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Research
hMMethodology
th d l

and Architectural Programming

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Course Review
Course Review
Course Review
Session II

SELECTION, ANALYSIS & STATEMENT

OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
 Objectives
1 Identify criteria for selecting problems to
1.
be given priority in research.
2 Use a group consensus technique to set
2.
priorities for research, applying the
selected criteria on a number of research
topics.
3. Analyze
y a selected p problem and the
factors influencing it.
4. Prepare
p the statement of the pproblem.
IDENTIFYING AND PRIORITIZING
PROBLEMS FOR RESEARCH
 Identification of Topic
Whether a problem situation requires research depends on three
conditions:

1
1. There should be a perceived difference or
discrepancy between what exists and the ideal or
planned situation;
2. The reason(s) for this difference should be unclear
l (so
that it makes sense to develop research questions); and
3
3. There should be more than one possible answer to a
question or more than one solution to the problem.
Criteria for Prioritizing Problems for Research
• Relevance
R l
• Avoidance of duplication
• U
Urgency off d
data
t needed
d d (ti
(timeliness)
li )
• Political acceptability of study
• F
Feasibility
ibilit off study
t d
• Applicability of results
• Ethical acceptability
 Relevance
The topic you choose should be a priority problem
problem. Questions to be
asked include:
• How
o large
a ge oor widespread
desp ead is
s the
epproblem?
ob e
• Who is affected?
• How severe is the problem?

If you do not consider a topic relevant, it is not worthwhile to

continue rating it. In that case you should drop it from your list.
 Avoidance of Duplication
Before you decide to carry out a study
study, it is important that you find
out whether the suggested topic has been investigated
before, either within the proposed study area or in another area
with similar conditions.

consider carefully whether you can find answers to the problem in

already available, unpublished information or just by using your
common sense. If so, you should drop the topic from your list.
 Urgency of Data Needed (Timeliness)
How urgently tl are the results needed for making a decision or
developing interventions at various levels (from community to
p
policy)?
y)
Consider which research should be done first and which can be
done later.
 Political Acceptability
In general it is advisable to research a topic that has the interest
i t t
and support of the local/national authorities.
This will increase the chance that the results of the studyy will be
implemented.
 Feasibility
Look at the project you are proposing and consider the
complexity of the problem and the resources you will
require
q carrying
y g out yyour study.
y
Thought should be given first to manpower, time, equipment and
money that are locally available.
Applicability of Possible Results/Recommendations
Is it likely that the recommendations from the study will be applied?

This will depend

p not onlyy on the management
g capability
p y within
the team and the blessing of the authorities but also on the
availability of resources for implementing the recommendations.

Likewise, the opinion of the potential clients and of responsible staff

will influence the implementation of recommendations.
 Ethical Acceptability
We should always consider the possibility that we may inflict harm on others while
carrying out research. Therefore, review the study you are proposing and consider
important ethical issues such as:

1. How acceptable is the research to those who will be studied?

(Cultural sensitivity must be given careful consideration).
2 Can informed consent be obtained from the research subjects?
2.
3. Will the condition of the subjects be taken into account? For
example, if individuals are identified during the study who require certain services,
will these be given? What if this interferes with your study results?

4. Will the results be shared with those who are being studied?
Will the results be helpful in improving the lives of those
studied?
Topic
1. Rele
evance

2. Avoiidance off
Duplication

ency
3. Urge

4. Polittical
Accepttance

5. Feas
sibility

6. appllicability

7. Ethic
cal
Accepttability

Total N
Number off
points
Criteria for Prioritizing Problems for Research
Relevance
1. = Not relevant
2. = Relevant
3 = Very relevant
3.
Avoidance of duplication
1. = Sufficient information already available
2 = Some information available but major issues not covered
2.
3. = No sound information available on which to base problem-solving
Urgency
1 = Information not urgently needed
1.
2. = Information could be used right away but a delay of some months
would be acceptable
3 = Data very urgently needed for decision-making
3. decision making
Criteria for Prioritizing Problems for Research
Political acceptability
1. = Topic not acceptable to high level policymakers
2. = Topic more or less acceptable
3. = Topic fully acceptable
Feasibility
1 = Study
1. St d nott feasible,
f ibl considering
id i available
il bl resources
2. = Study feasible, considering available resources
3. = Studyy very
y feasible,, considering
g available resources
Criteria for Prioritizing Problems for Research
Applicability
1. = No chance of recommendations being implemented
2. = Some chance of recommendations being implemented
3. = Good chance of recommendations being implemented
Ethical acceptability
1 = Major
1. M j ethical
thi l problems
bl
2. = Minor ethical problems
3. = No ethical problems
p
 F.o.E.
Students
Students’

