Identifying Inquiry and Stating the Problem

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the essential components of identifying a research inquiry, including defining research problems, writing titles, and outlining the background, scope, and significance of a study.

Topic

The broad subject matter addressed by the study.

Research Problem

A general educational issue, concern, or controversy addressed in research that narrows the topic.

Purpose Statement

The major intent or objective of the study used to address the problem.

Research Question

A component that narrows the purpose into specific questions that the researcher would like answered or addressed in the study.

Research Title Guidelines

Standard requirements for a title including listing key variables, being concise (no more than $12$ to $15$ words), and using scientific or technical style without explicitly referring to the research design.

Background of the Study

The description that leads the reader to understanding the research questions and appreciate why they are asked, typically summarizing unresolved issues or research gaps.

Narrative Hook

A function in the opening paragraph of the Background of the Study that draws the reader into the study by sparking interest or using statistical data.

Attention Span

The amount of concentrated time a person can spend on a task without becoming distracted, which Microsoft found dropped from $12$ seconds to $8$ seconds since the year $2000$.

Statement of the Problem

The section of a research paper that contains the purpose statements and the specific research questions to be answered.

Significance of the Study

A section that states the audience who will benefit from a study of the problem and explains how exactly the results will be significant to them.

Scope and Delimitation

Presents the coverage of the research in terms of location, time, respondents, and the potential weaknesses or boundaries identified by the researcher.

Delimitations

The boundaries of the research study based on the researcher's decision of what to include and what to exclude.

Limitations

Characteristics of the research design or methodology that are out of the researcher's control but influence the research outcome.

Beneficiaries

Specific groups of people (e.g., students, parents, administrators) who will gain from the findings of a research study.

Research Gap

The highlight of the last paragraph of the Background of the Study that identifies what is missing in current literature or knowledge.