ABOUT TTU MODULE
The aim of this MODULE is to acquaint you with the basics of research methods used in research processes. It also aims at encouraging you to learn the concepts, steps and procedures for carrying out your research project or any other research study.
TTU module expects you to do a lot of reading in order to cover the its content. It implies that you should devote much time to some lectures by gettingmore information from numerous texts (abound in the internet).
However, You will need tovwork with other students in order to discuss, and to exchange ideas and share knowledge
self assessment exercises
Within each lecture are self assessment exercises are aimed at helping you check your. Ensure that you attempt each of the exercises before finding out the expected answer.
This lecture is a continuation of research process(describedinearlier lectures). It discusses the steps in the research process, tells you how to select the research problem, the sources of these problems and the criteria for selecting the problems. In addition, characteristics of a good research are discussed.
Identification of Research Problems In research process, the first and foremost step happens to be that of selecting and properly defining a research problem/ research is a process consisting of the identifying and defining research problem,
What is a Research Problem?
A research problem is a specific issue, difficulty, contradiction, or gap in knowledge about an area of concern that you will aim to address in your researchNote that the problem is stated in question form. Also note that the problem states a relation between variables.(Variable is used as the name of a phenomenon, or a construct, that takes a set of different numerical values)
Professional researchers could easily identify a research problem because they have been quite familiar with the phenomena in which a problem generally presents itself. The phenomena which include (1) a difficulty or deficiency to be overcome; (2) a condition to be improved upon; (3) a gap in knowledge that exists in scholarly literature that is to be filled; (4) a theory that requires meaningful understanding;
Type of research problems
There are two types of research problem You might look for
a)practical problems aimed at contributing to change /has practical relevance,
example; School A B has a high drop out rate, affecting.
b)theoretical problems aimed a:t expanding knowledge. Theoretical problems they are not focused on solving an immediate issue in a specific place
example:The relationship between gender and learning outcomes
example:the role of the British Empire in the development of Scotland's national identity.
The type of research problem you choose depends on your broad topic of interest and the type of research you want to do.
How to identify a research problem?
1.Identify the broad ResearchStudy AreaFor example- if you do graduation in sociology,linguistics, you must decide your research study area in sociology or linguistics
EXAMPLE
ELT research field is divided into many research areas. Each research area is divided further into many topics, and each topic could is divided into some research problems. List of Common ELT Research AreasEnglish Teaching Methods 2. English Pedagogical Techniques 3. English Curriculum Development 4. Program, Syllabus, And Materials Design 5. English Language Planning And Policy 6. English as a Second or Foreign Language Teaching and Learning/Literature in ELT . ELT Research Methodology Applied Linguistics/Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics, Neurolinguistics, or Pragmatics in ELT
2.Preliminary review of literature
3. Narrowing down of general area./Choosing a specific topicResearch Topic
As mentioned earlier, after having research interests, it will be easier for you to determine the topic or "the broad subject matter addressed in a study for instance, might have decided "Translation in ELT” as one of your research area. Based on this, selected "the use mother tongue in foreign language learning” the topic of his study.
In the same way, one might have decided "Psychology, Anthropology, and Sociology in ELT” as area of interest. Then selected "students' beliefs about language learning, learning styles, and language learning strategies” as research topic.
4.State it as a clear research problemA research problem, as mentioned previously, is the issue being addressed in a study. A research problem helps in narrowing the topic down
Writing the Problem Statement
example The issue of using mother tongue (MT) in foreign language (FL) classrooms
Sources of Research Problem :Research problem may be instigated by:
i Personal Experience
ii. scholarly literature where problems lie in abundance
iii Consultation with Subject Experts with the more experienced faculty members is a desirable practicev.
ivTheoretical Sources Theories are ideas formulated as a result of observed phenomena.
Characteristics of a good research problem
1.The problem can be stated clearly and concisely.
2. The problem generates research questions.
3. It is grounded in theory.
4. It relates to one or more academic fields of study
- Teacher: nasser ghardaoui