Chapter 2.PDF Research
Chapter 2.PDF Research
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5. Applicability:- in applied research, the concern is obviously with whether or not the findings of the study
would be applied to resolution /amelioration of practical problems. Thought should be given to the
chances of implementing findings.
6. Cost-effectiveness:- are the resources that are to be expended on the study worthwhile given the results
that we expect?
7. Timeliness:- will the findings be available in time for us (or policy-makers) to make the necessary
decisions for action?
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suitable problems by the researchers, especially for the beginners. These include limited knowledge of the
research process, unfamiliarity with the areas in which the research is needed, or lack of readiness for
problem selection, etc..
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The importance of subject, and the training of researcher, the costs involved, the time factor are few other
criteria that must also be considered in selecting a problem. In other words, before the final selection of
problem is done a researcher must ask himself or herself the following questions. Whether he/she is well
equipped in terms of his/ her background to carry out the research? Whether the study falls within the
budget he/she can afford? Whether the necessary cooperation can be obtained from those who must
participate in research as subjects? If the answers to all these questions are in the affirmative, one may
become sure so far as the practicability of the study is concerned.
7. Preliminary Study: The selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary study. Particularly
study. Particularly when the field of inquiry is relatively new and does not have available a set of well-
developed techniques, a brief feasibility study not have available be undertaken.
To sum up, the research problem undertaken for study must be carefully selected. The problem selected
must involve the researcher and must have an uppermost place in his/her mind so that he/she may
undertake all pains needed for the study.
The following rules serve as the prerequisites for the definition of a problem.
1. Be sure that the topic chosen is neither too narrow nor too broad in scope.
2. To make the problem clearer and more understandable, state it as question, this requires a definite
answer.
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3. Carefully state the limits of the problem, eliminating all aspects which will not be considered in the
study.
4. Define any special terms or concepts that must be used in the statement of the problem.
5. Definition of the problem involves the theatrical basis and underlying assumptions, and the research
question s.
6. A good statement of a problem must clarify what is to be determined or solved it must restrict the
scope of the study to specific and workable research questions. The most important step in this
direction is to specify the variables involved in the questions and define them in operational tams.
A good example of a research problem typically could be: “An analysis of the performance of high school
Geography students in Addis Ababa”.
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4. Is the Problem Feasible for The Particular Researcher? In addition to the above-stipulate points, the
feasibility of the research problem should also be examined from the point of view of the researcher’s
personal aspects as stated hereunder.
a) Researcher Competence: The problem should be in an area in which the researcher is qualified and
competent. Before indulging into investigation of the problem, the researcher has to make sure that
he/she is well acquainted with the existing theories. Concepts and laws relate to the problem. He/she
must also possess the necessary skills and competencies that may be needed to develop, administer,
and interpret. The necessary data-gathering tools. What is more, he/she needs to consider whether he
has the necessary knowledge of research design and statistical procedure that may be required to carry
out the research through its completion.
b) Interest and Enthusiasm: The researcher has to make sure that the problem really interests him/her.
He/she must also be truly enthusiastic about the problem. If the problem is chosen properly by
observing these point, the research will not be a boring drudgery, rather it will be love’s lab our.
c) Financial Considerations: Research is an expensive endeavor which requires a great deal of money
to invest. In this regard, the researcher should ascertain whether he/she has the necessary financial
resources to curry on the investigation of the selected problem. An estimate of the expenditure
involved in data-gathering equipment, printing test materials, travel, and clerical assistance needs to be
specified. Furthermore, the possible sources of fund must be consulted ahead if time.
d) Time Requirements: Research should be undertaken within a given scope of time, which was
allocated with careful analysis of the prevailing situations. Each and every activity of a research
process requires time, particularly; it is worthwhile to plan for the time that will be needed for the
development and administration of tolls, processing and analysis of data, and writing of the research
report. While allocating time for a research project, care should be taken for the researcher’s other
engagements or commitments, the respondents’ accessibility, the expiry data of the required dare, etc.
e) Administrative Considerations: The researcher has to pay to all administrative matters that are
necessary to bring his/her study to its full completion. In this regard, the researcher should consider the
kinds of data, equipment, specialized personnel, and administrative facilities that are needed to
complete the study successfully. The researcher must assure whether the pertinent data are available
and accessible to him/her.
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2.6. The Hypotheses
Once the selection and definition of the problem have been accomplished, the derivation of working
hypotheses is the most important step in the research process.
The foregoing examples entail that research hypotheses need to be value-neutral and be capable of being
proven right or wrong on the basis of empirical evidence. Suppose a researcher plans to conduct research on
the following topic. “ Factors that contribute to lower achievement in ESLCE by female students than
male students in Tigray Regional state”. To search for the prevailing factors that affect the performance of
females more adversely than the performance of males, the researcher may suggest the following hypotheses.
