PROBLEM CONCEPTION AND FORMULATION

BY DR. ROBERT MUDIDA, LECTURER INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

PROBLEM CONCEPTION

THE RESEARCH PROCESS STARTS BY THE CONCEPTION OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM WHICH CAN BE INVESTIGATED THROUGH RESEARCH PROCEDURES. THIS IS OFTEN ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECTS OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS.

STEPS IN CONCEIVING OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM

IDENTIFY THE BROAD AREA THAT ONE IS INTERESTED IN. THIS SHOULD BE FIRSTLY RELATED TO THE AREA OF STRATEGIC OR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES WHICH ARE DISCIPLINES OF THE INSTITUTE. THESE INCLUDE THE AREAS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF AFRICAN STATES, INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PEACEKEEPING, THE LAW OF ARMED CONFLICT, POLITICAL ECONOMY, INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS. OUT OF THESE BROAD AREAS, SEVERAL OF WHICH MAY HAVE POTENTIAL, THE RESEARCHER SHOULD NARROW DOWN TO A SPECIFIC PROBLEM.

FINDING AN IMPORTANT RESEARCH PROBLEM

i)

ii)
iii)

For a research problem to be important it should be: Lead to possible findings that have widespread implications in a particular area. It should challenge some commonly held beliefs in that field. It should cover a reasonable scope: This implies it should not be too narrow or too general.

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM THE TIME AVAILABLE TO CARRY IT OUT. IN THE

CASE OF RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT UNDER THE INSTITUTE THESE ARE CARRIED OUT BETWEEN JANUARY AND AUGUST OF EACH YEAR. THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES: IF FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE LIMITED, STUDIES THAT REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL FIELDWORK SHOULD BE LIMITED. RESEARCHERS SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE TOPIC CHOSEN MATCHES THE SKILLS THEY POSSESS OR WILL HAVE TIME TO DEVELOP DURING THE COURSE OF THEIR STUDY. THE ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND INORMATION SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED.

WAYS OF NARROWING TO A SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROBLEM

EXISTING THEORIES: THESE USUALLY CONTAIN GENERALISATIONS AND HYPOTHESISED PRINCIPLES WHICH CAN BE TESTED. THESE TESTS ARE CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE RESEARCH PROCESS. EXISTING LITERATURE: A SYSTEMATIC READING OF LITERATURE IN THE AREA OF GENERAL INTEREST IS A GOOD WAY TO PROVIDE A BACKGROUND AND INSIGHT INTO VARIOUS ISSUES THAT COULD BE STUDIED. IT IS POSSIBLE TO EXAMINE TWO TYPES OF LITERATURETHE CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE CONCERNING THE CONCEPTS AND THEORIES AND THE EMPIRICAL LITERATURE CONSISTING OF STUDIES MADE EARLIER WHICH ARE SIMILAR TO THE ONE PROPOSED. THIS IS ALSO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ENABLES THE RESEARCHER TO FRAME THE PROBLEM IN A MEANINGFUL CONTEXT. IT MAY BE USEFUL HERE TO ALSO LOOK AT CONFERENCES PROCEEDINGS AND REPORTS GENERALLY. MANY ARE AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET WHICH IS SOMETIMES A USEFUL WAY TO GET A BROAD IDEA OF PUBLISHED WORKS IN A GIVEN AREA.

WAYS OF NARROWING TO A SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROBLEM

DISCUSSIONS IN EXPERTS IN THE AREA: THESE CAN ARISE FROM CLASS OR SEMINAR DISCUSSIONS OR THE RESEARCHER MAKING TIME TO TALK TO EXPERIENCED AND WELLINFOMED INDIVIDUALS IN SPECIFIC FIELDS. THE EXPERTS WILL OFTEN PUT THE PROBLEM IN GENERAL TERMS AND THEN IT IS UP TO THE RESEARCHER TO PUT IT IN MORE SPECIFIC TERMS. THE RESEARCHER CAN ALSO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH POTENTIAL USERS OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS. LOOK AT PREVIOUS RESEARCH STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT ESPECIALLY PAST THESES AND DISSERTATIONS. THIS PROVIDES ONE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING TO THE KNOWLEDGE BUILT UP BY OTHER RESEARCHERS.

WAYS OF NARROWING TO A SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROBLEM

THE MEDIA: ISSUES RELATED TO STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES ARE FREQUENTLY REPORTED IN THE MEDIA. SINCE THESE ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED IN THE PUBLIC FOR A THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE. PERSONAL EXPERIENCES: MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD USEFUL FIRST-HAND OBSERVATIONS AND HAVE REFLECTED ON EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE FOUND INTRIGUING.

FORMULATING AND STATING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

i) ii)

iii)
iv) v) vi)

The statement of the problem presupposes that the researcher has already briefly introduced the general area of study. A good problem statement should have the following characteristics: It should be written clearly and in such a way that the readers interest is captured immediately. The specific issues identified in the problem statement should be objectively researchable. The scope of the specific research problem should be indicated. The importance of the study in adding to new knowledge is expressed clearly. There is a clear correlation with the title of the research. Indeed variables, case study and time frame used in the study should be clearly explained. The researcher should clearly state what he/she wants to investigate in the variables under study. This entails that the researcher understands the problem thoroughly including how the problem originally came about.

FORMULATING AND STATING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

vii) The researcher should delve directly into the research problem since the background will have already been provided. viii) Formulation of the research problem is sometimes a gradual process and the researcher may begin by stating the problem in a general way and then the ambiguities, if any, can be gradually resolved. ix) The statement of the problem should be concise. Ideally it should not be more than one page in length. x) It is sometimes useful to conclude the statement of the problem in question form to capture the essence of the problem, for example, Why do many internal conflicts have trans-boundary effects?

FORMULATING AND STATING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

xi)The researcher should ensure that the research problem is also in line with the objectives, justification and hypotheses of the study. xii)The sources of data must also be considered by the researcher in defining the problem. xiii)The scope of investigation or the limits within which the problem is to be studied must be mentioned explicitly in the research problem.

THE END
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