03 Problem Identification and Hypothesis

Zainal A. Hasibuan 

zhasibua@cs.ui.ac.id) 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Session Objec4ves 

•



To understand the first step of conduc4ng 

research: state general problem 

•



To be able to iden4fy specific research 

problems 

•



To be able to construct hypothesis or research 

ques4ons 

Problem Iden4fica4on 

• Determine a well define general problem 

– Sources: research ar4cles, scien4fic discussion, experience,  etc. 

– Point of interest: phenomena, theories, previous research  results, etc. 

• Exercise your thought to express the problems 

• Write them as quickly as possible 

• Be ready, that some (may be all) of your general  problems are not researchable 

– Conduct literature search 

No Problem No Research 

Agree? 

Or  

Problem Formulation

Identification Research Problem

Identification Scope of Research

Identification Research Questions

Identification Research Objectives

1. Statistical Hypothesis 2. Hypothetical Statement

Hypothesis 

•



Basically, there are to types of hypotheses: 

–Hypothe4cal statement 

–Sta4s4cal hypothesis 

•



Hypothe4cal statement does not use 

sta4s4cal analysis 

–Apakah IT dapat meningkatkan kinerja  perusahaan? 

–Biasanya menggunakan pendekatan kualita4f 

•



Sta4s4cal hypothesis uses sta4s4cal analysis. 

Statistical Hypothesis

  Two-tail hypothesis: Reject H₀ if calculated

value is either smaller than -z_{α (-} t_{α ) or greater} than z_{α (} t_{α )}

  One-tail hypothesis: Reject H₀ if calculated

statistics value is greater than z_{α (} t_{α )}

  One-tail hypothesis: Reject H₀ if calculated

Statistical Hypothesis Test: Steps

1.State the research hypothesis (“alternate hypothesis), H₁

2. State the null hypothesis, H₀ 3. Choose an α_{-level (alpha-level)}

Typically .05, sometimes .10 or .01

4. Look up value of test statistic corresponding to the

α_{-level (called the “critical value”)}

5.Use sta4s4cs to calculate a relevant test 

sta4s4c.

   

–T‐value or Z‐value 

–Soon we will learn addi4onal ones 

6.Compare test sta4s4c to “cri4cal value” 

–If test sta4s4c is greater, we reject H₀ 

Hypothesis Test:  Errors 

• When we falsely reject H₀, it is called a Type I error 

• When we falsely fail to reject H₀, it is called a Type II  error 

Taken in Combina4on, There are Four 

Possibili4es 

Correct decision

Probability = 1- β

Correct decision

Determine Research Objec4ves 

• Make sure you have a strong reason why such  research is worth of doing 

– Study the impact? 

– Study the usage? 

– Etc. 

• Research objec4ve should reflect the solu4on of the  problem 

– If you can not state the problem, you can not state the  objec4ve 

• Build your reasons based on facts (previous studies,  exis4ng problems, etc.)  

•



Write several general problems related to CS 

and IT. 

•



Build argument why such general problems 

are worth to research. 

•



Express your experience in sta4ng hypothesis 

–Hypothe4cal statement