Evaluation Research, Research Analysis And Ex Post Factor Hypothesizing - Essay Example

Evaluation research, factors that makes formulation of the problem difficult and suggested solutions The role of research in science involves collection of data on a given topic in order to establish existing properties of the data to aid ‘decision-making’ processes. In evaluation research, data collection and analysis aims at establishing preference on an item. A number of difficulties, through controversies, however, have continually been raised with respect to formulation of problems in evaluation research.

The reasons for such difficulties are their induced dilemma on a researcher with respect to formulation of research problem. The first factor that makes formulation of the problem difficult is existence of different theories with respect to time, within the research’s outline, when the problem is supposed to be formulated. While formulating the problem prior to the research allows for identification of information gap through exploration of existing literature, some experts believe that it restricts a researcher’s objectivity in research.

An evaluation researcher may therefore not know whether to ‘pre-establish’ a research problem or to let problems emerge from the research process (Hunter and Brewer, 2006). The relevance of a research problem in determining the scope of a research such as research design and methods also identifies a number of difficulties in formulation of problem in evaluation research. Available resources for a research initiative together with expected cost of completing different research initiatives for example restrict a researcher’s options, in formulating the research problem, to a scope whose methodology will meet the available finances.

Existing ideologies and availability of resources are therefore some of the factors that make formulation of a problem difficult for an evaluation researcher (Maxfield and Babbie, 2011). The problems can however be solved by a researcher’s subjective reasoning based a number of factors. One of the possible suggestions to solving the dilemma on problem formulation is reliance on a person’s experience with respect to the appropriate time, within the research’s timeline, when a problem should be developed.

The researcher’s experience should also solve the difficulty of whether the problem should be developed, prior to a research, or should emanate from the research process as opposed to being determined by the researcher. Another suggestion to handling the issue is the dependence on existing literature on a similar evaluation research topic to guide a researcher on formulation of the problem. Similarly, reliance on theories also offers directions to an evaluation researcher on development of research problem (Vedyadhara, n.d.).

Topics of evaluation research Evaluation research is a widely scoped type of research that aims at developing solutions to social problems or developing a plan for solving social issues. Consequently, it has diverse topics within the social framework. One of its topics is the “cost benefit studies” of social problems (Babbie, 2012, p. 361). The cost benefit studies evaluate existence of relationships between economic investment in social initiatives and the possible benefits from such initiatives.

The topic for example researches and projects both inputs and outputs in a social venture to justify an initiative. An example of an evaluation research in cost benefit is an initiative to determine the significance of investing a given amount of resources in an anti drug campaign. In the research, the aim would be to determine the involved cost of the campaign and possible benefits, both social and economic, which can be derived from the