Research I: Conceptualization of a Study

Research Conceptualization

The process of deciding:

• what your study is about
• what questions you will ask
• how you will find the answers

It is guided by:

• theories
• research frameworks
• research approaches

Research Topic

The general area your study focuses on.

It must:

• be clear
• be interesting
• connect to readers
• appear in Chapter 1 of the paper

Literature Scan

This is your first reading stage.

You look for:

• what is already known
• disagreements in research
• missing information

This leads to your research problem.

Research Problem

The specific issue or gap your study will solve.

A good problem includes:

• what is wrong or missing
• who is affected
• why it matters
• proof it exists

Common mistake:
❌ Stating the solution ✔️ Stating the problem

Research Gap

A _ is what is missing in existing research.

Evidence Gap

type of gap where studies disagree

Knowledge Gap

type of gap where there is very little or no research

Practical-Knowledge Gap

type of gap where practice does not match research

Methodological Gap

type of gap where there are wrong or limited methods used

Empirical Gap

type of gap where there is no data-based testing

Theoretical Gap

type of gap where theory is outdated or weak

Population Gap

type of gap where there are certain groups not studied

Purpose Statement

Tells:

• what the study will do
• who it involves
• where it happens

Qualitative = explore, understand, describe
Quantitative = determine, measure, compare, relate

Research Questions

They guide what data you collect.

Qualitative = "How…?" "What…?"
Quantitative = relationship between variables