apa qual writing
pmcclam1982
TheProblemStatementAlignment07182014.pptxThe Problem Statement Aligning the Problem, Purpose, Research Question(s), Hypotheses, Population, and Methodology
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Problem Statement
The Problem Statement needs to be succinctly written with a maximum of 200 words and has 4-elements:
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Citations must be published within 5 years of your anticipated graduation.
Citations must be peer reviewed or government statistics.
Start with four separate statements
Have smooth transition and flow
Discuss the alignment between them
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Hook (with citation from the literature *)
Anchor (with citation from the literature *)
General business problem
Specific business problem to be studied
Practice
Hook (with citation from the literature peer reviewed/government citation that meets the 85% rule) WOW!
Anchor (is a number that demonstrates an issue exists with citation from the peer reviewed/government citation that meets the 85% rule)
General business problem
Specific business problem to be studied
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Start with four separate statements
Have smooth transition and flow
Discuss the alignment between them
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Conceptualizing the Big Picture
Avoid writing in silos
Think alignment
Specific Business Problem
Research Question
Purpose Statement (first sentence)
Note: The purpose of every study is to answer the research question
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Alignment
Make certain that your problem statement (specific business problem), purpose statement, and research question align
To enhance the alignment put the specific business problem, research question, and first sentence of the purpose statement together on a blank document to ensure that you are using the same words
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Research Question Alignment
The specific business problem is that (some) frontline supervisors (often) lack conflict resolution skills.
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Research Question: What conflict resolution skills do frontline supervisors lack?
Research Question: What conflict resolution skills do frontline supervisors need?
Aligning the Purpose Statement to the Problem Statement and Research Question
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Specific Business Problem
The specific business problem is that frontline supervisors often lack conflict resolution skills.
Research Question
What conflict resolution skills do frontline supervisors need?
Purpose
(first sentence)
The purpose of this qualitative multicase study will be to explore the conflict resolution skills that frontline supervisors need.
Problem Statement Example
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Hook: Small businesses fail at high rates (peer reviewed citation)
General business problem: The general business problem is that people embark on small business initiatives without adequate preparation
Anchor: Sixty percent (find current percentage statistic) of small business owners fail to succeed in business beyond 5-years (SBA, 2014)
Specific business problem: The specific business problem is that small business owners often lack the skills to succeed in business beyond 5 years
Alignment for a Qualitative Study
Specific Business Problem
The specific business problem is that small business owners often lack the skills to succeed in business beyond 5 years.
Research Question
What skills do small business owners need to succeed in business beyond 5 years?
Purpose Statement (first sentence)
The purpose of this qualitative explorative case study is to determine what skills small business owners need to succeed in business beyond 5 years.
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Alignment for a Quantitative Study
Specific Business Problem
The specific business problem is that some managers have limited information about the relationship between motivation, employee satisfaction, and workplace performance.
Research Question
What information do managers need about the relationship between motivation, employee satisfaction, and workplace performance?
Purpose Statement (first sentence)
The purpose of this quantitative correlational study is to examine the information that managers need about the relationship between motivation, employee satisfaction, and workplace performance.
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Research Questions for a Quantitative Study
Research Question
What information do managers need about the relationship between motivation, employee satisfaction, and workplace performance?
Research Sub-Questions
RQ-1 What is the relationship between motivation and employee satisfaction?
RQ-2 What is the relationship between motivation and workplace performance?
RQ-3 What is the relationship between employee satisfaction and workplace performance?
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Hypotheses
For each research sub-question there needs to be a hypotheses set that matches (almost a repeat of the question in a statement form)
Note: qualitative studies do not have hypotheses
RQ1 aligns with H1ₒ & H1ₐ
RQ2 aligns with H2ₒ & H2ₐ
RQ3 aligns with H3ₒ & H3ₐ
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Aligning Research Questions to Hypotheses
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| Research Sub-Questions | Hypotheses |
| RQ-1 What is the relationship between motivation and employee satisfaction? | H1ₒ There is no relationship between motivation and employee satisfaction. |
| H1ₐ There is a relationship between motivation and employee satisfaction. | |
| RQ-2 What is the relationship between motivation and workplace performance? | H2ₒ There is no relationship between motivation and workplace performance. |
| H2ₐ There is a relationship between motivation and workplace performance. | |
| RQ-3 What is the relationship between employee satisfaction and workplace performance? | H3ₒ There is no relationship between employee satisfaction and workplace performance. |
| H3ₐ There is a relationship between employee satisfaction and workplace performance. |
Although the Research Sub-Questions & Hypotheses Align, they are in different sections in the DBA Template
Research Sub-Questions
RQ-1 What is the relationship between motivation and employee satisfaction?
RQ-2 What is the relationship between motivation and workplace performance?
RQ-3 What is the relationship between employee satisfaction and workplace performance?
Hypotheses
H1ₒ There is no relationship between motivation and employee satisfaction.
H1ₐ There is a relationship between motivation and employee satisfaction.
H2ₒ There is no relationship between motivation and workplace performance.
H2ₐ There is a relationship between motivation and workplace performance.
H3ₒ There is no relationship between employee satisfaction and workplace performance.
H3ₐ There is a relationship between employee satisfaction and workplace performance.
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Aligning the Population to the Research Question
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| Research Question | Population |
| What conflict resolution skills do frontline supervisors need? | Frontline supervisors that have conflict resolution skills |
| What skills do small business owners need to succeed in business beyond 5 years? | Small business owners that have succeeded in business beyond five years |
| What information do managers need about the relationship between motivation, employee satisfaction, and workplace performance? | Managers that have employee motivation techniques Employees to measure satisfaction from management motivation Performance reports |
Selecting the Research Method & Design
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Determine the most effective method and design to address the research question and collect the data from the population
The research question determines the research methodology.
For a research question that needs exploration, description, or understanding use a qualitative methodology.
For a research question that needs an experiment, cause and effect, or correlation between variables use a quantitative methodology.
Qualitative Research
How can one best access the population?
Quantitative Research
How can one best access the population?
How can one best obtain a statistically valid sample?
How can one best obtain data saturation?
How can one control the scope of the study to get the study done without spending years collecting data?
How can one best collect the data?
