Identifying A Research Problem

Course:
Introduction To Research Methodology

 Topic:
“Identifying A Research Problem”

• According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie:
“Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon.
It involves inductive and deductive methods.”
• Research is careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or problem using scientific
methods.
Types Of Researches In Psychology
1. Basic research: is conducted to study theoretical questions

without trying to solve a specific problem (general ideas or
concepts).
2. Applied research utilizes the principles and discoveries of

psychology for practical purposes (finding solutions to real world
problems).
Contextual Study In Psychological
Research
• Scientific Method is abstract but psychological science may occurs in three
following contexts;
1. Historical Context:
Used Empirical Approach.
-Direct Observation
-Experimentation
2. Social & Cultural Context:
The social and cultural context influences;
-researchers’ choice of topics.
-society’s acceptance of findings.
-the locations in which research takes place.
• Ethnocentric bias (values of one own culture affects interpretation of behavior
observed in other cultures)
3. Moral context:
- researchers should maintain the highest standards of ethical behavior.
• The APA’s code of ethics guides researchers to evaluate ethical dilemmas such as
the risks and benefits associated with deception and the use of animals in
research.
•Ethical Guidelines
i.Human participants:
Informed consent, voluntary participation, debriefing, confidentiality.
ii. Animal Rights: avoid cruelty or physical harm.
iii. Clients in therapy: confidentiality
What Is A Research Problem?
• A situation or circumstance that requires a solution to

be described, explained, or predicted.
Identifying Research Problem
Think Like A Researcher:

• To “think like a researcher” is to be skeptical (regarding claims about the
causes of behavior and mental processes) even those that are made on the basis
of “published” scientific findings.
• Because claims are always probabilistic.
 The Questions A Researcher Asks before begining a Research

• What should I study?
• How do I develop a hypothesis to test in my research?
• Is my research question a good one?
Doing Research
• When beginning a research study, students can answer the first question of
“what to study?” by reviewing psychological topics in psychology journals,
textbooks, and courses.
• A research hypothesis is a tentative explanation for a phenomenon; it is often
stated in the form of a prediction together with an explanation for the predicted
outcome.
• Researchers generate hypotheses in many ways, but they always review
published psychological studies before beginning their research.
• To decide if their research question is a good one, researchers consider the
scientific importance, scope, and likely outcomes of the research, and whether
psychological science will be advanced.
• Good Research Question • Bad Research Question
1. Exploratory Question 1. Not Empirically Testable

2. Descriptive Question 2. Non Scientific Question
3. Explanatory Question 3. General Topic(using suggesting
statements)
4. Questions having Legal
statements
5. Set of variables not questions
6. Too vague or ambiguos
7. Need to be more specific
How Researcher develop hypothesis
• by thinking about deviations (oddities, exceptions) from a general trend

or principle;
—imagining how we would behave in a task or if faced with a specific
problem.
—considering similar problems whose solution is known.
—making sustained, deliberate observations of a person or phenomenon
(e.g., performing a “case study”).
—generating counter examples for an obvious conclusion about behavior.
—borrowing ideas or theories from other disciplines.
(McGuire)
Research Methods
There are 4 methods of research within psychology
1. Experimental:
• Cause & Effect Relationship (dependent,independent, confounfing variables)
+ (control & experimental group)
2. Descriptive:
• Naturalistic Observation in natural habitat
• Surveys use tests, questionnaires, and interviews to sample a wide variety of behaviors and
attitudes.
• Case study in-depth study of a single research participant
3. Correlational:
• Determine the degree of relationship between variables
• Positive, negative and zero correlations
4. Biological:
• Brain & Nervous System (EEG, MRI, fMRI etc are used)
 Research Methodologies
Multimethod Approach
• The best approach to answering research questions is the
Multimethod Approach.
• It is searching for an answer using various research methodologies
and measures of behavior together.
LITERATURE REVIEW
DEFINITION:
“Literature review involves gathering the

details about a large number of previous
studies.”
Or
“Literature review is an account of what has
been already established or published on a
particular research topic by researchers.”
Goals of literature review
1.To demonstrate a familiarity with a body of

knowledge and establish credibility.
2. To show the path of prior research and how a

current project is linked to it.
3. To integrate and summarize what is known in an

area.
4. To learn from others and stimulate new ideas.

Sources of literature review
Primary source Secondary source

•Primary sources are The information comes to
original materials. us secondhand.
•A primary source is an Secondary sources
original document describe, interpret or
containing firsthand analyze information
information about a topic. obtained from other
Example: research sources (often primary
govt records sources).
TYPES OF LITERATURE REVIEW
• Theoretical review
• Methodological review
• Integrative review
• Historical review
Theoretical literature review
• This review focuses on a pool of theory

that has accumulated in regard to an issue,
concept, theory, phenomena.
• Theoretical literature reviews play an
instrumental role in establishing what
theories already exist, the relationships
between them, to what degree the existing
theories have been investigated, and to
develop new hypotheses to be tested.
Methodological literature review.
• A specialized type of
integrative review in which
the author compares and
evaluates the relative
methodological strength of
various studies and shows
how different methodologies
(e.g., research designs,
measures, samples)
account for different results.
Integrative literature review
Integrative review: "A review method that summarizes past

empirical or theoretical literature to provide a more
comprehensive understanding of a particular phenomenon or
healthcare problem.
Integrative reviews seek to:
• Generate or refine a theory or hypothesis(experimental)
• Combine empirical and theoretical research
• case studies, observational studies, and meta-analyses, but
may also include practice applications, theory, and
guidelines(non- experimental)
Historical literature review
• A specialized review in which the author traces an issue

over time.
• It can be merged with a theoretical or methodological
review to show how a concept, theory, or research
method developed over time.
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Course:

Introduction To Research Methodology

“Identifying A Research Problem”

1. Basic research: is conducted to study theoretical questions

2. Applied research utilizes the principles and discoveries of

• A situation or circumstance that requires a solution to

Think Like A Researcher:

 The Questions A Researcher Asks before begining a Research

1. Exploratory Question 1. Not Empirically Testable

• by thinking about deviations (oddities, exceptions) from a general trend

“Literature review involves gathering the

1.To demonstrate a familiarity with a body of

2. To show the path of prior research and how a

3. To integrate and summarize what is known in an

4. To learn from others and stimulate new ideas.

Primary source Secondary source

• This review focuses on a pool of theory

Integrative review: "A review method that summarizes past

• A specialized review in which the author traces an issue

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