The Experimental

Research Report
Ch 1
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 Experimental Research Report
 Definition: a paper written by an
investigator to describe a research study
that he or she has completed

 Purpose: to explain to others in the field

what the objectives, methods, and finding
of the study were
 Types of Research
 Controlled Scientific Experiment
 Correlational
 Gain information from Survey
Questionnaires or Case Study
 Some studies use computer generated
models
 Common Characteristics
 First, they are designed around a research
question.

 Also such studies are usually quantitative,

they deal with numerical data.
 Common Characteristics cont.
 Normally, a report includes descriptions of
purpose, methods, and results of study.
 Complete results are usually presented in tables
and graphs.
 References have to be included at the end of the
report
 An abstract covering the most important
information in the report is usually attached
 Formulating a Research Question
 It's absolutely essential to develop a
research question that you're interested in
or care about in order to focus your
research .
 A topic like “Learning English as a Second
Language”?
 A topic like “Compare
“ and Contrast the
Results of the English Midterm Exam Among
Six Grade Eight Classes at Xing Fu Junior
High School”?
 Formulating a Research Question cont.
 Develop a Researchable Question
1. Choose an appropriate topic or issue for your
research, one that actually can be
researched.
2. list all of the questions that you'd like answered
yourself. Choose the best question. One
that is neither too broad nor too narrow .
Sometimes the number of sources you find will
help you discover whether your research
question is too broad, too narrow, or o.k.
 Formulating a Research Question cont.
 3. Evaluating your research question
A. Does the question deal with a topic or issue that
interests me enough to spark my own thoughts and
opinions?
B. Is the question easily and fully researchable?
C. What type of information do I need to answer the
research question? e.g., The research question, "What
impact has English lesson had on kindergarten
education?," will obviously require certain types of
information:
a. students’ attitudes toward English lesson
b. parents’ attitudes toward English lesson
c. students’ development on their first language
d.
Formulating a Research Question cont.
 C. What type of information do I need to
answer the research question?
Research question 1: What is the most
popular smart phone among college
students?
a. what information do you need to
collect?
Research question 2: What impact has
graduation threshold on college students?
 3. Evaluating your research question cont.
D. Is the scope of this information reasonable? (e.g., can
I really research 30 on-line writing programs developed
over a span of 10 years?)
E. Given the type and scope of the information that I
need, is my question too broad, too narrow, or o.k.?
F. What sources will have the type of information that I
need to answer the research question (journals, books,
internet resources, government documents, people)?
G. Can I access these sources?
H. Given my answers to the above questions, do I have
a good quality research question that I actually will be
able to answer by doing research?
 Formulating a Hypothesis

 In formal research work, it is necessary to

formulate a statement of expected results.
It is called the “HYPOTHESIS”.

 The hypothesis is a possible response to

the research question
 Formulating a Hypothesis cont.

 When the hypothesis is stated in the

negative way, it is called the null
hypothesis (H0, 虛無假設 ). The purpose of
the experiment is to determine whether the
null hypothesis can be rejected or not
 Formulating a Hypothesis cont.
 Example:
 Research question: "What impact has the
English lesson had on kindergarten
education“
 Null Hypothesis ( 虛無假設 ): there is no
impact the English lesson has on
kindergarten education.
 Alternative Hypothesis ( 對立假設 ): there is
positive (or negative) impact the English
lesson has on kindergarten education.