social Problem
Broad Gap
Specific Research Problem
Research Question
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Deriving a Research Problem from a Social Problem: Quantitative
Social Problem
Of developed countries, science literacy and critical thinking skills are lowest in the United States (Citation(s): Author, year).
How would you write a Quantitative Research Problem given this Social Problem?
Published research does not show the extent to which science literacy and critical thinking skills differ between graduating seniors from public high schools versus private high schools.
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Deriving a Research problem from a Social Problem: Qualitative
Social Problem
Of developed countries, science literacy and critical thinking skills are lowest in the United States (Citation(s): Author, year).
How would you write a Qualitative Research Problem given this Social Problem?
Scholars do not know the strategies, challenges, and experiences of teachers in stimulating critical thinking skills in high school students.
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Write 1 sentence about the social problem. The situation or issue that prompted me to search the literature is….
From what you know from the literature, write 1 sentence about a broad gap in research related to the social problem. Although researchers have investigated this issue, the topic has not been explored in this way:
Write 1 sentence research problem that specifies what scholars do not know that your research will find out. The specific research problem that will be addressed through this study is
In about 10 minutes I will ask for volunteers to share their social problem, broad gap, and specific research problem
Activity: Your Social Problem, Broad Gap, & Research Problem
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Image courtesy of Microsoft Office clip art
Who wants to Share?
Social Problem
Broad Gap
Specific Research Problem
Avoid “is” questions
Is there a difference in perception of appropriate emergency room utilization between patients and physicians?
Avoid “do” questions
Do patients and physicians differ in their perception of appropriate emergency room utilization?
Ask “what” questions
What is the extent of difference in science literacy and critical thinking skills between graduating seniors from public versus private high schools?
What are the strategies, challenges, and experiences of teachers in stimulating critical thinking skills in high school students?
Research Question Best Practices
Research Question Derived from the Research Problem
Quantitative
Quantitative Research Problem
Scholars do not know the extent to which science literacy and critical thinking skills differ between graduating seniors from public high schools versus private high schools.
What might be a quantitative research question derived from the research problem?
What is the extent of difference in science literacy and critical thinking skills between graduating seniors from public versus private high schools?
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Scholars do not know the extent to which science literacy and critical thinking skills differ between graduating seniors from public high schools versus private high schools.
What is the extent of difference in science literacy and critical thinking skills between graduating seniors from public versus private high schools?
Null 1: Graduating seniors from public and private high schools will not differ on science literacy.
Null 2: Graduating seniors from public and private high schools will not differ on critical thinking skills.
Going One Step Further: Quantitative Hypotheses Derived from Research Problem & Question
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Research Question Derived from the Research Problem
Qualitative
Qualitative Research Problem
Scholars do not know the strategies, challenges, and experiences of teachers in stimulating critical thinking skills in high school students.
What might be a qualitative research question derived from the research problem?
How are the strategies, challenges, and experiences of teachers in stimulating critical thinking skills in high school students explored?
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Write your research question as derived from your research problem.
Activity: Your Research Question
Image courtesy of Microsoft Office clip art
What…….?
In about 10 minutes I will ask for volunteers to share their specific research problem and research question.
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Present a concise, statement on the overall purpose or intention of the study, which serves as the connection between the problem being addressed and the focus of the study.
In quantitative studies, state what needs to be studied by describing two or more factors (variables) and a conjectured relationship among them related to the identified gap or problem.
In qualitative studies, describe the need for increased understanding about the issue to be studied, based on the identified gap or problem.
In mixed-methods studies, with both quantitative and qualitative aspects, clarify how the two approaches will be used together to inform the study.
Research Purpose & Design
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Logically Derived Research Purpose & Design: Quantitative
Research Problem
Scholars do not know the extent to which science literacy and critical thinking skills differ between graduating seniors from public high schools versus private high schools.
Research Question
What is the extent of difference in science literacy and critical thinking skills between graduating seniors from public versus private high schools?
The purpose of this quantitative static group comparison study is to determine the extent of difference in science literacy and critical thinking skills between graduating seniors from public versus private high schools.
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Logically Derived Research Purpose & Design: Qualitative
Research Problem
Scholars do not know the strategies, challenges, and experiences of teachers in stimulating critical thinking skills in high school students.
Research Question(s)
What are the strategies, challenges, and experiences of teachers in stimulating critical thinking skills in high school students?
The purpose of this basic qualitative study is to explore the strategies, challenges, and experiences of teachers in stimulating critical thinking skills in high school students?
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population, constructs or variables of interest, & the data to be collected
Keep your research problem and research question close by, you’ll need them to identify the population, constructs or variables of interest, and the data to be collected.
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Scholars do not know the extent to which science literacy and critical thinking skills differ between graduating seniors from public high schools versus private high schools.
What is the extent of difference in science literacy and critical thinking skills between graduating seniors from public versus private high schools?
What data (constructs/variables) might be collected and analyzed?
What is the population(s) of interest?
Population of Interest & Data Derived from Research Problem & Question: Quantitative
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Scholars do not know the strategies, challenges, and experiences of teachers in stimulating critical thinking skills in high school students.
How are the strategies, challenges, and experiences of teachers in stimulating critical thinking skills in high school students explored?
What data (constructs/key words and ideas) might be collected and analyzed?
What is the population(s) of interest?
