Chapter Two

Defining Research Problem and Hypothesis Formulation

 What is a research problem?

Components of research problem

Problem formulation and research question

Content What is hypothesis?

Importance of hypothesis

Criteria for hypothesis formulation

What is Research Problem?
• Research problem is what triggers a research activity.
• The identification and analyzing of a research problem is the
first and most crucial step in the research process.
• It is like the identification of a destination before undertaking a
journey.
• In the absence of a destination, it is impossible to identify the
shortest – or indeed any – route.
• The researcher possesses the intellect and insight to identify
research problem is also crucial
What is Research Problem? …
• Research problems need to be defined and transformed into a
researchable topic for investigation.
• Very often much work is needed to translate the broad problem
into a feasible research topic.
• Therefore, the research problem definition and refinement stage is
the springboard for the rest of the tasks in doing business
research.
What is Research Problem?...
• A “problem” does not necessarily mean that something is seriously wrong with
a current situation that needs to be rectified immediately.
• A problem, in business research, could also indicate an inquiry on an issue
where finding the right answers might help to improve an existing situation.
• Thus, a research problem refers to any situation where a gap exists between an
actual and a desired ideal state.
What is Research Problem?...
• Broadly speaking, any question that you want [to be] answered and any
assumption or assertion that you want to challenge or investigate can become a
research problem or a research topic for your study.
• However, it is important to remember that not all questions can be transformed
into research problems and some may prove to be extremely difficult to study.
• In Business Research, the inquiry is related to a management dilemma which is
related to a hierarchy of questions:
What is Research Problem?...
• Management question —a restatement of the manager’s dilemma(s) in
question form.
• Research questions —the hypothesis that best states the objective of the
research; the question(s) that focuses the researcher’s attention.
• Investigative questions —questions the researcher must answer to
satisfactorily answer the research question; what the manager feels he or she
needs to know to arrive at a conclusion about the management dilemma.
• Measurement questions —what participants in research are asked or what
specifically is observed in a research study.
The Management-Research Question Hierarchy
Refining the research problem through Exploration

• After identifying the research problem, exploration helps in gaining

additional insight and saving time and money (if formal research is found
unnecessary after exploration)
• Exploration often starts with literature search
• Literature search is:
• a review of books as well as articles in journals or professional literature that
relate to your management dilemma
Refining the research problem…

• The purpose of exploration is to:

• Expand your understanding of the management dilemma by looking for ways
others have addressed and/or solved problems similar to your management
dilemma or management question.
• Gather background information on your topic to refine the research question.
• Identify information that should be gathered to formulate investigative questions.
• Identify sources for and actual questions that might be used as measurement
questions.
• Identify sources for and actual sample frames (lists of potential participants) that
might be used in sample design.
Refining the research problem…
• After exploration is complete, the research question is finetuned to move the
business research forward with more clarity than the initially formulated
question(s).
• In addition to finetuning the original question, the researcher should address
other research question–related activities in this phase to enhance the direction
of the project:
• Examine the variables to be studied. Are they satisfactorily defined? Have
operational definitions been used where appropriate?
• Review the research questions with the intent of breaking them down into specific
second- and third-level questions.
Refining the research problem…
• If hypotheses (tentative explanations) are used, be certain they meet the quality
tests.
• Determine what evidence must be collected to answer the various questions and
hypotheses.
• Set the scope of the study by stating what is not a part of the research question.
This will establish a boundary to separate contiguous problems from the primary
objective.
Components of Research Problem
• Since identifying the exact nature and dimensions of a problem is of major
importance in research work, it is very essential that an investigator should
learn how to recognize and define a problem.
• Requires going through a step-by-step process:
Step 1: Determining the field of research in which a researcher is keen to do the
research work
Step 2: The researcher should develop the mastery on the area or; the area
should be the field of researcher’s specialization.
Components of a Research Problem
Step 3: The researcher should review prior researches to know the recent trend
and studies in the area.
Step 4: On the basis of review, the priority field of the study should be
determined
Step 5: The Researcher should draw an analogy and insight in identifying a
problem or employ personal experience of the field in locating the problem. The
help of supervisor or expert of the field can be considered here.
Step 6: The researcher should pin-point specific aspects (components) of
the problem which is to be investigated
Components…
• Components of a research problem [statement] can be:
• an individual or a group which has some difficulty or the problem (i.e.,
user of the research finding)
• some objective(s) to be attained
• alternative means for obtaining the objective(s) one wishes to attain
• some doubt in the mind of a researcher with regard to the selection of
alternatives
• some environment(s) to which the difficulty pertains.
• If there is a knowledge gap in the area of investigation, the gap should be
identified
Criteria for Selecting a Research Problem
• The problem must be significant
• Contributes for theory and practice or for both
• The problem should be researchable
• Not too obvious or too ideal or one which requires philosophy rather than
investigation
• The problem should be suitable for the researcher
• One which is of genuine interest to the researcher
• Be in an area in which the researcher has knowledge and experience
Criteria for Selecting a Research Problem
• The problem should be sufficiently original
• Allows the researcher’s creativity, flexibility and foresight (in some fields)
• The problem must be feasible
• Concepts in the research are measurable (in quantitative researches)
• Indicators and their measurements are clear
• The problem must be one that can be investigated and completed within the
allocated time limit
• Subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen
• Investigation into the problem is ethical (i.e., causes no harm to human and
non-human subjects)
Problem Formulation and Research Question

