Module 2: Formulation of
Research Problem and
Hypotheses
Unit-2
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM?
A research problem refers to some difficulty
which a researcher experiences in the context
of either a theoretical or practical situation
and wants to obtain a solution for the same.
SELECTING THE PROBLEM
1. Subject which is overdone should not be normally
2. Controversial subject should chosen
3. Too narrow or too vague problems should be
avoided
4. The subject selected for research should be
familiar and feasible so that the related research
material or sources of research are within one’s reach
5. The importance of the subject, the qualifications
and the training of a researcher, the costs involved,
and the time factor are few other criteria that must
also be considered
6. The selection of a problem must be preceded by a
preliminary study
TECHNIQUE INVOLVED IN DEFINING A
PROBLEM
Statement of the problem in a general way: First of
all the problem should be stated in a broad general
way, keeping in view either some practical concern or
some scientific or intellectual interest. For this
purpose, the researcher must conduct pilot survey.
Then the researcher himself or with guides help can
state the problem, Often, the guide puts forth the
problem in general terms, and it is then up to the
researcher to narrow it down and phrase the problem
in operational terms.
Feasibility of a particular solution has to be considered
and the same should be stated in the problem
TECHNIQUE INVOLVED IN DEFINING A
PROBLEM
2. Understanding the nature of the problem:
discuss it with those who first raised find out how
the problem originally came about and with what
objectives in view Keep in view the environment
within which the problem is to be studied and
understood
3. Surveying the available literature: All
available literature concerning the problem at
hand must necessarily be surveyed and examined
before a definition of the research problem
Knowing what data are available often serves to
narrow the problem and choose technique that
might be used
TECHNIQUE INVOLVED IN DEFINING A
PROBLEM
Surveying help a researcher to know if there are certain
gaps and inconsistency in the theories; understand the type
of difficulties that may be encountered; possible analytical
shortcomings also show new lines of approach to solve the
present problem present problem.
4. Developing the ideas through discussions: a
researcher must discuss his problem with his colleagues and
others who have enough experience in the same area or in
working on similar problems called experience survey
Discussion help Researcher to sharpen his focus of attention
on specific aspects within the field, provide general
approach; techniques that might be used; possible solutions,
TECHNIQUE INVOLVED IN DEFINING A
PROBLEM
5. Rephrasing the research problem:
Finally, the researcher must rephrase the
research problem into a working proposition
the researcher puts the research problem in
as specific terms as possible so that it may
become operationally viable and may help in
the development of working hypotheses
Following points must also be observed
while defining a research problem
1. Technical terms and words or phrases, with
special meanings used should be clearly defined
2. Basic assumptions or postulates should be
clearly stated
3. 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 specified
5. The scope of the investigation or the limits
must be mentioned explicitly
Setting research objectives
Here’s a guide on how to set effective research objectives:
1. Define the Research Problem
Identify the key issue or gap in knowledge that your research
aims to address. Ensure that the problem is specific, feasible,
and relevant.
2. Identify the Purpose of the Research Determine
whether your research is exploratory, descriptive, explanatory,
or evaluative. This purpose will inform the types of objectives
you set.
3. Be Specific and Measurable
Use clear and precise language to define what you want to
achieve.
Objectives should be quantifiable whenever possible, allowing
you to track progress and assess outcomes.
Setting research objectives
4. Use the SMART Criteria Specific: Clearly state what you will
investigate. Measurable: Include criteria to measure outcomes.
Achievable: Ensure that the objectives are realistic given your
resources and time constraints.
Relevant: Align objectives with broader research goals or societal
needs.
Time-bound: Specify a timeframe for achieving the objectives.
5. Develop Primary and Secondary Objectives
Primary Objectives: These are the main goals of the research that
directly address the research problem. Secondary Objectives:
These support the primary objectives and might include additional
insights or auxiliary questions that enhance understanding.
Setting research objectives
6. Formulate Your Objectives
Use action verbs and clear language.
Example formulations include:
"To evaluate the impact of X on Y."
"To determine the relationship between A and B."
