This document provides information on researching and defining a research problem. It begins by defining a research problem and explaining the purpose of a problem statement. It describes identifying a research problem through literature reviews, discussions, and rephrasing. The document also covers types of research problems, characteristics of a good statement, and techniques for defining a problem. Finally, it discusses identifying a problem through deductions from theory, interdisciplinary perspectives, and practitioner interviews.

1. UNIT 2: RESEARCH PROBLEM
Mr.T.SOMASUNDARAM
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT
KRISTU JAYANTI COLLEGE, BANGALORE

2. UNIT 2: RESEARCH PROBLEM
Meaning of Research Problem,
Identification of Research Problem,
Source of Research Problem,
Review of Literature (Concept),
Statement of Problem (Concept),
Objectives of the Study (Concept),
Research Questions & Types.

3. 3
RESEARCH PROBLEM
Definition:
 “Research Problem refers to an unanswered question that a researcher
might encounter in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation,
which would like to find a solution.”
 A research problem is a statement about an area of concern, a condition to
be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists
in scholarly literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need for
meaningful understanding and deliberate investigation.
 The research problem exist in certain conditions –
- there must be an individual (or group or an organization).
- there must be at least two courses of action.
- there must be at least two possible outcomes.
- the course of action must provides chance for obtaining objective.

4. In some social science disciplines, the research problem is typically
posed in the form of a question.
A research problem does not state how to do something, offer a vague
or broad proposition, or present a value question.
Purpose of a problem statement:
Introduce the reader to the importance of the topic being studied.
The reader is oriented to the significance of the study and the research
questions or hypotheses to follow.
Places the problem into a particular context that defines the
parameters of what is to be investigated.
Provides the framework for reporting the results and indicates
what is probably necessary to conduct the study and explain how the
findings will present this information.

5. Research Problem statements should possess the following attributes to survive
‘so what’ questions:
 Clarity and precision [a well-written statement does not make generalizations and
irresponsible statements].
 Identification of what would be studied, while avoiding the use of value-laden
words and terms.
 Identification of an overarching question and key factors or variables.
 Identification of key concepts and terms.
 Articulation of the study's boundaries or parameters.
 Some generalizability in regards to applicability and bringing results into general
use.
 Conveyance of the study's importance, benefits, and justification.
 Does not have unnecessary jargon and
 Conveyance of more than the mere gathering of descriptive data providing only a
snapshot of the issue or phenomenon under investigation.

6. Types and Content of Research Problem:
There are four general conceptualizations of a research problem in the
social sciences -
Casuist Research Problem -- this type of problem relates to the
determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or
conscience by analysing moral dilemmas through the application of
general rules and the careful distinction of special cases.
Difference Research Problem -- typically asks the question, “Is there
a difference between two or more groups or treatments?” This type of
problem statement is used when the researcher compares or contrasts
two or more phenomena.
Descriptive Research Problem -- typically asks the question, "what
is...?" with the underlying purpose to describe a situation, state, or
existence of a specific phenomenon.

7. Relational Research Problem -- suggests a relationship of some sort
between two or more variables to be investigated. The underlying
purpose is to investigate qualities/characteristics that are connected in
some way.
A problem statement in the social sciences should contain -
A lead-in that helps ensure the reader will maintain interest over the
study
A declaration of originality [e.g., mentioning a knowledge void,
which would be supported by the literature review]
An indication of the central focus of the study, and
An explanation of the study's significance or the benefits to be
derived from an investigating the problem.

8. Characteristics of a Good Research Statement
The statement need not be lengthy but a good research problem should incorporate the
following features:
a) Compelling topic:
 Simple curiosity is not a good enough reason to pursue a research study. The problem that
you choose to explore must be important to you and to a larger community you share. The
problem chosen must be one that motivates you to address it.
b) Supports multiple perspectives:
 The problem most be phrased in a way that avoids dichotomies and instead supports the
generation and exploration of multiple perspectives. A general rule of thumb is that a good
research problem is one that would generate a variety of viewpoints from a composite
audience made up of reasonable people.
c) Researchable:
 It seems a bit obvious, but you don't want to find yourself in the midst of investigating a
complex research project and realize that you don't have much to draw on for your
research. Choose research problems that can be supported by the resources available to
you. Not sure? Seek out help from a librarian!