new campus
Changing the
acceptance of
teaching system

façade color of the

Accessibility of the
Topic
1. Rele
evance

Rating scale: 1=low; 2=medium; 3=high

2. Avoiidance off
Duplication

ency
3. Urge

4. Polittical
Accepttance

5. Feas
sibility

6. appllicability

7. Ethic
cal
Accepttability

Total N
Number off
points
ANALYSIS AND STATEMENT OF
THE PROBLEM
 Steps in Analyzing a Problem
Step 1: Clarify the viewpoints of managers,
managers workers and researchers in relation to
the problem.
• Areas of concern are often expressed in broad or
ague terms
vague e s by managers.
a age s
• During initial discussions with managers and workers
who are involved in the problem area, clarify the issues
b lilisting
by ti allll th
the problems
bl iin th
the area off concern, as
they perceive them.
• Remember that a problem exists when there is a
discrepancy between ‘what is’ and ‘what should be’.
Therefore, the perceived problems should be worded in
such a way as to illustrate this discrepancy
discrepancy.
 Steps in Analyzing a Problem
Step 2: Further specify and describe the core problem
problem.
• The nature of the problem; the discrepancy between
‘what
a is’
s aand
d what
a you pprefer
e e the
e ssituation
ua o too be
be.
• The distribution of the problem - who is affected,
when, and where and
• The size and intensity of the problem - is it
widespread how severe is itit, what are its
widespread,
consequences?
 Steps in Analyzing a Problem
Step 3: Analyze the problem
problem.
After identifying the core problem you should:
• Identify factors that may have contributed to the
problem.
• Clarify the relationship between the problem and
contributing factors.
 Steps in Analyzing a Problem
St 3:
Step 3 Analyze
A l th bl .
the problem
• Step 3.1: Write down the core problem(s) as defined in
Step 2 in the centre of a blackboard or flipchart.
flipchart
• Step 3.2: Brainstorm on possible causes or factors
contributing to the problem.
problem
• Step 3.3: Identify further contributing factors.
• Step 3.4 Attempt to organize related factors together
into larger categories, and develop your final draft of
the diagram.
diagram
 Steps in Analyzing a Problem
St 3:
Step 3 Analyze
A l th bl .
the problem
• Step 3.1: Write down the core problem(s) as defined in
Step 2 in the centre of a blackboard or flipchart.
flipchart
• Step 3.2: Brainstorm on possible causes or factors
contributing to the problem.
problem
• Step 3.3: Identify further contributing factors.
• Step 3.4 Attempt to organize related factors together
into larger categories, and develop your final draft of
the diagram.
diagram
Steps in Analyzing a Problem
Deciding on the Focus and Scope of the Research
Several issues are particularly important to consider
consider, including:

1. Usefulness of the information. Would the information that

will be collected on this problem help solve the problem? Who
wouldld use the
th findings
fi di related
l t d tto th
the ffactors
t iin th
the di
diagram
that would be studied? How would the findings be used?
2. Feasibility.
y Is it feasible to analyze
y all the factors related to
the problem in the time frame available for research?
3. Duplication. Is some of the information related to factors in
the diagram already available? What aspects of the problem
need further research?
Formulating the Problem Statement
The first major
j section in a research p
proposal
p is the ‘statement of the p
problem’.

Why is it important to state and define the problem well?

Because yyou will find that a clear statement of the p
problem:
• Is the foundation for the further development of the research proposal
(research objectives, methodology, work plan, budget, etc.).
• Makes it easier to find information and reports
p of similar studies from
which your own study design can benefit.
• Enables you to systematically point out why the proposed research on
the problem should be undertaken and what you hope to achieve with
the study results
results.

This is important to highlight when you present your project to community members,
g
relevant ministries and donor agencies who need to support
pp yyour studyy or g
give their
consent.
Formulating the Problem Statement
What information should be included in the statement
of the problem?
• A brief description of socio-economic and cultural
characteristics.
h t i ti IInclude
l d a ffew ill
illustrative
t ti statistics,
t ti ti if
available, to help describe the context in which the
problem occurs.
• A concise description of the nature of the problem (the
discrepancy between what is and what should be) and of
the size, distribution and severity of the problem (who is
affected, where, since when, and what are the
consequences for those affected and for the services). For
a descriptive or evaluation study you will elaborate the
diff
different
t components t off the
th problem.
bl
Formulating the Problem Statement
• An analysis of the major factors that may influence the
problem and a discussion of why certain factors need
more investigation if the problem is to be fully understood.
• A brief
bi fddescription
i ti off any solutions
l ti tto th
the problem
bl th
thatt
have been tried in the past, how well they have worked,
and why further research is needed (justification
justification for your
study).
study)
• A description of the type of information expected to result
from the project and how this information will be used to
help solve the problem.
• If necessary, a short list of definitions of crucial concepts
used in the statement of the problem
problem.
Session II

SELECTION, ANALYSIS & STATEMENT

OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Thank You …