Characteristics of Good

Research Problem
 Is a statement that provides the context for a research study.

“ Research problems indicate gaps in the scope or the certainty

of our knowledge “ (Brewer & Hughes, 2005, P39)

What is a Research
Identification of a research problem is the first and most
Problem?
important step in research process generally a broad area is
selected and then a broad topic is delimited or narrowed down
to specific one sentence statement of the problem.
 RESEARCH CRITERIA

SUBTOPICS RESEARCH COMPONENTS

RESEARCH QUALITIES
 Good Research: How to Identify the Right Topic?
I. Research Criteria Every research study, irrespective of its type, should meet
some criterions so that it can be classified as good
research.
 1. Purpose of the research is clearly defined

A research study with clearly defined purpose finds a wider acceptance

and acknowledgement within the research community.
 2. The research method should be defined in a clear
manner with sufficient detail.

This will allow the repetition of the study in future for further advancement,
while maintaining the continuity of what has been done in the past.
 3. Any limitations and assumptions made by the researcher
during the course of the study should be clearly highlighted in
the research.

This will support the findings of the research study, in case someone tries to
validate the study findings.
 4. The research design should be planned in a way that
the results generated are as objective as possible.

This will provide an easier understanding about the findings of the

research.
5. There should be sufficient data to investigate the research topic.

The researcher should carefully check the reliability and validity of the
data.
6. A researcher should confine the conclusions to those justified by
the data
7. A good research depends a great deal on the integrity and
commitment of the researcher.
 1. Objective or aim of the problem which is to be
investigated.
2. The topic or theme which needs to be
investigated.
II. Research 3. The time dimension of a decision problem is
Components/
Elements always the future.
4. The area or location in which the study is to be
conducted.
5. Population or universe from whom the data needs
to be gathered.
 1. Objective or aim of the problem which is to be investigated.

This answers the question “Why?” Why is there a need for investigation,
inquiry or study?
 2. The topic or theme which needs to be investigated.

This answers the question “What?” What is to be researched or studied?”

 3. The time dimension of a decision problem is always the future.

The period or time of the study when the data are to be gathered. This
answers the question “When?” When is the research to be performed?”
 4. The area or location in which the study is to be conducted.

This answers the question “Where?” Where we need to conduct the

study? The space coordinates give you the geographic boundaries within
which the action is to be taken.
 5. Population or universe from whom the data needs to be gathered.

This answers the question “Who?” or “from whom?” Who are the
respondents? From who are the data to be collected?” They may
include persons, groups of persons, business establishments.
III. The Qualities of a
Good Research
Question
 1. A research question is a question that CAN be answered
in an objective way, at least partially and at least for now.

Questions that are purely values-based (such as “Should assisted suicide be legal?”) cannot be
answered objectively because the answer varies depending on one’s values. Be wary of
questions that include “should” or “ought” because those words often (although not always)
indicate a values-based question.
However, note that most values-based questions can be turned into research questions by
judicious reframing.
For instance, you could reframe “Should assisted suicide be legal?” as “What are the ethical
implications of legalizing assisted suicide?”
 2. A good research question is one that can be answered using
information that already exists or that can be collected.

is not values-based and therefore could be answered in an objective way

3. A good research question is a question that hasn’t already been
answered, or hasn’t been answered completely, or hasn’t been
answered for your specific context.

If the answer to the question is readily available in a good encyclopedia, textbook, or

reference book, then it is a homework question, not a research question.
Sources of a 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.
 1. Deductions from Theory

2. Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Sources of a Research
Problem 3. Interviewing Practitioners

4. Personal Experience

5. Relevant Literature
 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.
 2. 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.
 3. 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 word” problems that may be
understudied or ignored within academic circles.
 4. 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.
 5. 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.
 Beware of circular reasoning. Don’t state that the research

problem as simply the absence of the thing you are suggesting.

For example, if you propose, "The problem in this community is

that it has no hospital.“

Mistake to Avoid This only leads to a research problem where:

• The need is for a hospital

• The objective is to create a hospital

• The method is to plan for building a hospital, and

• The evaluation is to measure if there is a hospital or not.

LITERATURE REVIEW &
SOURCES
 Literature Review

The Literature refers to the collection of scholarly writings on a topic. This includes peer-reviewed
articles, books, dissertations and conference papers.

