Professional Documents
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Research 1 Module 1-2
Research 1 Module 1-2
Module 2
The Research Problem
Lessons in this module explain what a research problem is, its importance,
conception, and presentation
Research Problem
It refers to the specific questions that have to be answered, certain objectives
that have to be attained, concepts/theory that have to be tested explained, or
formulated, issue, concern or problem that have to be solved or
phenomenon/condition that has to be described.
Functions of the Problem
The purpose of a problem statement is to:
1. Introduce the reader to the importance of the topic being studied. The
reader is oriented to the significance of the study and the research questions or
hypotheses to follow.
2. Places the problem into a particular context that defines the parameters of
what is to be investigated.
3. Provides the framework for reporting the results and indicates what is
probably necessary to conduct the study and explain how the findings will
present this information.
Sources of Research Problem
Identifying a problem to study can be challenging, not because there is a lack of
issues that could be investigated, but due to pursuing a goal of formulating a
socially relevant and researchable problem statement that is unique and does
not simply duplicate the work of others. To facilitate how you might select a
problem from which to build a research study, consider these three broad
sources of inspiration:
1. Deductions from Theory
This relates to deductions made from social philosophy or generalizations
embodied in life in society that the researcher is familiar with. These deductions
from human behavior are then fitted within an empirical frame of reference
through research. From a theory, the research can formulate a research problem
or hypothesis stating the expected findings in certain empirical situations. The
research asks the question: “What relationship between variables will be
observed if theory aptly summarizes the state of affairs?” One can then design
and carry out a systematic investigation to assess whether empirical data
confirm or reject the hypothesis and hence the theory.
1. Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Identifying a problem that forms the basis for a research study can come from
academic movements and scholarship originating in disciplines outside of your
primary area of study. A review of pertinent literature should include examining
research from related disciplines, which can expose you to new avenues of
exploration and analysis. An interdisciplinary approach to selecting a research
problem offers an opportunity to construct a more comprehensive understanding
of a very complex issue than any single discipline might provide.
1. Interviewing Practitioners
The identification of research problems about particular topics can arise from
formal or informal discussions with practitioners who provide insight into new
directions for future research and how to make research findings increasingly
relevant to practice. Discussions with experts in the field, such as, teachers,
social workers, health care providers, etc., offers the chance to identify practical,
“real worl” problems that may be understudied or ignored within academic
circles. This approach also provides some practical knowledge which may help
in the process of designing and conducting your study.
1. Personal Experience
Your everyday experiences can give rise to worthwhile problems for
investigation. Think critically about your own experiences and/or frustrations with
an issue facing society, your community, or in your neighborhood. This can be
derived, for example, from deliberate observations of certain relationships for
which there is no clear explanation or witnessing an event that appears harmful
to a person or group or that is out of the ordinary.
1. Relevant Literature
The selection of a research problem can often be derived from an extensive and
thorough review of pertinent research associated with your overall area of
interest. This may reveal where gaps remain in our understanding of a topic.
Research may be conducted to: 1) fill such gaps in knowledge; 2) evaluate if the
methodologies employed in prior studies can be adapted to solve other
problems; or, 3) determine if a similar study could be conducted in a different
subject area or applied to different study sample [i.e., different groups of people].
Also, authors frequently conclude their studies by noting implications for further
research; this can also be a valuable source of problems to investigate.
Steps in Identifying the Research Problem
1. Choose a topic of interest. NOTE: Do not confuse a research problem
with a research topic. A topic is something to read and obtain information about
whereas a problem is something to solve or framed as a question that must be
answered.
2. Read about the topic chosen. Learn about its details. What do different
authors or personalities say about it?
3. Look for related researches done on the chosen topic. Browse its content.
Focus on research objectives, findings and recommendations.
4. To look for related researches in the internet, type in the search bar this
text, Research in (topic) or Published research in (topic). You can also limit your
search to documents in ‘pdf’ form for easy access and reading. You just have to
include ‘pdf’ when you type your topic in the search box.
5. Determine the research gap which refers to subtopics not yet explored in
the study.
6. Verify accuracy of identified gap by connecting it to a specific problem
encountered in an industry or field of study, because of the identified gap. Do
companies/professionals in your field of expertise experience the same
problem?
7. Once a specific problem is identified, research if there has been a way to
solve the problem as offered by other researchers.
8. Formulate your rationale by explaining why there is a need to conduct a
research on the chosen topic. How will it benefit the target industry or field of
study? What will it contribute to the body of knowledge?
9. State your main problem. Write your statement of the problem by
formulating sub questions. Informative questions such as those with direct
answers and questions answerable by yes or no, have to be avoided. Make sure
that your sub questions are all directly related but not overlapping to your main
question.
10. Verify if your sub questions are researchable by doing the following:
1. Look for other research conducted about the specific sub problem
2. If you were able to find five or more, it means that your good to go.
But if you find it hard to look for related research, you may change your sub
problem and go back to Step 9
11. Write your final statement of the problem. If it is for Statement of the
Problem, it has to be in question form. If it is for Objectives of the Study, it has to
be in declarative form, beginning with an infinitive phrase.
Good Problem Statement
The good problem statement begins by introducing the broad area in which your
research is centred and then gradually leads the reader to the more narrow
questions you are posing. The statement need not be lengthy but a good
research problem should incorporate the following features:
Compelling topic
Simple curiosity is not a good enough reason to pursue a research study. The
problem that you choose to explore must be important to you and to a larger
community you share. The problem chosen must be one that motivates you to
address it.
Supports multiple perspectives
The problem most be phrased in a way that avoids dichotomies and instead
supports the generation and exploration of multiple perspectives. A general rule
of thumb is that a good research problem is one that would generate a variety of
viewpoints from a composite audience made up of reasonable people.
Researchable
It seems a bit obvious, but you don't want to find yourself in the midst of
investigating a complex research project and realize that you don't have much to
draw on for your research. Choose research problems that can be supported by
the resources available to you.