Overview of Problem-solving Approach
•
Define the
problem
•
Identify the
factors of the problem
•
Determine the
means of transforming and interpreting data
•
Develop
conclusion criteria
•
Gather data
•
Interpret data
•
Draw
conclusion(s)
Make recommendation(s) if requested
Defining the Problem
•
Identify the
factors of the problem
•
The factors of a
problem are the areas or topics that will be researched to provide data to
answer the problem statement.
•
The factors are
determined through preliminary research
•
Two key elements
to developing the problem statement are:
•
To explore or
analyze
To determine
Example: The
purpose of this study is to explore the bagel and coffee food industry and to
determine if a fast food bagel/coffee shop would be successful in terms of time
and money in Uttara, Dhaka ,
Bangladesh
Factors of the problem
•
In the example
stated earlier, Bagel Mania Inc. wants to determine if a new location in Uttara
would be profitable, the factors of the problem might be:
•
Other
competitors
•
Location of
other competitors
•
Demographic food
interests
•
Consumer traffic
•
Personnel
•
Hours
Costs
Research Questions
The researcher might develop a research question for
each factor and each research questions contains a unit of measurement.
1. How many
competitors are in the area?
2. Where are
the competitors located? How many sell
bagels and coffee?
3. What types
of fast food breakfast items are popular?
4. Is there a
trainable and available personnel workforce in the area?
5. What are
the normal hours of operation forsimilar businesses located in specific areas in Uttara?
6. Is there a
substantial consumer traffic activity to warrant the opening of a bagel and coffee shop?
•
What percentage
of consumers are satisfied with the price they must pay for
bagels and coffee at other shops in the
area?
Transforming and Interpreting Data
•
The researcher
transforms most data in order to interpret it easily
•
During the
planning process, the researcher anticipates the type of collected data and
determines the method for transforming it to be more meaningful to the reader.
•
Data can be
computed as percentages, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion,
through relationships such as correlations and regressions, through inferences
such as Chi square.
•
Two other means
of transforming data are ranking and rating systems.
•
A ranking system
places solutions in order of preference.
A rating system places an estimated value on each
system
Drawing Conclusions and Making Recommendations
•
The last step in
the analytical process are drawing conclusions and making recommendations.
Conclusions serve to interpret the data, and
recommendations provide an answer to the problem statement.
Justification Statement
A justification statement provides the basis for
undertaking the study. The statement
further substantiates the need for the study.
Example: The
bagel industry is still in its infancy and the potential for a combination
bagel/collee shop is worth investigating.
Several bagel companies are considering possible sites in Costa Mesa
Findings
•
Soft data: Qualitative data
•
Hard data: Quantitative data
•
Findings must be
presented in objective, unbiased, and an accurate manner
•
Findings are
based on primary and secondary research.
•
Findings lend
credibility to a study
•
The citing of
research is crucial to the reliability and validity of a study.
Whose work is this????? Who said it????
Developing a Proposal
•
Problem
Statement
•
Justification
Statement
•
Scope of the
Problem
•
Limitations
•
Delimitations
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Methods and
Techniques
•
Audience
•
Qualifications
•
Anticipated
Needs
•
Projected Time
Frame(s)
Estimated cost of project
Report Steps
•
Plan, organize,
and collect your data
•
Develop an
outline
•
Interpret your
data findings
Begin the writing process
Formal Reports
•
Formal Reports
are categorized in three specific parts:
•
The Preliminary
or Prefatory Part
•
The Report Body
The Supplementary Part
The Preliminary Part
•
Cover
•
Title Fly
•
Title Page
•
Letter of
Transmittal
•
Letter of
Authorization
•
Executive
Summary (Abstract)
•
Table of
Contents
List of Tables, Figures
Report Body
•
Introductory
Section:
•
Background/history
•
Purpose and
problem statements
•
Scope
•
Research
procedures (methods and techniques)
•
Findings
Section:
•
Primary research
•
Secondary
research
•
Terminal
Section:
•
Summary of the
findings
•
Conclusions
Recommendation(s)
Supplementary Part
•
Endnotes or
business citation source in report body
•
References
(bibliography)
•
Appendixes
All full-page tables, figures, illustrations are
placed in this section. All primary data
instruments such as questionnaires, surveys, and related forms are placed in
this section.
Identifying the Factors
•
What are the
factors of the problem?
•
Develop research
questions or hypotheses for each factor--these guide the researcher in
gathering data
•
The research
questions should be specific and contain a unit of measurement whenever
possible
After preparing research questions, the
researcher determines the method(s) of transforming and interpreting the data
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