UNIT TWO

RESEARCH BACKGROUND, RESEARCH PROBLEM AND

OBJECTIVES

Background of the Study

It generally introduces the problem to the readers.

This part should address the following points:

Sufficient background information for the reader to understand the context.

Proper acknowledgement of the previous work on which you are building.

Should be focused on the research question(s).

The Research Problem

Is about

Identifying some of the gaps in the existing body of knowledge.

Identifying some of the main unanswered questions and elaborate

about the problem.
Formulating the research problem

A. Recognizing a Research Problem

At the very outset, the researcher must single out the problem he/she
wants to study

He/she must decide the general area of interest or aspect of a subject-

matter that he/she would like to inquire into
Cont..

Understanding the problem thoroughly(discuss with one‘s own

colleagues or with those having some expertise in the matter)

Rephrasing the same into meaningful terms

B. Defining the Research Problem

A research problem refers to some difficulty which a researcher experiences in the context
of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution

Conditions for a research problems to exist

 There must be an individual (or a group or an organization) facing the difficulty

 There must be means/ courses of action

 There must be objectives/ possible outcomes to obtained

 There must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher

Need for defining a research problem

The problem to be investigated must be defined unambiguously for that will help
to discriminate relevant data from the irrelevant ones

A proper definition of research problem will enable the researcher to be on the

track

Find answers to the questions & no doubt crop up in the mind of researcher

A problem clearly stated is a problem half solved

C. Sources of Research Problem

Although there are no set rules for locating a problem the following are
among the important sources

A. Experience

B. Field and Observation: Need assessment

C. Reading: Anything

D. Socio-cultural and political Changes

E. Related literature: Published works

Formulating Research Questions

Research question simply means putting research objectives in question form

Criteria of good research question

What aspect of the more general topic you will explore?

Is your research question clear?

Is your research question focused?

Research questions must be specific enough to be well covered in the space available

Ask open-ended how and why questions

Formulating Research Hypothesis
Hypo means under or below and Thesis means a reasoned theory or rational view point.

Thus hypothesis would mean a theory which is not fully reasoned.

Hypotheses are tentative statements/solutions or explanations of the formulated problem

that is accepted or rejected by empirical evidence.

Examples:

i. Students who receive counseling will show a greater increase in creativity than students
not receiving counseling. (will be accepted or rejected)

ii. The automobile A is performing as well as automobile B. (will be accepted or rejected)

Characteristics of hypothesis

Hypothesis should (be):

Clear and precise and stated in simple words

Capable of being tested

State relationship between variables, if it happens to be a relational

hypothesis

limited in scope and must be specific

Basic Concepts

Null hypothesis(Ho):

Ho=0=no relationships

Alternative hypothesis(H ):
A

H ≠0=Ho is not true=predicts that there is relationships

A
Cont.…

The level of significance

Significance level is the maximum value of the probability of rejecting H0 when it

is true

The 5 per cent level of significance means that researcher is willing to take as much
as a 5 per cent risk of rejecting the null hypothesis when it (H0) happens to be true

Sig <0.05=there is relationship= H =accepted

A

Sig >0.05=Ho=accepted
 Objective of the Study

General Objective of the Study

• The main/general objective indicates the central thrust of your study.
• Is very similar to the title of your research.
• What exactly will be studied?
Specific Objectives
• The specific objectives identify the specific issues you propose to examine.
• Each specific objective should be about only one issue.
• In formulating specific objectives, use action oriented verbs such as: to determine,
to find out, to ascertain, to assess..
• Specific objectives should be numerically listed.
 CHAPTER THREE
Reviewing Related Literature

What is a Literature Review?

Is a description of the literature relevant to a particular field or topic.

Is not a compilation of every work written about a topic.

Is not simply a list of sources reviewed separately for their own merit.

An interpretative review of the literature is exactly that a summary and

synthesis of relevant literature on a research problem.
Purposes of Literature Review

Focus and clarify our research problem

To avoid duplications
To give credit for those who have laid the foundation for the field of study
Assist in identifying ‘gaps’ in research
To define the boundaries of our field of research
Assist in the choice of the approaches, methods, procedures and instruments to be
used
highlight the key debates, terms and concepts employed your topic area
To learn from the successes and failures of others
Important saying explained as “a wise man learns from the failures of others,
whereas, a foolish man learns from his own failures.”
Techniques of Literature Review

In taking ideas, words or phrases, researchers may use any of the

following types:

A. Direct quotation

B. Paraphrasing

C. Summarizing
Cont.…

A. Direct Quotation
Materials directly quoted from another author's work or from one's own
previously published work word for word.
In direct quotation there are two types: In-text quotation and block quotation.
In-text quotation is used when the quoted material is fewer than 40 words.
This time we incorporate the quotation into the text, and enclose the quotation
with double quotation marks.
• Example : Miele (1993) found that "the ‘placebo effect’, which had been
verified in previous studies, disappeared when [only the first group's]
behaviors were studied in this manner" (p. 276).
Cont.…
Block quotation is used when the material is 40 or more words. We put it in a
freestanding block of typewritten lines, and omit the quotation marks.
Examples:
It is worth noting further that being a good teacher of English does not only require
the development of linguistic capacities. Icoz (1992) states:
Exposure to literature can compensate for the deficiencies of the linguistic approach in the areas of grammar, idiom,
vocabulary, and syntax and can enhance the students’ competence in English. It is only more through continued contact
with writing at native speakers that non-native students can acquire the connotations of the words use (p.10).
Cont..
B. Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is taking the ideas of others and rewriting it in our own language.
It is referring to an idea rather directly quoting the material from the source.

Example:

An international study on science achievements of boys and girls reported that in

all countries boys excelled girls in science subjects, the difference being small in
biology, intermediate in chemistry, and very large in physics (Comber & Keeves,
1973).
Cont..

C. Summarizing
Summarizing is basically the same as paraphrasing in that we take the ideas of different authors
and write them in our own language. The major distinction is that in summarizing we put similar
ideas of different authors and write them together.

Example: Researchers disclosed that the strength of goals people set, the extent of their
commitment to attain and the nature of decisions they make will be influenced by the magnitude
of their self-efficacy level (Locke et al., 1984; Badura & Wood, 1989; Schunk, 1987; Schunk,
1990). Give due attention to each punctuation mark and the way every element is put in the
parentheses.
Organization of the literature review

1. Introduction

2. Body

3. Conclusions: Summarize major contributions of significant studies

in line with our interest.
Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of another person’s ideas or words without

giving them the proper credit.

Plagiarism can occur when you use someone else’s exact words
without giving them credit, taking credit for someone else’s ideas, or
even presenting your own past work as a new idea.
Thank you