1. Female students receive significantly less support to their education than that of their male counterparts.
2. Female students sustain significantly higher fashion role stereotypes in schools than do their male
counterparts. It should be noted that these hypotheses are taken as tentative solutions to the problem with
the understanding that the investigation in due course may lead either to their retention or rejection.
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freshmen are more politically conservative than college seniors, suggesting a correlation between year
in school and political belief. Such hypothesis could be used either to replicate the past studies or to
extend the test of a familiar hypothesis to a sample of person with different characteristics (E.g
College students in other country)
Hypotheses may also be generated through direct analysis of data in the field or may be deduced from a
formal theory, through attentive reading the researcher may be able to get acquainted with relevant
theories, principles and facts that may alert him/her to identify valid hypotheses for his/her study.
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Null and Alternative Hypotheses
Research Hypothesis (Alternative Hypothesis): is generally what the analyst tries to prove or support by
gathering evidence. In statistics, this is called the alternative hypothesis, also known as the research
hypothesis (symbol H1).
Null hypothesis (symbol H0), are the hypothesis that complements the alternative or hypothesis of equality..
The statistical hypothesis statements are written as follows:
Ho: this is the null hypothesis (non-directional hypothesis)
H1: this is the alternative hypothesis( positive or negative hypothesis)
The null hypothesis (Ho) is a non-directional hypothesis that contains the equal sign, thus it is sometimes
referred to as the hypothesis of no difference or no effect
The alternative hypothesis (H1) is directional hypothesis that can be referred as the hypothesis of making
difference or has effect. It stands against the null hypothesis either in positively or negatively. This hypothesis
has to be tested through factual evidences so that whether reject or fail to reject the null.
If we reject the null hypothesis, we do so in favor of the alternative because the evidence we have gathered
supports the alternative. If we fail to reject the null hypothesis, we have insufficient evidence to support the
alternative. Thus the null hypothesis "presumes innocence until proven guilty."
In general, when a researcher makes a positive statement about the outcome of the study, the hypothesis takes
the declarative form. When the researcher makes a statement that no significant difference exists, the
hypothesis takes the null form. It is important for the researcher to formulate hypotheses before data are
gathered. This is necessary for an objective and unbiased study.
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This means that hypotheses should be clearly stated, considering the nature of the research problem. Example: The
average productivity of wheat at the national level is 40 quintal/ha. To evaluate Ambo district wheat productivity, from
120 smallholder farmer selected on random basis the average productivity was 33 quintal/ha. The district wants to know
if there is a significant difference between the local production and the national production. In such a situation the
hypotheses may be stated as under:
Null hypothesis H0: µ = 40
Alternative Hypothesis Ha: µ = 33
Note: The formulation of hypotheses indicates whether we should use a one-tailed test or a two-tailed test. If Ha is of
the type greater than (or of the type lesser than), we use a one-tailed test, but when Ha is of the type “whether greater or
smaller” then we use a two-tailed test.
2. Set up suitable significance level
The hypotheses are tested on a pre-determined level of significance and as such the same should be specified. Generally,
in practice, either 5% level or 1% level of significance is adopted widely.
3. Determine suitable test statistics
The choice generally remains between normal distribution and the t-distribution.
4. Determine the critical region
To determine the critical region, two-tailed and one tailed test are quite important. A two-tailed test rejects the null
hypothesis if, say, the sample mean is significantly higher or lower than the hypothesized value of the mean of the
population. Such a test is appropriate when the null hypothesis is some specified value and the alternative hypothesis is
a value not equal to the specified value of the null hypothesis. Symbolically, the two tailed test is appropriate when we
have H0: = H0 and Ha: H0 which may mean H0 or H0. Thus, in a two-tailed test, there are two rejection
regions*, one on each tail of the curve which can be illustrated as under:
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Rejection Region R: Z ≥ 1.96
If the significance level is 5 per cent and the two-tailed test is to be applied, the probability of the rejection area will be
0.05 (equally splitted on both tails of the curve as 0.025) and that of the acceptance region will be 0.95 as shown in the
above curve. If we take µ = 100 and if our sample mean deviates significantly from 100 in either direction, then we shall
reject the null hypothesis; but if the sample mean does not deviate significantly from , in that case we shall accept the
null hypothesis.
But there are situations when only one-tailed test is considered appropriate. A one-tailed test would be used when the
population mean is either lower than or higher than some hypothesized value. For instance, if our H 0: µ= µ H0 and Ha:
µ<µH 0, then we are interested in what is known as left-tailed test (where in there is one rejection region only on the left
tail) which can be illustrated as below: and H0: = H0 and Ha: H 0 , we are then interested in what is known as one
tailed test (right tail)
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null hypothesis (i.e., accept the alternative hypothesis), but if the calculated probability is greater, then accept
the null hypothesis.