Population of Interest & Data Derived from Research Gap & Question: Qualitative
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Activity: Your population, Constructs/Variables, & data
Write down the population, constructs/variables, and data to be collected as derived from your research problem and question.
If these are not evident in your research problem and question,
then you need to revise them.
Image courtesy of Microsoft Office clip art
In about 10 minutes I will ask for volunteers to share their research question, population, constructs/variables, and data to be collected.
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Differentiating 3 common qualitative designs
| Design | Key Points |
| Basic qualitative | Three objectives and overall purpose as noted by Merriam and Tisdell (2016): “(1) how people interpret their experiences, (2) how they construct their worlds, and (3) what meaning they attribute to their experiences” (p. 24). “The overall purpose is to understand how people make sense of their lives and their experiences” (p. 24). |
| Phenomenology | In addition to the basic objectives and purpose “seeks understanding about the essence and the underlying structure of the phenomenon” (Merriam & Tisdell, 2016, p. 24). |
| Case study | Focuses on a bounded system, a case. A bounded system, or case, can be a program, a training, a classroom, a specific neighborhood, a corporation, and so on. It involves multiple sources of information (e.g., observations, interviews, document reviews) related to the case and emphasizes description of the case and case-based themes. |
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Basic qualitative
In what ways do breast cancer survivors attribute their treatment experiences with their sense of self and interactions and relationships with others?
Phenomenology
What are the common understandings and explanations of ministers on “why bad things happen to good people”?
Case study
What are the administrative challenges in day-to-day operations of a Level 1 Trauma Center to balance cost with readiness, how effectively and efficiently are services provided, and what are the perceptions of doctors, nurses, patients, and patients’ loved ones regarding quality of care?
Example qualitative research questions that align with a design
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Theoretical or Conceptual Framework
In one sentence, describe the framework that demonstrates an understanding of the theories and/or concepts relevant to your topic.
Align the appropriate framework with the problem, purpose, research questions, and background of your study.
This theoretical or conceptual framework is the basis for understanding, designing, analyzing ways to investigate your research problem, and interpreting your findings.
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Prospectus Form: Framework
Quantitative
In simplified “classic” quantitative research, there is an independent variable (IV) and a dependent variable (DV)
Ask yourself: “What theory leads me to expect that the IV will influence the DV?”
Theoretical Framework: quantitative
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Qualitative
Maxwell (2013) defined conceptual framework as:
“the system of concepts, assumptions, expectations, beliefs, and theories that supports and informs your research” (p. 39).
Ask yourself: “What is the system of concepts ….”
Conceptual Framework: Qualitative
Maxwell, J. A. (2013). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
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Relevant Theories
Quantitative or Qualitative, you must become aware of the relevant lens (theoretical or conceptual) from which to build your study
With respect to the running quantitative and qualitative examples, there are a number of theories related to knowledge acquisition, critical thinking, and instructional practices, such as:
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Piaget’s theory of cognitive development
Brookfield’s theory of critical thinking
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IF the
Research Question
Type of Data
Constructs and Variables
Population
Hypothesis or Objectives
Analytic Strategy
ARE NOT EVIDENT IN OR DERIVABLE FROM YOUR RESEARCH PROBLEM
THEN YOU DO NOT HAVE A PROPERLY SPECIFIED RESEARCH PROBLEM
Session Summary: All Key Elements MUST Logically Derive from YOUR Research Problem
Thanks to those who got in the hot seat and shared their social problem, broad gap, specific research problem, and research questions.
Keep working on these:
In our next Cohort session—Designing an Aligned Research Study—there will be small group breakout opportunities to share your key components and receive peer feedback.
Lack of specificity and misalignment of these key components is a common reason for committee and Program Director not approving a prospectus, and for committee and URR not approving a proposal.
This deserves your critical attention.
The final slide is just a brief glimpse of the alignment table you will work on in next session.
Thank you & next steps
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Alignment table
| Research Problem, Purpose, and Framework Provide one sentence for each. These must align with all rows. | Research Question(s), Method, & Design List one or more RQs, as needed; select method; identify design. Use a separate form for additional RQs. | Data Collection Tools & Data Sources List the instrument(s) and people, artifacts, or records that will provide the data for each RQ. | Data Points List the variables, specific interview questions, scales, etc. that will be used for each RQ. | Data Analysis Briefly describe the statistical or qualitative analysis that will address each RQ. |
| Problem: Replace text with response. Purpose: Replace text with response. Framework: Replace text with response. | RQ1: Replace text with response. Method: Choose method Design: Replace text with response. | Replace text with response. | Replace text with response. | Replace text with response. |
| RQ2: Replace text with response. Method: Choose method Design: Replace text with response. | Replace text with response. | Replace text with response. | Replace text with response. | |
| RQ3: Replace text with response. Method: Choose method Design: Replace text with response. | Replace text with response. | Replace text with response. | Replace text with response. |
Note. The information in the first column must align with all rows, and each individual RQ row must show alignment across the columns for that row.
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Questions?
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Take 2 minutes right now to reflect on what you learned from this session
Write down notes for your Journal assignment
Application to my Dissertation Prospectus and Proposal
Resources I will need
Next steps/questions I need to answer for my dissertation
Final Assignment
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Feedback Survey
Please take 2 minutes right now and complete feedback for this session
In the Residency App (Face to Face)
In the classroom (Virtual)
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