Best Practices and Research Problems

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Creswell (2008) states that research problems are the educational issues, controversies, or concerns that guide the need for conducting a study. Research problems are utilized as a means of communicating quality information to individuals. This information may be used to make decisions, allow a more in depth understanding of a particular issue, or aid in the resolving of a problem or issue. The identification and justification of a research problem is a very important juncture in the research process. Without properly identifying and justifying the research problem, the readers do not know why the study is important, why the study is needed, or why the study should be read.

In order to effectively identify and justify a research problem, evident practices should be considered. The researchers must clearly identify the problem to be researched. This practice does not simply mean to determine a problem exists but should include why it is a need to study the problem. Identifying a research problem consists of specifying an issue to study, developing a justification for studying it, and suggesting the importance of the study for select audiences that will read the report (Creswell, 2008). The clear identification and justification of a research problem is considered to be a best practice because it limits the subject matter and focus attentions on a specific point of view of the study. This best practice can be applied by clearly identifying the research problem and providing a clear justification to why the research is being conducted. By applying this best practice, a different perspective may be provided, the scope of the research problem may be narrowed, and direction for the research may be rendered.

Another consid...

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... how the citations support the assertions made. The researcher must also be aware of the research and literature that is available in the field that will be researched (Best Practices for Concept Paper Development, 2010). The researchers must first be aware of what is known in order to find out what is unknown.

Works Cited

Aveyard, H. (2011). Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide. Maidenhead, England: McGraw-Hill Open University Press.

Creswell, J. W. (2008). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Best Practices for Concept Paper Development. (2010). Retrieved February 19, 2012, from Northcentral University_School of Education: http://learners.ncu.edu/ncu_diss/default.aspx

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