CHAPTER TWO

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Defining Research Problem
and Hypothesis Formulation
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 Contents
2.1 What is a research problem?

2.2 Components of research problem

2.3 Problem formulation and research question

2.4 What is hypothesis?

2.5 Importance of hypothesis

2.6 Criteria for hypothesis formulation

 Defining Research Problem
❖A problem is a gap between what actually exists and what should have
existed.

❖A problem does not necessarily mean that something is seriously wrong

with a current situation that needs to be corrected/rectified immediately.

❖A problem could simply indicate an interest in an issue where finding the

right answers might help to improve an existing situation.
 Stages in the Research Process
1. Discovery of an opportunity or a problem:
• “A problem well defined is a problem half solved”

• In problem discovery and definition, exploratory

research can be used to identify and clarify the decisions
that need to be made.
2. Choosing basic design
• It can be descriptive, causal research or others.

3. Data gathering

4. Data analysis

5. Conclusions and Report preparation

 Contd.,
The gap can come about in a number of ways:
1. Business performance is worse than expected business performance.
• sales, profits, and margins could be below targets.
2. Actual business performance is less than possible business performance.

* The technique of stating the statement of the problem:

1. Statement of the problem in a general way

2. Understanding the nature of the problem

3. Surveying the available literature

4. Developing the ideas through discussions; and

5. Rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition.

 Selecting the Problem
A researcher in selecting a research problem should observe the following points:

1. Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen

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 qualifications, and the training of a

researcher, the costs involved, and the time factor are few other criteria that must
also be considered in selecting a problem.
 The Problem-Definition Process Steps
The problem-definition process involves several interrelated steps. Sometimes, the boundaries
between each step aren’t exactly clear. But generally, completing one step leads to the other and by
the time the problem is defined, each of these steps has been addressed in some way. The steps are

1. Understand the business situation—identify key symptoms

2. Identify key problem(s) from symptoms

3. Write managerial decision statement and corresponding research objectives

4. Determine the unit of analysis

5. Determine the relevant variables

6. Write research questions and/or research hypotheses

Contd.,
Some sources of identification of a research topic and problems
are the following:
 Theory of one’s own interest

 Daily problems

 Technological changes

 Recent trends

 Unexplored areas

 Discussion with experts and research supervisor

A potential research situation arises when three conditions exist:
✓ A perceived discrepancy exists between what is and what should be.
✓ A question exists about why there is a discrepancy.
✓ At least two possible and plausible answers exist to the question.
 What information should be included in the problem statement?
1. A brief description of socio-economic and cultural characteristics in the country/district in as far as these are
relevant to the problem. Include a few illustrative statistics, if available, to help describe the context in which
the problem occurs.
2. A concise description of the nature of the problem (the discrepancy between what is and what should be) and of
the size, distribution and severity of the problem (who is affected, where, since when, and what are the
consequences for those affected and for the services). For a descriptive or evaluation study you will elaborate
the different components of the problem.
3. An analysis of the major factors that may influence the problem and a discussion of why certain factors need
more investigation if the problem is to be fully understood.

4. A brief description of any solutions to the problem that have been tried in the past, how well they have worked,
and why further research is needed (justification for your study).

5. A description of the type of information expected to result from the project and how this information will be
used to help solve the problem.

6. If necessary, a short list of definitions of crucial concepts used in the statement of the problem.
 Establishing Operational Definitions
• The main aim of formulating a research problem is to clearly and precisely define the research problem.

• In defining the problem you may use certain words or items that are difficult to measure and/or to
understand that may vary from respondent to respondent.

• In a research study you need to define these clearly in order to avoid ambiguity and confusion. This is
achieved through the process of developing operational/ working definitions.

• Operational definitions give an operational meaning to the study population and the concepts used. It is
only through making your procedures explicit that you can validly explain, verify and test.

• Your arguments must convince others about the appropriateness of your definitions. You need to develop
operational definitions for the major concepts you are using in your study and to develop a framework
for the study population enabling you to select appropriate respondents.

• Example: To find out the number of children living below the poverty line in Addis Ababa.
Research Objectives
&
Research Question
Formulation of a Research Objective
* A research objective is a statement that clearly depicts (describes) the goal to be achieved by a research
project. It summarizes what is to be achieved by the study.

* Objectives are statements on the essence of a given enquiry and also inform a reader of what you want to
achieve through the study. It is extremely important to word (express) them clearly and specifically.
* Commonly, research objectives are classified into general objectives or main objectives and specific
objectives or sub- objectives.

What are the characteristics of good objectives?

❖ Objectives should be:
• Logical and coherent
• Feasible
• Realistic, considering local conditions
• Defined in operational terms that can be measured
• Phrased to clearly meet the purpose of the study
 Research Questions
• At the end of the problem-definition stage, the researcher should prepare a written statement that
clarifies any ambiguity about what the research hopes to accomplish. This completes the translation
process.

• Research questions are derived from the problem statements and express the research objectives in
terms of questions that can be addressed by research.

• Research questions make it easier to understand what is perplexing and to indicate what issues have to
be resolved. A research question is the researcher’s translation of the problem into a specific inquiry.

• Three criteria for good problem statements in the form of questions:

a) express a relationship between variables/issues;

b) be stated in unambiguous terms in question form; and
c) should imply the possibility of empirical/logically testing
 What is hypothesis?
 Hypotheses are a set of proposed solutions or explanations, which the researcher is
obliged to test on the bases of already known facts.

 Research hypothesis may refer to an unproven proposition or supposition that

tentatively explains certain facts; phenomena; a proposition that is empirically
testable.

 A hypothesis provides basic guide/direction/ framework to the researcher.

 It is a tentative solution/proposition/explanation.

 Research questions and hypothesis can add clarity to the statement of the
development problem.

 Hypotheses are more specific than research questions therefore require considerably
more theoretical support.

 Hypotheses are statements that can be empirically tested

 Research questions are interrogative, whereas research hypotheses are declarative.

 Key distinction between research questions and hypotheses is that hypotheses can
generally specify the direction of a relationship.
Contd.,
• If we are going to compare method A with method B about its superiority and
if we proceed on the assumption that both methods are equally good, then
this assumption is termed as the null hypothesis.
 the null statement is expressed as no (significant) relationship
between two variables

• As against this, we may think that the method A is superior or the method B is
inferior, we are then stating what is termed as alternative hypothesis.
 alternative hypothesis is a statement expressing a relationship between
two variables or indicating differences between groups.

• The null hypothesis is generally symbolized as H0 and the alternative hypothesis

as Ha.
 Importance of hypothesis
–Represents specific objective, which determine the nature of
the data needed to test the proposition

–Offer basis for selecting the sample, the research procedure,

and the statistical analysis needed

–Keeps the study restricted in scope thereby preventing it from

becoming too broad

–Sets a framework for reporting the conclusion of the study

 Characteristics of a Useable Hypothesis
1. Hypothesis should be clear and precise.

2. Hypothesis should be capable of being tested.

3. Hypothesis should state relationship between variables, if it

happens to be a relational hypothesis.

4. Hypothesis should be limited in scope and must be specific.

5. Hypothesis should be stated as far as possible in most simple

terms so that the same is easily understandable by all concerned.

6. Hypothesis should be consistent with most known facts i.e.; it

must be consistent with a substantial body of established facts.

7. Hypothesis should be amenable to testing within a reasonable

time.
 Differences between Research Question & Hypothesis
• Hypotheses are more specific than research questions. One key distinction between research questions
and hypotheses is that hypotheses can generally specify the direction of a relationship.

• At times, a researcher may suspect that two variables are related but have insufficient theoretical
rationale to support the relationship as positive or negative. In this case, hypotheses cannot be offered.

• At times in research, particularly in exploratory research, we can only offer research questions.

• Research hypotheses are much more specific and therefore require considerably more theoretical
support.

• In addition, research questions are interrogative, whereas research hypotheses are declarative.
 Questions & answers

Thank you!
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