RESEARCH PROBLEM

AN
INTRODUCTION
 RESEARCH
PROBLEM
 In research process, the first and foremost step happens to be that of
selecting and properly defining a research problem.

 It refers to some difficulty which a researcher experiences in the context

of either theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution
for the same.

 A research problem is a specific issue, difficulty, contradiction, or gap in

knowledge that you will aim to address in your research. You might look
for practical problems aimed at contributing to change, or theoretical
problems aimed at expanding knowledge.
 RESEARCH
PROBLEM
COMPONENTS OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

🠶 An individual or a group with some difficulty or problem

🠶 Objectives of research that are to be attained
🠶 The environment in which the problem exists
🠶 Two or more course of action or alternative means for obtaining the
objective
🠶 Two or more possible outcomes
 IDENTIFICATION AND
SOURCES
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. The researchers themselves should finalize their own topic for a research problem after
having a thorough discussion with the experts and guides.
SOURCES OF RESEARCH
PROBLEM
SOURCES OF RESEARCH
PROBLEM
 SELECTION OF RESEARCH
PROBLEM
🠶 criteria
Subjects which are overdone should not befor selection
chosen. It will be difficult to throw any new light

🠶 Controversial subjects should not become the choice of an average researcher.

🠶 Too vague or too narrow problems should be avoided

🠶 The subjects selected for research should be familiar and feasible

🠶 The subject selected should be a significant one

🠶 The importance of the subject, the qualification and the training of a researcher, the
costs
involved, the time factor are few criteria that must be considered

🠶 The researcher has to make sure of the availability of necessary resources (equipment and
adequate library facilities)

🠶 Selection of a problem must be preceded by a preliminary study.(this is necessary when the

field
of inquiry is relatively new)
 FORMULATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

🠶 Formulation of research problem refers to state the

problem in a researchable manner.
🠶 It includes narrowing down the research area and formulating
the objectives.
🠶 The researcher needs to refine the topic and clearly state what
is intended to explore about the topic
STEPS INVOLVED IN FORMULATION OF
RESEARCH PROBLEM
 TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN DEFINING
A PROBLEM
🠶 Defining a problem involves the task of laying down
boundaries within which a researcher shall study the problem
with a predetermined objectives.
Statement of the problem in

Understanding the nature of the

Surveying

the

available Developing the ideas

 DEFINING RESEARCH
PROBLEM
POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED

🠶 Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings used in the statement of the

problem should be clearly defined.

🠶 Basic assumptions related to the research problem should be clearly stated

🠶 The criteria for the selection of the problem should be provided

🠶 The suitability of the time period and the sources of data available must also be
considered

by the researcher

🠶 The scope of the investigation or the limits within which the problem is to be studied
must

be mentioned explicitly in defining a research problem

 CRITERIA OF GOOD RESEARCH
PROBLEM

🠶 A good research problem should add knowledge or improve the current practices.

🠶 It should be a novel and original one

🠶 Possibilities for empirical verification and testing

🠶 It should be clear and unambiguous

🠶 It should express the relationship between two or more variables.

🠶 Approval of topic from competent authority is also an important criterion