9. Components of a Research problem:
i) there should be an individual or a group who
have some difficulty or problem.
ii) there should be some objective(s) to be pursued.
iii) there should be alternative ways of pursuing the
objective the researcher wants to pursue.
iv) there should be some doubt in the mind of
researcher about alternative choice.
v) there should be a context to which the difficulty
relates.
* Research problem is the one which requires
researcher to find the best available solution to the
given problem.

10. 1. Selecting the problem:
* the problem undertaken for study must be carefully selected.
The following points should be remember in selecting a problem:
i) subject which is overdone should not be normally chosen.
ii) controversial subject should not become the choice of average
researcher.
iii) too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided.
iv) the subject should be familiar and feasible for research.
v) importance of subject, qualifications of researcher, costs involved,
time and other criteria should be considered.
vi) selection of problem must be preceded by a preliminary study.

11. 2. Necessity of defining the problem:
* it is necessary to define the research problem
which help to discriminate relevant data from
irrelevant ones.
It has to define the certain thing about the research
problem –
- what data are to be collected?
- what characteristics of data are relevant & need to
study?
- what relations are to be explored?
- what techniques are to used for purpose?
* defining a research problem is a prerequisite for
any study and is a step of the highest importance.

12. 3. Techniques involved in defining a problem:
i) Statement of the problem in a general way:
* it should stated in general way, some practical concern or scientific
interest.
* it is advised to take field observation or preliminary survey called Pilot
study (Social sciences research).
* researcher can state the identified problem with experts and find out
feasibility solution.
ii) Understanding the nature of the problem:
* it is necessary to understand its origin and nature clearly.
* it is to discuss about the problem about its originality and objectives in
view.
* it is necessary to have discussion about the knowledge of the problem
or similar other problems.

13. iii) Surveying the available literature:
* all literature concerning the problem must be surveyed and
examined before defining research problem.
* researcher must well conversant with relevant theories through
literature in particular field.
* this used to know the certain gaps in theories and problem under
study.
iv) Developing the ideas through discussions:
* this often produces useful information.
* discuss with the colleagues, experts in same area or similar problem,
called as experience survey.
* this help researcher to sharpen his focus on specific aspects in that
study.

14. v) Rephrasing the research problem:
* the researcher must rephrase the research problem into a working
proposition.
* it becomes operationally viable and may help in development of
working hypothesis.
The following points are required for defining research problem –
- technical terms, words, phrases should be clearly defined.
- basic assumptions relating to research problem should be clearly
defined.
- criteria for selection of problem should be provided.
- suitability of time – period and sources of data available.
- scope of investigation or limits within the problem is to be studied.

15. IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Identification of Research Problem:
Identification of a research situation is an important phase of the entire
research process.
It demands a great deal of thinking, searching and speculating on the
part of a researcher.
It consumes a lot of energy, time and effort.
A beginning researcher finds it very difficult as to how to locate the
problem situation, because of limited knowledge of the research
process.
Clear and concise identification of the problem is not an easy matter,
but the most challenging situation for a researcher is to deal with
diffused perceptions of the situations amenable to research.

16. IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
An investigator should follow the following major tasks in analysing a
problematic situation:
i) Accumulating the facts that might be related to the problem.
ii) Settling by observation whether the facts are relevant.
iii) Tracing any relationship between facts that might reveal the key difficulty.
iv) Proposing various explanations for the cause of the difficulty.
v) Ascertaining through observation and analysis whether these explanations
are relevant to the problem.
vi) Tracing the relationship between explanations that may give an insight
into the problem solution.
vii) Tracing the relationship between facts and explanations.
viii) Questioning assumptions underlying the analysis of the problem.

