Research Problem

Gives a rough idea in identifying and selecting a research problem

1. Selection and Formulation of Research Problem Muhammed Sajid N Research Scholar, SMS, CUSAT Mail: [email protected] January 14 2020

2. Plan for the day Research Problem Sources Criteria Problem formulation Tips to narrow down the topic Evaluation of Problem Do’s & Dont’s

3. My problem is that I don’t have a problem … 

4. Research Problem A situation or circumstance that requires a solution to be described, explained or predicted. Perceived difference between two situations “A problem is a situation for which we have no ready and succesfull response by instinct or previous acquired habit. We must find out what to do. The solution can be found out only after an investigation”- R.S. Woodworth “A problem is an interrogative sentence or statement that asks: What relation exists between two or more variables ?” - F.N . Kerlinger

5. Sources for identifying research problem Reading Experience Exposure to field situations Brainstorm for ideas Carrying an exploratory study Intuition Software generated research problems

6. Criteria for selecting research problem Internal Criteria External Criteria Best, Joel .(2001)

7. Internal Criteria for selection of problem Researcher’s interest Competence ( Skills, experience and personal characteristics) Resources (Time, Money etc..) Take time and ask Five ‘ Ws ’ What is my research? Why do I want to do the research? Who are my research participants? Where I’m going to do the research? When I’m going to do the research?

8. External Criteria for selection of problem Researchability : Is the idea viable? Is the problem having solutions? Relevancy : i.e., importance and social relevance of the problem Usefulness : Applicability of results and recommendations vis-à-vis implementation and utility of expected findings Novelty : Has it done before? Avoiding duplication Practicability : Availability of data, suitable methodology, co-operation of org and individuals

9. Steps in the formulation of research problem Identify a broad field or subject area of interest to you Develop the mastery Dissect the broad area in to sub areas Select what is of most interest to you Review existing literature Raise research questions Formulate objectives Pandey, P. Pandey, M ( 2015)

10. Step 1 : Identify and select a broad field or subject area of interest to you Consumer behaviour Brand Management Sales and Distribution Management New product development

11. Step 2 : Develop the mastery The researcher should develop the mastery on the domain as well as in the broad area.

12. Step 3 : Dissect the broad area in to sub areas Counterfeit Branding Sonic Branding Royal Warrant Olfactory Branding Integrated Branding

13. Step 4 : Select what is of most interest to you by considering the criteria It is neither advisable or feasible to study all the sub areas Here, we select Sonic Branding

14. Step 5 : Literature Survey General Literature in the broad area Literature related to the specific area Identify the gap

15. Step 6 : Raise research questions Raise research questions backed by literature in the field. What is the effect of Sonic Brand Endorsement on Brand Equity? What is the effect of Sonic Branding on customer loyalty? What are the factors which forces brands to undergo Sonic Branding? How sonic branding affects consumer’s perception to the brand? Source: Various Thesis from Shodhganga

16. M ethod to narrow down a topic Problems faced? Problems to overcome? Motives? Effects on a group? Affected group? Benefitted group? Group responsible for / paid for? Shajahan, S. ( 2006)

17. Step 7 : Formulate Objectives Objectives grow out of research questions The main difference between research question and objectives is the way they are written. Research questions are obviously questions.

18. Step 7 : Cntd … Objectives transform these questions into behavioural aims by using action-oriented words such as 'to find out', 'to determine', 'to ascertain ' and 'to examine‘, ‘to measure’, ‘ to explore’.

19. Some examples… To describe effect of sonic brand endorsement on brand equity. To find out the impact of sonic branding on customer loyalty. To explore how sonic branding affects consumer’s perception to the brand.

20. Evaluation of the problem Kerlinger has identified following three criteria of good problem statements ; 1. A problem should be concerned with relation between two or more variables. 2. It should be stated ‘clearly and unambiguously in question form’. 3. It should be amenable to empirical testing.

21. Evaluation of the problem 1. Is Problem Researchable? 2. Is the Problem New ? 3. Is the Problem Significant? 4. Is the Problem Feasible for the Particular Researcher ? Jonker, J., & Pennink, B. W. (2010)

22. Dos and Don’ts Do not borrow research problem : Find your own problem that suits your interest and competence. Be objective : Have unbiased and unattached approach Be flexible and uncommitted before selection Decision on methodology should not precede problem selection Avoid too narrow or vague problems Check for significance and usefulness Jonker, J., & Pennink, B. W. (2010), Marshall, P. (2002 ).

23. Software generated research problems More than 30 research problem generation softwares are on pipeline. They work better for science than humanities and social sciences. IBM Watson analyses large amount of scientific literature in English to draw inferences, hypothesis and generate research problems and the results are found comparable with human researchers Anne poupon’s Methode d inference for research on hormones Discovery Advisory for Soc is the only software available exclusively for social sciences. (Source: Economic Times, 16 Dec 2019)

24. Conclusion Often, researchers hastily skip the stage of choosing and formulating research problem with borrowed or imitated title presumed wrongly as a research problem and face difficulties later Identifying & Choosing an interesting research problem is the first challenge If you want to do great work , you must clearly work on an important problem, and you should have an idea Finding a topic is easy, but converting topic in to researchable problem is the challenge

25. Reference Greener, S. (2008). Business Research Methods. New York: Springer. Jonker , J., & Pennink , B. W. (2010). The Essence of Research Methodology. New York: Springer . Marshall , P. (2002).  Research methods  (5th ed.). Mumbai: Jaico Pub. House. Shajahan, S. (2010).  Research Methods For Management  (4th ed.). Mumbai: Jaico Publishing House . Economic Times. Automated hypothesis generation, 16 Dec. 2019. Best, Joel. Damned lies and statistics. California: University of California Press, 2001. Chandran , J S. Statistics for Business and Economics . New Delhi: Vikas , 1998. Pandey, P. Pandey, M (2015). Research Methodology: Tools and Techniques. Romania: Bridge Centre

26. Thank you… Any questions.?

27. Statement of the Problem Research problems are always linked to a more general set of problems , so it is useful to separate the problem in to two parts: The general problem (The problematic situation) The specific problem (Researchable problem) Specific problem is not necessarily small, but rather it must be precisely specified and capable of being addressed with available resources. The general problem statement provides the background or setting for the researchable problem. Usually it helps to introduce the problem with very general statements, then progressively narrow the focus to more specific, precise issues.