Kwame Nkrumah University of

Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

LE 361: Research Methods I

The Research Process

Anthony Adjei-Twum, PhD

Department of Land Economy
Faculty of Built Environment, CABE
 COURSE OUTLINE

Introduction to Research - The meaning

and significance of research

The Research Process - formulating research

topic, identifying research problem, conducting
literature review, specifying purpose of research,
research questions, and hypothesis

Research Design (quantitative designs (focusing on

survey design), qualitative designs, and combined
designs (focusing on mixed methods design))
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 RESEARCH PROCESS
Research Problem

Literature Review

Research Questions

Research Design

Data Collection

Data Analysis
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Discussion & Report Writing

 Learning Outcome

By the end of lecture, you should be able to:

❖ Identify problem of research in a research
publication.
❖ Write appropriate research problem
❖ Write the statement of problem section of project
report.

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 Definition of Research Problem
Research problems
Land issues, maintenance issues,
refers to the issues,
building issues, etc.
controversies, or
concerns that guide
the need for Examples
conducting a study. • The increase in instances of mob ‘justice’
in Ghana
• Lack of parents involvement in schools for
students with challenging behaviours
May be a single • The increase in suicide on college
sentence or several campuses
sentences in a • Increasing rate of deterioration in
research report government buildings

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 Research Problem and other parts of Research

❖ A research topic is the broad subject matter addressed by the

study E.g. Mob ‘justice’.
❖ A research problem is a general issue, concern, or controversy
addressed in research that narrows the topic E.g. Increasing rate
of mob ‘justice’ in Ghana.
❖ A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study used to
address the problem E.g. The purpose of my study will be to
understand the rationale for the increasing rate of mob ‘justice’
in Ghana.
❖ Research questions narrow the purpose into specific questions
that the researcher would like answered or addressed in the
study E.g. Why is that the public takes the law into the own
hands to administer justice to criminals when caught?
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 Distinguishing among the Topic, Research Problem, Purpose,
and Research Questions
General
Topic Distance learning

Research problem Lack of students in distance

education classes
Purpose statement To study why students do not
attend distance education
classes at a community
college
Research Questions Does the use of Web site
technology in the
classroom deter students
from enrolling in a
Specific
distance education class?
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 Illustration
Poor model: The researcher intends to identify the research problem but instead
presents it as a purpose statement. The purpose of this study is to examine the
involvement of women in the surveying profession in Ghana.

Improved model (research problem): Few women are involved in the surveying
profession in Ghana because of the perception that the profession is male oriented.

Poor model: A researcher intends to write about the research problem but instead
identifies the research question: The research question in this study is “What factors
influence the adoption of strategic real estate management principles?”

Improved model (research problem): Adoption of strategic real estate management

principles is a major issue in business organisations today. When organizations
adopt strategic real estate principles, they realize the value addition of real estate to
their bottom line.

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 Quantitative V. Qualitative Research Problem

It is important to consider if Research problem fits quantitative or

qualitative approach

Quantitative Qualitative
If Research problem requires: If Research problem requires:

❑ Learning about the views

❑ Measurement of
of individuals
variables
❑ Assessment of a process
❑ Assessment of the
over time
impact of these variables
❑ Generating theories
on an outcome
based on participant
❑ Test theories or broad
perspectives
explanations
❑ Obtain detailed
❑ Apply results to a large www.knust.edu.gh
information about a few
number of people
people or research sites
 Formulation of the Research Problem

Three important requirements in deciding upon a topic

1. You are interested in the topic

2. A faculty member is prepared to supervise you

3. You can obtain relevant data on the topic

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Move on to 1. Read literature,
next stage of reflect, discuss,
the process and identify gaps
2. Generate list
of potential
Yes No questions
6. Does a suitable
problem exist?
3. Check literature.
Yes Has question been
answered already?
5. Eliminate No
impractical questions

4. Test feasibility
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Identifying a research problem (Adopted from Myers, 2013)

 Writing the Statement of Problem Section

The Topic

The research
problem
A justification of the importance
of the problem as found in the
past research and in practice

The deficiencies in our

existing knowledge about
the problem

The audiences that

Ingredients of the will benefit from a
statement of Problem study ofwww.knust.edu.gh
the problem
Section
 The Topic
The broad subject matter Usually stated in the title
that a researcher wishes and introduced in the
to address in a study first sentences
It creates initial
interest for the
reader
Corporate real estate management
Energy efficiency and consumption -the rebound
features
effect -a survey Jose Luis Rangel Lopes, 1996
Lorna A. Greening, David L. Green, Carmen Difiglio, 2000
This paper reviews some
Potential carbon reductions resulting from
management concepts and tools
technological improvements in the consumption
applied to corporate real estate
of energy may be reduced by the `rebound’ effect
management (CREM). Two tactics
(Wigley, 1997). The `take-back’ or `rebound’ …
were …
Example of narrow topic Example of broad topic
Dishonesty on campus www.knust.edu.gh
and the need
Plagiarism on college to explore the values students learn
campuses during their college years

Narrative
Features
Hook
The opening sentence
Statistical data
E.g. More than 50% of the
adult population experiences
depression today
A clear need for research
E.g. Destruction of water
bodies by galamsey operators
is drawing increased attention
among citizens in the affected
communities.
❖Cause the reader to pay attention;
❖elicit emotional or attitudinal responses;
❖spark interest;
❖and encourage the reader to continue
reading.
A provocative question
E.g. Why are school policies
that ban smoking in high
schools not being enforced?
The intent or purpose of
the study
E.g. The intent of this study is to
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examine how clients construe
the therapist–client relationship
 The Research Problem

Narrows the topic to a specific

research problem or issue

It is the issue, concern , May be framed as a

or controversy that the deficiency in the
researcher investigates literature

May be based
on a need for further
research
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 Justification of the Importance of the Problem

How do I justify the need to study this problem?

Personal Experiences in Suggestions Made

Experiences The Workplace by Other Researchers

Used in both quantitative

and qualitative research,
Such as action research

Used in both quantitative and qualitative

Used in qualitative research, such as experiments, surveys,
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research, such as correlational studies, grounded theory
narrative research studies
Deficiencies in the Extension of the
Existing Knowledge research

Replication of a
study
Past literature or practical
experiences of the
Exploration of a topic
researchers does not
adequately address the
research problem Lift the voices of
marginalized people

Identify and State reasons for Add to practice

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existence of deficiencies
 The Audiences

The individuals and groups who will read and

potentially benefit from the information provided
in your research study

Researchers Policy makers

Academic supervisor
& Examiners

Individuals participating
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Practitioners
in the studies
 Illustration:
Statement of
Problem

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Thank You
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