CHAPTER TWO: RESEARCH PROBLEM AND HYPOTHESIS FORMULATION

In research process, the first and foremost step happens to be that of selecting and properly
defining a research problem. A researcher must find the problem and formulate it so that it
becomes susceptible to research. Like a medical doctor, a researcher must examine all the
symptoms (presented to him or observed by him) concerning a problem before he can diagnose
correctly. To define a problem correctly, a researcher must know: what a problem is?

WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM?

A research problem, in general, refers to some difficulty which a researcher experiences in the
context of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution for the same.
In general, we can state the components of a research problem as under:
a. There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or the problem.
b. There must be some objective(s) to be attained at. If one wants nothing, one cannot have
a problem.
c. There must be alternative means (or the courses of action) for obtaining the objective(s)
one wishes to attain. This means that there must be at least two means available to a
researcher for if he has no choice of means, he cannot have a problem.
d. There must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher with regard to the selection of
alternatives. This means that research must answer the question concerning the relative
efficiency of the possible alternatives.
Thus, a research problem is one which requires a researcher to find out the best solution for the
given problem, i.e., to find out by which course of action the objective can be attained optimally
in the context of a given environment.
In general, research problems can have three sources:

1) own experience,
2) scientific literature, and
3) Theories.
First, researchers identify research problems from personal observation or discussion with
experts and stakeholders. In order to state the identified research problem, it is common practice
for researchers to undertake literature review related to the personal observation.
Secondly, research problems can be identified from scientific literature. Researchers read
findings of published research papers and notice that some issues are not covered. This could end
up identifying a research problem.

Thirdly, limitations of standard theories could lead to research problem identification. Generally
Problem formulation is perceived as most important of all the other steps, because of the fact that
a clearly and accurately identified problem would lead to effective conduct of the other steps
involved in the research process.

SELECTING THE PROBLEM

The research problem undertaken for study must be carefully selected. The task is a difficult one,
although it may not appear to be so. Help may be taken from a research guide in this connection.
Nevertheless, every researcher must find out his own salvation for research problems cannot be
borrowed. A problem must spring from the researcher’s mind like a plant springing from its own
seed. If our eyes need glasses, it is not the optician alone who decides about the number of the
lens we require. We have to see ourselves and enable him to prescribe for us the right number by
cooperating with him. Thus, a research guide can at the most only help a researcher choose a
subject. However, the following points may be observed by a researcher in selecting a research
problem or a subject for research:
 Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen, for it will be a difficult task to
throw any new light in such a case.
 Controversial subject should not become the choice of an average researcher.
 Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided.
 The subject selected for research should be familiar and feasible so that the related research
material or sources of research are within one’s reach.
Even then it is quite difficult to supply definitive ideas concerning how a researcher should obtain ideas
for his research.
For this purpose, a researcher should contact an expert or a professor in the University who is
already engaged in research. He may as well read articles published in current literature available
on the subject and may think how the techniques and ideas discussed therein might be applied to
the solution of other problems. He may discuss with others what he has in mind concerning a
problem. In this way he should make all possible efforts in selecting a problem.
  The importance of the subject, the qualifications and the training of a researcher, the costs
involved, the time factor are few other criteria that must also be considered in selecting a
problem. In other words, before the final selection of a problem is done, a researcher
must ask himself the following questions:
1. Whether he is well equipped in terms of his background to carry out the research?
2. Whether the study falls within the budget he can afford?
3. Whether the necessary cooperation can be obtained from those who must participate in
research as subjects?
If the subject for research is selected properly by observing the above mentioned points, the
research will not be a boring drudgery, rather it will be love’s labour. In fact, zest for work is a
must. The subject or the problem selected must involve the researcher and must have an upper
most place in his mind so that he may undertake all pains needed for the study.
NECESSITY OF DEFINING THE PROBLEM

Quite often we all hear that a problem clearly stated is a problem half solved. This statement
signifies the need for defining a research problem. The problem to be investigated must be
defined unambiguously for that will help to discriminate relevant data from the irrelevant ones.
A proper definition of research problem will enable the researcher to be on the track whereas an
ill-defined problem may create hurdles. Questions like: What data are to be collected? What
characteristics of data are relevant and need to be studied? What relations are to be explored.
What techniques are to be used for the purpose? and similar other questions crop up in the mind
of the researcher who can well plan his strategy and find answers to all such questions only when
the research problem has been well defined. Thus, defining a research problem properly is a
prerequisite for any study and is a step of the highest importance. In fact, formulation of a
problem is often more essential than its solution. It is only on careful detailing the research
problem that we can work out the research design and can smoothly carry on all the
consequential steps involved while doing research.

