WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM

In the 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.

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.
Usually a research problem does exist if the following conditions are met with:

➔​ There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or a problem

➔​ There must be some objective(s) to be attained at. If one wants nothing, one cannot have
a problem.
➔​ 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.
➔​ 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.
➔​ There must be some environment(s) to which the difficulty pertains.

According to Alan Bryman, “A research problem is a definite or clear expression [statement]

about an area of concern, a condition to be improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a
troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or within existing practice that
points to a need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation. A research problem
does not state how to do something, offer a vague or broad proposition, or present a value
question”.

According to Mohd Shoket, Research problems are those topics the researcher “would like to
address, investigate, or study, whether descriptively or experimentally”.

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.​ ​ ​ ​

Necessity of selecting a research problem :

➢​ It guides the choice of methodologies, data collection methods, and analytical techniques;
➢​ It ensures that the research has practical implications, potentially influencing policy,
practice, or further studies.
➢​ The process of identifying and formulating a research problem fosters critical thinking
and analytical skills. Researchers learn to assess existing knowledge critically and
explore innovative solutions to complex issues.​ ​
TYPES OF RESEARCH PROBLEM: Across fields and disciplines, there are different
types of research problems. We can broadly categorize them into three types.

1. Theoretical research problems : Theoretical research problems deal with conceptual and
intellectual inquiries that may not involve empirical data collection but instead seek to advance
our understanding of complex concepts, theories, and phenomena within their respective
disciplines.

For example, in the social sciences, research problems may be:

●​ Casuist (relating to the determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or

conscience),
●​ Difference (comparing or contrasting two or more phenomena),
●​ Descriptive (aims to describe a situation or state), or
●​ Relational (investigating characteristics that are related in some way).

2. Applied research problems : Applied or practical research problems focus on addressing

real-world challenges and generating practical solutions to improve various aspects of society,
technology, health, and the environment. Here are some applied research problem examples:

●​ Studying the use of precision agriculture techniques to optimize crop yield and minimize
resource waste.
●​ Designing a more energy-efficient and sustainable transportation system for a city to
reduce carbon emissions.

3. Action research problems : Action research problems aim to create positive change within
specific contexts by involving stakeholders, implementing interventions, and evaluating
outcomes in a collaborative manner. Here are some action research problem examples:

●​ Partnering with healthcare professionals to identify barriers to patient adherence to

medication regimens and devising interventions to address them.
●​ Collaborating with a nonprofit organization to evaluate the effectiveness of their
programs aimed at providing job training for underserved populations.

SELECTING A RESEARCH PROBLEM

The research problem undertaken for study must be carefully selected. A good problem
statement begins by introducing the broad area in which your research is centered, gradually
leading the reader to the more specific issues you are investigating. The statement need not be
lengthy, but a good research problem should incorporate the following features:
1. Persuasive Topic: The problem that is taken up for research should not only be of ample
interest to the researcher but also the one that is continuously motivating to ensure consistent
efforts to find a solution. The significance is greatly reduced if the idea is to just get some
superficial knowledge about the problem and not to lead the researcher to resolve it. It is to be
kept in mind that :

➢​ Subjects which are overdone should not be normally chosen, for it will be a difficult task
to throw any new light in such a case.
➢​ Controversial subjects 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.

2. Viability: A problem that has been identified to be studied should be decided on the basis of
whether it is actually possible to be resolved , or has some previous know-how to guide the
researcher to move ahead. A problem which has not been foreseen earlier may be selected but
then the resources availability should be considered.

3. Preliminary study : The selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary study.

This may not be necessary when the problem requires the conduct of a research closely similar to
one that has already been done. But when the field of inquiry is relatively new and does not have
a set of well developed techniques available, a brief feasibility study must always be undertaken.

