DATA MGT THUR R AND SOFTWARE AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
- 1. Nazmun Naher (she/her), Associate Professor nazmun.naher@bigm.edu.bd Samira Tasnim Research Associate Samira.Tasnim@bigm.edu.bd 1 Session 2 Problem Formulation, Data collection methods and literature Review Basic Mathematics and Statistics for Social Science Research with the Application of R Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 2. 🎯 After this session, students will learn: •Identify and articulate a research problem. •Formulate research objectives and questions. •Conduct a literature review and identify research gaps. •Use Mendeley for reference management. •Develop hypotheses and a conceptual framework. •Understand data collection methods. •Participate in exercises, discussions, and a quiz to reinforce learning. Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 3. 3 Enrich yourself and move to the next level • Defining Research Problem • Research Objective • Research Question • Literature Review • Research Gap • Hypothesis in Social Science Research • Conceptual Framework • Data Collection Contents
- 4. 4 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Research Design….
- 5. 5 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Problem Problem: • A general issue or challenge that needs attention • Characteristics: • Can be broad or specific. • Not necessarily related to society or research. • Example: • Declining sales in a retail store, not receiving good grades
- 6. 6 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Social Problem Social Problem: • An issue that adversely affects a significant number of people within a society. •Characteristics: • Has societal implications. • Often requires collective action or policy changes. •Examples: •Poverty •Unemployment •Crime •Environmental pollution
- 7. 7 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Research Problem Research Problem: • A specific, clear, and researchable question or issue that a study aims to address • Characteristics: • Defined within the context of existing knowledge. • Requires systematic investigation. • Should be feasible and significant. • Example: • What are the factors contributing to the decline in sales of retail stores in urban areas?"
- 8. 8 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Research Problem • According to Kothari, 2004 “A research problem in general refers to some difficulty which a researcher experiences in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution for the same”.
- 9. 9 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Types of Research Problem 1) Theoretical Problems These involve exploring and expanding on existing theories or frameworks. The goal is often to challenge or refine current understanding. Theoretical problems generally focus on why something happens, delving into underlying principles, models, or laws. •Example: Investigating the role of social capital in sustainable community development, Challenging the theory of IWRM 2) Applied Problems Applied research problems are more practical, aiming to solve real-world issues. These problems focus on how to address a specific issue and often have direct implications for policies, programs, or practices. •Example: Identifying effective waste management strategies for urban areas in Bangladesh.
- 10. 10 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Contd… 3) Empirical Problems These require data collection and analysis to answer questions or test hypotheses. Empirical research problems are based on observed phenomena and aim to quantify or verify something. • Example: Assessing the impact of water quality on community health outcomes. 4)Practical Problems/mostly known as an action research Practical problems arise from situations needing immediate attention or improvement. They are often related to operational or procedural issues in organizations or communities. • Example: Developing a strategy to improve sanitation practices in flood-prone areas. 5) Conceptual Problems These problems involve clarifying concepts, ideas, or terminologies to make them more understandable or applicable. Conceptual problems often deal with the meaning of things and help in defining complex terms or frameworks.
- 11. 11 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Research Problem Identification • If stakeholders/local actors believe there is a problem • If you think there is a problem • Focuses attention on something narrow that can be solved • Replicates what you can expect in real-world situations
- 12. 12 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Research Problem Identification Step 4: Define Scope With new knowledge and new understanding: Specific: What specific causes, locations, and populations will the problem include? Measurable: is it possible to measure when the problem is solved? Assignable: Who will be responsible for addressing the problem? Realistic: Is the problem unrealistically challenging? Time-bound: Can the problem be properly addressed within the span of the practicum?
- 13. 13 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Research Problem Identification
- 14. 14 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Problem Identification – Quiz https://www.mentimeter.com Use Code: 48469907
- 15. 15 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Research Objective Vs Research Question The purpose of research objective is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures. The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which ahs not been discovered as yet.
