Didactic mistakes By Prof Dr Sohail ansari
“Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning
and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are
the answer.” ― Joseph Campbell
Instructional mistakes
·
Spelling mistakes of a
boss are always committed to improving proof reading skills of subordinates.
[But] do you think that you could enter para-dise without having
suffered like those [believers] who passed away before
you? Misfortune and hardship befell them, and so shaken were they
that the apostle, and the believers with him, would exclaim, "When will
God's succour come?" ] Oh,
verily, God's succour is [always] near! - 2:214 (Asad) -
“You will never be happy if you continue to
search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking
for the meaning of life.”
― Albert Camus
― Albert Camus
— Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The
meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning. Joseph Campbell
Structure
and Writing Style
Types and Content
There are four general conceptualizations of a research problem
in the social sciences:
1. Casuist Research Problem -- this type of problem relates to the determination of right and wrong in
questions of conduct or conscience by analyzing moral dilemmas through the application of general rules and
the careful distinction of special cases.
2. Difference Research Problem -- typically asks the question, “Is
there a difference between two or more groups or treatments?” This type of
problem statement is used when the researcher compares or contrasts two or
more phenomena. This a
common approach to defining a problem in the clinical social sciences or
behavioral sciences.
3. Descriptive Research Problem -- typically asks the question, "what is...?" with the underlying
purpose to describe the significance of a situation, state, or existence of a specific
phenomenon. This problem is often associated with revealing hidden or
understudied issues.
4. Relational Research Problem -- suggests a relationship of some sort between two or more
variables to be investigated. The underlying purpose is to investigate qualities/characteristics that
are connected in some way.
A problem statement in the social sciences should contain:
- A lead-in
that helps ensure the reader will maintain interest over the study,
- A declaration of originality [e.g., mentioning a knowledge void, that will be
revealed by the literature
review],
- An indication of the central focus of the
study [establishing the boundaries of analysis], and
- An explanation of the study's significance or the benefits to be derived
from investigating the
research problem.
an introduction or preamble which allows
one to move smoothly on to the next part of something.
"the lead-in
note"
II. Sources of Problems for
Investigation
The identification of a
problem to study can be challenging, not because there's
a lack of issues that could be investigated, but due to the
challenge of formulating an academically relevant and researchable problem which is unique and does not simply duplicate the work of others. To
facilitate how you might select
a problem from which to build a research study, consider these sources of inspiration:
DeductionsfromTheory
This relates to deductions made from social philosophy or generalizations embodied in life and in society that the researcher is familiar with. These deductions from human behavior are then placed within an empirical frame of reference through research. From a theory, the researcher can formulate a research problem or hypothesis stating the expected findings in certain empirical situations. The research asks the question: “What relationship between variables will be observed if theory aptly summarizes the state of affairs?” One can then design and carry out a systematic investigation to assess whether empirical data confirm or reject the hypothesis, and hence, the theory.
This relates to deductions made from social philosophy or generalizations embodied in life and in society that the researcher is familiar with. These deductions from human behavior are then placed within an empirical frame of reference through research. From a theory, the researcher can formulate a research problem or hypothesis stating the expected findings in certain empirical situations. The research asks the question: “What relationship between variables will be observed if theory aptly summarizes the state of affairs?” One can then design and carry out a systematic investigation to assess whether empirical data confirm or reject the hypothesis, and hence, the theory.
InterdisciplinaryPerspectives
Identifying a problem that forms the basis for a research study can come from academic movements and scholarship originating in disciplines outside of your primary area of study. This can be an intellectually stimulating exercise. A review of pertinent literature should include examining research from related disciplines that can reveal new avenues of exploration and analysis. An interdisciplinary approach to selecting a research problem offers an opportunity to construct a more comprehensive understanding of a very complex issue that any single discipline may be able to provide.
Identifying a problem that forms the basis for a research study can come from academic movements and scholarship originating in disciplines outside of your primary area of study. This can be an intellectually stimulating exercise. A review of pertinent literature should include examining research from related disciplines that can reveal new avenues of exploration and analysis. An interdisciplinary approach to selecting a research problem offers an opportunity to construct a more comprehensive understanding of a very complex issue that any single discipline may be able to provide.
InterviewingPractitioners
The identification of research problems about particular topics can arise from formal interviews or informal discussions with practitioners who provide insight into new directions for future research and how to make research findings more relevant to practice. Discussions with experts in the field, such as, teachers, social workers, health care providers, lawyers, business leaders, etc., offers the chance to identify practical, “real world” problems that may be understudied or ignored within academic circles. This approach also provides some practical knowledge which may help in the process of designing and conducting your study.
The identification of research problems about particular topics can arise from formal interviews or informal discussions with practitioners who provide insight into new directions for future research and how to make research findings more relevant to practice. Discussions with experts in the field, such as, teachers, social workers, health care providers, lawyers, business leaders, etc., offers the chance to identify practical, “real world” problems that may be understudied or ignored within academic circles. This approach also provides some practical knowledge which may help in the process of designing and conducting your study.
PersonalExperience
Don't undervalue your everyday experiences or encounters as worthwhile problems for investigation. Think critically about your own experiences and/or frustrations with an issue facing society, your community, your neighborhood, your family, or your personal life. This can be derived, for example, from deliberate observations of certain relationships for which there is no clear explanation or witnessing an event that appears harmful to a person or group or that is out of the ordinary.
Don't undervalue your everyday experiences or encounters as worthwhile problems for investigation. Think critically about your own experiences and/or frustrations with an issue facing society, your community, your neighborhood, your family, or your personal life. This can be derived, for example, from deliberate observations of certain relationships for which there is no clear explanation or witnessing an event that appears harmful to a person or group or that is out of the ordinary.
RelevantLiterature
The selection of a research problem can be derived from a thorough review of pertinent research associated with your overall area of interest. This may reveal where gaps exist in understanding a topic or where an issue has been understudied. Research may be conducted to: 1) fill such gaps in knowledge; 2) evaluate if the methodologies employed in prior studies can be adapted to solve other problems; or, 3) determine if a similar study could be conducted in a different subject area or applied in a different context or to different study sample [i.e., different setting or different group of people].Also, authors frequently conclude their studies by noting implications for further research; read the conclusion of pertinent studies because statements about further research can be a valuable source for identifying new problems to investigate. The fact that a researcher has identified a topic worthy of further exploration validates the fact it is worth pursuing.
The selection of a research problem can be derived from a thorough review of pertinent research associated with your overall area of interest. This may reveal where gaps exist in understanding a topic or where an issue has been understudied. Research may be conducted to: 1) fill such gaps in knowledge; 2) evaluate if the methodologies employed in prior studies can be adapted to solve other problems; or, 3) determine if a similar study could be conducted in a different subject area or applied in a different context or to different study sample [i.e., different setting or different group of people].Also, authors frequently conclude their studies by noting implications for further research; read the conclusion of pertinent studies because statements about further research can be a valuable source for identifying new problems to investigate. The fact that a researcher has identified a topic worthy of further exploration validates the fact it is worth pursuing.
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