PROGRAM: BBA SEM 3/4: 2023-24

SUBJECT: MARKETING RESEARCH

UNIT 3

PROBLEM FORMULATION AND STATEMENT OF RESEARCH

The first step in the research process is the selection of a suitable problem from the field chosen
by the researcher. In each field or area of education, several problems exist which may have
reference to pure, applied, or action research. The choice and formulation of a suitable problem
is one of the most difficult tasks for a researcher, especially if he/she is a beginner. There are
many sources to which a researcher may go for a suitable research problem, or from which
he/she may develop a sense of problem awareness.
The features of a good research problem are its:
i) significance,
ii) originality, and
iii) feasibility.
SOURCES OF IDENTIFYING A PROBLEM
A thorough understanding of known facts and ideas in the field of your interest as a researcher
constitute the first and the most important step in selecting a problem for your study. The choice
and identification of a suitable problem is usually difficult. For a beginner to identify a research
problem is always a very difficult task. This may be due to his/her limited knowledge of
research processes or his/her unpreparedness for identifying the problem. He/she may not be
familiar with the problems in the field which need solution through research. Even an
experienced researcher finds it difficult to list all the problems that need to be researched. Each
researcher selects a problem because of his/her own needs and purposes.
The following, are, however, some important sources which would help you identify a suitable
and significant problem
 Professional Experience

The educational administrators and planners may find subjects of research in the areas
concerning decision-making, scheduling, teacher recruitment and placement, instructional
supervision, and several other matters with which they are concerned. Professional Literature
The study of professional literature will not only expose you to pressing research
problems but will also suggest the way in which research is conducted.
Some specialised sources are:
• Encyclopaedia of Educational Research,
• Dissertation Abstracts International,
• Psychological Abstracts, and similar publications are rich sources of research
problems.
 Inference from Theories and Other Sources
Another important source of identifying the research problems lies in the generalisations that
are drawn from various theories pertaining to education, psychology, sociology, etc., known
to the researcher. Technological and social changes, and curricular developments constantly
give rise to new problems and issues for research.
DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM
The definition of a problem amounts to specifying it in detail and narrowing it down to
workable size. Each question and subordinate questions to be answered are specified at this
stage and the scope and limits of investigation are determined. Formulation of the problem
includes:
1. stating the problem in the form of statements or questions which make the problem
clear and understandable,
2. identification and operationalisation of the variables concisely, and
3. evaluating the problem in terms of its significance, novelty and feasibility
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
A good statement of a problem must clarify exactly what is to be determined or solved or what
is the research question? It must restrict the scope of the study to specific and workable research
questions. All questions raised must be related to the problem. Each major issue or element
should be separated into its subsidiary or secondary elements, and these should be arranged in
a logical order under the major divisions.
Research Problem
A research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved, a
difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory,
or in practice that points to the need for meaningful understanding and deliberate
investigation. In some social science disciplines, the research problem is typically posed in the
form of a question. A research problem does not state how to do something, offer a vague or
broad proposition, or present a value question.
Formulation of Research Problem
Formulating your research problem enables you to make a purpose of your study clear to
yourself and target readers. Focus your paper on providing relevant data to address it. A
problem statement is an effective and essential tool to keep you on track with research and
evaluate it.
There are Five ways to formulate the research problem:
I. Specify your research objectives;
II. Review its context or environment;
III. Explore its nature;
IV. Determine variable relationships;
V. Alternative approaches.
I. Specify research objectives
A clear statement that defines all objectives can help you conduct and develop effective and
meaningful research. They should be manageable to bring you success. A few goals will help
you keep your study relevant. This statement also helps professors evaluation the questions
your research project answers and different methods that you use to address them.
II. Review the context of your research problem
It’s necessary to work hard to define and test all kinds of environmental variables to make
your project successful. Why do you need to do that? This step can help you define if the
important findings of your study will deliver enough data to be worth considering. Identify
specific environmental variables that may potentially affect your research and start
formulating effective methods to control all of them.
III. Explore the nature of research problem.
Research problems may range from simple to complex, and everything depends on a range of
variables and their relationships. Some of them can be directly relevant to specific research
questions, while others are completely unimportant for your project.
Why should you understand their nature? This knowledge enables you to develop effective
solutions. To get a deep understanding of all dimensions, think about focus groups and other
relevant details to provide the necessary insight into a particular question.
IV. Determine variable relationships
Scientific, social, and other studies often focus on creating a certain sequence of repeating
behaviours over time. What does your project entail? Completing the entire process involves:
 Identifying the variables that affect possible solutions to your research problem;
 Deciding on the degree to which you can use and control all of them for study
purposes;
 Determining functional relationships between existing variables;
 Choose the most critical variables for a solution of your research problem.
During the formulation stage, it’s necessary to consider and generate as many potential
approaches and variable relationships as you can.
V. Alternative approaches
Anticipate the possible consequences of alternative approaches
There are different consequences that each course of action or approach can bring, and that’s
why you need to anticipate them. Why communicate possible outcomes? It’s a primary goal
of any research process.
Basic Steps in Formulating a Research Problem
What is the most essential part of your research project? It is obviously the formulating of a
research problem or selecting your research topic. This is because of the quality & relevancy
of your research work completely depends on it. The process of formulating a research
problem requires a series of steps.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
http://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/41939/1/Unit-4.pdf
https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-good-and-bad-research-questions.html
http://cuj.ac.in/E_Lecture/DCS/L5%20Formulation%20of%20research%20problem.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6322175/
Fill in the blanks:

1. Problem formulation is the initial step in the research process, where researchers define
the ____________ they want to investigate.
2. To create a well-defined problem statement, it's essential to be ____________ in
specifying the issue or challenge you are addressing
3. In problem formulation, researchers identify the ____________ variables or factors
related to the issue they want to study.
4. A well-structured problem statement typically includes the ____________ of the
problem, the context, and the objectives of the research
5. Problem formulation often involves a review of ____________ literature to understand
what is already known about the issue
6. The process of narrowing down a broad research topic into a specific and manageable
problem is known as ____________ formulation.
7. A clear problem formulation helps guide the selection of an appropriate ____________
methodology for the research
8. In problem formulation, researchers should consider the ____________ of the problem
and its potential impact on stakeholders.
9. Problem formulation is a critical step in research as it lays the foundation for the
development of a ____________ and research objectives.
10. A well-constructed problem statement sets the direction for the research, enabling
researchers to focus on finding ____________ to the identified problem.

Answers:

1. Problem or Research Question

2. Precise or Clear
3. Key or Relevant
4. Scope or Boundaries
5. Existing or Prior
6. Problem or Research
7. Research
8. Significance or Importance
9. Hypothesis or Research Hypothesis
10. Solutions or Resolutions