2.

Defining the Research problem

The first step in research is to know where the problem areas exist in the
organization, and to indentify as clearly and specifically as possible the
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problems that need to be studied and resolved.

Once the problem that needs attention is clearly defined, then steps can be
taken to gather information, analyze the data, and determine the factors
that are associated with the problem and solve it by taking necessary
corrective measures.

Defining research problem is simply defining a destination before

beginning a journey. It is a step of greatest importance in the entire
research process. It determines:
❑ what you will do,
❑ will it withstand scientific scrutiny,
❑ how you will do it, and
❑ what you may achieve.
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A research problem, or phenomenon is the topic you would like to

address, investigate, or study, whether descriptively or
experimentally.
• 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
• Good research largely depends on the selected problem
• 90% of a research job is done when you find a good problem.
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Research Problem: Educational issue/problem/ concern studied by

researchers.
It is the topic you would like to address, investigate, or study, whether
descriptively or experimentally.
It is the focus or reason for engaging in your research. It is typically a
topic, phenomenon, or challenge that you are interested in and with
which you are at least somewhat familiar.
Research Topic: Broad subject matter being addressed in a study.
Research Objectives /Purpose/: Major intent or object of study.
Research Questions: Questions to answer or address in a study.
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General Research
Topic

Research
Problem
Defining Research
Problem

Research
Statement

Research
Questions

Specific Research
Objectives
 How is a research problem selected/ Source of Ideas
(how to locate a researchable Problem or hypothesis)
5 ❑ The problems encountered in your daily life or profession
❑ Reviewing professional literature of your field
systematically.
✓ Suggestions from Investigators/Researchers
✓ Magazines
❑ Perusal of recent convention programs of your
professional organization.
❑ Researchers interest in a topic
❑ National or agency priorities
❑ Urgency of an issue
❑ Availability of research funds
❑ Availability of supervision
(experience + observation + needs + interests = research
problem)
 Steps in defining research problems
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❑ Identify a broad topic

❑ Identify a narrow topic within the broad topic
❑ Raise research questions
❑ Formulate objectives (Use action-oriented words - To demonstrate;
To evaluate; To measure… )
 Identifying Broad Topics
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Think of the BIG PICTURE:

✓ What is the problem you are trying to solve?
✓ Think of something you like to learn more about
✓ Consult text books, journal or your supervisor
Pick one based on:
✓ Interest and relevance
✓ Magnitude of work involved
✓ Level of expertise (yours and your advisors)
Example:
❑ Optimizing productivity of land and water resources
❑ Ensuring Food Safety & Security
❑ Sustaining Agricultural & Marine Environments

When selecting a narrow topic from the broad topic, think how it can
contribute towards solving the BIG PROBLEM!
 Identifying Possible Research Questions
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After you have narrowed down your topic or problem, searching and
reviewing existing literature, you will be better prepared to write good
research questions.

Research Question is a way of expressing your interest in a problem or

phenomenon. More than one research question may be identified for a
study, depending on the complexity and breadth of your proposed work.

Identifying a research question will provide greater focus to your

research or clarify the direction of your investigation, whether the
research is descriptive or experimental. Quite significantly, a well-written
research question will also shed light on appropriate research methods
(e.g., specify the intended actions of the variables and how an
experimental intervention might be measured).
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Figure: Portion of Scientific Research

Steps
 Steps to Developing a Research Question
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Choose an interesting general topic:
Writers should choose a broad topic about which they genuinely would
like to know more.
Do some preliminary research on your general topic.:
Do a few quick searches in current periodicals and journals on your topic
to see what is already been done and to help you narrow your focus. What
questions does this early research raise?
Consider your audience:
Always keep your audience in mind when narrowing your topic and
developing your question. Would that particular audience be interested in
this question?
Start asking questions:
Taking into consideration all of the above, start asking yourself open-
ended “how” and “why” questions about your general topic.
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Evaluate your question:

Is your research question clear? With so much research available on
any given topic, research questions must be as clear as possible in
order to be effective in helping the writer direct his or her
research.

Is your research question focused? Research questions must be

specific enough to be well covered in the space available.

