IC-RES130: Lesson 3

Summary

This educational session focuses on guiding students through the process of formulating research titles and identifying research problems. It outlines the importance of a concise, self-explanatory title that includes major variables and the relationship between them. The instructor suggests methods for generating research ideas, such as exploring broader topics, narrowing down to subtopics, and reading to identify gaps in existing literature. The session also discusses the characteristics of effective research titles and provides criteria for selecting viable research problems, including external and internal considerations like novelty, subject availability, and the researcher's expertise.

Takeaways

• 📚 The session focuses on chapter three, which discusses research title sources and considerations.
• 🎯 The learning objectives include identifying research problem sources, writing research titles, and completing a fill-in-the-blank test.
• 🤔 Research problems can originate from various fields and should be explored as potential research projects.
• 📝 A research title should summarize the main idea, include major variables, and show their relationship, being concise and self-explanatory.
• 🚫 Researchers are advised to avoid using unnecessary words that could mislead or confuse.
• 📈 The title should ideally be between 10 to 15 words, encapsulating the essence of the research.
• 🔍 A step-by-step procedure is provided to help formulate research titles, starting from broader topics to specific variables.
• 🔎 Identifying 'blank spots' and 'blind spots' in existing literature can lead to new research problems and titles.
• 📊 Research titles should be characterized by summarizing the main idea, being concise, including major variables, and specifying the research task and setting.
• 🔍 Sources of research problems include personal experiences, literature reviews, and gaps in existing studies.
• 🏛️ External criteria for research problem formulation include novelty, subject availability, administrative support, facilities, and ethical considerations.
• 🏡 Internal criteria involve the researcher's experience, motivation, time factor, cost, and potential hazards or challenges.

Q & A

What are the learning objectives for the session on research title sources and considerations?

The learning objectives for the session include identifying different sources of research problems, writing research titles related to one's field of study, and answering fill-in-the-blank tests.

What is the definition of a research problem according to the transcript?

A research problem is a question or issue that arises from a gap in knowledge or a need for further inquiry within a specific field of study.

What are the characteristics of a well-formulated research title as mentioned in the script?

A well-formulated research title should summarize the main idea of the paper, be a concise statement of the main topic, include major variables, show the relationship of the main variables under study, and be self-explanatory.

What is the recommended word count for a research title according to the transcript?

The recommended word count for a research title is 10 to 15 words, although some experts do not strictly limit the number of words.

How can one identify a potential research problem in their field?

One can identify potential research problems by listing down issues related to their field that they would like to explore or work on as a research project.

What are the steps to formulate a research title as outlined in the transcript?

The steps to formulate a research title include thinking of broader topics, narrowing down to subtopics, reading articles and gaining background knowledge, identifying key variables and concepts, and finally constructing a title that includes these elements.

What are 'blank spots' and 'blind spots' in the context of research as discussed in the script?

'Blank spots' refer to areas not yet covered by existing studies, while 'blind spots' refer to research gaps or inconsistencies in previous studies.

What are the external criteria to consider when formulating a research problem?

External criteria include novelty, availability of subjects, administrative support, availability and adequacy of facilities and equipment, and ethical considerations.

What are the internal criteria to consider when formulating a research problem?

Internal criteria include the researcher's experience, training, and professional qualifications, motivation and interest, time factor, cost and returns, and potential hazards, penalties, and handicaps.

Why is it important for a research problem to be novel?

A novel research problem is important because it brings practical value to the field of inquiry due to its newness and contributes to the advancement of knowledge.

How can literature reviews and past studies contribute to the identification of research problems?

Literature reviews and past studies can reveal gaps in current knowledge and suggest areas where further research is needed, thus contributing to the identification of new research problems.