- 16. 16 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Research Objective Vs Research Question Research Problem: Exploring solutions for soil salinity affecting crop yield in Bangladesh’s coastal areas. Research Objectives: • To identify the factors contributing to soil salinity in Bangladesh's coastal regions. • To assess the impact of soil salinity on crop yield and farmer livelihoods in affected areas. • To explore and evaluate existing and potential solutions for managing soil salinity to improve agricultural productivity. • To recommend feasible, sustainable strategies for mitigating soil salinity in coastal agriculture.
- 17. 17 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Research Objective Vs Research Question Research Questions: • What are the primary causes of soil salinity in the coastal areas of Bangladesh? • How does soil salinity affect crop yield and the economic stability of local farmers? • What solutions are currently being implemented to manage soil salinity, and how effective are they? • What innovative approaches can be recommended for sustainably reducing soil salinity and improving crop production? In general, Research Questions breaking them (Research objectives) down into specific queries for investigation.
- 18. • A literature review is a comprehensive and systematic examination of existing research, publications, and scholarly articles on a particular topic or research question. • A critical evaluation and synthesis of previous research • An overview of what is known about a specific area of study • To find out the problem that is already investigated and need further What is a Literature Review? Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 19. Why literature review? Background Knowledge Understanding Trends Foundation for Analysis Linking Theory to Research Gaps Data Source Selection Understanding Types of Data 2 3 1 Contextualization Knowledge about Data sources Theoretical Framework Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 20. Why literature review? 3 4 5 Used methodology and finding gap Identifying Best Practices and value addition Highlighting Underexplored Areas Overall value addition in the field Develop a conceptual framework for the research Contradictions in Findings Methodological Insights Identification of Gaps Value Addition and conceptual Framework Development Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 21. Why literature review? Best Practices and Limitations in used methodologies Established Relationships and Theories Support for Your Claims Citing Previous Work Identifying Future Directions Building a Foundation for Others 6 8 7 Hypothesis and Research Design Future Contribution Credibility Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 22. Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 23. ✔Journals: Scopus ✔Elsevier ✔Research gate ✔Books ✔Google Scholar ✔Web of Science ✔Jstor ✔Scholarly articles Common Sources of Literatures Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 24. • Topic 1: The Impact of Online Learning on Student Engagement • Research Question: How does online learning affect student engagement in higher education? • Task: • Find 5 papers that examine the relationship between online learning and student engagement. 📝 Exercise 1 Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 25. • Topic 2: Urbanization and Environmental Sustainability • Research Question: What is the relationship between urbanization and environmental sustainability? • Task: • Find 5 papers that address urbanization and its environmental impacts. 📝 Exercise 2 Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 26. Practical on Mendeley Enrich yourself and move to the next level Download link https://www.mendeley.com/autoupdates/installers/preview Reference Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jQL0pl3xR8
- 27. • Research on the impact of e-learning on student performance often highlights theoretical gaps, as existing frameworks fail to fully explain how digital engagement affects diverse learners. • Empirical gaps exist, with limited data on long-term outcomes of e- learning. Studies typically use outdated methods (methodological gap) and overlook population gaps, such as underrepresented rural or low- income students. • While e-learning is widely adopted, a practical gap remains in providing actionable insights for educators. Few studies integrate insights from psychology, education, and technology (interdisciplinary gap). • Finally, much research is outdated (temporal gap) and does not account for advancements in e-learning technologies. 📝 Exercise 3: Identify Research Gaps
- 28. Types of Research Gaps 1. Theoretical Gap: Missing or incomplete theories to explain something. 2. Empirical Gap: Not enough data or studies on a topic. 3. Methodological Gap: Outdated or unsuitable research methods. 4. Population Gap: Certain groups or regions are not studied enough. 5. Contextual Gap: Lack of research in specific settings or situations. 6. Practical Gap: Research doesn't address real-world problems. 7. Interdisciplinary Gap: Lack of combined insights from different fields. 8. Temporal Gap: Outdated studies that need updating with recent changes.
