3 - Identifying A Research Problem

Chapter 3
Identifying a Research
Problem
John W. Creswell
Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating
Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition
Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.
By the end of this chapter,

you should be able to:
Define and identify a research problem and explain
its importance to a study
Distinguish between a research problem, the topic,
the purpose, and the research questions
Identify criteria for deciding whether you can or
should study a research problem
Describe how quantitative and qualitative research
problems differ
Describe the five elements that compromise a
statement of the problem section
Identify strategies useful in writing a statement of
the problem section
John W. Creswell
Educational Research:

3.2
What Is a Research Problem?
A research problem is an educational

issue or concern that an investigator
presents and justifies in a research study.
John W. Creswell

3.3
Locating the Research Problem

Look in the opening paragraphs of the
study for one or more of the following:
What is the issue or problem?
What controversy leads to the need for a study?
What concern is being addressed behind the
study?
Is there a sentence such as, The problem being
addressed in this study is?
John W. Creswell

3.4
Why the Research Problem Is

Important
It establishes the importance of the topic.
It creates reader interest.
It focuses the readers attention on how the
study will add to the literature.
John W. Creswell

3.5
How the Problem Differs From Other

Parts of Research
A research problem is an educational issue or
problem in the study.
A research topic is the broad subject matter
being addressed in a study.
A purpose is the major intent or objective of the
study.
Research questions are those that the
researcher would like answered or addressed in
the study.
John W. Creswell

3.6
Differences among the Topic,

Problem, Purpose, and Questions
General
Specific
John W. Creswell
Topic
Distance learning
Research
Problem
Lack of students in distance

classes
Purpose
Statement
To study why students do not

attend distance education classes at
a community college
Research
Question
Does the use of Web site technology

in the classroom deter students
from enrolling in a distance
education class?
3.7
Determining Whether a Problem Should

Be Researched
Can you study the problem?
Do you have access to the research site?
Do you have the time, resources, and skills to
carry out the research?
Should you study the problem?

Does it advance knowledge?
Does it contribute to practice?
John W. Creswell

3.8
Determining Whether a Problem Should

Be Researched (contd)
Will your study fill a gap or void in the existing
literature?
Will your study replicate a past study but
examine different participants and different
research sites?
Will your study extend past research or examine
the topic more thoroughly?
Will your study give voice to people not heard,
silenced, or rejected in society?
Will your study inform practice?
John W. Creswell

3.9
How Research Problems Differ for

Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Use quantitative research Use qualitative research if your
if your research problem
research problem requires
requires you to:
you to:
Measure variables
Learn about the views of the
people you plan to study
Assess the impact of
these variables on an
Assess a process over time
outcome
Generate theories based on
Test theories or broad
participant perspectives
explanations
Obtain detailed information
Apply results to a large
about a few people or
number of people
research sites
John W. Creswell

3.10
Five Elements of a Problem Statement

FLOW OF IDEAS
Topic
Subject
area
Educational
Issue
A concern
A problem
Something
that needs
a solution
John W. Creswell
Evidence
for the
Issue
Deficiencies
in the
Evidence
Evidence from In this body of

the literature
evidence, what
Evidence from is missing?
What do we
practical
need to know
experiences
more about?
What
Remedying
the Deficiencies
Will Do for
Select
Audiences
How will addressing
what we need to
know help:
researchers
educators
policy makers
individuals such as
those in the study

3.11
Advancing the Topic

The topic is introduced in the first paragraphs.
The topic includes the general subject matter.
The topic must be introduced so that the reader
can relate to it.
John W. Creswell

3.12
The Narrative Hook

The narrative hook should be the first sentence of the
study.
Functions of the narrative hook
Causes the reader to pay attention
Elicits an emotional or attitudinal response from the
reader
Causes the reader to continue reading
Information that can be included in the narrative hook
Statistics
A provocative question
Need for research
Intent of the study
John W. Creswell

3.13
Stating the Research Problem

State the problem in the opening paragraph
Identify an issue
Research-based research problems
Practical problems
Reference the problem using the literature
John W. Creswell

3.14
Justifying the Importance of the

Research Problem
Justification based on what other researchers
have found
Justification based on personal or workplace
experiences
Justification based on the experiences others
have had in the workplace
John W. Creswell

3.15
Identifying Deficiencies in the Evidence

What do we still need to know?
What else do we need to know to improve
practice?
John W. Creswell

3.16
Identify the Audience

Ask the following question: Who will
profit from reading our study?
Other researchers
Practitioners
Policy makers
Special populations (e.g., parents)
John W. Creswell

3.17
Writing the
Statement of the Problem Section
Include one paragraph for each of the five
elements
Heavily reference this section to the literature
Provide statistics to support trends
Use quotes from participants (in moderation)
John W. Creswell

3.18
Example of the Flow of Ideas in the

Problem Statement
Flow of Ideas
Topic
Subject
area
Research
Problem
Concern or issue
A problem
Something that
needs a solution
Justification
for Research
Problem
Deficiencies in
the Evidence
Relating the
Discussion
to Audiences
Evidence from the In this body of

How will addressing
literature
evidence what is what we need to know
Evidence from
missing or what
help researchers,
practical experience do we need to
educators, policy
know more about? makers, and other
individuals?
An Example
Ethical
issues
in
colleges
Gap in the literature

Ethical
Reports of violations
violations
among football
recruiters
John W. Creswell
Description
identifying and
characterizing
violations
Assessing violations
Helps recruiters develop
better ethical standards
Helps athletes
understand ethical issues
3.19

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Chapter 3

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

By the end of this chapter,

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

What Is a Research Problem?

A research problem is an educational

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Locating the Research Problem

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Why the Research Problem Is

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

How the Problem Differs From Other

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Differences among the Topic,

Lack of students in distance

To study why students do not

Does the use of Web site technology

Determining Whether a Problem Should

Should you study the problem?

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Determining Whether a Problem Should

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

How Research Problems Differ for

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Five Elements of a Problem Statement

Evidence from In this body of

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Advancing the Topic

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

The Narrative Hook

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Stating the Research Problem

Reference the problem using the literature

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Justifying the Importance of the

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Identifying Deficiencies in the Evidence

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Identify the Audience

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Example of the Flow of Ideas in the

Evidence from the In this body of

Gap in the literature

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