CHAPTER THIRTEEN

RESEARCH PROBLEM

13.1 Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

        i.            List and explain the basic steps in the research process.

      ii.            Enumerate the criteria to be consider in choosing research problem; and

    iii.            Discuss the sources of research problem

13.2 Introduction

The initial stage in doing educational research, particularly mathematics education research, is to identify the research problem; all efforts are directed in this direction. You must create an investigation mode to address the detected issue. In addition, this chapter will discuss criteria for issue selection, sources of research problems, and fundamental research procedures.

13.3 Fundamental Steps in the Research Methodology

Education research include investigating, describing, explaining, or predicting educational phenomena using systematic data gathering and analytic techniques. The following are fundamental phases in the research process, as stated by (Johnson & Christensen, 2004, McGowan, 2011 and Creswell, 2012).

1. Formulating a research question

2. Make a forecast that, if validated, will address the issue.

3. Reviewing the literature 4. Establishing a research objective

5. Collecting relevant data

6. Data analysis and interpretation

7. Research reporting and evaluation

13.4 Features of the Research Problem

Choosing a research subject or topic is the most complex and difficult aspect of a graduate research project. According to Best & Kahn (2009), the selection of a good problem or topic is always challenging, particularly for novices, and a lack of awareness of the nature of research and methodical problem-solving activity are significant factors. It might also be due to their zealous yet naive desire to tackle an important issue promptly and rapidly. When all of their submitted themes are rejected by their supervisors on the grounds that they are not excellent topics or researchable, many students become dissatisfied.

A research problem or topic is the subject one wishes to analyze, study, or investigate descriptively or experimentally. This is the rationale for doing the research. The following can serve as criteria for selecting a proposed research problem or subject, since students should not anticipate their supervisors or advisers to provide them a topic. These include contribution to current knowledge, researchability, appropriateness, practicability, and cost-effectiveness.

     i.         Contribution to knowledge: A research topic must not be of the routine kind, that is, the results of the problem must not be already known. The challenge should be one whose answer will contribute to the body's structured learning and understanding. It should result in new or increased knowledge in schooling.

   ii.         Researchable: The issue must be one that can be investigated. To be researchable, a problem must be concerned with relation existing between two or more variables that can be described and quantified.

 iii.         Appropriate: The problem must be appropriate for the researcher in question. The research suitability entails the following: -

a.       The researcher must have a genuine interest in the issue at hand.

b.      The problem must be within one's area of expertise and experience. Existing ideas, concepts, and established facts must be understood.

c.       The problem must be practical, especially as it pertains to the accessibility and availability of the necessary data for the investigation. The variables included in the research should be objectively and operationally definable.

d.      The issue must be one that can be researched and resolved within the allocated time.

e.       It builds on prior work and provides something novel. It has the ability to offer future study areas.

f.       Less Expensive: When selecting a study topic, you should examine the availability of the necessary human, material, and financial resources. Avoid problems involving huge sources that you cannot accommodate.

g.      Save Time: When selecting a research issue, you consider the time constraint so that a realistic answer is possible. The following requirements must be met by a research subject in order to justify its objectives:

13.5 Origins of the Research Problem

Aliyu (2017) and Ahmad (2020) outlined the numerous sources from which research themes and issues might be derived. These consist of:

§  Personal Experience

§  Internet Source

§  Government Policy or Publications

§  Prior Literature

§  Theory

§  Replication

Student Exercise

1.      Explain the criteria for selecting a study topic.

2.      Outline the seven fundamental phases in research process.

3.      Describe any five sources that might be used to acquire research problem

13.6 Summary

In this chapter you leant basic steps in research process, conditions to consider in selecting research problem and sources of getting research topics.

References

Anaekwe, M. C. (2002). Basic research methods and statistics in education and social sciences.Enugu: Podiks Printing and Publishing Company

 Awotunde, P. O. &Ugodulunwa, C. A. (2002). An introduction to statistical methods in education. Printed and published in Nigeria by FcbAnieh (Nig) ltd.