The Research Problem

and Objectives
What Is the Research Problem?

A research problem (also

“issue” or “question”)
indicates the need or
desire to know or to
understand something.
Problem solving has three steps:

Obtaining relevant Examine alternative Determine how to

information about the approaches and implement the
problem and potential chose among them – decision and take
solutions – research decision component action – action
component component

§ This lecture deals mainly with the first of these three components,
recognizing that they are all interconnected
Research vs Decision Problems

Research problems and Also, decision (subject-matter)

decision problems may be problems and action problems
closely related, especially in usually go together – we make a
subject-matter or problem- decision, then act on it.
solving research.
Research vs Decision Problems

Disciplinary research however, When research does lead to

may not lead to a specific decision decision or action it is important
or action. Disciplinary problems to keep the research activity
are of interest within the discipline separated from the decision and
and are oriented to the generation implementation activities.
of knowledge.
Research vs Decision Problems

This helps to maintain as much neutrality as

possible in the research process and helps the
researcher remain objective.
Research Problem Identification

§ This is the most critical and important

part of all research projects.
§ The problem is the focus of both basic
and applied research. It is the reason
(justification) for the research.
§ The problem identification and
explanation affect the quality,
usefulness, effectiveness, and efficiency
of the research, more than any other
part of the research plan.
Research Problem Identification

§ The research problem is the

reason the research is being
undertaken

§ The written problem description is

the only credible evidence that a
clear understanding of the issue
has been achieved.
Research Problem Identification

For Example Research

Problem

1.

Source: Falentina et.al 2021

Researchable Problem vs Problematic
Situation
§ The researchable problem is the very specific problem at which the
objectives of the research are directed.
§ It can be understood by contrasting it with the general
problem, also called a problematic situation.
§ Problematic situations are very large in scope and have many
dimensions.
§ For example: World food (or hunger), Low incomes in developing
countries, High birth rates, Low education levels, Restrictive trade
policies, unemployment.
Researchable Problem vs Problematic
Situation
§ Problematic situations are not researchable within an individual
research project.
§ But, specific components of these problematic situations are
researchable, when broken into distinct components.
§ The components must be:
Ø confined in scope and complexity, and
Ø support a set of research objectives that can be achieved with given
resource constraints (time & money).
§ Research from many individual projects can be combined to address
problematic situations.
The Problem Statement
§ Research problems are always linked to a more general set of problems,
so it is useful to separate the problem statement into two parts:

The general problem (or The specific problem (or

problematic situation), the researchable problem)

§ Note that the specific problem is not necessarily “small”, but rather it must be
precisely specified and capable of being addressed with available resources.
The Problem Statement

§ The general problem statement provides the

background or setting for the researchable
The General Problem problem.
§ Usually, it helps to introduce the problem with
very general statements, then progressively
narrow the focus to more specific, precise issues.
§ However, if the reader of the proposal is already
knowledgeable on the subject, the broad general
discussion can be reduced.
ie. The problem definition should be tailored for
the expected audience.
The Problem Statement

§ For example, consider a situation where a

student from a foreign country plans to
The General Problem research his home country.
o The student’s research committee may
not know much about the country,
o so it is helpful to provide descriptions of
the economic, social, political, and
institutional conditions in the country
§ Sample proposals are provided in
Appendices A (government agency), B
(master’s thesis), and C (PhD dissertation)
The Problem Statement

§ The general problem statement sets the stage

for the specific, researchable problem
The Specific Problem § The specific problem narrows the perspective
to a set of issues on which knowledge or
information is needed.
§ It must be clarified,
• what knowledge is needed
• the reasons the knowledge is needed
• by whom the knowledge is needed
• the potential purposes it could serve.
The Problem Statement

For Example Research

Problem

Miranti et.al (2022)

The Problem Statement
Five guidelines below provide a checklist in developing effective problem
statements:

The dimensions of the problem should be

described in objective (neutral) rather
The researchable problem must be
than subjective terms.
sufficiently specific to be addressed
eg. “Wheat producers in the European
with available resources (eg. time,
Economic Community are overpaid.”
research expertise, data, tools, financial
support)
Better: “Wheat producers in the European
Economic Community are subsidized
The Problem Statement
Five guidelines below provide a checklist in developing effective problem
statements:

The problem must be described

sufficiently so that other people can
The researcher’s perceptions of the
comprehend it
problems may be intuitive, but must be
(This applies to both general and specific
developed logically
problem statements)
The Problem Statement
Five guidelines below provide a checklist in developing effective problem
statements:

The problem explanation must provide the reason

(justification) for the research objective.

(at this point, it is helpful to read the general and

specific problem statements in Appendix B, MS
Thesis, pp 192-193)
Use of Data
• Data can affect our awareness of a problem
and how we perceive the problem.
• It is usually advisable to examine relevant
data in the process of developing the problem
statements
• In this process, large amounts of
miscellaneous facts can be reduced to useful
information
Research Objectives
§ Objectives specify what the research project proposes to accomplish (do, achieve, estimate,
determine, measure, evaluate, etc.)
§ The are usually best specified in general and specific parts. Often the shortest part of the
proposal, but it is the centerpiece.

General objective – states the

Specific objectives – a set or list
main purpose of the study. It
of sub-objectives, each of which
should derive directly from the
contributes to achieving the
research problem statement. One
general objective
sentence is best!
Research Objectives

For Example Research

Objective

Source: Falentina et.al 2021

Developing Problem and Objective
Statements
§ There are no constant rules or procedures to developing problem and objective
statements. It may depend on how much you know about the subject of the
research.

§ If your knowledge of the subject is limited, you may start with a broad
consideration of the subject – then narrow the focus by segmenting problem
areas into logical components (issues, questions, etc.)

§ If you know more about the research area and already have a good idea about
the researchable problem, you may need to develop the general dimensions or
context of the problem. (ie. Opposite from the previous example).
Developing Problem and Objective
Statements
§ Once the problem has been defined and general objective identified, the
specific objectives often naturally follow, by considering what are important
components.

§ A logical and clearly written statement of problems and objectives is often

the most difficult part of proposal writing.
Developing Problem and Objective
Statements

For Example Developing

Problem and Research
Question

Source: Sukanti and Sulistyaningrum (2022)

THANK YOU