[Module 2] Flow of research: problem statement --> purpose --> questions --> methods

When you are interested in a problem and you want to research to solve this problem, you must follow some steps of researching in order to get good and practical results. Researching does not mean that you find out the solution and stop this research immediately. The second module gives students the flow of research consisting of problem statement, purpose, research questions, and research methods. Also, literature review and making bibliography are presented as hands-on skills for scientists.

Problem statement is a step of finding backgrounds, scenarios, and social situations for your research. Your motivation should be given in problem statement as well. It must show what is general problems of your research. Also, it helps other scientists position where your research belongs to. In purpose part, you should show your way to approach the general problems. It should be a unique and original way. Regarding research questions, it is the most important part because you must describe your own problems and finding here and make questions whose answers will reach the purpose of your research. In the research methods, you will choose an appropriate methodology for your research such as experimental research, focus group or survey.

In my bachelor thesis, I followed steps of writing such as abstract, introduction and problems. Now I understand that problem statement and purpose must be presented in the introduction part. Research questions are given in the problem and approach parts. Research methodologies help you write in your experiment, results, and evaluation.

When I hear the lecture of this module, I confused problem statement and the context part of research questions. I saw that we must present backgrounds in both problem statement and the context part. I do not know what are the differences of two kinds of backgrounds.