Formulating a Research Problem

Identifying and Formulating the Research Problem

• The first and most important step of research involves formulating the research problem.
• This formulation is considered the foundation upon which the research will be constructed.

Problem Solving in Research

• Solving a problem requires a comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand.
• Identifying and formulating the problem are essential steps for the researcher before conducting any research.
• These steps may be among the most challenging aspects of a research undertaking.

Research Problem Defined

• A research problem serves as a clear and definite statement.
• Its purpose is for expression about a chosen area of concern, a difficulty needing elimination, a condition that needs improvement, or a troubling issue existing in theory, literature, or practice.

Research Defined

• The research process involves identifying and defining a research problem.
• The research process also involves formulating and testing hypotheses through data collection, organization, and analysis.
• Making deductions, reaching conclusions from test results, reporting, and evaluating the research are all parts of the research process.

Features of a Good Research Problem

• Significance
• Originality
• Feasibility

Researcher Evaluation

• Researchers should evaluate a proposed problem.
• This to be done in light of their competence, professional experience, potential difficulties in data availability, financial and field constraints, and time limitations.

Purpose of a Problem Statement

• An introduction to the reader as to the importance of the topic being studied.
• Orientation of the reader to the study's significance and related questions or hypotheses.
• Placement of the problem into a specific context that defines the parameters of what will be investigated.
• The problem statement also gives a framework for reporting results.
• Determining what is needed to conduct the study and explain research findings is also included.

Basic Characteristics of a Research Problem

• It should reflect important issues or needs.
• It should be based on factual evidence rather than hypothetical assumptions.
• It should be manageable and relevant to the study.
• It should suggest a testable and meaningful hypothesis, avoiding generating useless answers.

How to Formulate a Research Problem

• Specify research objectives.
• Review the research context or environment.
• Explore the nature of the research.
• Determine the relationships between variables.
• Anticipate possible consequences of alternative approaches.

Specific Research Objectives

• A clear statement of objectives allows for effective and meaningful research.
• This statement aids professors in assessing research questions, project answers, and methods used.

Reviewing the Research Problem's Context

• This step can help in determining if important findings from a study will yield enough data to be worth considering.
• Identification of specific environmental variables that may impact research is also important.
• Then, effective methods need to be formulated to control these variables.

Exploring the Nature of Research Problems

• Some are relevant to research questions, while others may be unimportant to a project.
• Understanding the nature of research problems helps in developing effective solutions.
• Focus groups can give meaningful insight into a particular question.

Determining Variable Relationships

• Requires identifying variables affecting possible solutions to the research problem.
• Requires one to decide on the extent to which these variables can be controlled for study purposes.
• This process entails determining functional relationships between existing variables and choosing the most critical ones for a solution.

Consequences of Alternative Approaches

• There are different consequences that each course of action or approach offers
• All possible outcomes must be anticipated and effectively communicated, serving as a core goal of any research process.

Structuring Research Problems

• Analyzing scientific papers gives insight with how research questions are structured to determine the quality of answers, methods, and findings.
• Quantitative designs use deductive reasoning to state a testable hypothesis.
• Qualitative research designs use inductive reasoning in order to make a strong statement of the future thesis.

Defining Research Problems

• Necessary during the initial stages of study.
• Literature reviews and studies of previous experiments may provide vague areas of interest.
• Prioritize areas with interesting results.
• Aim to review successful experiments.
• Disagree with results, thesis methodology, and testing.
• Try to define the entire process and retest the hypothesis.