Oost 2006 – Research problems as a concept
Combine: methodology, epistemology, philosophy of science, formal logic, and linguistics
Theoretical approaches
Four theoretical approach to development and formulation of (scientific) research problems:
Approach Problem view Classification criterion
Disciplinary Mathematical; sociological What is reality in object to research
Justificational Theoretical; practical; social Motivation to solve a problem
Formal-logical Hypothesis Domain definition; variable / relationship
Methodical Description / explanation Strategy; function of the research
Second element of RQ: the discipline, the reason, the answer, the strategy
Functional and normative definition
Restricting our definition to the problem-as-final-product, that is to say, to the problem as it
is stated in a scientific text, the 6 main functions are: i) defining the subject within a
disciplinary domain, ii) formulating a theoretical or practical aim , iii) stating what is known
and what is unknown, iv) indicating research type and structure, v) unifying question,
discipline, reason, strategy and answer, vi) facilitating criticism and control
Research problems appear to be difficult to find / recognise. This has to do with the exposition
of research problems, that is to say, the way the problem is being presented in a text. In this
context, we distinguished four major variables:
- explicitness (communication direct or indirect)
- location (found in expected or unexpected place)
- spread (key information brought together or scattered)
- emphasis (question typographically marked or unmarked)
Quality standards of functions (and relationships):
- disciplinary embedding (question and disciplinary context)
- relevance (question and reason)
- precision (question and answer)
- methodical functionality (question and general strategy)
- consistency (mutual relationship between above mentioned structural elements)
- exposition (elements and text (or the reader))
, Structure model
To represent relationships between various elements visually tetrahedron
Research question as heart of conceptual network
Unite discipline, reason, answer, strategy both with the
question and another function
Network as whole expresses consistency criterion
Outward lines refer to the philosophical premises that a
research problem forms part of an expanded network of
superordinate, coordinate and subordinate problems
Elements (discipline, reason, strategy and answer) clarify concept ‘quality of research problem’
Relationships between the structural elements and the question (and between the mutual
structural elements) express criteria of ‘good research problem’ structure model is a
normative model
On basis conceptual analysis quality of a research problem in a scientific text is good when:
- Position research problem (inter)disciplinary context is clear (disciplinary embedding)
- Theoretical and/or social importance of the desired knowledge is greater (relevance)
- Linguistic elements of problem exploratory / explanatory stated (precision)
- Formulation of statement anticipates research function explicit (method functionality)
- Question, discipline, reason, strategy and answer fit logically (consistency)
- Research problem and structural are accessible, consequent, judgeable (exposition)
Oost 2006 – Disciplinary embedding
Clear how subject of research fits into the broader field of study; Present and defend content
related choices and presuppositions; theoretical context in theory chapter
Criteria
- field of study (type of science)
- research theme(s) of problem (context of research)
- choices and presuppositions concerning subject matter (assumptions)
- rationale for choices and presuppositions (justification of choices)
Method (specification):
- Clear: Are the steps you have taken in the process of specification clear?
- Complete: Are the steps you have taken complete?
- Logically consistent: Are the steps you have taken logically consistent?
- Adequate: Are all the steps when taken together adequate?
Combine: methodology, epistemology, philosophy of science, formal logic, and linguistics
Theoretical approaches
Four theoretical approach to development and formulation of (scientific) research problems:
Approach Problem view Classification criterion
Disciplinary Mathematical; sociological What is reality in object to research
Justificational Theoretical; practical; social Motivation to solve a problem
Formal-logical Hypothesis Domain definition; variable / relationship
Methodical Description / explanation Strategy; function of the research
Second element of RQ: the discipline, the reason, the answer, the strategy
Functional and normative definition
Restricting our definition to the problem-as-final-product, that is to say, to the problem as it
is stated in a scientific text, the 6 main functions are: i) defining the subject within a
disciplinary domain, ii) formulating a theoretical or practical aim , iii) stating what is known
and what is unknown, iv) indicating research type and structure, v) unifying question,
discipline, reason, strategy and answer, vi) facilitating criticism and control
Research problems appear to be difficult to find / recognise. This has to do with the exposition
of research problems, that is to say, the way the problem is being presented in a text. In this
context, we distinguished four major variables:
- explicitness (communication direct or indirect)
- location (found in expected or unexpected place)
- spread (key information brought together or scattered)
- emphasis (question typographically marked or unmarked)
Quality standards of functions (and relationships):
- disciplinary embedding (question and disciplinary context)
- relevance (question and reason)
- precision (question and answer)
- methodical functionality (question and general strategy)
- consistency (mutual relationship between above mentioned structural elements)
- exposition (elements and text (or the reader))
, Structure model
To represent relationships between various elements visually tetrahedron
Research question as heart of conceptual network
Unite discipline, reason, answer, strategy both with the
question and another function
Network as whole expresses consistency criterion
Outward lines refer to the philosophical premises that a
research problem forms part of an expanded network of
superordinate, coordinate and subordinate problems
Elements (discipline, reason, strategy and answer) clarify concept ‘quality of research problem’
Relationships between the structural elements and the question (and between the mutual
structural elements) express criteria of ‘good research problem’ structure model is a
normative model
On basis conceptual analysis quality of a research problem in a scientific text is good when:
- Position research problem (inter)disciplinary context is clear (disciplinary embedding)
- Theoretical and/or social importance of the desired knowledge is greater (relevance)
- Linguistic elements of problem exploratory / explanatory stated (precision)
- Formulation of statement anticipates research function explicit (method functionality)
- Question, discipline, reason, strategy and answer fit logically (consistency)
- Research problem and structural are accessible, consequent, judgeable (exposition)
Oost 2006 – Disciplinary embedding
Clear how subject of research fits into the broader field of study; Present and defend content
related choices and presuppositions; theoretical context in theory chapter
Criteria
- field of study (type of science)
- research theme(s) of problem (context of research)
- choices and presuppositions concerning subject matter (assumptions)
- rationale for choices and presuppositions (justification of choices)
Method (specification):
- Clear: Are the steps you have taken in the process of specification clear?
- Complete: Are the steps you have taken complete?
- Logically consistent: Are the steps you have taken logically consistent?
- Adequate: Are all the steps when taken together adequate?