17. The identification of a problem situation follows the following procedural efforts on the part of a
researcher –
 Understanding of the known theories, facts and ideas in the field of researcher's interest structures
his / her problem searching domain.
 The research focus is sharpened by what he already knows, what researches in his field have been
conducted and what needs to be discovered.
 A problem situation of research may emerge from the researcher's curiosity about something
shared, seen, felt or wondered about or through the natural interest of a researcher.
 Life situations, relationships established by related researchers and implications advanced by
technological advancements constitute the problem situation.
 New knowledge in the field of researcher's interest coming through the new rivals of books, journal
and researches extend a situation for research.
 A survey of suggestions for further research given at the end of research reports and reviews of
research projects, the gaps which are there in a particular field of educational research are helpful
in keeping the researcher informed about what researches are going on in the field in which he has
the competence and deeper understanding.
PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH
PROBLEM

18. STEPS INVOLVED IN IDENTIFICATION OF
RESEARCH PROBLEM

19. To build a research study, consider these three broad sources of inspiration
-
a) Deductions from Theory:
 It relates to deductions made from social philosophy or generalizations
embodied in life in society that the researcher is familiar with.
 It deals with empirical frame of reference through research.
 From a theory, the research can formulate a research problem or
hypothesis stating the expected findings in certain empirical situations.
 The research asks the question: “What relationship between variables
will be observed if theory appropriately summarizes the state of affairs?”
 It helps to carry out a systematic investigation to assess whether
empirical data confirm or reject the hypothesis and hence the theory.
SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

20. b) Interdisciplinary Perspectives:
 Identifying a problem that forms the basis for a research study in other 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.
 An interdisciplinary approach to selecting a research problem offers an opportunity to construct a
more comprehensive understanding of a very complex issue than any single discipline might
provide.
c) Interviewing Practitioners:
 It 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 world” problems that may be understudied or
ignored within academic circles.
 It also provides some practical knowledge which may help in the process of designing and
SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

21. d) Personal Experience:
 It 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 neighbourhood.
e) 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.
 It 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.
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].
SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

22. Meaning:
 A literature review discusses published information in a particular
subject area, and sometimes information in a particular subject area
within a certain time period.
 It can be just a simple summary of the sources, but it usually has an
organizational pattern and combines both summary and synthesis.
 A summary is a recap of the important information of the source, but
a synthesis is a re-organization, or a reshuffling, of that information,
which gives a new interpretation of old material or combine new with
old interpretations.
 The literature review may evaluate the sources and advise the reader
on the most pertinent or relevant, depending on the situation.
LITERATURE REVIEW

23. A literature review has four main objectives -
 It surveys the literature in your chosen area of study.
 It synthesises the information in that literature into a summary.
 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.
 It presents the literature in an organised way.
How is a literature review different from an academic research paper?
 The main focus of an academic research paper is to develop a new argument.
 In research paper, it contains a literature review as one of its parts, as a
foundation and as support for a new insight that you contribute.
 The focus of a literature review, is to summarize and synthesize the arguments
and ideas of others without adding new contributions.
LITERATURE REVIEW

24. The various reason behind in writing a literature review are -
 Literature reviews provide you with a handy guide to a particular
topic.
 It gives you an overview or act as a stepping stone.
 For professionals, they are useful reports that keep them up to date
with what is current in the field.
 For scholars, the depth and breadth of the literature review emphasizes
the credibility of the writer in his or her field.
 It also provide a solid background for a research paper’s investigation.
Comprehensive knowledge of the literature of the field is essential to
most research papers.
WHY DO WE WRITE LITERATURE REVIEW?

