Formulating Research Problems in Education
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ScribdTranslationsFormulating Research Problems in Education
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ScribdTranslationsRESEARCH TOPIC
Write the research topic
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Describe the manifestation or symptoms (the feeling, what we perceive of the problem).
Example: The students do not know mathematics.
Describe the Broad Context of the Problem at the Global, National, and Local levels, supported by
information and theories.
Describe what we observe about the problem, that is, the evidence we have of it.
imbalance or discrepancy, for example: Students do not define correctly the
concepts. They are unaware of the formulas. They make incorrect calculations. They do not apply the...
algebraic operations. They do not solve the exercises well.
Make the coherent writing of the problematic situation describing
a) the causes and the effects or consequences of the problem,
b) a forecast or final consequence of what is likely to happen, that is, the
identification of future situations if the current situation persists.
FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM
Now comes the elaboration or formulation of the problem, which consists of the structuring of
the entire research as a whole, so that each of its parts forms a
logical body. WRITE THE PROBLEM CONCRETELY This must be
formulated in INTERROGATIVE form, DELIMITED (geographical space-Time-
Semantic), RELEVANT and FEASIBLE
The following forms can be used: What...? Which...? How...? Why...? Of what...
manner...? To what extent...? or What relationship...?, etc.
Examples:
It should be written with a question mark; it can be general or specific, depending on the character.
and type of research. Examples:
What is X like? What characteristics does X have? (Descriptive)
How does X influence Y? (If it is a descriptive causal)
What relationship exists between X - Y? (for correlational descriptive)
What effects does X produce in Y? (Explanatory or technological)
What is the effectiveness level of X in Y compared to Z?
It is necessary to BREAK DOWN OR DISAGGREGATE the question formulated earlier into
small questions or sub problems. For this, the VARIABLES must be taken into account
that are part of the main problem. Since the answers to the sub-questions that are
formulas must allow answering the main research question. EACH
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QUESTION CONTAINS A VARIABLE OF THE MAIN PROBLEM PRESENTED AND WITH
EACH ONE OF THESE GUIDES THE FORMULATION OF OBJECTIVES OF
RESEARCH
The specific questions are aimed at inquiring about concrete aspects of
problem and not to the problem in its entirety, but that together form the totality
(the specific questions are sub-questions of the general question).
DO NOT FORGET THAT
The formulation of the problem is an argumentative discourse constructed by the
researcher.
You must CONVINCE THE READER THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS and that IT IS A
PROBLEM.
► It should present, show, and expose the characteristics or traits of the topic, situation
the aspect of interest that will be studied, that is, to describe the current state of
problem.
► To tell what is happening in relation to a situation, with a person or with
an institution; is to narrate the facts that characterize that situation, showing its
implications and solutions.
EXAMPLE taken from Research Methodology. Administration, economics,
Humanities and social sciences. Cesar A. Bernal. Third Edition 2010.
RESEARCH TOPIC
Creativity in National Manufacturing Industrial Companies.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
In a world characterized by rapid and complex changes, business executives
They are increasingly faced with more difficult problems that not only affect their organization, but also
that influence the society as a whole.
For this reason, they will increasingly need to face situations in a way
creative and innovative. However, recent studies on the management of creativity and the
innovation in business organizations reveals that in reality the path through
traveling is very long.
Researchers such as Sternberg and Lubar, and Kuczmarski (1997), in their studies on
creativity in organizations, conclude that most senior managers
they are intimidated by creative and innovative people, as they find them uncomfortable and
rare, and they refuse to embrace the new and different, when they discourage and do not reward the
innovative thinking of its employees.
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In general, despite not admitting it, the executives of national companies hinder or
they do not foster creativity, which puts them at a disadvantage to face the challenges of the new
millennium.
Today’s society needs executives capable of making a true commitment to their
workers, more than performing predefined functions, to be innovative and
committed to their own development and that of society.
FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM
In light of the above, this paper seeks to answer the following question of
general research:
Do national entrepreneurs in the manufacturing industry have a consistent attitude?
between what they think and what they do regarding creative people in their companies?
This work seeks to answer the following specific research questions:
Do national entrepreneurs have positive attitudes towards creative people?
Do national entrepreneurs stimulate and promote creativity?
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ANOTHER EXAMPLE:
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In the example, it can be noted that posing the problem and formulating it properly
shows a prior knowledge of the researchers about the topic. Thus, the question of
research has a solid foundation.