The Factors Affecting Definition of Research Problems in Educational Technology Researches

Research problems in a scientific research are formed after a certain process. This process starts with defining a research topic and transforms into a specific research problem or hypothesis. The aim of this study was to examine the way educational technology researchers identify their research problems. To this end, sources that educational technology researchers apply to and factors that affect educational technology researchers during the process of defining research problem, and how educational technology researchers narrow research problems were examined. The research was carried out as a case study. Data were gathered from educational technology researchers by semi-structured interviews. Participants were ten researchers who were doctoral students and faculty members from three different universities. Data were subjected to content analysis. Findings presented under "Sources Used, Factors and Narrowing the Problem" themes related with defining research problem. Literature, individual factors and Academic Exchange were the common categories under these three themes. In addition, scope of the problem was identified as influential in terms of limiting the problem and identifying the problem. The results of the study are expected to be beneficial for educational technology researchers.