- 29. 1. Define Topic 2. Search for Relevant Literatures 3. Organize and Categorize 4. Analyze and Synthesize 5. Identify Research gaps 6. Develop conceptual framework & hypothesis 7. Conduct Analysis 8. Discuss findings and relate with other existing research 9. Implications and Future Directions Steps from Literature Review to Future Direction Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 30. Hypothesis in Social Science Research A hypothesis is a testable statement or assumption about the relationship between two or more variables. •It serves as a tentative answer to a research question. •Purpose of a Hypothesis in Research: •Provides direction and focus to the study. •Helps in identifying key variables and their relationships. •Allows for testing and validation of theories. •Facilitates structured data collection and analysis. Enrich yourself and move to the next level Hypothesis Hypo Thesis Research Question: Does education level affect employment opportunities? Hypothesis: "Individuals with higher education levels are more likely to secure high-paying jobs."
- 31. Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis Clear It must use precise and straightforward language, avoiding vague or overly complex terms Testable It should be possible to collect data or evidence to support or refute the hypothesis. Specific It should define the variables explicitly and indicate how they are related. Falsifiable A good hypothesis must be falsifiable, meaning there should be a possibility to disprove it with evidence. Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 32. 📚 Examples of Hypotheses in Social Science Research 1. Governance and Economic Growth • Research Question: Does institutional quality affect GDP growth? • Hypothesis: "Countries with higher governance scores experience higher GDP growth rates." 2. Social Media and Mental Health • Research Question: Does excessive social media use impact mental health? • Hypothesis: "Excessive social media usage is positively associated with higher levels of anxiety among adolescents." 3. Gender and Leadership Styles • Research Question: Is there a difference in leadership styles between male and female managers? • Hypothesis: "Female managers are more likely to adopt a participative leadership style than male managers." Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 33. 📝Exercise 4: Identify Variables in a Hypothesis • Objective: Identify the independent and dependent variables in the given hypotheses. 1."Increased parental involvement in education leads to better academic performance among children." 2."Urbanization contributes to higher environmental pollution." 3."Regular physical exercise reduces stress levels.“ Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 34. 34 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Research Objective Vs Research Question The purpose of research objective is to discover answers to questions through the application of scientific procedures. The main aim of research is to find out the truth which is hidden and which ahs not been discovered as yet.
- 35. 35 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Theoretical Framework • Theoretical framework is the structure/skeleton that supports and describes a theory. What is a theory? • A theory is a set of interrelated concepts and definitions that present a systematic view of phenomena by describing the relationship among the variables for explaining these phenomena. A theory is developed after a long research process and explains the existence of a research problem in a study. Why important? • A theoretical framework guides the research process like a roadmap for the research study and helps researchers clearly interpret their findings by providing a structure for organizing data and developing conclusions. • A theoretical framework in research is an important part of a manuscript and should be presented in the first section. It shows an understanding of the theories and concepts relevant to the research and helps limit the scope of the research.
- 36. Student’s Respect for Teacher Teacher’s Love for Student Paid Tutoring by Teacher Play Politics by Teacher (mutual relationship) (Independent-Dependent one-way relationship) : one-way Independent-Dependent relationship : mutual Cause-Effect relationship (two-way arrows) (one-way arrow) Concepts, Conceptual Framework Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 37. Conceptual framework: Assessing the impacts of macroeconomic variables on Economic Development of Bangladesh 37 Economic Development (GDP Growth) Labor Force Participation Rate Inflation rate (%) Trade (% of GDP) Foreign Direct Investment Macroeconomic Variables Enrich yourself and move to the next level
- 38. 38 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Conceptual framework • A conceptual framework defines the variables for your study and presents how they relate to each other. The conceptual framework is developed before collecting the data. However, both frameworks help in understanding the research problem and guide the development, collection, and analysis of the research.