• Problem formulation requires identifying research questions and

hypotheses
• Formulation helps in representing the refined research problem with its
components
• Formulation requires determining variables and units of analysis
• Research problems may involve some concepts; framing their
interrelationship and conversion into variables is a critical task of the
researcher
• This usually requires clarity between concepts and variables
Problem Formulation …

• If you are using a concept in your study, you need to consider its
operationalization – that is, how it will be measured.
• To operationalize a concept, you first need to go through the process of
identifying indicators – a set of criteria reflective of the concept – which can then
be converted into variables.
• The choice of indicators for a concept might vary with the researcher but those
selected must have a logical link with the concept.
• With clarity on the concepts, variables and units of analysis of the study, the
researcher uses a research questions to translate the research problem into a
specific inquiry
Problem Formulation …

• The inclusion of one or more research questions in the problem statement

further clarifies the issue to be resolved.
• The research question(s) specify what you want to learn about the topic.
They guide and structure the process of collecting and analyzing
information to help you to attain the purpose of your study. I
• Research questions are the translation of the problem of the organization
into a specific need for information.
What is Hypothesis?

• A research hypothesis is a statement of expectation or prediction that will

be tested by research
• A tentative answer to the research inquiry
• A hypothesis is a hunch, assumption, suspicion, assertion or an idea about
a phenomenon, relationship or situation, the reality or truth of which you do
not know.
• A researcher calls these assumptions, assertions, statements or hunches
hypotheses and they become the basis of an enquiry.
• A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the relationship between two or
more variables
What is Hypothesis? …

• A hypothesis is written in such a way that it can be proven or disproven by

valid and reliable data – it is in order to obtain these data that we perform
our study
• A research hypothesis must be based on a framework that conceptualize
the relationship in it
• In your hypothesis, you are predicting the relationship between
variables
• Hypothesis formulation requires reading on the topic of interest
• Should includes scholarly articles and books
Characteristics of a Hypothesis

• It is a tentative proposition.
• Its validity is unknown.
• In most cases, it specifies a relationship between two or more
variables
Importance of Hypothesis

• to bring direction, specificity and focus to a research study.

• they tell a researcher what specific information to collect, and
thereby provide greater focus
• A hypothesis is important:
• The formulation of a hypothesis provides a study with focus.
• It tells you what specific aspects of a research problem to
investigate.
Importance of Hypothesis

• A hypothesis tells you what data to collect and what not to collect,
thereby providing focus to the study.
• As it provides a focus, the construction of a hypothesis enhances
objectivity in a study.
• A hypothesis may enable you to add to the formulation of theory. It
enables you to conclude specifically what is true or what is false.
Criteria for Hypothesis Formulation

• A hypothesis should be simple, specific and conceptually clear

• There is no place for ambiguity in the construction of a
hypothesis
• A hypothesis should be capable of verification.
• Methods and techniques must be available for data collection
and analysis.
• There is no point in formulating a hypothesis if it cannot be
subjected to verification because there are no techniques to
verify it
Criteria for Hypothesis Formulation…

• A hypothesis should be related to the existing body of knowledge.

• It is important that your hypothesis emerges from the existing body of
knowledge, and that it adds to it, as this is an important function of
research.
• This can only be achieved if the hypothesis has its roots in the existing
body of knowledge.
• A hypothesis should be operationalizable.
• This means that it can be expressed in terms that can be measured. If
it cannot be measured, it cannot be tested and, hence, no conclusions
can be drawn.