RESEARCH QUESTION(S)

Questions should address who, what, how and why.

THE PROBLEM STATEMENT

Selection and definition of a problem
Textbook

- Educational Research , ninth Edition

A problem is a question of interest that can be tested or answered through the collection and analysis of data (p.6). Quantitative Research (problem solving) Collection and analysis of numerical data (p. 7). Qualitative Research (problem solving) The collection, analysis, and interpretation of nonnumerical data

THE PROBLEM STATEMENT AND RESEARCH QUESTION(S)

How to Conduct Collaborative Action Research Richard Sagor, (1992)

Problem Statement
The problem statement should be approximately 100 words that clearly and concisely answer the following questions: 1) Who is affected? 2) Who or what is suspected of causing the problem? 3) What kind of problem is it? (Problems with goals, skills, resources, time, etc.) 4) What is the goal for improvement? 5) What do we propose to do about it?

EXAMPLES
Should be written as one paragraph in the past tense. Students at Sunset Elementary School appear to have a limited exposure to environmental issues. We suspect that alternate energy sources can produce a long-term savings for the consumer. We want elementary students to be able to use the scientific method when approaching an environmental problem. To accomplish this, we will design and develop a alternate energy plan.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS Examples

1. How will developing a local ad campaign improve ____. What contributes to the effectiveness of alternative energy sources? How does environmental science instruction in the primary grades increase criticial thinking skills?

2.

3.

Research questions (usually two) must not be answerable yes or no.

Problem Statement
Students at Highland Elementary School arent Seeing the connection between their school subjects. The research group believes this is a result of our schedule and the way we teach different subjects. We want all our students to see the relevance of the school curriculum, to appreciate the relationship between the academic disciplines, and to be able to apply the skills learned in one subject to problem solving in another. Therefore, we plan to integrate our instruction from science, math, language arts, and social studies into interdisciplinary units on society and technology.

Problem Statement
Students at Highland Elementary School arent Seeing the connection between their school subjects.(1 & 3) The research group believes this is a result of our schedule and the way we teach different subjects.(2) We want all our students to see the relevance of the school curriculum, to appreciate the relationship between the academic disciplines, and to be able to apply the skills learned in one subject to problem solving in another. (4) Therefore, we plan to integrate our instruction from science, math, language arts, and social studies into interdisciplinary units on society and technology. (5)

Research Questions
1. What difficulties do students have translating skills from subject to subject? 2. Do students transfer skills more readily between subjects they enjoy? 3. What leads to students enjoying a subject? 4. What is the difference between achievement in multidisciplinary classes in a single subject class?