25. STEPS INVOLVED IN WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW?
 Writing a literature review involves finding relevant publications (such as books and journal
articles), critically analysing them, and explaining what you found. There are five key steps -
Step 1: Search for relevant literature:
 It need a clearly defined topic before begin for literature review.
 Search for literature related to your research problem and questions, to write the literature
review section of a dissertation or research paper.
 It has to choose a focus and develop a central question to direct the search and able to answer
it based only on a review of existing publications.
 Always use keywords to begin searching for sources.
Some useful databases to search for journals and articles include -
 Google Scholar JSTOR EBSCO
 Project Muse (humanities and social sciences)
 Medline (life sciences and biomedicine) EconLit (Economics)
 Inspec (physics, engineering and computer science)

26. STEPS INVOLVED IN WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW?
Step 2: Evaluate and select sources:
 You probably won’t be able to read absolutely everything that has been written on the topic –
you’ll have to evaluate which sources are most relevant to your questions.
 For each publication, ask yourself:
i) What question or problem is the author addressing?
ii) What are the key concepts and how are they defined?
iii) What are the key theories, models and methods?
iv) Does the research use established frameworks or take an innovative approach?
v) What are the results and conclusions of the study?
vi) How does the publication relate to other literature in the field?
vii) Does it confirm, add to, or challenge established knowledge?
viii) How does the publication contribute to your understanding of the topic?
ix) What are its key insights and arguments? and
x) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research?

27. STEPS INVOLVED IN WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW?
 Make sure the sources you use are credible, and make sure you read
any landmark studies and major theories in your field of research.
 You can find out how many times an article has been cited on Google
Scholar – a high citation count means the article has been influential
in the field, and should certainly be included in your literature review.
 The scope of your review will depend on your topic and discipline: in
the sciences you usually only review recent literature, but in the
humanities, you might take a long historical perspective (for
example, to trace how a concept has changed in meaning over time).

28. STEPS INVOLVED IN WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW?
Step 3: Identify themes, debates, and gaps:
To begin organizing your literature review’s argument and structure,
you need to understand the connections and relationships between the
sources you’ve read. Based on your reading and notes, you can look
for:
Trends and patterns (in theory, method or results): do certain
approaches become more or less popular over time?
Themes: what questions or concepts recur across the literature?
Debates, conflicts and contradictions: where do sources disagree?
Pivotal publications: are there any influential theories or studies that
changed the direction of the field?
Gaps: what is missing from the literature? Are there weaknesses that
need to be addressed?

29. STEPS INVOLVED IN WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW?
Step 4: Outline your literature review’s structure:
There are various approaches to organizing the body of a literature
review. You should have a rough idea of your strategy before you
start writing.
Depending on the length of your literature review, you can combine
several of these strategies (for example, your overall structure might
be thematic, but each theme is discussed chronologically).
Some of the known structure are based on:
 Chronological
 Thematic
 Methodological
 Theoretical

30. STEPS INVOLVED IN WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW?
Step 5: Write your literature review:
Like any other academic text, your literature review should have an
introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. What you include in
each depends on the objective of your literature review.
Introduction: The introduction should clearly establish the focus and
purpose of the literature review.
Body: Depending on the length of your literature review, you might
want to divide the body into subsections. You can use a subheading
for each theme, time period, or methodological approach.
Conclusion: In the conclusion, you should summarize the key
findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their
significance.

31. Statement of Problem:
 A research problem is an area of concern or a gap in the existing
knowledge that points to the need for further understanding and
investigation.
 A problem statement is used in research work as a claim that outlines
the problem addressed by a study.
 It briefly explains the problem that the research will address.
(E.g.) If the topic of your research is food safety in the school feeding
system, you need to first identify why food safety is lacking in schools.
Your problem statement can explain that food safety in school feeding
systems is an important concern and point towards a gap in research that
shows that this problem has not been addressed.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