A literature review has four main objectives:

1. It surveys the literature in your chosen area of study

2. It synthesizes the information in that literature into a summary
3. It critically analyses the information gathered by identifying gaps in current knowledge; by
showing limitations of theories and points of view; and by formulating areas for further research
and reviewing areas of controversy
4. It presents the literature in an organized way
 Sources

The term primary source is used broadly to embody all sources that are
original. Primary sources provide first-hand information that is closest to the
object of study. Primary sources vary by discipline.

A secondary source is a source that provides non-original or secondhand

data or information. Secondary sources are written about primary sources.
Print Journals

A print journal is any journal that is

available in printed form - so a physical
item that you can hold, like a magazine.
Online Journals

Online/Electronic journal articles are a specialized form

of electronic document: they have the purpose of
providing material for academic research and study,
and they are formatted approximately like journal
articles in traditional printed journals.
Structure of a Literature Review

I. Introduction
• Define your topic and provide an appropriate context for reviewing the literature
• Establish your reasons – i.e point of view
• Reviewing the Literature
• State the scope of the review – what is included and what isn’t included

II. Main Body

• Organize the literature according to common themes
• Provide insight into the relation between your chosen topic and the wider subject
area
• Move from a general, wider view of the literature being reviewed to the specific
focus of your research.

III. Conclusion
• Summarize the important aspects of the existing body of literature
• Evaluate the current state of the literature reviewed
• Identify significant flaws or gaps in existing knowledge
• Link your research to existing knowledge
 What’s the difference between a
Citation and
citation and a reference?
Referencing Sources
 Citation

A specific source that you mention in the body of your paper. The format of
the citation may change depending on the style you use (e.g. MLA and APA)
and the way that you weave the citation into your writing, but the basic
elements of the citation that you need to include are:

1. Name of the author(s)

2. Year of publication
3. Page number or page range

If you quote a source directly you must include the exact page number in
your citation or it is incomplete.
 Reference

This is a list of the sources you have cited. The references come at the end of your paper. In APA style,
this is not a list of “works consulted”. Every source that is listed in your references also needs to be cited
in the body of your paper.

Every source listed in your references should be accessible by others who read your work.

Tip: Everything you have cited in text appears in your reference list and likewise, everything that
appears in your reference list will have been cited in text.
 APA is one of many referencing styles used in academic
writing. APA stands for American Psychological Association.
APA 6th Edition
The Association outlines the style in the Publication manual of
the American Psychological Association [APA] (6th ed.).
Referencing for Print Journals and E-Journals

Is there a difference when referencing?

The in-text citation will be the same for both print journal articles and e-journal articles, but
they may appear differently in the reference list.

For print articles and e-journal articles that have also been published in print, the reference
order should be:
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal, Volume(Issue),
pp. page numbers.

For e-journal articles that are 'born digital' (e.g. have no print equivalent), the reference will
also need either a DOI or a URL and access date:
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal, Volume(Issue),
pp. page numbers. doi: doi number
OR
Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal, Volume(Issue),
pp. page numbers. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
For more information about APA 6th Edition

http://student.ucol.ac.nz/library/onlineresources/Doc
uments/APA_Guide_2017.pdf
Managing Resources
using Mendeley
Mendeley is a free desktop and web
program for managing and sharing research
papers, discovering research data, and
collaborating online. It offers the author
community a new way to dramatically
enhance the research and writing
experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sMfeS0uAjQ
URLs of References

1. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/englishcomp2kscopexmaster/chapter/the-qualities-
of-a-good-research-question/
2. https://universalteacher.com/1/elements-of-a-research-problem/
3. http://www.pietutors.com/criteria-good-research/
4. https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185918
5. https://research-methodology.net/research-methodology/literature-review-sources/
6. https://www.rlf.org.uk/resources/what-is-a-literature-review/

7. https://drsaraheaton.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/whats-the-difference-between-a-
citation-and-a-reference/
8. http://student.ucol.ac.nz/library/onlineresources/Documents/APA_Guide_2017.pdf
9. https://www.mendeley.com/?interaction_required=true
10. www.rlf.org.uk/resources/the-structure-of-a-literature-review/