FORMULATING RESEARCH PROBLEM

STEPS IN FORMULATING RESEARCH PROBLEM

M S Bazamfare@hotmail.com

DIFINITION: A research problem is a specific issue, contradiction ,or gap in knowledge

that you aim to address in your research.
It can be practical problem aimed at contributing to change, or theoretical problem aimed
at expanding knowledge.

Step 1 : Identify a broad subject area.

 Think about a subject area of your interest
 Identify the field in which you would like to work a long.
 Broad spectrum will help to get an interesting research topic.

Step 2 : Dissect broad subject area.

 Dissect and divide your research broad study area into some sub areas.
 Write down sub areas.
 Consult with your supervisor for specification of sub areas.

Step 3 : Narrow down to specific research area/ topic.

 From sub areas narrow down to your specific topic of interest keeping in view.
 Your expertise
 Resources needed for research study.

Step 4 : Raising research questions.

 Here one need to raise maximum research questions relevant to specific research
topic of interest.
 List down all possible research questions.
 Practice elimination processes for listed research questions.

Step 5: Identification of specific research problem.

 Elimination will help in defining focus of study on specific issues and research
questions.
 In this way specific research problem will be identified on the basic of research
questions.

Step 6 : Assessment of objectives and formulating a research

problem.
 Set out clearly your research objectives on the basis of research question.
 Check objectives of specific research problem in terms of time, budget,
resources and technical expertise at your hand.
  Again assess for validation of your research problem /question in light of
reality.
 Review all steps in formulating a research problem till now.
 Finalize formulation of research problem as per your goals and objectives

THANKS FOR LISTINING

Parlindungan Pardede

Universitas Kristen Indonesia

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