32. The certain things to be considered for statement of problem are –
 A statement of the problem is used in research work as a claim that
outlines the problem addressed by a study.
 A good research problem should address an existing gap in knowledge
in the field and lead to further research.
 To write a persuasive problem statement, you need to describe (a) the
ideal, (b) the reality and (c) the consequences.
It can be divided into two general categories:
(1) Basic research, which is inquiry aimed at increasing scientific
knowledge, and
(2) Applied research, which is effort aimed at using basic research for
solving problems or developing new processes, products, or techniques.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

33.  The first and most important step in any research is to identify and
delineate the research problem: that is, what the researcher wants to
solve and what questions he/she wishes to answer.
 A research problem may be defined as an area of concern, a gap in
the existing knowledge, or a deviation in the norm or standard that
points to the need for further understanding and investigation.
 A statement of the problem is used in research work as a claim that
outlines the problem addressed by a study.
 The statement of the problem briefly addresses the question: What is
the problem that the research will address?
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

34. Goals of a statement of the problem:
To transform a generalized problem (something that bothers you; a
perceived lack) into a targeted, well-defined problem; one that can be
resolved through focused research and careful decision-making.
Writing a statement of the problem should help you clearly identify
the purpose of the research project you will propose.
It also serve as the basis for the introductory section of your final
proposal, directing your reader’s attention quickly to the issues that
your proposed project will address and providing the reader with a
concise statement of the proposed project itself.
A statement of problem need not be long and elaborate: one page is
more than enough for a good statement of problem.

35. An effective problem statement is concise and concrete. It should:
 Put the problem in context (what do we already know?)
 Describe the precise issue that the research will address (what do we need to know?)
 Show the relevance of the problem (why do we need to know it?)
 Set the objectives of the research (what will you do to find out?)
Characteristics of a good research problem:
A good research problem should have the following characteristics:
 It should address a gap in knowledge.
 It should be significant enough to contribute to the existing body of research.
 It should lead to further research.
 The problem should render itself to investigation through collection of data.
 It should be of interest to the researcher and suit his/her skills, time, and resources.
 The approach towards solving the problem should be ethical.

36. Format for writing a statement of the problem:
A persuasive statement of problem is usually written in three parts:
Part A (The ideal):
Describes a desired goal or ideal situation; explains how things should be.
Part B (The reality):
Describes a condition that prevents the goal, state, or value in Part A from
being achieved or realized at this time; explains how the current situation
falls short of the goal or ideal.
Part C (The consequences):
Identifies the way you propose to improve the current situation and move it
closer to the goal or ideal.
 It explores options for a new funds disbursement system that would focus
on consistency. To do this, the researcher will carry out a full stakeholder
analysis and use it to propose appropriate policy interventions.

37. Sample for problem statement:
Sample 1:
The Ministry of Youth is dedicated to allocating enterprise development
funds to both the youth and women. These funds are made available in
order to start entrepreneurial ventures that create and expand
employment. (Provide relevant statistics and quote)
Sample 2:
One of the main focuses of the ministry is consistency. Unfortunately,
consistency in allocating funds to the next generation of recipients
requires prior knowledge of previous allocations and established
practices. The current continuous disbursement method does not allow
for adequate analysis of previous disbursements before a current
disbursement is done.

38. Objectives of the Study:
In general, research objectives describe what we expect to achieve by
a project.
It is usually expressed in lay terms and are directed as much to the
client as to the researcher.
It may be linked with a hypothesis or used as a statement of purpose
in a study that does not have a hypothesis.
Even if the nature of the research has not been clear to the layperson
from the hypotheses, s/he should be able to understand the research
from the objectives.
A statement of research objectives can serve to guide the activities of
research.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

39. Consider the following examples.
Objective 1: To describe what factors farmers take into account in making such
decisions as whether to adopt a new technology or what crops to grow.
Objective 2: To develop a budget for reducing pollution by a particular enterprise.
Objective 3: To describe the habitat of the giant panda in China.
In the above examples the intent of the research is largely descriptive.
 In the case of the first objective, the research will end the study by being able to
specify factors which emerged in household decisions.
 In the second, the result will be the specification of a pollution reduction budget.
 In the third, creating a picture of the habitat of the giant panda in China.
 These observations might prompt researchers to formulate hypotheses which
could be tested in another piece of research. So long as the aim of the research is
exploratory, (i.e.) to describe what is, rather than to test an explanation for what
is, a research objective will provide an adequate guide to the research.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

