Chapter Two

2. Formulation of the Research problem

In research processes, the first step happens to be identifying and properly defining a research
problem. The researcher must find any social, economic, business problem and formulate it into
research problem. The problem identified initially may be stated in broad general way and then
gradually the ambiguity will be resolved.
The feasibility of a possible particular solution has to be considered before formulating the
problem. The best way of understanding a problem is to discuss it with colleagues or those of
having some experiences in the matter.
What is a Research Problem?
A research problem, in general, refers to some difficulty, which a researcher faces (experiences)
in the context of both theoretical and practical situation and wants to obtain a solution for the
same.
We say a research problem exist, if the following conditions are met:

1. There must be an individual or group or organization which has some difficulty/the

problem
2. There must be some objectives to be attained at
3. There must be an alternative means or actions for obtaining the objective (s) one wishes
to attain. This means that there must be two or more means or actions available for/to
researcher for if he has no choice of means, he can’t’ have a problem
4. 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.
5. There must be some environment (s) to which the difficulty pertains.

2.1. Defining Research Problem

“The problem clearly stated is a problem half solved.” In other words, defining a problem
involves the task of laying down boundaries within which a researcher shall study the problem
with a pre-determined objective(s) in view.
This statement emphasis that a research problem needs to be specified explicitly and needs to be
narrowed down to the workable size.

Techniques involved in defining the problem

The techniques of defining a problem involve the undertaking of the following steps:
1. Understanding the origin and nature of the problem 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.
2. Survey and examining the available literature related to the problem thoroughly. This
helps to know what data and other materials, if any are available for operational purpose
and to narrow the problem as well as the technique that might be used.
3. Developing idea through discussions with colleagues and other experienced
personalities. This quite often known as an experience survey. Discussions with such
people help the researcher:
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 i. Sharpen his/her focus of attention on specific aspects within the field of
investigation
ii. Develop clear impression about the general approach to the given problem
and techniques used for the research operation
iii. Predict possible solutions for the problem etc
4. Rephrasing the research problem (reformulation of the problem) in to analytical or
operational propositions. At this stage, the researcher is required to put the problem in
specific terms as possible. So that it may become operationally viable and may help in
the development of working hypothesis.

In addition to what has been stated above, the following points also be noted while redefining a
research problem.
1. Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in the statement of the
problem, should be clearly defined
2. Basic assumption or postulates (if any) relating to the research problem should be clearly
stated
3. Straightforward statements of the value of the investigation, i.e., the criteria for the
selection of the problem) should be provided.
4. The suitability of the time period and the sources of data available must also be
considered by the researcher in defining the problem
5. The scope of the investigation or the limits within which the problem is to be studied
must be mentioned explicitly in defining a research problem

Evaluation of the Problem

Before the final decision is made on the investigation of the problem, the feasibility of the
problem has to be tested with regard to personal suitability of the researcher and social value of
the problem. In short, the research problem should be evaluated in terms of the following
criteria:
 Is the problem researchable? Some problem cannot be effectively solved through
the process of research. Particularly research cannot provide answers to philosophical
and ethical questions that don’t show the relationship exiting between two or more
variables.
 Is the problem new? As much as possible, the research problems need to be new.
One should not target his investigation to the problem that has already been
thoroughly investigated by other researchers. To be safe from such duplication, the
researcher has to go through the record of previous studies in a given field. However,
there are times where by a problem that has been investigated in the past could be
worthy of study. A researcher may repeat a study when he/she wants to verify its
conclusions or extend the validity of its findings in a situation entirely different from
the previous one.
 Is the problem significant? The question of significance of the problem usually
relates to what a researcher hopes to accomplish in a particular study. What his /her
purpose in undertaking to solve the particular problem selected/chosen? What new
knowledge does he/she hopes to add to the sum total of what is known? And what
value is this knowledge likely to have? When all this questions are answered by the

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 researcher the problem should be considered for further investigation. The major
dimensions are academic awareness and policy.
 Is the problem feasible for the particular researcher? In addition to the above
points, the feasibility of the research problem should also be examined from the point
of view of the researcher’s personal aspect.
o Research competency: the problem should be in an area in which the
researcher is qualified and competent. The researcher has to make sure that
he/she is familiar with the existing theories, concepts, laws and related to the
problem. He/she must also posses the necessary skills and competence that
may be needed to develop, administer, and interpret the necessary data
gathering tools. What is more, he needs to consider whether he has the
necessary knowledge of research design and statistical procedure that may be
required to carry out the research through its completion.
o Interest and enthusiasm: the researcher has to make sure that the problem
really interests him/her. He/she must also be truly enthusiastic about the
problem. If the problem is chosen properly by observing these points, the
research will not be boring; rather its will be love’s labor.
o Financial consideration: research is an expensive endeavor, which requires a
great deal of money invest. In this regard, the researcher should ascertain
whether he has necessary financial resources to carry on the investigation of
the selected problem. An estimate of the expenditure involved in the data
gathering equipment, printing, test material, travel, and clerical assistance to
be specified.
o Time requirement: research should be undertaken within a given scope of
time, which was allocated, with careful analysis of the prevailing situation.
Each and every of research process require time. Particularly, it is worthwhile
to plan for the time that will be needed for the development and
administration of tools, processing and analysis of data and writing of the
research report.