"To analyze the effects of C on D.“
7. Engage Stakeholders
Involve stakeholders, such as advisors, colleagues, or industry \
representatives, in refining your objectives. This feedback can provide
valuable insights and ensure that objectives are relevant.
8. Review and Revise
Regularly revisit your objectives throughout the research process to
ensure
they remain aligned with your findings and any changes in direction.
Example of Setting Research
Objectives
Research Topic: The impact of remote work on employee
productivity.
Primary Objective:
"To assess the effects of remote work arrangements on the
productivity levels of employees in the tech industry.“
Secondary Objectives:
"To evaluate the relationship between remote work flexibility and
employee job satisfaction."
"To explore differences in productivity changes based on
demographic factors such as age and experience."
By following these steps, you can set clear, actionable research
Literature Review
A literature review is an evaluative report information found
in the literature related to your selected area of study. The
review should describe, summarise, evaluate and clarify this
literature. It should provide a theoretical base for the
research and help you (the author) of your research. Works
which are irrelevant should be discarded and should be
looked at critically. determine the nature
In writing the literature review, the purpose is to convey to
the reader what knowledge and deas have been established
on a topic, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. As
a piece those which are peripheral of writing, the literature
review must be defined by a guiding concept (e.g., research
objective, the problem or issue being discussed). It is not just
a descriptive list of the material available, or a set of
summaries.
Writing a literature leads the writer gain and demonstrate skills in the areas:
[Link] skills: It improvise the ability, of the
researcher to sift the literature efficiently, using
manual or computerized methods, to identify a set
of useful articles and books.
2. Analyzing skills: It is the ability to apply
principles of analysis to identify the unbiased and
valid studies.
3. Application of new approaches and methods: It
helps the researcher to understand new approaches
and methods to deal with the research problems.
USE OF LITERATURE REVIEW
As researcher, it is important to understand the purpose of
investigating the literature related the research project. The
literature review assists the researcher in knowing the ways and
Reans to deal with the research problem.
It helps the researcher to learn about the studies similar to his
own study and the research design and methodology adopted to
carry out those studies by earlier researchers.
It provides useful source of data related to the subject being
studied.
It helps in introducing important and useful research
personalities.
It provides an opportunity to see the study in a historical
perspective.
READING THE LITERATURE
.1. Record the problem at the top of a sheet of paper.
2. Record each sub-problem in full, serially, across the page.
3. Study each sub-problem, separating out the keywords.
4. Record the keywords or phrases in a column under the
sub-problem.
5. Consult the index, bibliographies and abstracts to find
books, articles etc., armed the "identified keywords" of your
problem.
6. Read! Read! Read!
PROCESS OF LITERATURE
REVIEW
Selecting the topics and sub-topics
Identifying the sources of information
Collecting the information
Organising the information
Writing the literature review
PROCESS OF LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Selecting the topics and sub-topics: The
researcher needs to select the topics and sub-
topics related to the research question being
studied. It helps to direct the literature search
in the right direction. If the topics and sub-
topics are not chosen, the researcher may end
up with lot of unrelated information.
2. Identifying the sources of information:
The sources of information for specific topics
are to be identified and af information: The
salong with the specific topic should be made.
PROCESS OF LITERATURE REVIEW
3 . Collecting the information: Collect
information systematically one after the the
from the reliable sources. The information about
each topic should be This helps the researcher
to organize the information properly. recorded
separately
4. Organise the information: Information
about each topic should be recorded on the
topics and categorized information may be used
appropriately in writing a literature review
PROCESS OF LITERATURE REVIEW
.[Link] the literature review: It consists of three
steps, which are explained belo Introduction:
Define the topic, issues or areas of research being
studied, thus Providin an appropriate context for
reviewing the literature.
[Link] evaluate the information and make
appropriate comparison of the studie reviewed.
Conclusion: State what is your view point about the
study, but not what the stud says.
purpose of literature review
Contextualizing Research: It situates your research within
the existing body of knowledge, allowing you to demonstrate
how your work relates to previous studies and theories.
