describe problem purpose and research questions

Instructions

The goal of this weekâ€™s assignment is to help you start thinking about quantitative research as a methodology for your own dissertation. The first part of the assignment is a personal reflection, the second part of the assignment will help you become familiar with the basic parts of a quantitative dissertation you should begin thinking about, and the third part helps you to begin thinking through how quantitative dissertations are set up at NCU.

Part 1 (2 points):

The first part of this assignment is a personal reflection. In one page, reflect on what led you to an interest in conducting quantitative research in education. Indicate why quantitative research is of more interest to you or better matches your skill set than qualitative research. Discuss why quantitative methods align with what you hope to contribute to the field of education with your research. Describe any fears or reservations you have about embarking on a quantitative research journey with your upcoming dissertation.

Part 2 (2 points each, 6 points total):

For each of the three NCU dissertations listed in the Resources section for this week, identify the following:

Describe the problem that drives the study, in one clear sentence.
Indicate the purpose of the study, in one clear sentence.
List the research questions.
List any hypotheses included.
Describe the methodology and design in two to three brief sentences.

Part 3 (2 points):

Respond to the following questions in one page:

NCU dissertations use one clear declarative sentence to drive the problem statement. This single problem sentence must be supported by a current source.
- Why is it important to be able to articulate the entire problem that drives a study in one clear sentence?
- Why is it important to support this statement with a current source?
The purpose statement must align with the problem statement, meaning it will use the same key terms and be focused on the same exact issue. Alignment can be a real challenge for beginning researchers.
- What are some ways you can make sure that the purpose you identify in your research is aligned with the problem you have identified? (Example: One tip is that you could highlight the same key terms occurring in your problem and purpose statements. What other tips can you think of?)
It can be a challenge to create clear research questions that directly address the problem and purpose of the study, without introducing new ideas or straying off track.
- What are some ways that you will be sure your research questions directly aligned with your problem and purpose statements in your research?
- What are some aspects of this that you think might be challenging for newer researchers?
Finally, how and why do the research questions drive the selection of the methodology and design for a study?