Problem Formulation
in Applied Social Research
Where Do Research Topics Come From?
● Practical problems in the field
Where Do Research Topics Come From?
● Practical problems in the field
● Literature in the field
Where Do Research Topics Come From?
● Practical problems in the field
● Literature in the field
● Your own thinking
Is the Study Feasible?
● Tradeoff between rigor and practicality
● How long it will take
● Ethical constraints
● Needed cooperation
● Costs
The Literature Review
● Review the scientific literature
● Do the review early
● The review can help you
– See if your idea has been tried
– Include all relevant constructs
– Select instruments
– Anticipate common problems