Difficulties in formulating Hypothesis test:
Difficulties in the Formation of Useful Hypothesis: The following are the difficulties in the formation of
hypothesis:
1. Absence of knowledge of a clear theoretical framework.
2. Lack of ability to make use of the theoretical framework logically.
3. Lack of acquaintance with available research technique resulting in failure to be able to phrase the
hypothesis properly.
2.2.1. Parametric and non parametric Tests
For numerical data, it is important to decide if they follow the parameters of the normal distribution curve
(Gaussian curve), in which case parametric tests are applied. If distribution of the data is not normal or if one
is not sure about the distribution, it is safer to use non-parametric tests.
Important parametric tests: The important parametric tests are: z-test, t-test, F-test, etc. All these tests are
based on the assumption of normality i.e., the source of data is considered to be normally distributed. In some
cases the population may not be normally distributed, yet the tests will be applicable on account of the fact
that we mostly deal with samples and the sampling distributions closely approach normal distributions.
a. z-test: is based on the normal probability distribution and is used for judging the significance of several
statistical measures, particularly the mean. z-test is generally used for comparing the mean of a sample to
some hypothesized mean for the population in case of large sample, or when population variance is
known. z-test is also used for judging the significance of difference between means of two independent
samples in case of large samples, or when population variance is known. z-test is also used for comparing
the sample proportion to a theoretical value of population proportion or for judging the difference in
proportions of two independent samples when n happens to be large. Besides, this test may be used for
judging the significance of median, mode, coefficient of correlation and several other measures.
b. t-test: The t-test enables us to see whether two samples are different when you have data that are
continuous and normally distributed. The test allows you to compare the means and standard deviations
of the two groups to see whether there is a statistically significant difference between them. It is based on
t-distribution and is considered an appropriate test for judging the significance of a sample mean or for
judging the significance of difference between the means of two samples in case of small sample(s) when
population variance is not known (in which case we use variance of the sample as an estimate of the
population variance). In case two samples are related, we use paired t-test (or what is known as difference
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test) for judging the significance of the mean of difference between the two related samples. It can also be
used for judging the significance of the coefficients of simple and partial correlations. The relevant test
statistic, t, is calculated from the sample data and then compared with its probable value based on t-
distribution (to be read from the table that gives probable values of t for different levels of significance for
different degrees of freedom) at a specified level of significance for concerning degrees of freedom for
accepting or rejecting the null hypothesis. It may be noted that t-test applies only in case of small
sample(s) when population variance is unknown.
c. F-test: is based on F-distribution and is used to compare the variance of the two-independent samples.
This test is also used in the context of analysis of variance (ANOVA) for judging the significance of more
than two sample means at one and the same time. It is also used for judging the significance of multiple
correlation coefficients. Test statistic, F, is calculated and compared with its probable value (to be seen in
the F-ratio tables for different degrees of freedom for greater and smaller variances at specified level of
significance) for accepting or rejecting the null hypothesis.
Non parametric Tests: Nonparametric tests have some distinct advantages. Outcomes that are ordinal,
ranked, subject to outliers or measured imprecisely are difficult to analyze with parametric methods. With
outcomes such as those described above, nonparametric tests may be the only way to analyze these data. Non
parametric do not assume that the data is normally distributed.
Reasons to Use Nonparametric Tests
If have ordinal data, frequency counts, ranked data, or
When there are outliers that you can’t remove
When the assumptions are not met, specifically: Normality and Homogeneity of variance
Important non parametric tests
a. 2 –test: the chi-squared test is used with categorical data to see whether any difference in frequencies
between your sets of results is due to chance. It is based on chi-square distribution and as a parametric test is
used for comparing a sample variance to a theoretical population variance. 2 - test is also used as a test of
goodness of fit and also as a test of independence in which case it is a non-parametric test.
b. Spearman Rank correlation: Used when you want to find a correlation between two sets of data
c. Mann–Whitney U-test: The Mann–Whitney U-test is similar to the t-test. It is used when comparing
ordinal data (i.e data that can be ranked or has some sort of rating scale) that are not normally distributed. This
test is used to determine whether two independent samples have been drawn from the same population.
Research Questions
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Before you begin writing a grant proposal, take some time to map out your research strategy. A good first step
is to formulate a research question.
A Research Question is a statement that identifies the phenomenon to be studied. For example, “What
resources are helpful to new and minority drug abuse researchers?”
To develop a strong research question from your ideas, you should ask yourself these things:
Do I know the field and its literature well?
What are the important research questions in my field?
What areas need further exploration?
Could my study fill a gap? Lead to greater understanding?
Has a great deal of research already been conducted in this topic area?
Has this study been done before? If so, is there room for improvement?
Is the timing right for this question to be answered? Is it a hot topic, or is it becoming obsolete?
Would funding sources be interested?
If you are proposing a service program, is the target community interested?
Most importantly, will my study have a significant impact on the field?
✓ Use “Wh” question is setting your research question
✓ Avoid usage of Yes or No questions
✓ To make the research manageable the average number of basic research question should be 3-5.
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