TECHNIQUE INVOLVED IN DEFINING A PROBLEM

Defining a research problem properly and clearly is a crucial part of a research study and must
in no case be accomplished hurriedly. However, in practice this a frequently overlooked which causes
a lot of problems later on. Hence, the research problem should be defined in a systematic manner,
giving due weightage to all relating points. The technique for the purpose involves the undertaking of
the following steps generally one after the other: (i) statement of the problem in a general way; (ii)
understanding the nature of the problem; (iii) surveying the available literature (iv) developing the
ideas through discussions; and (v) rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition.
A brief description of all these points will be helpful.
Statement of the problem in a general way: First of all the problem should be stated in a broad
general way, keeping in view either some practical concern or some scientific or intellectual
interest. For this purpose, the researcher must immerse himself thoroughly in the subject matter
concerning which he wishes to pose a problem. In case of social research, it is considered
advisable to do some field observation and as such the researcher may undertake some sort of
preliminary survey or what is often called pilot survey. Then the researcher can himself state the
problem or he can seek the guidance of the guide or the subject expert in accomplishing this task.
Often, the guide puts forth the problem in general terms, and it is then up to the researcher to
narrow it down and phrase the problem in operational terms. In case there is some directive from
an organizational authority, the problem then can be stated accordingly. The problem stated in a
broad general way may contain various ambiguities which must be resolved by cool thinking and
rethinking over the problem. At the same time the feasibility of a particular solution has to be
considered and the same should be kept in view while stating the problem.
Understanding the nature of the problem: The next step in defining the problem is to understand
its origin and nature clearly. The best way of understanding the problem is to discuss it with
those who first raised it in order to find out how the problem originally came about and with
what objectives in view. If the researcher has stated the problem himself, he should consider
once again all those points that induced him to make a general statement concerning the problem.
For a better understanding of the nature of the problem involved, he can enter into discussion
with those who have a good knowledge of the problem concerned or similar other problems. The
researcher should also keep in view the environment within which the problem is to be studied
and understood.
Surveying the available literature: All available literature concerning the problem at hand
must necessarily be surveyed and examined before a definition of the research problem is given.
This means that the researcher must be well-conversant with relevant theories in the field, reports
and records as also all other relevant literature. He must devote sufficient time in reviewing of
research already undertaken on related problems. This is done to find out what data and other
materials, if any, are available for operational purposes. “Knowing what data are available often
serves to narrow the problem itself as well as the technique that might be used.”. This would also
help a researcher to know if there are certain gaps in the theories, or whether the existing theories
applicable to the problem under study are inconsistent with each other, or whether the findings of
the different studies do not follow a pattern consistent with the theoretical expectations and so
on. All this will enable a researcher to take new strides in the field for furtherance of knowledge
i.e., he can move up starting from the existing premise. Studies on related problems are useful for
indicating the type of difficulties that may be encountered in the present study as also the
possible analytical shortcomings. At times such studies may also suggest useful and even new
lines of approach to the present problem.
Developing the ideas through discussions: Discussion concerning a problem often produces
useful information. Various new ideas can be developed through such an exercise. Hence, a
researcher must discuss his problem with his colleagues and others who have enough experience
in the same area or in working on similar problems. This is quite often known as an experience
survey. People with rich experience are in a position to enlighten the researcher on different
aspects of his proposed study and their advice and comments are usually invaluable to the
researcher. They help him sharpen his focus of attention on specific aspects within the field.
Discussions with such persons should not only be confined to the formulation of the specific
problem at hand, but should also be concerned with the general approach to the given problem,
techniques that might be used, possible solutions, etc.
Rephrasing the research problem: Finally, the researcher must sit to rephrase the research
problem into a working proposition. Once the nature of the problem has been clearly understood,
the environment (within which the problem has got to be studied) has been defined, discussions
over the problem have taken place and the available literature has been surveyed and examined,
rephrasing the problem into analytical or operational terms is not a difficult task. Through
rephrasing, the researcher puts the research problem in as specific terms as possible so that it
may become operationally viable and may help in the development of working hypotheses.
In addition to what has been stated above, the following points must also be observed while
defining a research problem:
a) Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in the statement of the
problem, should be clearly defined.
 b) Basic assumptions or postulates (if any) relating to the research problem should be clearly stated.
c) A straight forward statement of the value of the investigation (i.e., the criteria for the selection of
the problem) should be provided.
d) The suitability of the time-period and the sources of data available must also be considered by the
researcher in defining the problem.
e) The scope of the investigation or the limits within which the problem is to be studied must be
mentioned explicitly in defining a research problem.
CONCLUSION
We may conclude by saying that the task of defining a research problem, very often, follows a
sequential pattern—the problem is stated in a general way, the ambiguities are resolved, thinking
and rethinking process results in a more specific formulation of the problem so that it may be a
realistic one in terms of the available data and resources and is also analytically meaningful. All
this results in a well defined research problem that is not only meaningful from an operational
point of view, but is equally capable of paving the way for the development of working
hypotheses and for means of solving the problem itself.