Defining Research Problems

Defining Research Problems

• Understanding Research Problems: Research is about solving problems, which can be either practical (requiring action to change the world) or conceptual (requiring research to better understand the world).  

• The Difference Between Practical and Conceptual Problems: Practical problems are solved by taking action to fix a tangible issue, while conceptual problems are solved by conducting research to gain a better understanding of a topic or question.  

• The Importance of Consequences: The consequences of not solving a problem determine its significance. For practical problems, the consequence is a tangible cost, such as financial loss or damage. For conceptual problems, the consequence is a lack of understanding that hinders further knowledge.  

• "Pure" vs. "Applied" Research: Pure research aims to solve conceptual problems with no direct application to daily life, while applied research addresses conceptual problems with practical consequences.  

• Finding a Good Research Problem: Identifying a good research problem is crucial. It should be something that others in your field care about and that has the potential to generate new knowledge or understanding.  

• Working with Problems: Learning to work with problems involves not only finding and defining them but also articulating their significance and potential impact on your field.  

Example:

The research questions I formulated in Chapter 1 point to a central problem: the knowledge gap in understanding how Ishiguro crafts Klara's narrative voice to explore the nature of consciousness and human relationships in Klara and the Sun.  This is a conceptual problem that requires literary analysis and interpretation to solve.  The consequence of not addressing this problem is an incomplete understanding of Ishiguro's novel and its contribution to the ongoing literary conversation about artificial intelligence and the human condition.  By exploring how Klara's narrative voice is constructed, I aim to contribute to a deeper appreciation of the novel's artistic achievement and its exploration of complex themes.   

Preparation Activity: From Questions to a Problem

Reading: Chapter 2: From Questions to a Problem

Instructions:

1. Review Your Research Questions: Revisit the research questions you developed in the previous class. Select one or two that you are most interested in pursuing for your thesis.

2. Identify the Problem: For each selected research question, articulate the underlying research problem. What is the knowledge gap or misunderstanding that your question seeks to address? Is it a practical problem (requiring action) or a conceptual problem (requiring understanding)?

3. Articulate the Consequences: Explain the consequences of not addressing the research problem. What is the larger significance of your question? How does answering it contribute to a better understanding of your field or topic?

4. Consider Practical Applications (if relevant): If your research problem has potential practical applications, briefly describe them. How might your research inform or improve real-world practices or situations?

5. Submission: Based on your analysis, refine your research questions and problem statements to ensure clarity, specificity, and significance. Reflect on the potential challenges and opportunities you foresee in addressing this research problem. Length: No specific word count, but provide detailed and well-developed responses.

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Class Outline: From Questions to a Problem

Objectives:

• Deepen students' understanding of research problems in the humanities.

• Guide students in transforming their research questions into well-defined problems.

• Foster critical thinking and discussion around the significance and implications of research problems.

Activities:

1. Recap and Review 

   • Briefly review the concept of research questions from the previous week.

   • Connect research questions to the broader concept of research problems.

2. Understanding Research Problems

   • Introduce the distinction between practical and conceptual problems.

   • Explain the two-part structure of research problems: condition and consequences.

   • Provide examples of research problems from various humanities disciplines.

   • Facilitate discussion on the characteristics and significance of strong research problems.

3. Identifying the Problem

   • Students work individually or in pairs to identify the research problems underlying their selected research questions.

   • Professor circulates to provide guidance and feedback.

   • Encourage students to articulate the knowledge gap or misunderstanding their research seeks to address.

4. Articulating Consequences and Significance 

   • Students share their research problems and discuss the consequences of not addressing them.

   • Focus on articulating the larger significance and potential impact of their research.

   • Encourage students to consider both conceptual and practical implications (if relevant).

5. Wrap-up and Preview 

   • Summarise key takeaways from the session, emphasising the importance of clearly defining research problems.

   • Preview the topics for the next class: "Finding and Evaluating Sources."

Reading for Next Week: Chapter 3: Finding and Evaluating Sources