Research Problem in Research Investigation

Research Problem: Identification and Formulation

• A research problem is the focus of a research investigation, a statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved upon, or a difficulty to be eliminated.
• It is the backbone of the study and guides the need for conducting a study.

Characteristics of a Research Problem

• It is a statement about an educational issue, controversy, or concern that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice.
• It points to the need for meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation.

Types of Research Problems

• Quantitative researchers state the problem in the form of a question about the relationship between variables.
• Qualitative researchers begin with a general statement (e.g., how do teachers cope with children with special needs?).

Sources of Research Problems

• Experience (e.g., a teacher wants to improve the achievement of at-risk students).
• Theory (e.g., social comparison theory).
• Related literature (e.g., gaps in research, methods, and conclusions).
• Courses, lecturers, social interaction, and others.

Steps in Identifying a Research Problem

• Outline areas of interest.
• Choose a topic and be curious.
• Narrow your topic by reading and observing your environment.
• Identify a research problem.
• Identify the purpose of your study.

Evaluating a Research Problem

• Has significance and contribution to the field.
• Fills a gap in existing research.
• Avoids trivial issues with little or no relationship to theory or previous research.
• Leads to new problems (questions) and further research.
• Is researchable, suitable for the researcher, and ethically appropriate.

Writing a Statement of the Problem

• Includes the actual research problem, topic, justification of importance, deficiencies in existing knowledge, and the audience that will benefit from the study.
• Example: Investigating the development of learners' autonomy among form four students in an intact ESL classroom.

Questions to Consider

• Is the problem suitable for you?
• Is it ethically appropriate?
• Will the solution contribute to knowledge?
• Is the problem researchable and empirically testable?

This quiz covers the concept of a research problem, which is the focus of a research investigation, and its importance in a study. It explores the definition and characteristics of a research problem, including areas of concern, conditions to be improved, and difficulties to be overcome.