Defining the Research Problem .pdf

This presentation presents for the following purposes
1: It covers the chapter of Research Problem formulation in the subject Research methodology
2: Defining the research problem
3: Significance of the research problem
4: Necessity of the research problem
5: How to find out the research problem
6: Why research problem is very important
7: How a bad formulation of the research problem affects the project or research study

1. Research Problem Class-3
1
By
Prof. (Dr.) Pravat Kumar Rout

2. 2
Research
Research forms a
cycle, starts with
a problem and
ends with a
solutionto the
problem
Research –
Ending Point
( Solution)
Research –
Starting Point
( Problem)

3. 3
It is a problem
that someone
would like to
investigate.
It is considered
a situation that
needs to be
changed or
addressed.
In educational
research, the research
problem is typically
posed as a question.
Example: Drugs used as cancer treatment.
Current treatment used to destroyed cancerous cells.
Awareness of Saudi population toward the a obesity

4. A Research Problem must Identify 4
The
Variables
under study
The
population
being
studied
The
testability
of the
question

5. To formulate the Research Problem one must-
Know all aspects of the subject
Understand the relationship between the variables
Must have theoretical background
5
This can be done by…
Literature review
Discussions with experts having positive and negative views
Concept mapping, brainstorming

6. What is a Research Problem? 3/7
Aresearchproblemisastatementaboutanareaofconcern(1),
aconditiontobeimproved(2),adifficultytobeeliminated(3),
oratroublingquestionthatexistsinscholarlyliterature(4),in
theory,orinpracticethatpointstotheneedformeaningful
understandinganddeliberateinvestigation.
Anyquestionthatyouwanttoansweroranyassumptionor
statementthatyouwanttochallengeorinvestigateorexamine
(5)canbecomearesearchproblem.
Aresearchproblem,ingeneralreferstosomedifficultywhicha
researcherexperiencesinthecontextofeitheratheoreticalor
practicalsituationandwantstoobtainasolutionforthesame(6).
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7. What is a Research Problem? 4/7
First step in research
A questionthat need to be answered
A conceptthe researcher wants to understand
A crisisthat need to resolved
A situationthat need to be changed
A reason of dissatisfaction
Quest for better solution
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8. Two Types of Research Problem 5/7
Type-1: The problem which relates
to states of the nature
•Example: Status of working children in any
Metropolitan city in 2021
Type-2: Problems which relates to
relationship between the variables
•Example: Lack of chemical fertilizer in the
main cause of grain food
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9. Components of the Research Problem 6/7
An individual or a group or an organization that has
some difficulty or problem
Some objectiveto be attained
Alternative means for attaining the objectives
Some doubtin the mind of a researcher with regard
to the selection of alternatives
Some environment(s) to which the difficulty pertain
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10. What are the key characteristics of a statement of
the problem? 7/7
A good research problem should have the following
characteristics:
It should address a gap in knowledge.
It should be significant enough to contribute to the existing
body of research.
It should lead to further research.
The problem should render itself to investigation through
collection of data.
It should be of interest to the researcher and suit his/her
skills, time, and resources.
The approach towards solving the problem should be
ethical.
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11. Selecting the Research Problem 1/3
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Interest
Expertise
(Knowledge
in the area)
Data &
Laboratory
availability
Ethics
(avoiding
unnecessary
duplication)
Need
(Practical
value of the
problem,
relevant to
the present
time)
Time-lines of the problem
Feasible,
Approachable,
Addressable, Target

12. Factors of a Research Problem Identification 2/3
What is the purpose of the study?
How much is already known?
Is additional information necessary?
What is to be ascertained or measured?
How is it to be measured?
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13. Sources of Identification of Research Problem 3/3
Reading different types of documents
Observations-In and around the library
Reading material and collection development
Technology: Usable testing
Services and systems
Current social issues and trends
Ideological issues and methodological issues
Critical Thinking Development
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14. Evaluating the Selection14
• Is the topic worth investigation?
• Is effective data collection possible?
• Is it feasible in terms of money /time?
• Will it enable the development of
hypothesis or a theory?