- 39. 39 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Conceptual framework • Research problem: The Impact of Unemployment on Youth Mental Health in Urban Areas • Research Questions 1.What is the relationship between unemployment and mental health among urban youth? 2.How does social support moderate the impact of unemployment on youth mental health? 3.What coping mechanisms are most effective for unemployed youth to maintain mental well-being?
- 40. 40 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Conceptual framework • Dependent Variable: Mental Health • Independent Variable: Unemployment status • Moderating variable: Social support, coping mechanism “A moderating variable is a variable that influences the strength or direction of the relationship between an independent variable (IV) and a dependent variable (DV). It helps explain "when" or "under what conditions" the relationship between the IV and DV is stronger or weaker.”
- 41. 41 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Methods of data collection • Data: Numerical (numbers) and verbal (words) • Primary data: primary data are those which are collected afresh and for the first time, and thus happen to be original in character. • Secondary data: secondary data are those which have already been collected by someone else and which have already been passed through the statistical process. • Statistical process: In research, the statistical process involves a series of steps that are designed to collect, analyze, interpret, and present data in a way that allows researchers to draw meaningful conclusions.
- 42. 42 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Steps… 1) Defining the problem/objective (soft skills) 2) Collecting Qualitative (descriptive) Quantitative First-party data: directly collected from the target group/population/sample
- 43. 43 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Methods of collecting primary data • Observations • Interviews • FGD • KII • Questionnaire
- 44. 44 Enrich yourself and move to the next level Collection of secondary data Secondary data means that are always available. Usually, published data are available: • Various publications of the central, state, and local governments • Multiple publications of the foreign, government, and their subsidiary organizations • Technical and trade journals • Reports and publications • Public records and statistics, historical documents
- 45. 45 Enrich yourself and move to the next level References •Creswell, J.W., & Creswell, J.D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, (5th Edition). Sage Publications. •A comprehensive guide to designing and conducting research with examples of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. •Kothari, C.R. (2004). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques (2nd Edition). New Age International. •A classic textbook covering all aspects of research, including sampling, data collection, and analysis. •Bryman, A. (2015). Social Research Methods (5th Edition). Oxford University Press. •A detailed overview of social research methods, including theoretical and practical applications. •Babbie, E. (2020). The Practice of Social Research (15th Edition). Cengage Learning. •A widely used book focusing on the fundamentals of social research methods. •Neuman, W.L. (2014). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (7th Edition). Pearson.
- 46. 46 Enrich yourself and move to the next level •Chambers, R. (1994). Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA): Challenges, Potentials, and Paradigm •A foundational book introducing PRA concepts and tools, emphasizing community engagement. •Chambers, R. (2002). Participatory Workshops: A Sourcebook of 21 Sets of Ideas and Activities •A practical guide for facilitating participatory workshops and activities using PRA techniques. •Narayanasamy, N. (2009). Participatory Rural Appraisal: Principles, Methods, and Applications •A comprehensive resource detailing PRA tools and their applications in rural development. •Mukherjee, N. (2002). Participatory Rural Appraisal: Methods and Applications in Rural Planning •Offers examples of PRA techniques and their applications in participatory planning. •Kumar, S. (2002). Methods for Community Participation: A Complete Guide for Practitioners •Focuses on participatory approaches to community engagement, including PRA tools. References
- 47. 📝 Group Research Proposal Assignment: Develop a Research Proposal in Social Science •Groups: 5 groups •Format: A written research proposal ( Max 8 pages) •Deadline- 21st January 📑 General Structure of the Proposal: 1. Problem Identification 2. Problem Statement 3. Introduction 4. Research Objectives 5. Research Questions 6. Research Hypothesis 7. Conceptual Framework 8. Data Collection Methods 9. Significance of the Study 10.References Enrich yourself and move to the next level •Submit Here!
- 48. Thank You. Enrich yourself and move to the next level