Identify a problem from the field of education and formulate research questions,objectives
Answers
Research Questions and Objectives
Before stating the research questions and objectives, a few reflections upon the basis for formulation are provided.
1.2.1 On the formulation of research questions
The specification of research questions or hypotheses (i.e., what is to be studied) and research strategy (i.e., how to conduct the study) is an extremely important part of any research project (Yin, 1989:19). Research questions or hypotheses influence the strategy that is employed in order to either provide answers to the questions or verify/falsify hypotheses. What research strategy to use ought to depend on the nature of the problem domain (i.e., sociology, biology, physics, mathematics, etc.) and exact formulation of research questions.
Formulation of precise research questions requires deep insights into the domain of study: Do the questions that are to be answered "fit" the research domain? Are they the ones most worthy of investigation? To which degree will answering the questions contribute to any progress within the research area? Do practitioners perceive the research questions to concern real problems?
In this particular research project, the preunderstanding of enterprise modeling practice was not considered to be sufficient to formulate precise research questions in advance. Instead, studies of the problem area were expected to result in more sophisticated understanding of dominant concepts, so that the research questions could be adjusted accordingly. This research approach will be argued further for in section . Hence, the research questions presented in section are a result of iteration through problem formulation and actual research. They are not just "snatched out of thin air" -- they have evolved as a part of the research process.
1.2.2 The research questions and objectives
The overall quest of the research project can be formulated as follows:
Main Research Question
How is and should enterprise modeling be performed when the main purpose of modeling is to support human sense-making and communication?
Two important foci here are purpose and context of enterprise modeling. Purpose is enterprise modeling as a means to support human sense-making and communication. The purpose is not compromised in the sense that a range of different purposes of modeling are sought supported. However, other purposes are discussed in the course of the research. Context is enterprise modeling in real world organizations. Any claims, propositions and conclusions are based on empirical studies and not on more or less plausible and idealized assumptions.
An immediate question concerns the purpose of improved understanding and communication: Is not the mission to change something? Certainly, understanding is not sought as an ends in itself, but the transition from understanding aspects of an organization to reaping the benefits of this understanding is outside the scope of the current investigation (although changing people's perception of reality may manifest itself in action).
In order to narrow the aspects of enterprise modeling that are investigated, four partial questions are formulated: