This chapter discusses selecting a research problem and reviewing previous literature on the topic. It identifies common pitfalls to avoid when selecting a problem, such as becoming too attached to your initial idea. The chapter reviews different sources for finding a research problem, including personal experience and reviewing what questions still need answers. It also provides guidance on evaluating previous literature, such as checking if studies are current, testing feasible hypotheses and clearly reporting results. Finally, it discusses tools for conducting searches, organizing references, and writing a literature review.

1. Chapter 3A: Selecting a Problem
and Reviewing the Research
D O T S
Connecting the
Bonnie Green, Clayton Jolley, Kelly Jones & Lateshia Warren

2. Selecting a Problem
oFirst...
oSecond...
oFatal Errors
• Falling in love with your idea
• Sticking with the first idea
• Doing something trivial
• Don’t bite off more than you can chew
• Don’t do what has already been done
Selecting a ProblemI

3. Selecting a Problem
oPersonal experience and first hand
knowledge
oLooking for research questions that
reflect the next step in the research
process
oYou may have to come up with a
question for class or to meet a deadline
Defining Your InterestII

4. Selecting a Problem
Select a topic of
interest and go to the
body of literature
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas…
II
I

5. Selecting a Problem
From Table 3A
Idea - Research
Question - Hypothesis
I
V
Research Interest or
Idea
Research Problem or
Question
Research Hypothesis
Open Classroom and
Academic Success
What is the effect of
open verses traditional
classrooms on reading
level?
Children who are taught
reading in an open
classroom setting will
read at a higher grade
level than children who
are taught reading in a
traditional setting.

6. Selecting a Problem
oGeneral
Sources
oSecondary
Sources
oPrimary
Sources
Reviewing the LiteratureV

7. Selecting a Problem
o What does a research article look like?
o If you are not sure, ask the experts!
o Faculty Advisers
o Subject Librarians
o Criteria for judging a research study
o Review of previous research
o Relevancy of problem & purpose
o Clear, testable hypothesis
o Method clearly defined & feasible
o Does the sample represent the population?
o Are the results related to the hypothesis & review of literature
o Current & reputable references
o Clearly written report
Reading & Evaluating Research
V
I

8. Selecting a ProblemResearch Like A Scholar
VI
I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ArIj236UHs

9. Selecting a ProblemElectronic Research Tools
VI
I
oDatabases vs. Internet
oSearch Engines
oKeywords, Boolean logic
oAdvanced Search Options
oGoogle: Features, Tabs, Advanced
oGoogle Scholar
oOther Search Engines
oLibrary Resources

10. Selecting a Problem
Bibliographic Database
Programs
VII
I
oTools to Manage References
oImport, Export, Store, Organize, Cite
o Citation, EndNote, ProCite, Biblioscape
o Zotero (free and easy to use)
o RefWorks (subscription provided by Mercer)

11. Selecting a Problem
Research Activities,
The Internet, and the WWW
I
X
o Network – computers and other devices connected in order to
share resources
o Email (and SMS)
o News groups subscriptions
o Today = RSS feeds, Blogs and News sites
o Wikis
o World Wide Web
o Browsers
o Servers
o URL
o Domain
o Data no longer = text (images, video & the Invisible Web)

12. Selecting a Problem
Six Hints for Writing the
Literature Review
X
• Read other literature reviews
• Create a unified theme
• Use a system to organize materials
• Work from an outline
• Build bridges between elements
• Practice your writing!

13. Selecting a ProblemReflectionsX
o Writing a quality research paper requires:
oPassion
oKnowledge
oPerseverance
oPatience
oIntegrity

14. Selecting a Problem
oSelect a problem
oDefine your interests
oCreate a research question
oReview & evaluate previous research
oWrite the review of literature
Let’s Connect the D O T S

15. Selecting a Problem
and Reviewing the Research
C
References
Salkind, N.J. (2009). Exploring research. (7th edition). New Jersey: Pearson.
Pictures from Google Images
H A P T E R 3 A