40. 40
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Definition:
“Research Question is the hypothesis of choice that best states the
objective of the research study.”
 A research process that answers this more specific question provides
necessary information to make decision.
 Research papers are source-based explanations of a topic, event, or
phenomenon.
 The two methodologies of research, known as Quantitative and
Qualitative research, explore topics with different objectives. The
methodology you choose will determine which types of questions you
ask before, during, and after the research process.

41. Quantitative Research Vs Qualitative Research:
Quantitative Research use empirical evidence to explain an occurrence,
quantitative research is the process. (E.g.) Research in scientific,
marketing, historical, and psychological studies.
Qualitative research indicates a question for your next research project,
consider what you want to know and exploring meaning and experience.
Quantitative Research Questions:
Using measurable data answers a new set of research questions.
These types of quantitative research questions prove or disprove a
researcher's hypothesis through descriptions, comparisons, and
relationships.
Quantitative research questions are beneficial when choosing a research
topic or when posing follow-up questions that gather more information.

42. Types of Quantitative Research Questions:
1. Descriptive Questions:
 Descriptive questions seek to explain when, where, why, or how
something occurred.
 They use data and statistics to describe an event or phenomenon.
(E.g.) Questions related to understanding the usage of a product like the
frequency, time of day, the purpose of use, etc.
Sample descriptive research question:
 What percentage of college students have felt depressed in the last
year?
Follow-Up Question:
 How often do students report their feelings of depression?

43. 2. Comparative Questions:
 Comparative questions are especially helpful when studying groups with dependent variables
and it's beneficial to compare one occurrence with another.
(E.g.) Questions related to comparing the frequency of use between two products, men versus
women’s preference for brands, etc.
Sample comparative questions: Which painkiller is more effective for headaches?
Follow-Up Question: Do Advil and Tylenol target pain in the same way?
3. Relationship-Based Questions:
 Questions related to know how one variable affects or influences another, use a relationship-
based question.
 It is common in quasi-experimental and experimental studies.
Sample relationship based questions:
 How does the number of drought days in a year affect a region's likelihood for wildfires?
Follow-Up Question: What conditions are needed for a wildfire to become uncontrollable?

44. Qualitative Research Questions:
 Qualitative research is more concerned with understanding an event or phenomenon, its
open-ended research questions focus more on a group's experience than on statistics or
numbers.
 Qualitative research is primarily used in social sciences and includes surveys, case studies,
focus groups, and ethnography studies.
Types of Quantitative Research Questions:
1. Exploratory Questions:
 Questions that are designed to understand more about a topic are exploratory questions.
 The objective of asking an exploratory question is to learn more about a topic without
attributing bias or preconceived notions to it.
(E.g.) Asking how a product is used or perceptions around a certain topic are two types of
exploratory questions.
Sample exploratory questions: What is the effect of personal technology on today's youth?
Survey Question: Do you feel that personal technology has positively or negatively affected you?

45. 2. Predictive Questions:
 Predictive questions related to the future outcome of an action.
 These types of questions use past information to predict reactions to hypothetical events.
(E.g.) Questions like, why a consumer behaves in a certain why or how they’d feel if a certain
situation were to take place.
Sample predictive questions: Would people in our town enjoy an ice-skating rink?
Survey Question: How often would you visit a local ice-skating rink?
3. Interpretive Questions:
 Interpretive research studies people in their natural settings.
 They interpret how a group makes sense of shared experiences and attributes meaning to
various phenomena.
Sample Interpretive questions: What is the historical significance of currency to the Lakota
Nation?
Survey Question: How do you attribute value to a good or service?