Identifying Gaps: A thorough review helps identify gaps in
the current literature, highlighting areas that require further
investigation and justifying the need for your research.
Building a Framework: It provides a theoretical framework
for your study, helping to develop hypotheses or research
questions based on existing literature.
Avoiding Duplication: By reviewing what has already been
done, researchers can avoid duplicating efforts and instead
build on prior work.
purpose of literature review
Assessing Methods and Approaches: A literature review can
inform your research methodology by revealing the methods
and approaches that have been used successfully by other
researchers.
Establishing Credibility: Demonstrating a comprehensive
understanding of the relevant literature lends credibility to
your research and positions you as an informed scholar in
your field.
Synthesis of Knowledge: It synthesizes what is known about
a particular topic, highlighting trends, themes, and
relationships among various studies, which can lead to new
insights.
purpose of literature review
Outlining Theoretical Contributions: It can help to
articulate how your research contributes to theoretical
developments within your field.
Providing a Research History: A literature review traces
the development of research on a topic over time,
providing a historical context that can enhance the
understanding of current issues.
Guiding Future Research: By identifying unresolved
issues and unanswered questions, a literature review
can guide future research directions and set the stage
for actionable recommendations.
Types of Literature Reviews
Narrative Review: A comprehensive summary
of existing literature.
Systematic Review: A rigorous and structured
approach to identifying, evaluating, and
synthesizing research.
Meta-analysis: A statistical analysis that
combines the results of multiple studies.
Scoping Review: An exploratory review that
maps the key concepts and evidence in a
particular field.
Rapid Review: A streamlined review process to
synthesize evidence quickly.
Formulating the Research Hypothesis
A prediction about the outcome of a piece of
research
qualitative research involve formulating ahypot
hesis to address the research problem.
A hypothesis will generally provide a causal
explanation or propose some association between
two variables.
A research hypothesis is the statement created
by researchers .
A hypothesis is an educated guess or proposition
that attempts to explain a set of facts or natural
phenomenon
Goal of a Hypothesis
A scientific hypothesis is based on
experiments and observations from the past
that cannot be explained with current
theories.
Goal of a Hypothesis
Regardless of the type of hypothesis, the goal
of a hypothesis is to help explain the focus
and direction of the experiment or research.
As such, a hypothesis will:
State the purpose of the research
Identify what variables are used
characteristics
Testable: A of Hypothesis
hypothesis must be testable through experimentation
or observation. This means that it should be possible to support
or refute the hypothesis based on empirical evidence.
Falsifiable: A hypothesis should be structured in a way that it
can be proven wrong. This characteristic allows for the possibility
of disconfirmation, which is crucial for scientific progress.
Clear and Precise: A hypothesis should be stated clearly and
concisely, avoiding vague language. The terms used in the
hypothesis should be well-defined to ensure clarity.
Based on Existing Knowledge: Good hypotheses are typically
grounded in existing theories, observations, or research findings.
They should build on what is already known and provide a logical
progression for new research.
characteristics of hypothesis
Specific: A hypothesis should be specific, addressing a
particular question or problem. It should define the variables
involved and the expected relationship between them.
Consistent with Established Knowledge: While a
hypothesis can challenge existing theories, it should not
contradict well-established facts without strong evidence.
Predictive: A hypothesis often predicts the outcome of an
experiment or observation, indicating what results are
expected if the hypothesis is true.
Simple: The principle of parsimony suggests that a hypothesis
should be as simple as possible. A simpler hypothesis is often
preferred, as it is easier to test and understand.
characteristics of hypothesis
Relevant: A good hypothesis should address
a question that is significant and relevant to
the field of study. It should aim to fill a gap in
knowledge or provide insights into an
important issue.
Formulated from a Research Question: A
hypothesis typically originates from a
research question. It is a proposed answer or
explanation that will guide the research
process.
Types of Hypothesis
[Link] Hypothesis
These by name implies describing some
characteristics of an object, a situation in an
organization.
Example:
1. Students from autonomous institutions are
placed faster than other institutions.
