Isadore Newman|Duane Covrig
Building consistency between title, problem statement, purpose, &amp; research questions to improve the quality of research plans and reports
Florida International University|Andrews University
new horizons adult education human resource developmentvolume 25 issue 1 p 7079 writers forumfree access building consistency title problem statement purpose research questions improve quality research plans reports isadore newman corresponding author isadore newman newmanifiuedu florida international universityflorida international university college education miami fl 33199search papers authorduane covrig duane covrig andrews universitysearch papers author isadore newman corresponding author isadore newman newmanifiuedu florida international universityflorida international university college education miami fl 33199search papers authorduane covrig duane covrig andrews universitysearch papers author first published 30 january 2013 httpsdoiorg101002nha20009citations 9aboutsectionspdf toolsrequest permissionexport citationadd favoritestrack citation shareshare give accessshare full text accessshare fulltext accessplease review terms conditions use check box share fulltext version articlei read accept wiley online library terms conditions useshareable linkuse link share fulltext version article friends colleagues learn morecopy url share linkshare onfacebooktwitterlinked inredditwechat abstract consistency title problem purpose research question improve logic transparency research components research aligned research design planning coherent research reports readablethis article reviews process checking improving consistencynumerous examples consistency among four components research provided ways remove inconsistency outlined graphic rubric worksheet provided help researchers evaluate work give feedback research work others good research plan report including dissertation three basic characteristics qualities regardless topic research methods common characteristics consistency components research plan report logical trail evidence transparency reporting consistency logic transparency crucial research reports researchers tend focus content methodological concerns need look work three qualities conceptualize organize report findings way convinces readers working three qualities research helps clarify data selected collected coded analyzed interpreted way answer research questions researchers must focus three qualities throughout research process reports crucial present start first steps important designing plan reporting readers research starts attending three beginning process improves final product report written getting consistency logic transparency first several pages report helps reader trust research systematic obvious consistency logical evidence flow ideas arguments honest statements interpretations show transparency strengthen research focus one three qualities consistency also focus first four stages research1 title 2 problem 3 purpose 4 research questions establishing polishing hammering consistency first steps stages research plan believe logic transparency easier create rest research resulting report higher quality consistency saves lot sidetracking areas aligned topic backtracking wrong directions force someone go back clarify inconsistency wasted reading even need recollect data address title purpose study also focus consistency easier researcher pull together logical evidence transitions show transparency study starts clear focused direction present examples explanations achieve logical alignment first four steps sections conclude discussion small rubric developed help evaluate improve consistency report consistency first four steps research consistency logical alignment title purpose problem research question process begins researcher clearly identifies concepts constructs interest focuses constructs reading literature help formulate topic problem purpose work title contains main ideas guide researchers thinking titles capture researchers intent makes clear reader expect manuscript good title helps researcher start planning project may help focusing literature review research methods may appropriate well written title conceptualizes problem therefore serve advanced organizer researcher reader eventually title gets published serves means attracting others read research main item searched read library data bases careful wording title facilitates researchers finding selecting topics interest dont let apparent simplicity writing title fool requires thoughtful consideration best reflect intent research may facilitated getting feedback colleagues title means conveys interpretation coincide researchers intent rewrite necessary seen researchers rewrite titles multiple times throughout dissertationmanuscript process titles also change researcher fully develops study title development iterative process researcher continually refines potentially modifies throughout course work fact even publication often consider would change titles titles manuscripts helped better reflect intended purpose research despite fact titles change time spent beginning polish title better gives key words relationships include problem purpose questions data plans power title summarizes iterative process works keep researcher track makes good title wellwritten title viewed summary summary conceptualizes names key unique components research plan data findings helpful consider four ws one h formulating title words important words title report main variables constructs focus study trust literacy leadership behaviors etc one two three main variables need title many equally important variables title may summarize topical word like socioeconomic factors relational variables etc words tell reader person groups data collected studied k4 paraprofessionals 7thgrade science teachers secondary school guidance counselors university student service administrators adult learners human resource development practitioners etc words title tell places study done could mix proper general place names example california k8 rural district northeastern us urban juvenile detention centers increase use global research even generic types places like schools need detailed description private colleges helpful better actually catholic liberal arts college united states better identifies data gathered three important elements include phrases words title however times two lesser important components may also title words added titles frame specific periods data collected especially evident historical research reporting years like study college presidents 18881920 could based monthly weekly daily factors like monday morning tardies among school teachers connected issues well especially studies targeting issues development like teaching material development teachers initial first five years teaching words tell study research design way structured andor data collected important researchers may looking findings based specific types data collection analysis wording added titles would like historical case study focus group interviews delphi analysis technique reference statistical techniques especially techniques imply specific types data collection processing also useful tell readers data collected used believe titles either wording majority also four five elements one factors working including title space limitations titles get long distract cohesiveness attempts thorough must balanced attempts succinct many novice researchers shocked length research titles however search databases notice trend toward making research article