1. Driven by a question or problem that then guides the process.

2.  Seeking information with a clear goal in mind.

3. A process, which works best when done step- by-step. The steps may need to be repeated, as the process is reiterative.

4. Collection and interpretation of data in an attempt to resolve the problem or answer the question.

5. Going beyond facts and old ideas. 6. Taking a new look at the information and

taking a stand. rpc.elm4you.org

1. Just gathering information

2. Rearranging facts 3. Combining a paragraph from an encyclopedia with a couple of paragraphs from websites. That's plagiarism. 4. Rewording each phrase and citing each source. That's just a summary of facts with someone else's name on them. rpc.elm4you.org

The Process

1. What is the overriding problem (in one sentence)? 2. What is the population and sample that are affected by this problem? 3. What type of study will this be? 4. Will this study be qualitative or quantitative or other? 5. What type of methodology will be used? 6. What type of data will be collected? 7. What possible outcomes are expected? (Walden University)

The purpose section should be a simple paragraph that describes the intent of your study. It should flow directly from the problem statement. Two to three sentences are sufficient.

(Walden University)

The purpose of this _____ (quantitative, qualitative or mixed-design) study is to (understand, describe, develop, discover) the _____ (central focus for the study) for ______ (the unit of analysis, person, processes, groups, site).

Example: Study on Sickle Cell Disease and Attention Deficits

The purpose of this quantitative study is to identify attention deficits in children with sickle cell disease. For this experimental study, attention deficits will be assessed using measures of vigilance and impulsivity. (Walden University)

The following slide is a template to help draft the problem statement. It is a good place to start and you can edit to meet your unique needs. Remember problem statements have many credible sources.

(Walden University)

There is a problem in ___________(societal organization). Despite _________________ (something that should be happening) ___________ is occurring. This problem has negatively impacted ____________(victims of problem) because _________________. (sources) A possible cause of this problem is ___________. (sources) Perhaps a study which investigates ___________ by ________(method) could remedy the situation. _______ is becoming an increasingly significant issue in education (reference(s))

(reference(s)) has demonstrated that ______ has become a more significant issue in recent years, but the solution is unresolved.

In order to address _________, it is necessary to know more about ________. A study that uses ________ can help ____________.

(Walden University)

(Walden University)

1.  Use mind mapping to narrow down your topic.

2.  Draw a line from the main issue making that your sub topic

3.  Draw a line from the subtopic to make that your sub sub topic.

CONGRATULATIONS YOU JUST COMPLETED

CHAPTER ONE!