Defining the Research

Problem

Dr. Rohit H. Trivedi

Asst. Prof.
VMPIM
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Define the Research Problem and

Research Objectives
 Management Problem:
 Symptoms of failure to achieve an objective

are present. What should be done?

 Symptoms of the likelihood of achieving an

objective are present (opportunity

identification). What should be done?
 Research Objectives:
 Providing relevant, accurate, and unbiased

information that managers can use to solve

their management problems
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PROBLEMS:

A problem is and interrogative sentence

or statement that asks:
 What relation exists between two or
more variables? The answer is what is
being sought in the research.
 If the problem is a scientific one, it will
almost always contain two or more
variables.
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Management Decision Problem Vs.
Management Research Problem

Management Decision Problem Research Problem

Should a new product be
introduced?
Should the advertising
campaign be changed?
Should the price of the
brand be increased?
To determine consumer preferences
and purchase intentions for the
proposed new product.
To determine the effectiveness
of the current advertising
campaign.
To determine the price elasticity
of demand and the impact on sales
and profits of various levels
of price changes.
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 Management Dilemma
 The symptom of an actual problem

 Not difficult to identify a dilemma,

however choosing one to focus on

may be difficult
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Working with the Hierarchy

 Fine tune the research question
 Examine concepts and constructs
 Break research questions into specific
second-and-third-level questions
 Verify hypotheses with quality tests
 Determine what evidence answers the
various questions and hypothesis
 Set the scope of your study
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The Problem Definition Process

Tasks Involved

Discussion Interviews Secondary Qualitative

with with Data Research
Decision Maker(s) Experts Analysis

Environmental Context of the Problem

Step I: Problem Definition

Management Decision Problem

Management Research Problem

Step II: Approach to the Problem

Analytical Specification
Objective/ Model: Verbal, Research of
Theoretical Hypotheses
Graphical, Questions Information
Foundations
Mathematical Needed

Step III: Research Design

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Proper Definition of the Research Problem

Research Problem

Broad Statement

Specific Components
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The Role of Theory in Applied Research

Research Task Role of Theory

1. Conceptualizing Provides a conceptual foundation and understanding of the basic processes
and identifying underlying the problem situation. These processes will suggest key dependent
key variables and independent variables.
2. Operationalizing Theoretical constructs (variables) can suggest independent and dependent
key variables variables naturally occurring in the real world.
3. Selecting a Causal or associative relationships suggested by the theory may indicate whether
research design a causal or descriptive design should be adopted.
4. Selecting a The theoretical framework may be useful in defining the population and
sample suggesting variables for qualifying respondents, imposing quotas, or stratifying
the population (see Chap. 11).
5. Analyzing and The theoretical framework (and the models, research questions and hypotheses
interpreting data based on it) guide the selection of a data analysis strategy and the interpretation
of results (see Chap. 14).
6. Integrating The findings obtained in the research project can be interpreted in the light of
findings previous research and integrated with the existing body of knowledge.
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Models
An analytical model is a set of
variables and their interrelationships
designed to represent, in whole or in
part, some real system or process.

In verbal models, the variables and

their relationships are stated in prose
form. Such models may be mere
restatements of the main tenets of a
theory.
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Graphical Models
Graphical models are visual. They are used to isolate
variables and to suggest directions of relationships.
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Mathematical Models
Mathematical models explicitly specify the
relationships among variables, usually in
equation form.
n
y  a 0   a i xi
i 1

Where
y = degree of preference

a ,a
0 = model parameters to be estimated
i

statistically
 Development of Research
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Questions and Hypotheses

Fig. 2.4

Components of the
Marketing Research Problem
Objective/
Theoretical
Framework Research Questions
Analytical
Model
Hypotheses
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Research Questions and Hypotheses

 Research questions (RQs) are refined
statements of the specific components
of the problem.
 A hypothesis (H) is an unproven
statement or proposition about a factor
or phenomenon that is of interest to the
researcher. Often, a hypothesis is a
possible answer to the research
question.
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Thanks a lot……..