Unit 1CHAPTER-2

FORMULATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND STEPS OF RESEARCH

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Formulation of Research Problem
2.3 Components of Research problem
2.4 Factors of problem identification
2.5 Nature of the problem
2.6 Sources of identifying research problem
2.7 Process of formulation of research problem
2.8 Criteria for a good research problems
2.9 Problem of research in India
2.10 Linking research to practice
2.11 Steps of research
2.12 Research ethics
2.13 Performance monitoring in research
2.14 Conclusion
2.1 INTRODUCTION
One of the important concepts and the back bone of research analysis is that of ‘identifying
research problem(s)’. This is the real difficulty that commonly creates puzzle in the minds of
researchers at the initial stage of research work. It is rather researcher’s perception or recognition
of a difficulty that motivates him/her for planning a research. All the imagination that rules in the
mind of a researcher while recognizing about a research, difficulty may not be necessarily a best
fit and accurate problem, for which, the process and task of identification of a good research
problem is considered as a ‘discovery in itself’.
2.2 FORMULATION OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
However, in a general meaning, a research problem may be stated as some difficulty which an
individual (may be a manager) or organization(s) or society faces and the solution on the existing
difficulty is sought.
2.3 COMPONENTS OF RESEARCH PROBLEM:

The components of identifying a research problem imply that of analyzing some basic necessities
which are required in the process of identifying a research problem. In this process, a research
goal should satisfy five basic requirements as outlined below:
a.Existence of Both Researcher(s) and Respondent(s)
b. Both Must Have Some Objectives
c.Both Must Have Some Doubt While Selecting Alternatives
d. There Must be an Environment

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2.4 FACTORS OF PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION:
a. What One Wants to Know?
b. Why One Wants to Have the Particular Question Answered?
c. Analyzing the Questions Formulated:
2.5. NATURE OF THE PROBLEM:
One of the important concerns before finalizing the problem in research is that of thoroughly
scanning the nature of the identified problem(s) by the researcher.
2.6. SOURCES OF IDENTIFYING RESEARCH PROBLEM(S):
Where is the problems lie? or what will be the sources of research problem? This is the
question that generally puzzles the minds of researchers at the beginning stage of the research.
Most of the researchers are always in search of research problems. The task of problem selection
is always confusing. One can explore a research problem basically from three important sources.
They are
2.6.1 Researcher’s Own Interest
2.6.2 Contemporary Interests of the Researcher
2.6.3 Identifying Unexplored Areas
2.7. PROCESS FOR FORMATION OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM:
There are number of processes of identification of research problem. They are as follows:
1. Systematic Inquiry Through Pilot Survey:
2. Survey of Existing Literature:
3. Group Discussions:
2.8. CRITERIA OF A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM:
Before finalization of the research problem, the researcher should aware of several conditions
and considerations although there is no hard and first rule that all the research problem should
follow all the criteria, still few criteria in the form of conditions might be listed for guidance in
the selection of a topic.
LINKING RESEARCH TO PRACTICE:
Drawing a Enunciate Plan:
While drawing an enunciation plan, researchers should consider at least the following seven
major elements:
a. Impact and Outcomes: What is the desired impact of enunciation? What outcomes does the
enunciation plan aim to accomplish? In what ways the users are benefited?

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b. Users: Which users are most affected by the research? Which would be most interested in
learning of the research findings? What are their scope and characteristics?
c. Information Content: Does the information content match the users’ expressed informational
needs? Does the comprehension level require to understand the information content that match
the characteristics of the users? Is the information content reviewed through a quality control
mechanism to ensure accuracy and relevance?
d. Medium: What is the most effective enunciation method to reach each user group? What
resources does each group typically access? What capabilities does each group have?
e. Execution: When should each aspect of the enunciation plan occur? Who should be
responsible for enunciation activities?
f. Obstacles: What potential obstacles may interfere with access to or utilization of the research
findings by each user group? What actions could be developed to overcome these obstacles?
g. Accomplishment: How will accomplishment be described and measured? If data is to be
gathered, who will gather it?
Characteristics of an Effective Enunciation Plan:
a. The plan orientates itself to the needs of the users. It relies on appropriate form, language,
and information content levels.
b. The plan draws on existing resources, relationships, and networks to the maximum extent
possible. It also builds the new resources, relationships, and networks needed by users.
c. The plan includes effective quality control mechanisms to ensure that the information
content is accurate, relevant, and representative.
2.11 STEPS OF RESEARCH PROCESS:
This may act as a guideline for further proceeding in the research work (see, Flow diagram-2.2
derived below). Following are some important steps of research process:
1. Identification of the research problem.
2. Scan the existing environment
3. Fix the objectives/alternatives of study
4. Scan the existing literature
5. Formulate the hypothesis
6. Develop the research plan
7. Planning of sampling design

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 8. Collect the required information
9. Tabulation and execution of data
10. Testing the hypothesis
11. Finding the relevance
12. Preparation of the report or if necessary, calling public opinion and
13. Presentation of the results and findings
2.12 RESEARCH ETHICS:
Research ethics refers to a complex set of values, standards and institutional schemes that help to
constitute and regulate scientific activity. Ultimately, research ethics is a codification of ethics of
scientific research.
2.13 PERFORMANCE MONITORING IN RESEARCH:
Research is a universal practice. Human being in all communities have always made inquiries
about how to solve problems that confront their existence, mobilizing material and nonmaterial
resources and techniques to generate required knowledge.
Bibliographies versus Citation Index:
Bibliographies in the research work are usually consisting of lists of publications used in the
study as well as it also provide some information about the authors. Bibliographies play very
crucial role in all research activity by informing about the research results of their colleagues.
However, assessment of the preference of a research work with the help of bibliographies cannot
be treated as a standard measure of preference appraisal of a research work.
Citation Indexes- purposes and exploitation:
Scientific databases are constructed for three major purposes:
• To provide information on research already performed in order to support ongoing
research, because researchers often want to build on what has been done
• To provide information to the scientific community for the management of science.
• To provide information on the evolution of scientific knowledge
In addition to the above, a citation index specifically enables us to;
 Monitor the use and users, sources and characteristics of scientific publications,
 Establish the visibility and productivity of researchers, disciplines, institutions and
countries,
 Know the core competencies and paradigmatic shifts in knowledge,

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  Understand the pattern of knowledge exchange and balance of intellectual influence
among scholars locally and internationally,
 Mapping of science, fields and areas to provide information about relevance and spread
of research endeavors
2.14 CONCLUSION:
A research problem defines the goal of the researcher in clear terms. It is obvious that without a
clear cut idea of the goal to be reached, research activities would only become a meaningless
exercise. A research like any other human activity is goal directed. If the goal itself is unknown
or ill-defined, the whole research operations will lead us nowhere.
SUMMARY
1. At the heart of every research course, there is the question of perspective. Different fields
of social science and business research makes different assumptions about reality and the
validity and accuracy of data or information.
2. The greatest challenge here is how one sees the world affects the kind of questions asked
and what can be accepted as explanations of the hundreds of questions about the society
and organizations that can be asked.
3. Each question must be broken down into several specifying questions related to the
particular aspects either from management field or from areas of social science, etc.
4. A researcher before going to research in any field of knowledge should go thoroughly
into the various steps/ process of research and has to design his research work. This may
act as a guideline in the research process.