 How did the article affect you?

 How does this article catch the reader’s attention (or does it all)?
 Has the article changed your mind about something? If so, explain how.
 Has the article left you with any questions?
 Were there any unaddressed critical issues that didn’t appear in the article?
 Does the article relate to anything from your past reading experiences?
 Does the article agree with any of your past reading experiences?

Reflection Paper Example

The following is an example of a reflection paper I wrote for a university course in
response to an academic article on conflict resolution, found in the book Managing
Conflict in a World Adrift:

In “Understanding the Gendered Nature of Power,” Oudraat and Kuehnast explain how
peace theorists have fallen short in their analyses of the role of gender (and of women
especially). Because gender roles are a reflection of power dynamics within societies,
they can also serve as valuable indicators of dynamics within conflicts and post-conflict
processes.

The authors emphasize the importance of using international intervention wisely.

Although postconflict reconstruction might seem like an opportunity to rethink gender
norms and roles, it seems that postconflict programs tend more often to reproduce
gender norms that “no longer contribute productive approaches to society and escalate
social tensions.” While I think we should always strive to bring more opportunities to
women and eradicate gender biases, I agree with the authors that international actors
must “be attentive to the gendered nature of the societies in which they intervene.” We
have seen many cases where international intervention, although well-meaning, can end
up hurting a community even more by meddling without truly knowing the conditions of
a local situation.

One example of such misguided help is the campaign for “clean stoves” in African
villages, based on the idea that women are assaulted when they look for fuel and water
outside their camps. Providing clean stoves does nothing to address the root of the
problem (sexual violence), and in fact further confines women to their homes, while
many studies show that times of collecting water or other supplies are often critical
opportunities for women to communicate, socialize, exchange ideas, and so on. In many
cases it is the only time they will leave the home or village that day. The solution
proposed by the clean stoves campaign reminds me of the culture surrounding sexual
violence in the United States, where rather than working to attack the root causes of
such crimes, we instead teach women that it is unsafe to go out late, or to dress in a
certain way.

In order to make any progress, I agree with the authors when they suggest we need
qualitative data that capture the changing nature of societies coming out of war. We
must first identify the information we lack in order to move forward wisely and
effectively.

Reflection Paper Template

Reflection papers don’t really require a rigid structure—the most important thing is
that you communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. (Of course, if you received
specific guidelines from your instructor, you should stick to those.)
The following is a loose outline that you can use to guide you through your
reflection paper:
 Introduction: Introduce the material you’re reflecting on
 Include: Title, Author Name (or Director, Photographer, etc.).
 Briefly summarize the work and its main themes.
 Write a thesis that states the work’s overall impact on you.
 Body paragraphs: Support your thesis
 When relevant, include specific quotes or examples to support your claims.
 Explore your main reactions and thoughts after reviewing the material.
 Build connections to personal experiences and other works you’ve
encountered.
 Conclusion: Tie it all together
 Show how the ideas from your body paragraphs tie together to support your
thesis.
 Summarize the overall effect the material had on you.

There are several benefits of formulating a research problem. The actual research begins with the formulation of a
research problem. It makes you well aware of the tasks that you have to perform in order to accomplish the research.
Research is a process that you have to complete in a sequence. A research problem helps you formulate that
sequence. Research problem also helps you avoid unnecessary steps during the research.

1. A research problem is the preliminary step in conducting a research study. A research problem helps you
understand the research procedure in a better manner. Most beginners in research think that a research
problem is easy to formulate but in reality it is not so. A research problem needs great thought on the
part of the researcher in order to formulate a scientific research problem. A scientific research problem is
one that can be solved using scientific procedures.
2. In actual the purpose of the research problem is to determine the objective and intention of the research,
in the absence of an aim or objective you cannot determine the research methodology. A research
problem can help you identify each and every step of the research process: the study design, sampling
strategy, research instrument and research analysis.
3. The research problem should have great clarity since the research process in itself generates more
questions. In the absence of a clear and well defined research problem the researcher can become
confused. In addition the research question or research problem should have to be interesting so that the
researcher become well engaged in the research. The passion of the researcher in conducting the
research matters a lot in the research.
4. The research problem should have to be manageable within your resources, otherwise it will become
difficult for you to undertake it. You should know about the time, energy and money that you have in
order to design a manageable research.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR RESEARCHERS TO JUSTIFY A PROBLEM IN A STUDY

IN ORDER FOR READERS TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE SPECIFIC RESEARCH
AND OUTCOMES ARE IMPORTANT. IF THEY CAN’T JUSTIFY THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE PROBLEM, THEN NOBODY IS GOING TO CARE OR
CHANGE THEIR WAYS.

