RESEARCH PROBLEM DEFINITION

Research Methodology
 Why define the Research Problem?

 Defining your destination before

beginning a journey.
 It determines,
 what you will do,
 will it withstand scientific scrutiny,
 how you will do it, and
 what you may achieve!

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 How is a research problem selected?

 Researchers interest in a topic

 National or agency priorities
 Urgency of an issue
 Availability of research funds
 Availability of supervision

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 Steps in defining research problems

1. Identify a broad topic

2. Identify a narrow topic within the
broad topic
3. Raise questions
4. Formulate objectives
 Use action-oriented words - To
demonstrate; To evaluate; To measure…

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 Identifying Broad Topics
 Think of the BIG PICTURE
 What is the problem you are trying to solve?
 Think of something you like to learn more
about
 Consult text books, journal or your supervisor
 Pick one based on:
 Interest and relevance
 Magnitude of work involved
 Level of expertise
 yours and your advisors

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 Examples of Broad Topics
 Optimizing productivity of land and
water resources
 Ensuring Food Safety & Security
 Sustaining Agricultural & Marine
Environments

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 From Broad Topic to Narrow Topic
 Examples of a narrow topic:
 Liver disease in Goat
 Greenhouse Agriculture
 Milk Quality
 Greywater reuse potential in Oman
 When selecting a narrow topic think
how it can contribute towards
solving the BIG PROBLEM!

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 Problem Tree – Keep asking Why?
Unskilled Labor Inefficient Irrigation
Low Labor
Productivity

Unsuitable Climate Inefficient Water harvesting

Water Scarcity Lack of crop varieties

adapted to climate
Food Insecurity

Unsuitable Crops Farming Patterns do not

Return nutrients

Low Land Farmers can’t afford fertilizers

Productivity

Poor Soil Farmers unaware of

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Proposal Writing
 Sections
 Title
 Introduction
 additional sub sections if necessary
 Objectives
 Materials & Methods
 additional sub sections if necessary
 A tentative time table
 A budget .

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 Title
 Specific & Short
 This forms the first impression
about your research
 If vague – Reader will be cynical

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 Introduction
 Convince the reader that you have identified a
research problem, worthy of investigating.
 Start very general – Broad Topic
 Highlight
 the concept
 Practical significance
 Reduce it to a narrow topic by
 Raising questions, and
 Stating answers from literature for most.
 Establish Rationale:
 Research is necessary questions for which there is
no answer yet.

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 Objectives
 Provide a clear statement of the
overall question- General objective
 Follow it with action oriented tasks -
Specific objectives.
 If more than one specific objective
state them sequentially

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 Methodology
 State it explicitly
 Enough detail for the reader to follow
 First give an overall summary of your study design and
methodological approach.
 Then provide the methodology for each specific
objective.
 Describe
 the specific design (what will you do and how, number of
replicates, etc.),
 the materials and techniques that will be used, and
 the feasibility of these techniques.
 Use literature to support design, materials & techniques
 Need not repeat standard procedures – but give a
reference.

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 References
 List all references
 In alphabetical order

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 GANTT Chart (Time line)

Task Quarter1 Quarter2 Quarter3 Quarter4

Survey

Test GWT

Analyze data

Write Thesis

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 Budget

SUMMARY OF FUNDS REQUESTED (RO)

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 TOTAL

Capital Equipment 7500 7500

Recurrent Items 8000 6000 16000 30000

Use of University Facilities 1000 1000 1000 3000
Local Travel Costs 1000 1000 1000 3000
Publication Costs 500 500 2500 2600
Miscellaneous 2000 2000 2000 6000
TOTAL 12500 18000 22500 53000

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