Introduction In life, there are universal laws that govern everything we do. These laws are so perfect that if you were to align yourself with them, you could have so much prosperity that it would be coming out of your ears. This is because God created the universe in the image and likeness of him. It is failure to follow the universal laws that causes one to fail. The laws that were created consisted of the following: · Law of Gratitude: The Law of Gratitude states that you must show gratitude for what you have. By having gratitude, you speed your growth and success faster than you normally would. This is because if you appreciate the things you have, even if they are small things, you are open to receiving more. Law of Attraction: The Law of Attraction states that if you focus your attention on something long enough you will get it. It all starts in the mind. You think of something and when you think of it, you manifest that in your life. This could be a mental picture of a check or actual cash, but you think about it with an image. Law of Karma: the Law of Karma states that if you go out and do something bad, it will come back to you with something bad. If you do well for others, good things happen to you. The principle here is to know you can create good or bad through your actions. There will always be an effect no matter what. Law of Love: the Law of Love states that love is more than emotion or feeling; it is energy. It has substance and can be felt. Love is also considered acceptance of oneself or others. This means that no matter what you do in life if you do not approach or leave the situation out of love, it won't work. Law of Allowing: The Law of Allowing states that for us to get what we want, we must be receptive to it. We can't merely say to the Universe that we want something if we don't allow ourselves to receive it. This will defeat our purpose for wanting it in the first place. Law of Vibration: the Law of Vibration states that if you wish on something and use your thoughts to visualize it, you are halfway there to get it. To complete the cycle you must use the Law of Vibration to feel part of what you want. Do this and you'll have anything you want in life. For everything to function properly there has to be structure. Without structure, our world, or universe, would be in utter chaos. Successful people understand universal laws and apply them daily. They may not acknowledge that to you, but they do follow the laws. There is a higher power and this higher power controls the universe and what we get out of it. People who know this, but wish to direct their own lives, follow the reasons. Successful people don't sit around and say "I'll try," they say yes and act on it. Chapter - 1 The Law of Attraction The law of attraction is the most powerful force in the universe. If you work against it, it can only bring you pain and misery. Successful people know this but have kept it hidden from the lower class for centuries because th

1. SCHOOL OF GOVERNANCE AND
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
Advanced Research Methods- Quantitative and
qualitative
Chapter 2.2 Identifying a Research Problem
John W. Creswell (2012). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and
Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, 4th ed: Pearson Education Inc.

2. Chapter 2.2 Identifying a Research Problem
By the end of this session you should be able to:
 Define and identify a research problem and explain its importance in a study
 Distinguish between a research problem and other parts of the research
process
 Identify criteria for deciding whether you can or should study a research
problem
 Describe how quantitative and qualitative research problems differ
 Learn the five elements that compromise a “statement of the problem” section
 Identify strategies useful in writing a “statement of the problem” section

3. What is a Research Problem?
A research problem:
is an issue or concern that an investigator presents and
justifies in a research study.
Refers to some difficulty which a researcher experiences
in context of either a theoretical or practical situation and
want to obtain a solution for the same.

4. Locating the Research Problem
Look in the opening paragraphs of the study for one or more of
the following:
 What is the issue or problem?
 What controversy leads to the need for a study?
 What concern is being addressed behind the study?
 Is there a sentence such as, “The problem being addressed in this
study is…”?

5. Why is the research problem important?
It establishes the importance of the topic.
It creates reader interest.
It focuses the reader’s attention on how the study will add to
the literature.

6. How the problem differs from other
parts of research
A research problem is an issue or problem in the study.
A research topic is the broad subject matter being
addressed in a study.
A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study.
Research questions are those that the researcher would
like answered or addressed in the study.

7. Differences among the Topic, Problem,
Purpose, and Questions
General
Specific
Topic
Research
Problem
Purpose
Statement
Research
Question
Rural Poverty
High prevalence of poverty
among FHHs
To study why FHHs are more
poorer than MHHs in the rural
areas in Ethiopia
Does difference in access to
agricultural inputs between
FHHs and MHHs contribute to
poverty among FHHs?

8. Determining whether a problem should be
researched
Can you study the problem?
Do you have access to the research site?
Do you have the time, resources, and skills to
carry out the research?
Should you study the problem? (significance)
Does it advance knowledge?
Does it contribute to practice?

9. Determining whether a problem should be researched
(cont’d)
Will your study fill a gap or void in the existing literature?
Will your study replicate a past study but examine
different participants and different research sites?
Will your study extend past research or examine the
topic more thoroughly/methodically, systematically?
Will your study give voice to people not heard, silenced,
or rejected in society?
Will your study inform practice?

10. How Research Problems differ for Quantitative
and Qualitative Research
Use quantitative research if
your research problem
requires you to:
measure variables
assess the impact of these
variables on an outcome
Test theories or broad
explanations
apply results to a large
number of people
Use qualitative research if your
research problem requires you to:
learn about the views of the
people you plan to study
assess a process over time
Generate theories based on
participant perspectives
obtain detailed information about
a few people or research sites

11. Five Elements of a “Problem Statement”
Topic
Evidence
for the
Issue
Deficiencies
in the
Evidence
What Remedying
the Deficiencies
Will Do for
Select Audiences
FLOW OF IDEAS
Subject
area
Issue/
problem
A concern or issue,
a “problem” that
needs a solution
Evidence from the
literature or
practical
experiences
Evidence that is
missing or need
to know
Audiences that will
profit from the study

12. Advancing the Topic
The topic is introduced in the first paragraphs.
The topic includes the general subject matter.
The topic must be introduced so that the reader can relate to it.

13. Stating the Research Problem
State the problem in the opening paragraph
Identify an issue
Research-based research problems
Practical problems
Reference the problem using the literature

14. Justifying the importance of the Research
Problem
Justification based on what other researchers have found
Justification based on personal or workplace experiences
Justification based on the experiences others have had in the
workplace

15. Identifying deficiencies in the evidence
1. What do we still need to know?
2. What else do we need to know to improve
practice?

16. Identify the Audience
Ask the following question: “Who will profit from reading my
study?”
Other researchers
Practitioners
Policy makers
Special populations (e.g., parents)

17. Writing the Statement of the Problem Section
Include one paragraph for each of the five elements p.11
Heavily reference this section to the literature
Provide statistics to support trends

19. Selecting the research problem
In selecting the research problem consider the following
Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen, for
it will be a difficult task to throw any new light in such a case
Controversial subject should not become a choice of an
average researcher
Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided
The subject selected for research should be familiar and
feasible – materials or resources within one’s reach
The importance of the subject, qualification and training of
researcher, the cost involved, the time factor

20. Assignment
1. Identify possible research topic for your MA thesis
2. What is the problem you observe?
3. What evidences justify the research problem (review up to 5 articles)
4. What are the deficiencies in the evidence reviewed