Is your research question complex? Research questions should not

be answerable with a simple “yes” or “no” or by easily-found facts.
They should, instead, require both research and analysis on the
part of the writer.
 Characteristics of Good Research Questions
❑ Being specific.
12 ❑ Being clear.
❑ Refer to the problem or phenomenon.
❑ Reflect the intervention in experimental research.
❑ Note the target group of participants.
Example:
RQ1: What are the factors that lead to a successful TQM implementation?
RQ2: What has been done in relation to TQM and how successful has it been in the
Zambian tourism industry so far?

Writing Problem Statement

❑ The research problem within this study
❑ Justification for the problem, not the probable solution or
recommendation (based on past research and practice)
❑ Shortcoming of past research or practice
❑ The importance /significance of the problem
 Criteria for selecting a research problem
• Sustained motivation
13 • Adequate training and personal predilections
• Feasibility
• Importance to your profession

Sustained motivation
• Are you really interested in the topic which you have
chosen?
• Are you really excited about what you wish to study?
• Will this topic have some practical value in helping you in
your future career?

You should be highly motivated to embark upon

a research study.
 Adequate training and personal predilections/preference/
(Is it right in light of your training and personal preferences?)
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• Do you have enough training to undertake a certain study?

✓ Research design
✓ Manage most of your research study by yourself.
• Which type of research appeals to you?
✓ Historical, descriptive, experimental research etc.
✓ Observation, interview, questionnaire, test etc.
• Are you impatient to get fairly immediate results or do you
have patience to wait?
• How high is your frustration tolerance?
 Feasibility
(Is it feasible for you?)
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• Do you have sufficient time to carry it out?
✓ Meet the deadlines at your school or job.
• Do you have access to subjects?
✓ Available equipment and research tools
✓ Institutional sponsorship and cooperation
✓ Gathering data
✓ The need to protect privacy of individual
✓ A problem may be too complex
• Can you offer examples of intriguing and important
problems which seem too difficult to be solved via research
at the present time?

Not all the problems are researchable! (Time, Resource, and skill)
 Importance to your profession
(Is it important to your profession or Make contribution to your field?)
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• Does it provide fresh insights for some of your
colleagues?
• Will the research contribute to knowledge and
practice or provides some value to your profession??
✓ It fills a void or extends existing research
✓ It replicates a study with new participants or a new site
✓ Original study: Problem has not be studied or understudied
✓ It gives “voice” to people not heard, silenced, or rejected in
society
✓ It informs practice
 General principles for research problem formulation
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There are some general principles that every researcher keeps in

mind in problem formulation. These are:
❑ The researcher has to be sure about the existence of the
problem
❑ It is very important to learn as much as possible about the
problem to be solved
❑ It is always advisable to consider alternative formulations in
case one is not feasible
❑ It is also important to be aware that the problem formulation
may influence the phenomena being studied
 Moreover, it is also very important the following questions while
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evaluating the problem formulated.
• Is the problem in line with my goal/expectations and the
expectation of others?
• Will the solution of the problem advance knowledge?
• What is the value of potential outcome? (who are the
beneficiaries?)
• Do I possess or can I acquire the necessary skills, abilities
and background knowledge to study the problem?
(Researcher's capability and interest)
• Will data be accessible?
• Do I have access to the necessary resources (time, money,
tools, equipment, laboratory, subjects, etc.) to conduct the
investigation?
 Techniques of research problem formulation
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Defining a research problem properly and clearly is a crucial part of

a research study and must in no case be accomplished hurriedly.
However, in practice this a frequently overlooked which causes a lot
of problems later on.
Hence, the research problem should be defined in a systematic
manner, giving due weightage to all relating points. The technique
for the purpose involves the undertaking of the following steps
generally one after the other:
• Statement of the problem in a general way
• Understanding the nature of the problem
• Surveying the available literature
• Developing the ideas through discussions; and
• Rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition.
 Limitation and Delimitation

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Limitation: a weakness in the study which becomes apparent during or after
its completion.
Delimitation: a planned limitation that the researcher narrows down. It is
helpful to narrow down the topic by telling what the study is not and down to
one that is manageable by you.

Categories of delimitations:
✓ The number of observations, subjects, or cases
✓ Time and geographic location
✓ The selection of sources

In order to accomplish delimitation of the research problem:

❑ Read extensively in the literature related to your field of interest.
❑ Seek assistance from your instructor.