Conceptualizing a Research
Study
Lecture for 16 January 2017
Conceptualizing a Research Study
• Reference
– Almeida, Adelaida B., Gaerlan, Amelita, A., and
Manly, Norita E. Research Fundamentals: From
Concept to Output. Quezon City, Philippines.
Adriana Publishing. 2016.
Conceptualizing a Research Study
• The research process has 3 phases:
1. Conceptual phase
2. Empirical phase
3. Interpretative phase
Conceptualizing a Research Study
• Components of the research process
1. Conducting a thorough search of the peer-
reviewed literature
2. Finding a research mentor and other
collaborator
3. Considering methodology and study design
4. Assessing feasibility
Conceptualizing a Research Study
1. Finding your focus
– Which aspects of your discipline interest you
most?
– What have you observed that you have questions
about?
– What articles have you read that have raised
questions in your mind?
Conceptualizing a Research Study
2. What are the gaps in literature?
– By topic (What is not being looked at?)
– Methods (What is not being done?)
– Populations (Who is not being studied?)
– Comparisons (Who is not being compared?)
Conceptualizing a Research Study
3. Where to start?
– Read
– Detailed literature searches
– Attend seminars, conferences and presentations
– Discuss subject area with peers
– Listen and ask questions
Conceptualizing a Research Study
4. Refining research topics
– Discuss with fellow researchers
– Discuss with stakeholders
– Assess what is most critical to learn
– Assess research sources available
Conceptualizing a Research Study
5. Questions to ask yourself
– Is this a good idea?
– Who cares?
– Can it be addressed using appropriate research
methods?
– Will it stimulate interest by others and the
sponsors?
– Is it feasible/practical/doable?
– Is it fundable?
Conceptualizing a Research Study
• Writing the research title
– Does the title describe what the study is all about?
– Does the title contain high specificity level?
– Is the title academically phrased and is not
verbose?
– Is the title within the twelve (12) substantive word
requirement of the American Psychological
Association (APA)?
Conceptualizing a Research Study
• Writing an introduction
– What is the problem?
– Why is it a problem?
– How it should be solved?
– Why it should be solved?
– What is the purpose of the study?
Conceptualizing a Research Study
• Writing an introduction
What is
the
problem?
Why is it a
problem?
How it
should be
solved?
Why it
should be
solved?
What is
the
purpose of
the study?
Conceptualizing a Research Study
• What is a statement of the problem?
– A statement of the problem is a concise
description of the issues to be addressed by the
researcher.
Conceptualizing a Research Study
• Why do a background study?
– In addition to gaining general knowledge about
your topic area, your goals are to determine the
current state of knowledge and to become
familiar with current research.

Chapter 4, Conceptualizing A Research Study

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy • Reference – Almeida, Adelaida B., Gaerlan, Amelita, A., and Manly, Norita E. Research Fundamentals: From Concept to Output. Quezon City, Philippines. Adriana Publishing. 2016.
  • 3.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy • The research process has 3 phases: 1. Conceptual phase 2. Empirical phase 3. Interpretative phase
  • 4.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy • Components of the research process 1. Conducting a thorough search of the peer- reviewed literature 2. Finding a research mentor and other collaborator 3. Considering methodology and study design 4. Assessing feasibility
  • 5.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy 1. Finding your focus – Which aspects of your discipline interest you most? – What have you observed that you have questions about? – What articles have you read that have raised questions in your mind?
  • 6.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy 2. What are the gaps in literature? – By topic (What is not being looked at?) – Methods (What is not being done?) – Populations (Who is not being studied?) – Comparisons (Who is not being compared?)
  • 7.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy 3. Where to start? – Read – Detailed literature searches – Attend seminars, conferences and presentations – Discuss subject area with peers – Listen and ask questions
  • 8.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy 4. Refining research topics – Discuss with fellow researchers – Discuss with stakeholders – Assess what is most critical to learn – Assess research sources available
  • 9.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy 5. Questions to ask yourself – Is this a good idea? – Who cares? – Can it be addressed using appropriate research methods? – Will it stimulate interest by others and the sponsors? – Is it feasible/practical/doable? – Is it fundable?
  • 10.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy • Writing the research title – Does the title describe what the study is all about? – Does the title contain high specificity level? – Is the title academically phrased and is not verbose? – Is the title within the twelve (12) substantive word requirement of the American Psychological Association (APA)?
  • 11.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy • Writing an introduction – What is the problem? – Why is it a problem? – How it should be solved? – Why it should be solved? – What is the purpose of the study?
  • 12.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy • Writing an introduction What is the problem? Why is it a problem? How it should be solved? Why it should be solved? What is the purpose of the study?
  • 13.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy • What is a statement of the problem? – A statement of the problem is a concise description of the issues to be addressed by the researcher.
  • 14.
    Conceptualizing a ResearchStudy • Why do a background study? – In addition to gaining general knowledge about your topic area, your goals are to determine the current state of knowledge and to become familiar with current research.