Chapter 5

Problem Definition and the Research Proposal

In research process, the first and foremost step is selecting and properly defining a research
problem. A researcher must find the problem and define it for conducting the research properly.
Like a medical doctor, a researcher must examine all the symptoms presented to him or observed
by him concerning a problem to diagnose it correctly. To define a problem correctly, a researcher
must know: what a problem is?

RESEARCH PROBLEM
A research problem refers to any difficulty, which a researcher experiences in the context
of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution for the same. In
other words, research problem is the indication of a specific business decision area that will be
clarified by answering some research questions.

Generally a research problem exists, if the following conditions are met with:
(i) There must be an individual or a group, who has some difficulty or a problem.
(ii) There must be some objective(s) to be attained. If one wants nothing, one cannot have a
problem.
(iii) There must be alternative means (or the courses of action) for obtaining the objective(s).
This means that there must be at least two means available to a researcher. If he has no
choice of means, he cannot have a research problem.
(iv) 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.
(v) There must be an environment where the difficulty pertains.

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NECESSITY OF DEFINING THE PROBLEM
Quite often we all hear that a problem clearly stated is a problem half solved. This statement
signifies the need for defining a research problem. The problem to be investigated must be
defined unambiguously. It will help differentiate relevant data from the irrelevant ones. A proper
definition of research problem will enable the researcher to be on the track whereas an ill-defined
problem may create hurdles. Questions like: What data are to be collected? What
characteristics of data are relevant and need to be studied? What relations are to be
explored? What techniques are to be used for the purpose? And similar other questions
arise in the mind of the researcher who can well plan his strategy and find answers to all
such questions only when the research problem has been well defined. Thus, defining a
research problem properly is a prerequisite for any study and is a step of the highest
importance. Effective problem definition helps make sure the research objectives are relevant
and useful— meaning the results will actually be used. If problem definition is glossed over or
done poorly, the results are likely irrelevant and potentially harmful. In fact, formulation of
a problem is often more essential than its solution. It is only on careful detailing the research
problem that we can work out the research design and can smoothly carry on all the
consequential steps involved while doing research.

SELECTING THE PROBLEM

The research problem undertaken for study must be carefully selected. The task is a difficult one,
although it may not appear to be so. Help may be taken from a research guide in this connection.
Nevertheless, every researcher must find out his own salvation because research problems cannot
be borrowed. A problem must come out from the researcher’s mind similar to a plant growing
from its own seed. If our eyes need glasses, it is not the optician alone who decides about the
number of the lens we require. We have to see ourselves and enable him to prescribe for us the
right number by cooperating with him. Thus, a research guide can at the most only help a
researcher choose a subject. However, the following points may be observed by a researcher in
selecting a research problem or a subject for research:
(i) Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen, because it will be a difficult
task to throw any new light in such a case.
(ii) Controversial subject should not become the choice of an average researcher.
(iii) Too narrow or too broad problems should be avoided.

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 (iv)The subject selected for research should be familiar and feasible so that related research
materials are within one’s reach. For this purpose, a researcher should contact an expert
or a professor in the University who is already engaged in research. He may as well read
articles published in current literature available on the subject and may think how the
techniques and ideas discussed therein might be applied to the solution of other problems.
He may discuss with others what he has in mind concerning a problem. In this way he
should make all possible efforts in selecting a problem.
(v) The importance of the subject, the qualifications and the training of a researcher, the costs
involved, the time factor are few other criteria that must also be considered in selecting a
problem.
(vi)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 a set of well-
developed techniques is unavailable, a brief feasibility study must always be undertaken.
If the subject for research is selected properly by observing the above mentioned points, the
research will not be a boring job; rather it will be an interesting job. In fact, passion for work is a
must. The subject or the problem selected must involve the researcher and must have an upper
most place in his mind so that he may undertake all pains needed for the study.

TECHNIQUE INVOLVED IN DEFINING A PROBLEM

Defining a problem involves the task of setting the boundaries within which a researcher
shall study the problem with a pre-determined objective. How to define a research problem is
undoubtedly a herculean task. However, it is a task that must be tackled intelligently to avoid the
confusion encountered in a research operation. Defining a research problem properly and clearly
is a crucial part of a research study and must not be accomplished hurriedly. However, in
practice, this is frequently overlooked which causes a lot of problems later on. Hence, the
research problem should be defined in a systematic manner, giving due importance to all relating
points. The technique for defining the problem involves undertaking of the following steps
generally one after the other: (i) statement of the problem in a general way; (ii)
understanding the nature of the problem; (iii) surveying the available literature; (iv)
developing the ideas through discussions; and (v) rephrasing the research problem into a
working proposition. Brief descriptions of all these points are given below:

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(i) Statement of the problem in a general way: 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 engage himself thoroughly in the
subject matter concerning which he wishes to pose a problem. In case of social research, it is
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. Then the researcher can himself
state the problem or he can seek the guidance of the guide or the subject expert in
accomplishing this task. Often, the guide puts forth the problem in general terms, and it
is then up to the researcher to narrow it down and phrase the problem in operational
terms. In case there is some directive from an organizational authority, the problem then
can be stated accordingly. The problem stated in a broad general way may contain
various ambiguities which must be resolved by cool thinking and rethinking over the
problem. At the same time the feasibility of a particular solution has to be considered and
the same should be kept in mind while stating the problem.
(ii) Understanding the nature of the problem: The next step in defining the problem is to
understand its origin and nature clearly. The best way of understanding the problem is to
discuss it with those who first raised it in order to find out how the problem originally
came about and with what objectives in view. If the researcher has stated the problem
himself, he should consider once again all those points that induced him to make a general
statement concerning the problem. For a better understanding of the nature of the
problem involved, he can enter into discussion with those who have a good knowledge
of the problem concerned or similar other problems. The researcher should also keep in
view the environment within which the problem is to be studied and understood.
(iii) Surveying the available literature: All available literature concerning the problem at
hand must be surveyed and examined before defining the research problem. This means that
the researcher must be well-conversant with relevant theories in the field, reports and
records as also all other relevant literature. S/he must devote sufficient time in reviewing
of research already undertaken on related problems. This is done to find out what data
and other materials, if any, are available for operational purposes. “Knowing what data are
available often serves to narrow the problem itself as well as the technique that might be
used.” This would also help a researcher to know if there are certain gaps in the theories,
or whether the existing theories applicable to the problem under study are inconsistent
with each other, or whether the findings of the different studies do not follow a pattern
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 consistent with the theoretical expectations and so on. All this will enable a researcher to
take new steps in the field for expansion of knowledge i.e., he can move up starting from the
existing premise. Literature review is useful for indicating the type of difficulties that may
be encountered in the present study as also the possible analytical shortcomings. At times
such studies may also suggest useful and even new lines of approach to the present problem.
(iv)Developing the ideas through discussions: Discussion concerning a problem often produces
useful information. Various new ideas can be developed through such an exercise. Hence, a
researcher must discuss his problem with colleagues and others who have enough
experience in the same area or in working on similar problems. This is quite often known
as an experience survey. People with rich experience are in a position to enlighten the
researcher on different aspects of the proposed study and their advice and comments are
usually invaluable to the researcher. They help researcher sharpen his attention on specific
aspects within the field. Discussions with such persons should not only be confined to the
formulation of the specific problem at hand, but should also be concerned with the general
approach to the given problem, techniques that might be used, possible solutions, etc.
(v) Rephrasing the research problem: Finally, the researcher must rephrase the research
problem into a working proposition. Once the nature of the problem has been clearly
understood, the environment 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.

AN ILLUSTRATION OF PROBLEM DEFINITION

Let us suppose that a research problem in a broad general way is as follows:
“Why is productivity in Japan so much higher than in Bangladesh?” In this form, the question
has a number of ambiguities, such as: What sort of productivity is being referred to? With what
industries the same is related? With what period of time the productivity is being talked about?
In view of all such ambiguities, the given statement or the question is too general to analyze.
Rethinking and discussions about the problem may result in narrowing down the question to:
“What factors were responsible for the higher labor productivity of Japan’s manufacturing
industries during 1971 to 1980 relative to Bangladesh’s manufacturing industries?”

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This latter version of the problem is definitely an improvement over its earlier version. Here the
various ambiguities have been removed to the extent possible. Further rethinking and rephrasing
might place the problem on a still better operational basis as shown below:
“To what extent did labor productivity during 1971 to 1980 in Japan exceed that of Bangladesh
in respect of 15 selected manufacturing industries? What factors were responsible for the
productivity differentials between the two countries by industries?”
With this sort of formulation, the various terms involved such as ‘labor productivity’, ‘productivity
differentials’, etc. must be explained clearly. The researcher must also see that the necessary data
are available. In case the data for one or more industries selected are not available for the
concerning time-period, the said industry or industries will have to be substituted by other industry or
industries. The suitability of the time-period must also be examined. Thus, all relevant factors must
be considered by a researcher before finally defining a research problem.

TRANSLATING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES INTO RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND/OR

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
Research questions simply restate the research objectives in the form of a question. When the
researcher has sufficient theoretical reasoning to make a more specific prediction that includes
the direction of any predicted relationship, the research question can be translated into one or
more research hypotheses.

COMPONENTS OF A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

The research proposal is a written statement of the research design that will be followed in
addressing a specific problem. The research proposal allows managers to evaluate the details of
the proposed research and determine whether alterations are needed. It always includes a
statement explaining the purpose of the study and a definition of the problem. A good proposal
systematically outlines the particular research methodology and details procedures that
will be used during each stage of the research process. Normally a schedule of costs and
deadlines is included in the research proposal. The research proposal becomes the primary
communication document between the researcher and the research users (client). However,
most research proposals include the following sections: (1) Research Title; (2) Introduction;
(3) Statement of the problem; (4) Objectives of the study; (5) Review of literature; (6)
Justification of the study; (7) Research design ; (8) Monetary Budget; (9) Work plan/Time
frame; (10) Limitation of the study; (11) Chapter plan; and (12) References
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