The Basics of

Educational Research

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The Basics of Educational Research

Chapter Two

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What is a Research Problem?

It is a problem that someone would

like to investigate.
It is considered a situation that needs
to be changed or addressed.
These problems consist of:

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Areas of concern
Conditions to be improved
Difficulties to be eliminated
Questions seeking answers

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Research Questions

Proper research questions need collectable

data to create possible answers
Research questions must have an
empirical (based on observable evidence)
referent(s)
Figure 2.1 demonstrates the difference
between researchable and nonresearchable questions

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Characteristics of Good Research

Questions

Good research questions possess

four essential characteristics:

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The question is feasible

The question is clear
The question is significant
The question is ethical

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Sources of Research Problem

1.

2.
3.
4.

5.

Article journal or report : at the end

of article, the author suggest the
future research
Experience of researcher: discussion
News paper: current issue
Government document, eg: laporan
kabinet Mengkaji Dasar Pelajaran
(1980)
Sponsor: KPM, KPT

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Researchable vs. Non-researchable

Questions (Figure 2.1)

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Cth Problem Statement

Begitu banyak tumpuan telah diberikan

kepada sikap guru pelatih yang
mengikuti kursus celik komputer, tetapi
belum ada kajian dibuat terhadap faktorfaktor yang mempengaruhi darjah
penguasaan kemahiran komputer.
Apakah hubungan antara ciri-ciri populasi
bakal guru ini dengan kecekapan
menyerap kemahiran menggunakan
komputer? prestasi

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Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk

menjawab soalan2 berikut: 1. Apakah
kesan faktor demografik terhadap?
2. Apakah kesan pengetahuan
komputer yang diperoleh
sebelumnya, pengalaman dan sikap
terhadap prestasi dalam kursuskursus celik komputer

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Defining Terms

There are 3 ways to clarify important

terms or meaning in a research
question:
1) use of constitutive definition (the
dictionary approach)
2) use of proper example(s)
3) use of operational definition (specifying
operations used to measure or identify
examples of the term)

See p. 53, Key Terms to Define in a Research Study

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When Operational Definitions would be Helpful (Figure 2.2)

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Research Questions Should Be

Significant

Research questions should be worth

investigating
These questions should be important and
significant
The investment of time and energy
should:

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contribute some knowledge and value to ones

field of study
Improve educational practice
Improve the human condition
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Common Problems for Student

Research

Student justifications for a proposed study are

likely to have two weaknesses:
1) The assumption is too great that everyone will agree
that the stated problem is a problem.

It is the researchers job to clarify and prove that the study

or question is important.

2) Students often overstate the implications of a study.

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Evidence of the effectiveness of a certain treatment doesnt

mean that this will occur or result automatically when
adopted or implemented.

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