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Formulation of Research Problem

The document discusses defining a research problem, which involves properly understanding the nature of the issue through literature reviews and discussions, rephrasing it into a clear working proposition or hypotheses, and selecting a topic that is novel, feasible, and significant. Key components of a research problem include having objectives to achieve and alternative means of obtaining them while remaining uncertain of the best approach. Research questions pose an inquiry to answer through a study, while hypotheses make a testable statement about expected outcomes.

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Amen Abraham
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779 views

Formulation of Research Problem

The document discusses defining a research problem, which involves properly understanding the nature of the issue through literature reviews and discussions, rephrasing it into a clear working proposition or hypotheses, and selecting a topic that is novel, feasible, and significant. Key components of a research problem include having objectives to achieve and alternative means of obtaining them while remaining uncertain of the best approach. Research questions pose an inquiry to answer through a study, while hypotheses make a testable statement about expected outcomes.

Uploaded by

Amen Abraham
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Formulation

Of
Research Problem
What is 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.
 Sources of research problems:
o Observation.

o Literature reviews.
o Professional conferences.
o Experts.

• People who has experience and knowledge in a certain research


area can be good source of research topic. 2
Components of a Research Problem
Components of a research Problem :
 There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or the problem.
 There must be some objective(s) to be attained
- 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.


3
Selecting the Research Problem
 The research problem undertaken for study must be carefully selected
 When selecting a research problem or a subject for research:
 Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen, for it will be a
difficult task to throw any new light in such a case.
 Controversial subject 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
 The selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary study.
 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.
4
Cont.
• Defining the research problem is the first step and one of the most difficult in
research undertaking.
• Each problem that is proposed for research has to be judged according to
certain guidelines or criteria.
• The following are some of the criteria's for selecting a research problem/idea:
– Relevance/Significance
– Avoidance of duplication (should be new)
– Urgency of data needed (timeliness)
– Feasibility of study (feasibility of the idea)
– Interest to the researcher
– Ethical acceptability
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Necessity of defining the problem
“Problem clearly stated is a problem half solved”
• The problem to be investigated must be defined unambiguously for that will help to
discriminate 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 obstacles.
• Well defined research problem answers:
– 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? …

• Defining a research problem properly is a prerequisite for any study and is a step of
the highest importance
• Formulation of a problem is often more essential than its solution 6
Technique involved in defining a problem
 The research problem should be defined in a systematic manner
 The technique for the purpose involves the undertaking of the following
steps generally one after the other:
1. Statement of the problem in a general way: problem should be stated in a
broad general way, keeping in view either some practical concern or some
scientific or intellectual interest.
2. Understanding the nature of the problem: understand its origin and nature
clearly.
– The best way of understanding the problem is to discuss it with those
who first raised it
– discussion with those who have a good knowledge of the problem
concerned or similar other problems.
3. Surveying the available literature: All available literature concerning the
problem at hand must necessarily be surveyed and examined before a
definition of the research problem is given.
– give sufficient time in reviewing of research already undertaken on
related problems.
7
Cont.

4. Developing the ideas through discussions: discuss the problem with


colleagues and others who have enough experience in the same area or in
working on similar problems.
5. Rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition: rephrase the
research problem into a working proposition/hypotheses.

8
Research Questions

• A research question is the question a research study sets to answer.


– a research study can have more than one research question.
– should specifically state the purpose of your study in terms of the question
you aim to answer.
– Its purpose is to guide and center your research study.
– should be as specific as possible
• Research Question poses a question that is then to be solved or answered through
the research paper.
• The research methodologies, tools used to collect data, etc. all depend on the
research question.
• Research Question can be used in both quantitative and qualitative studies

e.g. What is the effect of personal technology on todays youth?


Is there a relationship between a person's age and learning?
Hypotheses

• A hypothesis is a statement rather than a question


• Hypotheses are tentative, intelligent guesses as to the solution of the problem
– It is the statement that suggests or predicts the outcome of the research.
– It is a clear statement of what is intended to be investigated.
– It is the statement we submit to testing
– It is the statement the research study sets out to prove or disprove.
• Hypotheses should be clearly and precisely stated in simple terms, they
should be testable, limited in scope and should state relationship between
variables
• The task of research is to test and establish such hypotheses
• Hypotheses can direct later research activities since they can help determine
the nature of the research and methods applied
• Hypothesis mainly used in quantitative research

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