2. Relational Hypothesis
In this case we describe relationship between 2
variables
Why rich people shop at life style?
Types of Hypothesis
3. Working Hypothesis This is a hypothesis
framed
modified Example: As of now "demand and quality
are related". Later on this may not be the fact
investigation proceeds. as investigation proceeds.
4. Null Hypothesis (H0): This hypothesis states
that there is no effect or no difference in the
population. It serves as the default assumption that
any observed effect is due to sampling error
Null Hypothesis (H0):Example: "There is no
difference in exam scores between students who
study with music and those who study in silence."
Types of Hypothesis
5. Alternative Hypothesis States that there is
a significant relationship between variables. It's
the opposite of the null hypothesis. Example:
"Students who study with music have different
exam scores compared to those who study in
silence.“
[Link] Hypothesis: Implies that one
variable causes a change in another.
Example: "Smoking causes lung cancer."
Types of Hypothesis
7. Simple Hypothesis: This involves a
relationship between one dependent variable and
one independent [Link]: "Increased
hours of study lead to higher exam scores."
8. Complex Hypothesis: This type involves
more than two variables and examines
relationships between multiple factors.
Example: "Increasing study time and reducing
distractions will lead to improved test scores.“
Example: "Increased hours of study and quality
of study materials lead to higher exam scores in
math and science."
Types of Hypothesis
[Link] Hypothesis: Predicts the
specific direction of the relationship between
[Link]: "Students who attend more
classes will have higher GPAs.“
10. Non-directional Hypothesis: Predicts a
relationship between variables but doesn't
specify the direction. Example: "There is a
relationship between hours of sleep and
academic performance."
Parameters of a Good Hypothesis
In order to be a good hypothesis that can be
tested or studied, a hypothesis:
Needs to be logical
Must use precise language
Should be testable with research or
experimentation
A hypothesis is usually written in a form where it
proposes that if something is done, then
something else will occur.
Formulation of hypothesis. Example
question
A scientist notices that the tomato plant
closest to her neighbor’s yard is much taller
than any of the other plants in her garden bed.
She also notices that the neighbor turns on
his sprinkler system every day, and that some
of this water reaches only her big plant. The
scientist creates a question: Does daily
watering from a sprinkler make a tomato plant
grow faster than other tomato plants?
Example hypothesis
The scientist creates this hypothesis to
address her question: “If I water the
tomatoes in my garden daily then they will
grow faster because tomatoes grow more
when they get more water.”
Prediction vs. hypothesis
Example Prediction: If it gets cold outside
the leaves will change colors.
Example Hypothesis: If it gets cold outside
then the leaves will change color because leaf
color change is related to temperature.
How do you write a hypothesis?
A good hypothesis includes two parts:
1. a prediction about the outcome of a
scientific investigation
----and----
2. an explanation for why those results
will occur
How do you write a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is worded as a prediction about
what will happen if you change something
Example: If students eat a lot of candy then
they will get more cavities because sugar on
teeth causes cavities.
Hypothesis example
If students eat a lot of chocolate then they will
get a sick stomach because a lot of chocolate
all at once is hard for the stomach to digest.
How do you write a hypothesis?
A good hypothesis is worded like this:
If…..then…...because…….
OR
I predict…because
I think…because
If….then….because….
After the word “If”… explain what will
change in the investigation
After the word “then” …write what you
predict will happen as a result of that change
After the word “because” …explain why you
think the result will happen
Another hypotheses
If salt is added to a plant’s soil then the plant
will die because salt will dry out the soil so
that there is not enough water left for the
plant.
Another Hypothesis
If people spend more time in the sun then
they will be more likely to get skin cancer
because exposure to ultraviolet light in
sunlight causes skin cancer.
Testing hypotheses
Hypotheses predict results of experiments
They must be tested against the data and
either accepted or rejected.
The research problem can also be specified
using a set of testable hypotheses – a set of
logical, reasonable, tentative explanations of
the subject under investigation.
Thank you
END OF
UNIT-2