Good Research Problem Characteristics

Characteristics of a Good Research Problem

• Interest should actively engage and motivate the researcher throughout the study.
• Relevance ensures that the research addresses issues significant to a specific audience or community.
• Novelty provides fresh insights that contribute to the knowledge base in a field.
• Clarity requires the problem to be well-defined and specific, avoiding ambiguity.
• Manageability implies that the problem can be effectively tackled within the given resources and constraints.
• Time-bound means that the research can be realistically completed within a designated timeframe.
• Feasibility involves the practicality of executing the research given available means and potential obstacles.
• Ethics must be upheld, ensuring that the research does not infringe on moral or ethical standards.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Problem

• General factors include:

  • Availability of funds to support the research financially.
  • Research alignment with the investigator's personal interests and passions.
  • The level of training required by the researcher to conduct the study effectively.

• Specific factors encompass:

  • Researchability, confirming that data is accessible for collection and analysis.
  • Clear definition of the problem, ensuring specificity in focus.
  • Freshness of perspective to foster innovation and new inquiry.
  • Feasibility assessed through:
    • Practical methodology suitable for the study.
    • Availability of required resources.
    • Management of time for the project's completion.
    • Evaluation of risks associated with the research.
  • Significance measured by:
    • Worth of the research effort and its potential impact.
    • Practical applications of findings in real-world scenarios.
    • Benefits realized in lifestyle improvements or advancements.

Steps in Planning and Designing a Research Study

• Identify the research problem by recognizing personal interest and questions the researcher seeks to answer.
• Review literature to gather existing knowledge, helping to inform the current study and minimize redundancy.
• Formulate a hypothesis as a tentative solution or answer to the identified problem, which serves as a basis for testing.
• Experimentation involves conducting tests or studies to gather empirical data for analysis.
• Analyze results by organizing data into tables or graphs, employing statistical methods to draw insights.
• Draw conclusions that summarize findings and propose avenues for future research efforts or inquiries.

Explore the key characteristics that define a good research problem. This quiz covers aspects such as interest, relevance, novelty, and ethics, ensuring you understand what makes a research problem effective and manageable. Test your knowledge on the essential factors to consider when selecting a research problem.