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Defining Research Problem

The document discusses defining research problems including the meaning, components, selecting, importance and techniques of defining problems. It provides details on what constitutes a research problem and factors to consider when selecting and defining a problem.

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Marvin Choi
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27 views

Defining Research Problem

The document discusses defining research problems including the meaning, components, selecting, importance and techniques of defining problems. It provides details on what constitutes a research problem and factors to consider when selecting and defining a problem.

Uploaded by

Marvin Choi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Defining the

Research
Chapter 2
Problem
August 2016
Presentation Outline
•  Meaning of Research Problem
•  Components of Research Problem
•  Selec=ng Research Problem
•  Importance of Defining Research Problem
•  Technique in Defining a Problem
•  Points to Observed in Defining a Research Problem

2
What is a Research
Problem?
-  is a statement about:

–  an area of concern;
–  a condi=on to be improved upon;
–  a difficulty to be eliminated;

–  or a troubling ques=on that exists in scholarly literature, in
theory, or in prac=ce that points to the need for meaningful
understanding and deliberate inves=ga=on.

–  in general, refers to some difficulty which a researcher
experiences in the context of either a theore=cal or prac=cal
situa=on and wants to obtain a solu=on for the same.

3
Components of Research
Problem
1.  There must be an individual or a group which has some
difficulty or the problem.
2.  There must be some objec=ves to be aPained at.
3.  There must be at least two alterna=ve means (or the
courses of ac=on) for obtaining the objec=ve/s one
wishes to aPain.
4.  There must remain some doubt in the mind of a
researcher with regards to the selec=on of alterna=ves.
5.  There must be some environment/s to which the
difficulty pertains.

4
Selecting a Research
Problem
1.  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.
2.  Controversial subject should not become the choice of
an average researcher.
3.  Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided.
4.  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.
5.  The importance of the subject, the qualifica=ons, and
training of a researcher, the cost involved, the =me
factor, and coopera=on that can be obtained from
those who must par=cipate in the research must have 5
Importance of Defining the
Research Problem
q  it will enable the researcher to be on focus in gathering
and help to discriminate relevant data from irrelevant ones.

q  it will enable the researcher to work out the research


design and can smoothly carry on all the consequen=al
steps involved while doing research

6
Techniques in Defining a
Problem
1.  Statement of the problem in general way.

2.  Understanding the Nature of the Problem.

3.  Surveying the available literature.

4.  Developing the ideas through discussions or


known as experience survey.

5.  Rephrasing the Research Problem


7
Points to Observed in Defining
Research Problem
•  Technical terms and words or phrases, with special
meaning used in the statement of the problem should
be clearly defined.
•  Basic assump=ons or postulates if any rela=ng to the
research problem should be clearly stated.
•  A straight forward statement of the value of the
inves=ga=on (i.e., the criteria for the selec=on of the
problem) should be provided.
•  The suitability of the =me-period and the sources of
data available must also be considered.
•  The scope of the inves=ga=on or the limits within
which the problem is to be suited must be men=oned 8

explicitly.
EXAMPLE
•  Broad General Idea
Why is produc=vity in Japan so much higher than in
India?

Ambigui'es are:
1.  What sort of produc=vity is being referred to?
2.  With what industries the same is related?
3.  With what period of =me the produc=vity is being
talked about?

Rethinking and Discussions
What factors were responsible for the higher labour
produc=vity of Japan’s manufacturing industries during 9
Thank you for Listening…

10

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