Ram Nath Neupane, PhD
Lecturer, Tribhuvan M. Campus, Palpa
What is research problem?
the most important step in research process
The journey of hundred miles begins with a first step.
Identification of destination before undertaking journey
an interrogative sentence or statement that asks what
relation exists between two variables
The problems or issues that lead to the need for a study
(Creswell)
Any questions that you want to answer
Curiosity or interest seen in particular domain
Specific issues or gaps that you need to be filled by
research findings
Problem definition
A problem doesnot necessarily mean that something is
seriously wrong with a situation or with organization
under study. A problem simply indicates an interest in
an issue where finding the right answers might help to
improve an existing situation (Sckaran, 1992)
it incorporates: a) existing business problem where the
manager is looking for, b) situation that is not putting
a problem in present but manager thinks that things
should be improved,c) area where some conceptual
clarity is needed for better theory building d) situation
for which the researcher is trying to answer.
characteristics(Worff &Pant, 1999)
It should raise about a question about a relationship
between variables
The relationship between the variables should be
stated and explained clearly.
The problem statement should suggest a method of
researching the question.
how to identify research problem
Interest – are you really interesting and motivating in
this field?
Magnitude (size)- Is there sufficient knowledge in
this field? Can you narrow down the area into specific
shape?
Level of expertise- do you have sufficient expertise in
this field?- can you receive help from experts?
Ctd.
Measurement of concepts- can you measure the concepts
using different variables ?
Availability of data- are data available in the particular
field ? -are there sufficient materials in this field?
Ethical issues - are you sensitive or ethical with private
information ?
Relevance - does it help in building theory or bridging gap
? –does it help in policy making?
Ctd.
Overdone topic - not chosen
Controversial subject - not choice of average
researcher
Avoid too narrow and too vague problem
Should be familiar and feasible
Should be preceded by similar work of previous ones
Be careful with subject, time and cost factors
Ctd.
Talk to your supervisor.
Reflect and explore possibilities.
Identify the source of information- review
List and define key concepts and terms- previous ones
Frame and evaluate the title
Do you have time, energy, patience and fund to carry out
it?
Talk to your supervisor, discuss and finalize the title
Area for problem identification
source of income at TMC
behaviour of officials and teachers toward students
finance related problems
management problems
Strategic HRM
Performance management
job satisfaction
delay service in an institution
business success
age influence in leadeship
Employee empowerment at TU and Nepal Bank
Limited
conflict resolution strategies in an organization
leadership practice in family-owned business
organization in Nepal
Branding practice in Nepalese Restaurant
project management practice in government sector
organization
Resaerch Questions
A query stated in interrogative form
State what questions you would like to explore in your
study.
Avoid asking too general and close-ended questions,
such as Yes/No.
A research question poses a relationship between two
or more variables but phrases the relationship as a
question.
Help in operationalizing the theory into research
practice.
What are the possible questions you would like to
find/answer in your research?
Research questions are framed based on the
Objectives of the Research.
It helps to work in the trend as you intend
Types of resaerch questions
Research question focuses the study, determines the
methodology, and guides all stages of inquiry, analysis
and reporting
descriptive questions: These questions are designed
to describe the phenomenon existing around the
study: what is going on, what is natural setting, what is
existing situation, etc.? eg
what are the prevailing practices of gender inclusion
in Nepal?
what is the level of job stress in employees,etc?
observational/relational questions: these
questions are designed to establish the relationship
between the variables: eg.
what is the relationship between job stress and
productivity in an institution?
whether the tourism policies are facilating in
increasing tourist in Nepal?
How does writing articles help in professional
development?
Causal questions: These questions are designed to
examine the effect of one or more causes to one or
more outcome variables. eg
Do the internship programs change the behaviour of
the students?
What is the effectiveness of orientation program for
enhancing thesis writing skills of the students?
IS there tax policy moativating to tax payers?
Joke
First year of marrige, man speaks and woman listens
Second year of marriage,woman speaks and man
listens
Third year of marriage, both speak and neighbours
listen
Hypothesis
Hypo ( tentative or subject to verification) + thesis (statement
about solution of a problem)
Educated guess about a problem’s solution -but it is testable
Estimated relationship between two or more variables
A hypothesis is a conjectured statement that implies or states
a relationship between two or more variables- (Kerlinger,
1986)
A hypothesis is a logically conjectured relationship between
two or more variables expressed in the form of testable
statement- (Sekaran, 1992)
Hypothesis generation and testing require an understanding
of deductive inductive reasoning
deduction
Deduction is the process of arriving at conclusion by
interpreting the meaning of the results of data analysis
Here, one goes from general knowledge to specific
knowledge eg
1. Lung-cancer is caused by smoking (theory or
generalization)
2. John has lung-cancer (empirical observation-fact)
3. John was a cigarette smoker (logical conclusion)
Induction
Induction is the process of examining many cases and
generalizing from them
Here, one goes from a specific knowledge to general
knowledge
Looking at the cigarette cancer example, the
researcher would investigate whether the people who
have lung cancer had previously smoked before they
received cancer
example
Problem: Nepal’s population is increasing so rapidly
that if it continues at its present rate in 30 years, it will
not be a possible to feed all of its citizens
Theory: Polulation growth can be controlled through
family planning clinics
Hypothesis: Family planning can reduce the growth
of population in Nepal
Functions of hypothesis
shows the area of emphasis
provides guidelines foe collecting data
informs about area of subjective priority
basics of research
helps to test empirically
Formulation of hypothesis
A hypothesis can be formulated through different
ways:
observation of social events or conditions- linked
with various logics
literature review- indepth knowledge in the research
area
Discussion: discussion with the experts of the same
field
Data: interview, observation, questionnaires
Characteristics
prediction
simplicity
clarity
testability
relevant
specific
consistency
Types of hypothesis
Descriptive hypothesis
Relational hypothesis
Directional hypothesis
Null hypothesis
Descriptive hypothesis: it contains only one variable
it does not present the relationship betn or among the
variables
Such variable is like research question, eg
In Butwal (case), our buscuit market share (variable)
stands at 20 percent
Relational hypotheis: it explains the relationships
between and among the variables eg
Increase in the income of people increases the market
of the people
Directional hypothesis: A hypotheis that is made
using the words more or less, likes and dislikes or
comparing two variables
It gives the direction to the relationship of two
variables eg
Women employees are more loyal towards
organization than male employees.
Employee with more work tenure in the same
organization has more committment towards the
organization
Null or alternative hypothesis; It states the exact
relationship beteen the variables.
It states that population correlation betn two variables
is equal to zero: no relationship between variables or
no differences between variables
In alternative, there is relationship between two
variables or there is difference betn variables
H0 (null): Effective training doesnot increase the
productivity of employees
H1 (alternative): Effective training increases the
productivity of employees