CHAPTER 2

FORMULATING A RESEARCH
PROBLEM, RESEARCH
QUESTION AND RESEARCH
OBJECTIVE
Research Methodology:
Tools, Methods and Techniques

Sundram, V.P.K., Rajagopal, P., Atikah, S.B., Rohani, M., Nazura, M.S., & Akmal, A.O.
 Learning
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Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 2

 CHAPTER 2

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 3

 The central aim of this chapter is to detail the
process of formulating a research problem.

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 4

 CHAPTER 2

2.2 THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 5

 Any question that you want 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.

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 6

 CHAPTER 2

2.3 THE IMPORTANCE OF FORMULATING A

RESEARCH PROBLEM

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 7

 Formulation of a research problem is like the
identification of a destination before undertaking a
journey.
 The way you formulate a problem determines almost
every step that follows:
1. the type of study design that can be used
2. the type of sampling strategy that can be employed
3. the research instrument that can be used or developed
4. the type of analysis that can be undertaken
Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 8
 CHAPTER 2

2.4 SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 9

 Most research in the humanities resolves around four Ps:
1. People
2. Problems
3. Programmes
4. Phenomena

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 10

 Aspects of a Research Problem

Aspects of
About Study of Details
a study

They provide you with the required

Study Individuals, organizations, groups,
People information or your collect
population communities.
information from or about them.

Issues, situations, associations,

Problem needs, population composition,
profiles, etc.
Information that you need to collect
Subject Contents, structure, outcomes, to find answers to your service
area Programme attributes, satisfaction, consumers, research questions.
providers, etc.
Cause and effect, relationships, the
Phenomenon
study of phenomenon itself, etc.
Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 11
 CHAPTER 2

2.5 CONSIDERATIONS IN SELECTING A

RESEARCH PROBLEM

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 12

Page 24

 Interest
 Magnitude
 Measurement of concepts
 Level of expertise
 Relevance
 Availability of data
 Ethical Issues
Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 13
 CHAPTER 2

2.6 STEP IN FORMULATING A RESEARCH

PROBLEM

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 14

 Step 2: Profiling Step 3: Specify
Step 1:
main issues into what interest you
Discovering issues
subareas the most

i. Step 6: Step 4: Develop

Step 5: Formulate
Researchability of research
objectives
your objectives questions

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 15

 1 What impact has Main objective: To find
St green supply chain out the
ep towards the effects
4– environmental of
16

De performance? green
vel supply
2 How does a green
op chain
supply chain
Re practic
practices affect the
se e on
firm performance?
ar firm
ch 3 What are the effects
Steps in Formulating a Research Problem (Example 1)

perfor
Qu of green supply mance
St
est chain on the .
ep
io economic
5– Specific objectives:
n performance?
Fo
1 To ascertain the
rm
impact of green
ula
supply chain
te
towards the
Ob
environmental
jec
performance.
St tiv
es 2 To determine the
Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques

ep
Effects of green supply ways in which green
3–
chain practices on supply chain
Sp
performance practices affects the
eci
fy firms’ financial
performance.
3 To find out the
effects of green
supply chain on the
economic
1 Green practices in the performance.
supply chain.
2 Factors influencing
green practices.
3 The process of
St implementing green Assess in terms of:
ep practices. 1 that you are really
2– 4 The effect of green interested in the
Pr practices towards study.
ofi performance. 2 that you agree with
lin
5 The effectiveness of the objectives.
g
green practices in 3 the time available to
supply chain. St
you.
ep
6– 4 that you have the
Re technical expertise
se to undertake the
ar study.
ch 5 your (and your
abi research
St lity supervisor)
ep technical expertise
1– in the area.
Di
sc
Green Supply Chain
ov
er
Iss
ue
s
 CHAPTER 2

2.7 PROBLEM DEFINITION [PROBLEM

STATEMENT]

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 17

 Problem definition or problem statement means a clear
statement of issue that need be investigated in order to
find a solution or ways to improve. In other words, a
problem statement is a statement outlining the actual
problem that a researcher wants to research on.
Example

1. What are the components of “good corporate governance”?

2. How can training affect employee’s productivity?
3. To what extant new monetary policy could enhance Foreign Direct Investment [FDI].

