GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE RESEARCH QUESTION,

HYPOTHESIS, OR FORESHADOWED PROBLEM

For this assignment, you will be required to prepare a problem (purpose) statement, and a
research question or hypothesis (quantitative) or a foreshadowed problem (qualitative). These
can be combined into one or two sentences. Follow the guidelines outlined in your text and as a
minimum, your statement / (question, hypothesis, foreshadowed problem) should contain:
FOR A QUANTITATIVE STUDY, you need an indication of the type of research (e.g.,
experimental, nonexperimental, descriptive, comparative, or correlational), the researchable
variables (e.g., independent and dependent), and characteristics of the subjects. For a
research hypothesis, you need to indicate the directionality (prediction).
FOR A QUALITATIVE STUDY, you need an indication of the central (single) phenomena being
studied, characteristics of the subjects, and an indication of the research site.
ALSO TURN IN A COPY OF YOUR WORKSHEET THAT ASSISTED YOU WITH THIS ASSIGNMENT.

SUGGESTIONS FOR QUANTITATIVE STUDIES:

PROBLEM STATEMENT
The first step in planning a quantitative study is to formulate a research problem. The
research problem is a clear and succinct statement that indicates the purpose of the study. The
general problem statement helps the reader recognize the importance of the problem and the area
of education in which it lies. Typically the statement uses words such as “purpose,” “intent,” or
“objective” (e.g., The purpose of this study is investigate the effects of…).
RESEARCH QUESTION/HYPOTHESIS
For your research question or hypothesis, you may use a question or hypothesis format. The
statement of the specific question or hypothesis should clearly indicate the empirical nature of
the investigation and meet the minimum requirements stated above. Your hypothesis may be
directional or non-directional – which is ultimately based on and supported by the literature.

SUGGESTIONS FOR QUALITATIVE STUDIES:

PROBLEM STATEMENT
Similar to that of quantitative research, the general problem statement is a clear, succinct
statement of the research problem that enables the reader to recognize the importance of the
problem and the area of education in which it lies. Typically the general problem statement is
phrased as “to describe and analyze” an ongoing event or a process in a discovery orientation.
Typically the statement uses words such as “purpose,” “intent,” or “objective” (e.g., The purpose
of this study is describe the attitude of…).
FORESHADOWED PROBLEM
Qualitative research does not use a research hypothesis because of the emergent nature of the
research. Instead, foreshadowed problems are used, which are stated as broad, anticipated
research questions to be reformulated during the data collection. The questions or statements

ASSIGNMENT NO. 1 (15 POINTS) – DUE MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2005

 GUIDELINES FOR WRITING THE RESEARCH QUESTION,
HYPOTHESIS, OR FORESHADOWED PROBLEM
focus on the “what” and “how” of the situation (the phenomena being studied) – and avoid any
causal inference.

ASSIGNMENT NO. 1 (15 POINTS) – DUE MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2005