titles much longer titles magazine articles trade books titles 12 20 words common titles show good structure van dyke 2010 titled study cosmological beliefs origins related science achievement among junior high school students south bend indiana title thorough longer four elements elements dominate title cosmological beliefs origins science achievement science achievement measured state test scores well preand post unit tests science book individual items grouped one major construct named science achievement factors mix socioeconomic well school teacher factors naming would added words already crowded title junior high students south bend indiana physical proper place well afterschool school science unit program place study used path analysis model correlations added title crittendon 2009 comprehensive title mixedmethod analyses federal court decisions 19802007 involving race sex discrimination title vii civil rights act 1964 faculty tenure denial decisions higher education shows first phrase mixedmethod analyses suggest qualitative quantitative data collected detailed race sex discrimination federal course case decisions related faculty tenure 19802007 could inferred federal judiciary higher education implied us lindemers 2006 title development rating scales measure quality preschool literacy environments validity study start end focus methodological processes suggest technical manipulation data indicates even evident phrases developingscales validity study literacy environments preschools could also included done us certain region state even done within public school private school context goudys 2005 title teacher trust building principals contextual relationship school climate k4 buildings goodwins 1985 title relationship maternal employment psychological constructs self concept family orientation clearly informs reader show focus studies even though suggested elements however titles clearly describe intent research investigations section first sections research proposal typically introduction background purpose problem statements report done section answers sowhat cares question introduces need importance study sometimes section called purpose sometimes labeled background problem also seen presented introduction ending problem statement actual name important content section section connects reader relevant literature data trends related information frames basic need justification study presents researchers analytical thinking previous research weaves literature together create basic argument warrant research proposed johnson christensen 2000 described section follows studies problem statement tends stated purpose research study regardless whether make exact statement research problem statement purpose research statement needs made making ensures good grasp specific problem wish investigate providing specifications studys purpose outset also advantage guiding research process p47 maxwell loomis 2003 discuss writing section suggest asking addressing question study worth say purposes personal practical intellectual three kinds purposes influence rest research design p 245 section introduces states importance significance study even may covered depth later section research manuscript wellwritten section reviews main literature shows researcher knowledgeable done field clearly states research fills gap addresses examined area full literature review dissertation separate chapter journal articles also separate section section appropriately justifies need conduct research readers need keep reading report also explained based upon empirical arguments andor theoretical needs made clear study makes contribution practice andor development theory example types purposes justify study presented newman ridenour newman demarco jr 2003 present least nine purposes research purposes related 1 improving prediction 2 increasing knowledge base 3 social organizational institutional impact 4 measuring change improvement 5 helping one understand complex phenomena 6 testing evaluating new ideas theories 7 generating new hypotheses theories 8 informing multiple stakeholders 9 understanding past events example may help lindemers 2006 study development rating scale measure quality preschool literacy environments validity study several components statement argues quality preschool literacy instruction crucial childrens later academic success also explained need provide quality literacy experiences preschool vital time literacy learning preschool literacy development complex requires knowledgeable educators order foster optimal literacy development p 6 lindemer gives multiple references support contention important look learning environment improve students learning quoting hallahan kauffman 2005 two experts field early childhood literacy example one researcher justified need study able use current literature support argument able answer question study needed specifically case demonstrated need development reliable valid instrument measure preschool literacy environments arguments study needed supported relevant literature consistent title often one adds justifications material explanations sections grow one two page explanations five even pages manuscript dissertation four five pages necessary typically whole chapter devoted literature review frequently presents background theory relevant literature related topic interest often reader needs summarized shorter statement sometimes presented purpose statement may identified authors problem statement whichever term used researcher must consistent defined use confused statement explaining researcher going example lindemer 2006 succinctly states time study minimal validity estimates reported scales good psychometric estimates assess preschool literacy environments p 7 statement along literature review indicated need justification research illustrates short statement goudys 2005 dissertation teacher trust building principals contextual relationship school climate k4 buildings also illustrates consistency title section underlying premise study suggests patterns school climate measured school climate survey national association secondary school principals could predicted faculty trust principal measured omnibus trust survey thus assumed faculty trust principal would directly related leadership behavior principal faculty trust colleagues would directly related open supportive interactions among teachers trust critical ingredient human learningcitations several authors givenalthough discussion implies climate promotes trust also likely trust facilitates development openness p 2trust integral element patternmaintenance citations given therefore reasonable expect elements school climate inherently expressive character associated trust citations given showing link literaturethe concept trust allows individuals focus tasks hand work learn effectively consequence trust productive relationships builds effective schools citations p 35 section justifies variables chosen investigated states study needed section title shows main constructs relationship section justifies importance study section tells reader researcher carryout study planning explains done fill gap solve problem created reporting tells done address need continue lindemer example gap needed filled absence valid measures quality preschool literary environments study develop evaluation scale measures quality literacy environment preschool centerbased programsand gather validity estimates scale types validity estimates include content expert judge concurrent p 67 informs reader address stated need experience statement