4. The So What Test: A research problem should be able to pass the ―So What test as in social
research, to ascertain the meaningfulness and relevance of studying a particular problem. If the
problem does not result which may lead to further study or analysis it has been avoided. A few
more considerations that assist a researcher to ensure that the study will remain manageable and
that you will remain motivated are:

a)​ Interest: a research endeavor is usually time consuming, and involves hard work and
possibly unforeseen problems. One should select topics of great interest to sustain the
required motivation.
b)​ Magnitude: It is extremely important to select a topic that you can manage within the
time and resources at your disposal. Narrow the topic down to something manageable,
specific and clear.
c)​ Measurement of concepts: Make sure that you are clear about the indicators and
measurement of concepts (if used) in your study.
d)​ Level of expertise: Make sure that you have adequate level of expertise for the task you
are proposing since you need to do the work yourself.
e)​ Relevance: Ensure that your study adds to the existing body of knowledge, bridges
current gaps and is useful in policy formulation. This will help you to sustain interest in
the study.
f)​ Availability of data: Before finalizing the topic, make sure that data is available.
 g)​ Ethical issues: How ethical issues can affect the study population and how ethical
problems can be overcome should be thoroughly examined at the problem formulating
stage.

5. Statement of Research Problem: A research problem statement has to be adequate as

different people may interpret it in many ways and draw inferences that the researcher has not
even thought of. It has to be established that this statement leads only in a single direction and
leads only to where one wants to reach. This would also avoid new generalized issues arising out
of the work. For a problem statement to be effective it should have the characteristics listed
below:

1.​ The problem reflects felt needs

2.​ The problem is non-hypothetical, i.e., it must be based on factual evidence
3.​ It should suggest meaningful and testable hypotheses - to avoid answers that are of little
or no use to the alleviation of the problem
4.​ The problems should be relevant and manageable

Reasons for inappropriate selection of the problem are: Beginners are likely to select a
problem that is too broad in scope to manage or too narrow to get reliable results. The difficulty
for many beginners in research lies in an insensitivity to the problems or "problem blindness".
Therefore some of the common reasons for its inappropriate selection are:

1.​ lack of understanding of the nature of the research and systematic problem-solving
activity;
2.​ impatience and hurry in selection;
3.​ hesitation in consulting experts or peers in the field of research;
4.​ poor reading habit;
5.​ overconfidence; and
6.​ picking up an area with no background knowledge.

PROCESS OF FORMULATION OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM

The formulation of a research problem is akin to identifying a destination before embarking on a

journey. Identification of a destination enables one to select the shortest or best possible route to
travel. The formulation of a research problem is very important, as it defines the quality and
validity of the contents of a research report. Thus, formulating research problems is the most
crucial step in research. It is therefore necessary to allocate enough time to the formulation of
research problems, as clearer and better formulated research problems lead most invariably to
clearer research and more reliable output and progress.

An appropriate statement of research problem would need the researcher to follow the following
steps to be able to arrive at the expected outcome with an addition of reasonable new knowledge:
1. Statement of the problem in a general manner : 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 the 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.

2. Developing a Conceptual Framework: The researcher has to conceptualize, identify and

select a broad discipline before shortlisting the final aspects to be studied. Then it is to find out
which of these aspects generate the maximum interest and lead one to work with enthusiasm and
perseverance. Assimilate the set of questions that would address the problem adequately and
formulate objectives that correspond to these questions.

3. Referring the available literature on the problem: An extensive literature reference is

necessary to find out the available information about the identified problem. It assists in
understanding the earlier work done in the similar area and prevents the chances of doing
repetitive work. It is the study of available knowledge in the field and especially in the
perspective of problems stated by the researcher. It provides a description, summary, and critical
evaluation of these works in relation to the research problem being investigated.