15. Necessity of Defining the Problem 1/2
To avoid deviating from the goal, the definition of a problem
sets the direction of the study.
To derive the objectives.
Proper methodology selection of the study.
Selection of variables of the study.
Clarityfor the readers.
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16. Necessity of Defining the Problem 2/2
The definition helps the researcher to control
subjectivity or biases of the researcher.
Makes the study feasible
What data need to be collected can be well
understood
What method need to be used can be decided
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17. Technique Involved in Defining a Problem 17
Statement of the problem in a general way
Understanding the nature of the problem
Surveying the available literature
Developing the ideas by discussion
Rephrasing the research proposal in a working proposition

18. Examples of Defining a Research Problem ½ 18
An anthropologist might
find references to a
relatively unknown tribe
in Papua New Guinea.
Through inductive
reasoning, she arrives at
the research problem
and asks,
How do these people live and how does
their culture relate to nearby tribes?
She has found a gap in
knowledge, and she seeks to fill
it, using a qualitativecase study,
without a hypothesis.

19. Examples of Defining a Research Problem 2/2 19
The BanduraBobo Doll
Experiment is a good example
of using deductive
reasoning to arrive at a
research problem and
hypothesis.
Anecdotal evidence showed that
violent behavior amongst children was
increasing. Bandura believed that
higher levels of violent adult role
models on television, was a contributor
to this rise.
This was expanded into
ahypothesis,
andoperationalization of the
variables, andscientific
measurement scale, led to a
robust experimental design.

20. What is a Research Questions? ½
It is a statement that identifies the phenomena to be studied?
Reasons why the research the research questions are crucial
Guide your literature search
Guide your decisions about the kind of research design to employ
Guide your decisions about what data to be collect and from
whom
Guide analysis for your data
Guide writing up your data
Stop you to going off in the unnecessary directions
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21. Steps in formulating the Research Questions 2/2
Do I know the field and Its literature well?
What are the important research questions in my field?
What areas need further exploration?
Could my study fills a gap? Or leads to greater understanding?
Has a great deal of research already being conducted in this topic
area?
Has this study being done before? If so, is there any room for
improvement?
Is the timing right for this question to be answered? Is it a hot topic, or it is
becoming obsolete?
Will the study has the significant impact in the field?
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22. Variables 1/4
Inresearch,variablesareanycharacteristicsthatcantakeondifferentvalues,
suchasheight,age,temperature,ortestscores.
Researchersoftenmanipulateormeasureindependentanddependent
variablesinstudiestotestcause-and-effectrelationships.
Theindependent variable is the cause. Its value isindependentof other
variables in your study.
Thedependent variables is the effect. Its valuedependson changes in the
independent variable.
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23. Example: Independent and dependent
variables 2/4
Youdesignastudytotestwhetherchangesinroomtemperature
haveaneffectonmathtestscores.
Yourindependentvariableisthetemperatureoftheroom.You
varytheroomtemperaturebymakingitcoolerforhalfthe
participants,andwarmerfortheotherhalf.
Yourdependentvariableismathtestscores.Youmeasurethe
mathskillsofallparticipantsusingastandardizedtestandcheck
whethertheydifferbasedonroomtemperature.
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Example 4/4

26. My View on defining the research Problem
Aproblemisachanceforyoutoodoyourbest:Duke
Ellington
AproblemwellstatedisaproblemhalfSolved:John
Deqey
Ifyouronlytollisahammertheneveryproblemlookslikea
nail:AbrahamMaslow
Focusonthesolutionbutnotontheproblemonceitis
fixed:JimRohn
Ifyoudonotfocusonsolutions,youwillbejustlostin
problems:Sadhguru
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27. Assignment
WhatisResearchProblem?Definethemainissueswhichshould
receivetheattentionoftheResearcherinformulatingthe
Researchproblem.Givesuitableexampletoelucidateyour
points.
HowdoyoudefineyourResearchproblem?
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