WEEK 4

Drafting the Introduction for a

Descriptive Quantitative Research Report

At the end of this lecture, students should be able to

• show understanding on how to start a descriptive quantitative method of investigation

• generate ideas for research areas

• draft the background of study for a research using appropriate language discourse

Before we proceed, let us look at more information on

Quantitative Research

A Brief Overview of Quantitative Research

(Dornyei, 2007)

It was originally inspired by progress of science in the 19th century and the ’scientific method’ of investigations. Experiments were commonly conducted then. Descriptive study was commonly done by social scientists who had to cope with the complexity of human beings in their studies

A social scientist, Sir Francis Dalton significantly contributed in establishing quantitative data collection, introduced the use of questionnaire and created statistical concepts such as regression and correlation.

Others such as Charles Spearman and Karl Pearson led to the increased use of quantitative methodology

How should you approach a research

work?(Dornyei, 2007)

You should start by having the intention of finding answers to questions that you have in your mind and to learn more about the world around you.

You should choose something that you are really interested in or have passion for.

You need to plan and be systematic in your method of investigation so that you can stand by your findings with confidence.

You need to engage with the real world, be realistic, creative and sensible. Your work does not need to be a complicated one.

Most importantly, you should be responsible and a have a sense of social responsibility.

Your research should be done to generate knowledge and further the understanding on matters.

You must know how to communicate what you discover from your research

.

Let’s start drafting the Introduction

The discourse used in the Introduction of a Descriptive Quantitative Research should give a

sense of focus as below:

Lit Rev on Variable 1

(misbehaved students)

Lit Rev on Variable 2

(non-verbal language)

SotP limited research have been carried out on

the perception of misbehaving students on

teachers’ non- verbal language

General Purpose -to investigate the

perception of misbehaving students on teachers’ non

verbal language

RQ 1: Which characteristic of non verbal language is preferred most by

students?

RQ 2: What are the differences of opinion

between male and female students?

(Possible)Research area: Classroom management

(Possible) topics/concepts to read on1. Students’ behaviour2. Classroom communication

(Possible) variables derived after reading on topics/concepts and their definitions

1. Misbehaved students 2. Non-verbal language

(Possible)General Issue that may have initiated interest:Frequent reports on problems faced by students or teachers

Background of Study

STEP 1-

Preparing the Background of Study

Generating Ideas for the Research Area, Topics, the General Issue

and Variables

Firstly, remind yourself of the main key terms of the

Introduction

1. Background of study:

Research Area and Topics (concepts to

read)

1. Background of study:

General Issue

1. Background of study:

Definition of Variables

2. Literature Review

on Variables

3. Statement of the Problem

(SOtP)

4. Statement of General Purpose

5. Research Questions

Then, to start the Introduction,

You must be prepared to do at least two sets of reading activities.

Set 1 – general reading to identify your research topics and a related issue

Set 2 – specific readings or literature review on the topics/variables of your research to identify the missing information or gap that tells you what to research on (Creswell, 1994)

and while you read it is actually important to observe the methods used in previous related studies

While reading, you need to also observe the

current General Issue. Brainstorm with your

team and identify the current issue related to

your research area or topics

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES?

Animal abuse?

Air pollution?

CONCEPTS?

Recycling?

Cloning?

Waste management?

Employability?

Brainstorming

As you read “you will identify a particular issue and what other people

say or have discovered about them” (Dornyei, 2007, p.16)

Your interest should tell you

your Research Area

Counselling?

Eating Disorder?

Multicultural Communication?

Media violence?

Disabilities in aging people?

Terminal Illnesses?

Home designs?

Politics?

Secularism?

It may not be restricted to specific kulliyah area!

Reading on the area of interest should

tell you 2 possible topics or

2 specific concepts to focus onAfter identifying your interest, you should

explore many academic or non

academic materials to identify the

current topics that you can possibly

investigate on. The more your read, the

more you would be able to narrow down

the topics (Observe how the topics are

written in journal articles by other

researchers)

Read…read…read…

newspapers, magazines

or journals

Browse the internet

Discuss

Write freely

Ask yourself some wh-questions

After a lot of reading: You should be able to narrow your 2

researchable topics/concepts by clustering.