frequently one paragraph two link longer section next section research questions remember transition sections checking consistency means ideasconcepts previous section aligned ideas next section spend significant time justifying concepts section simply listing mentioning section sufficient guide reader questions research questions research questions follow title statements key words evident key relationships outlined reflected questions goal data collection clear questions research questions shorter sections example statement could study investigate difference college freshman males females reported selfefficacy science naturally lead general research questions reported selfefficacy college freshman males females science quantitative research often built hypotheses research questions could written nondirectional hypotheses like difference college freshman males females reported selfefficacy science directional hypothesis prediction freshman college males report significantly higher selfefficacy science freshman college females variables present title important section part statements show research subquestions example age education variables crucial research influence selfefficacy research subquestion would difference males females selfefficacy independent age difference males females selfefficacy independent education etc consistency title statements research questions necessary good research obviously later sections dissertation usually chapter 3 methods section questions would turned hypotheses directional nondirectional would generally presented greater detail one would find introduction research questions hypotheses goudys dissertation trust would relationship teacher trust principal teacher overall perceptions school climate hypothesis could relationship teacher trust principal teacher overall perceptions school climate measured national association secondary school principals nassp school climate survey case actual name measurement instrument used hypothesis statement instrument would described detail chapter 3 dissertation methods section article figure 1 conceptualization relationship title purpose problem research questions designed visually facilitate understanding elements interrelated please keep mind researchers conceptualize problem others conceptualize also true define purpose statement consistent use terms within researchers manuscript crucial figure 1open figure viewerpowerpoint building consistency title problem purpose research questions pulling together using rubric researcher completes journey title research questions go back title make sure key concepts sections included refine title accordingly facilitate logical flow iterative process seeking alignment throughout research improves consistency final project table 1 represents simple rubric help researchers process table 1 consistency rubric area best good needs improvement title 34 elements show study parsimonious generally less 25 words 3 elements describe study 3 elements parsimonious 25 words one two elements study researchers call section problem study others call purpose important consistent use terms within manuscript contains clear explanation need importance study contains clear purpose study less sufficient relevant literature trends data contains ambiguous purpose study minimal relevant literature data information lacks justification study shows clear connection relevant literature data trends related information justify study create strong argument research able connect relevant literature data information purpose fails create strong argument study study lacks basic argument proposed research researchers call section problem study others call purpose important consistent use terms within manuscript contains excellent clearly stated plan followed data collection method study fill gap solve problem contains fairly clear plan followed data collection method study fill gap solve problem contains poor plan followed data collection method study fill gap solve problem research questions contains key variables shows relationships statements study contains variables shows relationships statements study contains variables show relationships statements study overall key words title reflected section section research questions key words title reflected section section research questions key words title reflected section section research questions final example avolio 1982 help demonstrate use rubric title good try show even creation improvements possible way research title selected aspects impulsivity relationship juvenile delinquency first thing note title short frequently dissertation titles longer words refer relationship impulsivity juvenile delinquency since impulsivity juvenile delinquency attributes variables cannot generally manipulated therefore research design inferred ex post fact hypotheses hypotheses inferred title impulsivity predicting juvenile delinquency also know minor aspect avolio looking relationship variables title dont know believed directional relationship know design ex post facto analysis correlational however dont know type correlations simple correlations multiple regression simple path analyses structural equation modeling multiple discriminant analysis canonical correlations etc know studied juvenile delinquents specificity could given well also dont know study done title could informative simply adding colon end title information multiple discriminative analysis andor adding general location year research conducted statements precise possible delinquents whole impulsive nondelinquent populationsit unrealistic assume delinquents highly impulsive compared nondelinquent populationsdue past research impact impulsivity contribution juvenile delinquency remains unclear citations given need research type clear counselor tools knowledge properly assess person whose style behavior dominated impulsivity provided valuable information least two ways p 3 statement study systematically examined factors impulsivity relationship juvenile delinquencythere many measures concept impulsivity factor analysis various scales indicates measure thingthe present study attempted correct methodological errors following manner p 2 example one general research hypotheses followed consistent sections knowledge total impulsivity impulse control risk taking delay gratification account significant amount variance predicting type crime committed title would descriptive indicated also investigating relationship impulsivity type crime committed juvenile delinquents would add information research conclusion research hard work perfect research building consistency research plan reflecting alignment title purpose problem research questions greatly improve quality research article designed help researcher understand importance consistency presented model help one reflect improve evaluate consistency research principles ideas presented also applied sections research report increase likelihood consistency title first three major sections research extend alignment sections manuscript references avolio b 1982 selected aspects impulsivity relationship juvenile delinquency doctoral dissertation university akron akron oh 1982 google scholar crittendon j 2009 mixedmethods analyses federal court decisions 19802007 involving race sex discrimination title vii civil rights act 1964 faculty tenure denial decisions higher education doctoral dissertation andrews university berrien springs mi 2009 google scholar goodwin p 1985 relationship maternal employment psychological constructs selfconcept family orientation doctoral dissertation univers