Instructions:
Think about everything you have learned in our Research class so far – like writing a research title, creating a research problem, and explaining the background of the study. Then, answer the reflection questions below in 3-5 sentences each using your own words.
Reflection Questions:
- Which part of writing your research (title, problem, or background) did you find easiest? Why?
- Which part did you find most challenging or confusing? Why?
- If you could go back and improve one part of your research, what would it be? How would you change it?
- Based on your understanding, what do you think a ‘hypothesis’ might be? (Even if we haven’t discussed it yet, just take a guess!)
Answer:
Of all the initial stages, I found that crafting the research title was the easiest part.
Once I had a clear idea of the main variables and the central theme of my study, arranging them into a concise and descriptive title felt like a logical final step.
The process was more about precision and summary rather than extensive exploration, which made it feel manageable.
It allowed me to encapsulate the entire research purpose into one impactful phrase after the foundational thinking was already complete.
The most challenging component for me was writing the background of the study. Synthesizing information from numerous sources into a single, cohesive narrative that logically leads to the research problem required significant effort.
I found it difficult to connect different studies smoothly and to build a compelling argument that clearly highlighted a gap in current knowledge.
The task demanded extensive reading, critical analysis, and careful organization to ensure the foundation of the study was solid and persuasive.
If I could go back and improve one part of my initial work, I would definitely refine the background of the study.
I would change it by dedicating more time to finding and integrating a broader range of academic sources, especially more recent publications, to provide a richer context.
My focus would be on better weaving these sources together to create a stronger and clearer argument for why my research is necessary.
I would work on making the “research gap” more explicit, showing precisely how my study aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge.
Based on what I have learned so far, I believe a hypothesis is a specific and testable prediction about the potential outcome of a study.
It appears to be an educated guess that proposes a relationship between two or more variables, which the research will then seek to either prove or disprove.
For instance, a hypothesis might suggest that a particular teaching method will lead to higher student engagement.
Essentially, it serves as a focused statement that guides the direction of the research, data collection, and subsequent analysis.