MY INTEREST

PEOPLE

CHILDHOODEDUCATION

MEDIA IN MALAYSIAGrammar

Sociolinguistics

Gender

Islamic Perspective

HUMAN RIGHTS

Human

ResourcesHealth

LINGUISTICS

Also, after a lot of reading, you should be able to

identify your Working Research Topics/concepts that

will be the variables of your research.

Take note of their academic definitions.

Muslim Students & Early Marriage?

Educational Background & Deforestations?

Gender & Occupational Safety?

Co-curriculum Activities and CGPA ?

Identifying your variableshttp://korbedpsych.com/R02Variables.html

The variables must be appropriate for a descriptive quantitative research

design. A variable is the characteristic or attribute of an individual, group,

educational system, or the environment that is of interest in a research study.

Variables can be straightforward and easy to measure, such as gender, age, or

course of study. Other variables are more complex, such as socioeconomic

status, academic achievement, or attitude toward school. Variables may also

include an aspect of the educational system, such as a specific teaching method

or counseling program. Characteristics of the environment may also be variables,

such as the amount of school funding or availability of computers.

Identifying your variableshttp://korbedpsych.com/R02Variables.html

For example,

a researcher is interested in low levels of literacy. Literacy itself is still a broad topic. In most instances, the broad topic and general variables need to be specifically identified. For example, the researcher needs to identify specific variables that define literacy: reading fluency(the ability to read a text out loud), reading comprehension (understanding what is read), vocabulary, interest in reading, etc.

If a researcher is interested in motivation, what specific motivation variables are of interest: external motivation, goals, need for achievement, etc? Reading other research studies about your chosen topic will help you better identify the specific variables of interest.

Identifying your variableshttp://korbedpsych.com/R02Variables.html

Identifying the variables is important for the following reasons:

The variables provide focus when writing the Introduction section.

The variables are the major terms to use when searching for research articles for the Literature Review.

The variables provide focus to the Methods section.

The Instrument will measure the variables. These variables must be directly measured or manipulated for the research study to be valid.

Now, if you are ready to draft your

background of study, you should

remember that in this course…

You need a well supported current issue to relate your research

to

Your research topics must be humanistic in nature

Your research topics (not title) tend to be working RTs as they

may ‘evolve as you read’

You have to be very clear and specific of your variables

(variable 1& 2) and of their relationship that you wish to study in

a descriptive quantitative research.

STEP 2

Language and Organization for the Background of

Study

Issue

Suggested language for Background of Study

(based on Creswell, 2009, Howe & Henriksson, 2007)

Use a formal compositional language

Open with a statement that stimulates interest and convey a general issue from the research area which many can relate to or understand

Write short sentences and provide numeric information, statistics or references for impact.

Use academic terms and words

Do not use colloquial language such as ‘info’ or tautology like ‘absolutely essential’

Do not use contracted forms like ‘isn’t’ or clichés such as ‘in my humble opinion’

Do not use idiomatic, quotes or emotional expressions

Suggested organization of information for Background of Study (based on Creswell, 2009)

Start with the research area and relate a general issue to it.

Introduce the topics which you have narrowed from the research area

Define the variables in specific and detailed language using authoritative reference/appropriate citations.

Order the definitions of the variables from variable 1 to variable 2 (descriptive research).

Examples of phrases to introduce

Research Area or Topicshttp://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/introductions.htm

Recent developments in X have heightened the need for ....

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in ....

Recent developments in the field of X have led to a renewed interest in ....

Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in ......

The past decade has seen the rapid development of X in many ....

The past thirty years have seen increasingly rapid advances in the field of ....

Over the past century there has been a dramatic increase in ....

One of the most important events of the 1970s was ....

Examples of phrases to highlight an

Issue http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/introductions.htm

The issue of X has been a controversial and much disputed subject within the field of ....

The issue has grown in importance in light of recent ....

One major theoretical issue that has dominated the field for many years concerns ....

One major issue in early X research concerned ....

The Tenses to be used for

Background of StudyTo refer to present facts, you can use the Simple Present Tense and Present Perfect Tense to introduce the area, topics, issue and to define the variables. For instance:

Issue:

As the costs of higher education continue to rise, many institutions areunder pressure to….

Definition:

Judging is the process of coming to conclusions about what has been perceived as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (Myers, 1980)

Tasks:• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the

background of study of Sample 1 and Sample 2.

• Share your research area and working topic/concepts with the class

• Define your variable 1 and variable 2 of your descriptive quantitative research work.

• Draft the background of your study

• List the references for your background of study (for future activity of referencing)