Good Research Problems Overview

Characteristics of a Good Research Problem

• Interest engages the researcher and motivates the investigation.
• Relevance pertains to the specific group that will benefit from the research findings.
• Novelty provides new insights or perspectives, contributing to existing knowledge.
• Clarity ensures the problem is well-defined and specific, preventing ambiguity.
• Manageability refers to the feasibility of conducting research with available resources.
• Time-bound signifies that the research can be completed within a designated timeframe.
• Feasibility assesses if the project is practical in terms of execution and resource allocation.
• Ethics emphasizes the importance of conducting research without moral or ethical violations.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Problem

• General factors include:
  • Funds, which must be available to support the research financially.
  • Interest, ensuring alignment with the researcher’s personal motivations.
  • Training, reflecting the researcher’s expertise and background.
• Specific factors comprise:
  • Researchable nature allows for data collection and analysis.
  • Specificity involves defining the problem clearly to guide research focus.
  • Novelty requires offering a fresh or new perspective on the issue.
  • Feasibility involves assessing methodology, available resources, timeframe, and risks.
  • Significance addresses the worthiness of the effort, practical applications, and potential benefits to lifestyle or society.

Steps in Planning and Designing a Research Study

• Identify the research problem by recognizing personal interests and the desired knowledge areas.
• Review literature to gather background information, ensuring uniqueness and avoiding redundancy.
• Formulate a hypothesis as a tentative answer to the identified problem for testing.
• Conduct experimentation to test the hypothesis, collecting relevant data for analysis.
• Analyze results by organizing data in tables or graphs and applying statistical methods.
• Draw conclusions by summarizing findings and proposing additional research questions for future exploration.