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.

This quiz evaluates your understanding of the key characteristics of a good research problem. It covers aspects such as interest, relevance, novelty, and feasibility, providing insights on how to formulate an effective research question. Test your knowledge and refine your research skills!