![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education Book Cover](/sites/dl/free/0072532491/title/fw_sm.gif) How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education, 5/e Jack R. Fraenkel,
San Francisco State University Norman E. Wallen,
San Francisco State University
The Research Problem
Main PointsResearch Problems - A research problem is the focus of a research investigation.
Research Questions - Many research problems are stated as questions.
- The essential characteristic of a researchable question is that there is some sort of information that can be collected in an attempt to answer the question.
Characteristics of Good Research Questions - Research questions should be feasible -- that is, capable of being investigated with available resources.
- Research questions should be clear -- that is, unambiguous.
- Research questions should be significant -- that is, worthy of investigation.
- Research questions often (although not always) suggest a relationship to be investigated. The term "relationship," as used in research, refers to a connection or association between two or more characteristics or qualities.
Defining Terms in Research - Three commonly used ways to clarify ambiguous or unclear terms in a research question involve the use of constitutive (dictionary-type) definitions; definition by example, and operational definitions.
- A constitutive definition uses additional terms to clarify meaning.
- An operational definition describes how examples of a term are to be measured or identified.
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