o Administration consideration: the researcher has to pay attention to all

administrative matter that is necessary to bring his/her study to its full
completion. In this regard the researcher should consider kinds of data,
equipment, specialized personnel and administrative facilities that are needed
to complete study successfully. The researcher must assure whether the
pertinent data are available and accessible to him/ her.

Hypothesis

Once the selection and definition of the problem have been accomplished, the derivation of
working hypothesis is the most important step in the research process.
The word hypothesis is a compound of two words, ‘hypo’ and ‘thesis’. Hypo means, under or
below and thesis means a reasoned theory or national viewpoint.
The term hypothesis is defined as a proposition that is stated in a testable form and predicts a
particular relationship between two or more variables.

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RESEARCH PROBLEM: “ Factors that contribute to lower achievement
of female students than males in ESLCE in A.A”

The following hypotheses could be derived from the above research problem:

H1. Female Students receive significantly less support to their education than that of their male
counterpart.
H2. Female Students sustain significantly higher stereotypes in textbooks than do their male
counterpart.

It should be noted that these hypothesis are taken as a tentative solutions to the problem with the
understanding that the investigation in due course may lead either to their retention or rejection.

Establishing a hypothesis should follow rules like:

 The variables must be clearly specified and measurable by some techniques we know
 The relationship between them must be stated precisely.

Importance of hypothesis
A well-grounded hypothesis provides the following advantages:

 Represents specific objective, which determine the nature of the data needed to test the
proposition
 Offer basis for selecting the sample, the research procedure, and the statistical analysis
needed
 Keeps the study restricted in scope thereby preventing it from becoming too broad
 Sets a framework for reporting the conclusion of the study

Source of Hypothesis

The inspection for hypothesis comes from a number of sources w/h includes the following:
1. Professional Experience: The daily life experience or the day to day observation of the
relationship (correlation) between different phenomena leads the researcher to
hypothesize a relationship and to conduct a study if his/ her assumptions are confirmed.
2. Past Research or Common beliefs: Hypothesis can also be inspired by tracing past
research or by commonly held beliefs.
3. Through direct analysis of data or deduction from existing theory: Hypothesis may also
be generated through direct analysis of data in the field or may be deducted from a formal
theory. Through attentive reading, the researcher may able to get acquaintance with
relevant theories, principles and facts that may alert him or her to identify valid for
his/her study
4. Technological and social changes: Directly or indirectly exerts an influence in the
function of an organization. All such changes bring about new problems for research.
Forms of Hypothesis
Statement of research hypothesis can take a declarative (positive) form, negative form, the null
form, or the question form.

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Positive:
Students who learn in small class size will perform significantly better in mathematics test than
those who learn in large class size.
Negative:
Students who learn in small class size will not perform significantly better in math’s test than
those in large class size.
Null Form:
There is no significances difference between students who learn in small class size and those
who learn in large class size in their mathematics performance.
Question Form:
Is there significant difference between students who learn in small class size and those in large
class size in their math’s performance?

In general, when a researcher makes a positive statement about the outcome of the study, the
hypothesis takes declarative forms. When the researcher negates about outcome of the study, the
hypothesis takes the negative form.
When the researcher makes a statement that no relationship exists, the hypothesis takes the null
form. In the question form hypothesis, a question is asked as to what the outcome will be instead
of stating what outcome is expected. It should also be noted that a working proposition stated
either in declarative, negative, null, question form is a matter of preference by the researcher.

Error in hypothesis testing

Type I error means rejection the null hypothesis when it happens to be true.
Type II error means accepting null hypothesis when it is false.
The following tables being explain the type of error

Position of Hypothesis Null Hypothesis-Accept Null hypothesis-Reject

H TRUE Correct Decision Type: I Error
H FALSE Type II Error Correct Decision

Difficulties in the Formulation of Hypothesis

 Lack of knowledge and clarity of the theoretical frame work of the area in which the
investigator chooses to work.
 Lack of ability to make use of the theoretical frame work logically.
 Lack of acquaintance with available research techniques. This result in failure of phrasing
the hypothesis properly.
 Vagueness of the statement

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