❖​ Primary sources : It means original study, based on direct observation, use of statistical
records, interviews, or experimental methods, of actual practices or the actual impact of
practices or policies. They are authored by researchers, contain original research data,
and are usually published in a peer-reviewed journal. Primary literature may also include
conference papers, pre-prints, or preliminary reports.
❖​ Secondary sources : Secondary literature consists of interpretations and evaluations that
are derived from or refer to the primary source literature. Examples include review
articles) and reference works. A secondary source of information is one that was created
by someone who did not have first-hand experience or did not participate in the events or
conditions being researched. Secondary sources describe, analyze, interpret, evaluate,
comment on and discuss the evidence provided by primary sources.
❖​ Tertiary sources: Tertiary literature consists of a distillation and collection of primary and
secondary sources such as textbooks, encyclopaedia articles, and guidebooks or
handbooks. The purpose of tertiary literature is to provide an overview of key research
findings and an introduction to principles and practices within the discipline.

4. The formulation of Objectives: The objectives provide an accurate description of the specific
actions you will take in order to reach the aim. An objective is measurable and operational. It
tells specific things you will accomplish in your project.Usually only one or at the most two
objectives should be taken up in one study. If there are more than two objectives, then it may be
appropriate to address the additional objectives through a separate study. Objectives are the goals
set out to attain in a study. They inform a reader what you want to attain through the study.
Objectives should be listed under two headings:

a)​ Main objectives: The main objective is an overall statement or the driving force of a
study.
b)​ Sub-objectives: The sub-objectives are the specific aspects of the problem or the issue
that is to be investigated within the main framework of your study.

5. 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:

➔​ Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in the statement of the
problem, should be clearly defined.
➔​ Basic assumptions or postulates (if any) relating to the research problem should be
clearly stated.
➔​ A straightforward statement of the value of the investigation (i.e., the criteria for the
selection of the problem) should be provided.
➔​ The suitability of the time-period and the sources of data available must also be
considered by the researcher in defining the problem.
➔​ 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.

SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

1. Field of Study : Draw upon your existing knowledge and specialization within a specific
academic discipline (e.g., education, sociology, psychology). Consider priority areas suggested
by higher learning institutions.

2. Professional Literature: Explore research reports, bibliographies, periodicals, abstracts,

yearbooks, dictionaries, and research guides to identify pressing research problems and gaps in
the existing knowledge base. Pay attention to suggestions for further research in published
reports. Hone critical reading, recording, accessing, and literature storage skills. Utilize internet
search engines and websites to explore new areas.

3. Experts and Senior Scholars: Engage in discussions with professors, senior scholars,
supervisors, researchers, practitioners, and professional librarians to gain insights and identify
potential research problems.
4. Analysis of Evidence, Practices, Trends, or Needs: Conduct meta-analyses of existing
evidence to identify weaknesses, strengths, gaps, and inconsistencies in systems or practices.
Investigate the impact of existing practices and trends. Consider areas needing urgent attention.

5. Inference from Theory: Utilize established theories (e.g., learning theories, sociological
theories) to identify research topics. Apply general principles from these theories to specific
situations. Address gaps or inconsistencies in existing theories.

6. Completed Researches: While repetition is generally discouraged, consider replicating or

extending completed studies to different contexts, groups, or times. Address gaps,
inconsistencies, or weaknesses in the design, tools, treatment, or analysis of data in previous
studies.

7. Technological and Social Changes: Recognize that socio-economic and technological

advancements lead to new challenges and opportunities in research. Examine the validity of
existing curricula, models, and practices in light of these changes. Consider the impact of
government policies and programs.

8. Interviews : Interview sessions can be significant sources of research problems. The method
gives you an opportunity to have formal discussions and informal interactions with individuals
who can provide useful insights into research and make findings more relevant to future
research.

9. Personal experience : Day-to-day personal experiences of a researcher serves as a good

source of ideas to formulate research problems. For example, a researcher observed domestic
violence suffered by wives of alcoholic husbands. This experience may provide ideas to identify
several research problems related to domestic violence against women. There may be so many
such life experiences of a researcher which could be used to develop a research problem.