The Guidelines selection of researchable problem by Dr. Cham Tat Huei (Jayson), Assistant Professor and
Head of Programme (PhD & MPhil) at the Faculty of Accountancy and Management, Universiti Tunku
Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia. It is a basic guide by students and researchers in selecting researchable
problem in the field of research study. The importance of good selection of researchable problem can
make the research more effective, most critical and important part of all research project. It creates
readers interest and a link or connection between them and adding value to the current literature. And
finally, this serves as prerequisite on the success of the research.

The lecturer (Dr. Cham Tat Huei) in his guidelines selection of researchable problems describes problem
statement as a concise description of issue to be addressed or a condition to be improved upon. And a
situation or circumstance that requires a solution to be perceived, demonstrate or vaticinate. The
unsatisfactory situation that wants us to encounter. He demonstrates the importance of research
problem to establish a specified topic. He also explained this is the most critical part of all research
project and it creates readers interest. Furthermore, he explains on how the study will add value to the
current literature of readers. Moreover, he elaborates the difference between research problem and
problematic situation significantly.

In identifying where the research problem is located, one must consider questions such as what was the
issue or the problem to be addressed, the story behind the study, why the study was started by the
researcher and most significantly why the said study is important. There are quantitative and qualitative
method to be used in a research problem. If the study requires measurable values, assess the
relationship among variables test theories or wide explanations and applies result to a large population,
one may use quantitative research. But if the researcher wants to learn the view of the people plan to
be studied, and to evaluate a process over time as well as to generate theories based on participant’s
point of view as to obtain detailed information, it is called a qualitative research. Some ideas to consider
in creating a research problem are: the existing issues an organization needs to address, an area of
improvement of such person, theoretical topics that need further study to understand a certain
phenomenon or situation and be able to answer research questions analytically. A problem statement
should include establishing, relating and justification. There are five elements that are essential. Firstly,
the topic or subject area, next is the identified issue or concern, then the evidence from practical
experiences, followed by the deficiencies in the evidence and lastly would be the remedies. Attributes,
features and characteristic of a good problem statement should be formulated clearly, understandably
and adequately in terms of well-defined concept or idea relevant to the topic. It should not relate to
something uncertain or trivial, instead the theory must be clearly described and openly sets out
different points of view and assumptions. With all these, the opportunity that the study must be done
will convince the reader. Implications of good problem statement consists of right data analysis that
answers properly the research questions and objectives.

To sum up everything has been stated so far, the purpose of the research problem is to determine
the objective and intention of the research, in the absence of an aim or objective we cannot
determine the research methodology. A research problem can help us identify each and every
step of the research process such as the study design, sampling strategy, research instrument and
research analysis. the research problem should have great lucidity since the research process in
itself generates more questions. in the absence of a clear and well defined research problem the
researcher can become raddled. It is important for researchers to justify a problem in a study in
order for readers to understand why the specific research and outcomes are important. If they
can’t justify the importance of the problem, then nobody is going to care or change their way.
Like I said earlier, the importance of good selection of researchable problem can make the
research more effective.

To sum up everything has been stated so far, in determining the objective and intention of the
study is the purpose of the research problem. Methodology cannot be determined in the absence
of any of these. Process like study design, sampling strategy, research instrument and analysis
can be a great help in identifying each and every step of the research. It is also important for
researchers to justify a problem in the study in order for readers to understand why such specific
research and outcomes are important. Failing to justify the importance of the problem might lead
the readers not to care and change their way to accept and agree. To make everything short, the
importance of good and upright selection of a research problem can make the research more
effective and valuable for both researchers and readers.