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Problem Formulation 

The document outlines the process of formulating a research problem, emphasizing the importance of stating the problem in a researchable manner and narrowing down the research area. It details steps such as brainstorming, conducting literature reviews, selecting sub-areas, raising research questions, and formulating objectives based on SMART criteria. The distinction between general and specific objectives is also highlighted, ensuring they align with the research questions and overall aims of the study.

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5 views11 pages

Problem Formulation 

The document outlines the process of formulating a research problem, emphasizing the importance of stating the problem in a researchable manner and narrowing down the research area. It details steps such as brainstorming, conducting literature reviews, selecting sub-areas, raising research questions, and formulating objectives based on SMART criteria. The distinction between general and specific objectives is also highlighted, ensuring they align with the research questions and overall aims of the study.

Uploaded by

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

Formulation
Dr Deepak Joseph
St Berchmans College
Formulation of a research problem
means to state the problem in a
researchable manner.

Shape the research topic in a


manner that it becomes ready for
Problem scientific investigation.
formulatio
Refine the topic and clearly state
n what is intended to study about
the topic

Narrow down the research area


and formulate the objectives
Brainstorm a list
of things that
we might want
Select a broader to know about
problem or area the problem or
area through
the process of
Literature
Review
Relate the focus
of the problem
Problem Select a focus of with existing
the problem/ knowledge to
formulatio area identify the
n Specific
Research Gaps

State the
specific research
question or
problem
Identify Identify a broader research area

Dissect the broad area into sub –


Dissect areas
Steps in
Problem
Select Select one of the sub- areas
Formulatio
n
Raise Raise the research questions

Formulat Formulate the objectives


e
Identify the broader research
area

It is the broader area that the researcher wants to investigate.


It is selected based on :
• The area of interest of the researcher
• Field of Practice or specialization
• The area which is having contemporary relevance
• The area having the scope of proposing policies or developing interventions
• The area having the scope for funding or publication
Dissect the Broad area into
sub- areas

Once the broad research area is selected, it is narrow down into a specific
areas that is researchable and manageable for the researcher.

It involves dissecting the broad area into sub- areas and finding
one suitable sub area for the research

Facilitate Literature review in the broader area, and identify the potential
research gaps to identify the possible sub-areas. Facilitate further literature to
identify the specific research gaps.
Select one of the sub- areas

It is not feasible to include all the sub areas in a single research


study due to limited time and monetary resources.

One research study should specifically address one


particular area so that it can be studied in its entirety.

Hence, select one sub-area based on the interest and competency


of the researcher and the depth of the research gaps identified
(Researchable and Manageable).

The elected sub-area should be relevant to the subject knowledge


of the researcher and should have research significance.
Raise the research
questions

• Raise important questions


about the chosen sub area
which need to be answered
through this research.
• Choose only the most relevant
and important questions.
• The total number of research
questions depends on the
nature of the topic which will
ultimately determine the length
of the research thesis.
Formulate the
Objectives
• The objectives are stem out
of the research questions.
• The difference between the
research questions and
objectives is the way they
are written.
• The research questions are
interrogative sentences. On
the other hand, objectives
are action-oriented
statements consisting of
words such as to explore, to
investigate, to examine, to
SMART Criteria for Setting the
Objectives
• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relevant
• Time- Bound
General and Specific Objectives
• General Objective :
 Broader statement about what the study aims to achieve overall
 This can be the reflection of the topic or the title of the research
• Specific Objectives :
 detailed objectives that describe what will be researched during the study
The general and specific objectives should be set so that when we answer the
specific research questions we should get the answer to the general objective
set.

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