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BBA 206
Formulating Research
Problem

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 FINDING AND DEFINING A RESEARCH
PROBLEM

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 you need to start by identifying a question that
demands an answer, or

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 A need that requires a resolution, or a riddle that
seeks a solution, which can be developed into a
research problem: the heart of the research
project

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 DEFINING RESEARCH PROBLEM

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The first and foremost step in research process

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 Selection of the problem

 Defining the problem

 Formulating the problem

Researcher must know: What a problem is?

It is like the identification of a destination before

undertaking a journey.

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 WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM?

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 A research problem is one which requires a
researcher to find out the best solutions for the given

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problem, i,e., to find out by which course of action the
objectives can be attained optimally in the context of
a given environment. There are several factors which
may result in making the problem complicated. For
instance, the environment.
 Research problem is like the foundation of a building

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 SELECTING THE PROBLEM

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Important considerations

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1. Subject must not have been overdone
(it will be a difficult task to throw any new light in
such a case.)
2. Subject must not be Controversial.

3. Problem should not be too narrow or too vague.

4. The subject should be familiar and feasible

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 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

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 The importance of the subject,

 The qualifications and the training of a researcher,

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 The costs involved,

 The time factor

The selection of a problem must be preceded by a

preliminary study.

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 IDENTIFYING A RESEARCH TOPIC AND
PROBLEM

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Theory Technologi
Daily Life Recent Unexplor
Of One’s cal
Problems Changes Trends ed Areas
Interest

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 Sources of research problems

This is the most crucial step, Confusion is often but

it is a step towards clarity. Most research in the

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humanities revolves around four “P’s”

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 Interest: select a topic that really interest you

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 Magnitude: researcher should have sufficient knowledge about
the research process to be able to visualise the work involved in
completing the proposed the study.

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 Measurement of concepts: make sure you are clear about its
indicators and their measurement.

 Level of expertise: make sure you have an adequate level of

expertise for the task you are proposing.
 Relevance : select a topic that is of relevance to you as a
professional.
 Availability of data : before finalizing your topic make sure your
secondary data are available.
Ethical issues: how the ethical issues can affect the study 9

population and how ethical problems can be overcome should be
thoroughly examined at the problem formulation stage.
 In choosing a research problem, the two crucial determinants to

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keep in mind are:
 Your interest in the subject area; and
 Manageability of the study within you own constraints

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 Steps
Identify broad area of interest in your academic/professional field
Dissect the broad area into sub-areas
Select a sub-area or areas in which you would like to
conduct your research
Raise research questions that you would like to answer
through your study
Formulate objectives
Assess
Double check
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FORMULATION OF OBJECTIVES

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 PROBLEM TREE – KEEP ASKING WHY?

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Unskilled Labor Inefficient Irrigation
Low Labor
Productivity

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Unsuitable Climate Inefficient Water harvesting

Water Scarcity Lack of crop varieties

Study on adapted to climate
Ensuring
Food Safety Unsuitable Crops Farming Patterns do not
and Return nutrients
Security

Low Land Farmers can’t afford

Productivity fertilizers

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Poor Soil Farmers unaware of
best practices
EXAMPLE

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 To find out the number of children living below
the poverty line in Sri Lanka
 To ascertain the impact of immigration on family

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roles among immigrants
 To measure the effectiveness of a retraining
program designed to help young people

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 DEFINING AND FORMULATION OF PROBLEM
“Defining the Problem is more important than its
solution !”

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Research Question:
Is Television more effective in increasing the
performance level of students?

Specify Variable!
Performance and Effectiveness

Research Study:
To study the effectiveness of Television on the
performance of school students aged 9-19 of XYZ
school
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 STEPS INVOLVED IN RESEARCH
PROCESS

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1 • Selection of a Research Topic

2 • Definition of a Research Problem

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3 • Literature survey and Reference collection

4 • Assessment of current status of the topic chosen

5 • Formulation of hypothesis

6 • Research Design

7 • Actual investigation- Collect Data

8 • Data Analysis- Test Hypothesis

9 • Interpretation of Result

10 • Report Making
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WHAT IS A VARIABLE

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 Is a symbolic representation used to denote a quantity
or expression.

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 A characteristic, number, or quantity that increases or
decreases over time, or takes different values in
different situations.
 An image, perception or concept that is capable of
measurement –hence capable of taking on different
values-is called variable.
Two basic types are:
(1) Independent variable and
(2) Dependent variable 17
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

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 That can take different values and can cause
corresponding changes in other variables

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 The variable that is manipulated either by the
researcher or by nature or circumstance
 Independent variables are also called “stimulus”
“input” or “predictor” variables
 Analogous to the “cause” in a cause-effect
relationship

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DEPENDENT VARIABLE

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 That can take different values only in response to
an independent variable.

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Examples
 Does a participative leadership style influence job
satisfaction of the employees?

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 Categories and Variables

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Variables: Gender Age Do you like
ice cream?

Categories: Male Female 18-25 26-33 34- yes no

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 EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES
They are not related to the purpose of the study but

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may effect on the dependent variables are termed as
the extraneous variables

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Example:
Suppose a researcher want to test the hypothesis that
there is a relationship between children gains in
business studies achievement and their self concept.

In this case self-concept is Independent variable and

Business studies achievement is Dependent variable.
Intelligence level of student may affect the
achievement.
But it is not related to the study undertaken by the
researcher so it is a Extraneous variable 21
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CONCEPT AND A
VARIABLE

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 Concepts are mental images or perceptions &
therefore their meaning vary marketable from
individual to individual, whereas

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 Variables are measurable, of course with varying
degree of accuracy.
 Thus measurability is the main difference
between the concept and variable.
 It is therefore important for concepts to be
converted to variable.

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CONCEPT AND VARIABLE

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Concept Variable
Subjective impression Measurable through the degree of
No uniformity as to its understanding precision varies from scale to scale

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among different people as such cannot and
be measured. variable to variable
Effectiveness Gender (male/female)
Satisfaction Age (years, months)
Impact Income (Rs. Per year, month)
Excellent Height
Rich Religion (Buddhist, Hindu,
Islam etc)
Domestic violence

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 Concepts Indicators Variables
Rich a. Income Income per year a. Rs. 100,000>

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b. Assets Total value of assets b. Rs. 250,0000>
(movable and
immovable)
High academic a. Average marks Percentage of marks If >75%

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achievement obtained in Percentage of marks If >75
examinations Percentage of marks If >80
b. Average marks
obtained in practical
work
c. Aggregate marks
Effectiveness (of a health a. Number of patients % of patients serviced in Whether the difference
program) b. Changes in a year/month in before and after levels
morbidity Changes in morbidity is statistically significant
c. Changes in rate Or
mortality Changes in morbidity Point prevalence
d. Changes in typology increase or decrease in
nutritional status each variable as decided
by the researcher or 24
other experts