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 18

 CHAPTER 2

2.8 WRITING AN EFFECTIVE PROBLEM

STATEMENT

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 19

 Initial Construction of Problem Statement
STEP DETAIL OF THE STEPS
1. Provide Start by describing how things should work.
background Before you even mention your problem,
context explain in a few sentences how things would
be if the problem didn't exist.
2. Explain Succinctly summarize the problem you intend
about the to solve — this cuts to the heart of the issue
problem immediately and positions the most important
information in the problem statement near the
top, where it's most visible. Start your
sentence with phrasing like "However, ..." or
"Unfortunately, ..." to show that the problem
you've identified is what is preventing the
ideal vision from being a reality.
Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques
EXAMPLE
Business nowadays has becoming more
complex than ever. The need to integrate the
business process has becoming integral part of
business activities. Previous study has
emphasized the need of supply chain
integration (SCI) practices to gain firm
performance (Lambert & Cooper, 2000;
Wisner & Tan, 2000).
However, these studies have not always
considered the different dimensions of supply
chain integration. As such, previous studies
had shown lack of knowledge in determine
which dimension of supply chain integration is
actually influence firm performance.
20
 Initial Construction of Problem Statement (cont.)
STEP DETAIL OF THE STEPS
3. Back up As soon as you start making specific
your claims about how serious your problem is,
assertion you'll need to start supporting your
statements with evidence.
4. Propose a When you've explained what the problem
solution is and why it's so important, proceed to
explain how you propose to deal with it.
As with the initial statement of your
problem, your explanation of your solution
should be written to be as clear and
concise as possible.
Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques
EXAMPLE
Furthermore, Flynn, Huo, & Zhao, (2010) raises issue on which
dimension of supply chain integration could actually influence the
firm performance. In additional, the outcome of previous study
has shown mixed results between supply chain integration and
performance. For example, studies by (Flynn et al., 2010;
Germain & Iyer, 2006; Huo, 2012; Huo et al., 2013; Huo, Qi,
Wang, & Zhao, 2014; Kim, 2009; Petersen, Handfield, & Ragatz,
2005; Rosenzweig, Roth, & Dean, 2003; Swink et al., 2007;
Swink & Song, 2007; Zhao et al., 2013) has shown that supply
chain integration has positive impacts towards firm performance
while studies by (Gimenez & Ventura, 2003, 2005; Koufteros,
Vonderembse, & Jayaram, 2005) has found no direct relationship
between internal integration and operational performance.
Therefore, additional research is necessary to test the
relationship between various dimension of supply chain
integration (supplier, internal, and customer integration) and
performance.
21
 Initial Construction of Problem Statement (cont.)

STEP DETAIL OF THE STEPS EXAMPLE

5. Explain the Again, now that you've told
benefit of your your readers what should be
solution done about the problem, it's a
very good idea to explain why
this solution is a good idea.
In addition, most SCI research is conducted in developed
country such as United States, China, Hong Kong, South
Korea, Europe Community, so there is a need to validate
those instruments and theories developed in the country
mentioned before for other cultural and business settings
to ensure that they are robust (Huo, 2012).

6. Conclude by State in just a few sentences,
summarizing the basic gist of what you've
the problem described in your problem
and solution statement and the approach
you intend to take in the body
of the article.
This paper intends to contribute to filling this gap by
focusing on the dimension of SCI which is internal
integration, customer integration, and supplier integration.
In particular, the aim of this study is to measure the SCI
and the influence of SCI towards competitive advantage
and firm performance on manufacturing firms in Malaysia.

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 22

 CHAPTER 2

2.10 RESEARCH QUESTION

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 23

 Research question is a statement of research intention in the
form of question of which the researcher wants to answer.
 A research question or a list of research questions derives from
research problem or problem statement.
 Research question utilizes the words “why, what, where, when,
who, and how.
 Research question could be listed under two headings:
o Main Research Question(s)
o Specific Research Question(s)
Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 24
 Example of Research Question

Main Research
Problem Area Specific Research Question
Question

What is the effect of product

quality towards customer
satisfaction?
Unsatisfied How to improve
Customer customer satisfaction?
What is the effect of after sales
service towards customer
satisfaction?

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 25

 CHAPTER 2

2.11 THE FORMULATION OF RESEARCH

OBJECTIVES

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 26

 Research objective is a statement of research purpose
which the researcher wants to investigate.
 A research objective or a list of research objective derives
from research problem and research question.
 Research objective starts with the word “To ………...”
 Research objective could be listed under two headings:
o Main Research Objective(s)
o Specific Research Objective(s)
Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 27
 Characteristics of Objectives

Identify the Identify the

   
main variables direction of
Clear Complete Specific
to be the
correlated relationship

Descriptive studies

Correlational studies (experimental and non-experimental)

Hypothesis-testing studies
Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 28
 CHAPTER 2

2.12 RELATING RESEACH OBJECTIVES AND

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 29

 Based on the research title “Liquidity Risk
Management and Financial Performance in
Malaysia: Empirical Evidence from Islamic Banks”
below will be the examples of research objectives
and research questions.

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 30

 Example in relating research objectives and research questions

Research Objectives Research Questions

To assess the liquidity risk in selected Islamic What is the extent of liquidity risk in selected
banks in Malaysia from 2006 to 2008. Islamic banks in Malaysia?
Does the current crisis exert significant impact on
the liquidity risk among the Islamic banks in
Malaysia?

To establish the relationship between the Is there any relationship between liquidity risk
extent of liquidity risks with bank’s financial and financial performance of selected Islamic
performance of selected Islamic banks in banks in Malaysia?
Malaysia.

To examine the liquidity risk management What is the extent of liquidity risk management
disclosure in the annual reports of selected disclosure in the annual report of Islamic banks in
Islamic banks in Malaysia. Malaysia?

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 31

 Based on the research title “Motivation factor and
job satisfaction among government servant” below
will be the examples of research objectives and
research questions.

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 32

 Example in relating research objectives and research questions

Research Objectives Research Questions

To identify the motivation factor among What is the motivation factor among government
government servant servant?
Which motivation factor preferred most by the
government servant?

To establish the relationship between Is there any relationship between motivation

motivation factor and job satisfaction among factor and job satisfaction among government
government servants servants

Research Methodology: Tools, Methods and Techniques 33