Sub Direktorat Kualifikasi Pendidik

Direktorat Kualifikasi Sumber Daya Manusia

Direktorat Jenderal Sumber Daya Iptek dan Dikti
Kementerian Riset, Teknologi, dan Pendidikan Tinggi
Gedung D Lantai 4, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman Pintu Satu,Senayan, Jakarta Pusat 10270

PROBLEM FORMULATION
PELATIHAN PROGRAM TALENT SCOUTING 2019
BEASISWA LUAR NEGERI

TIM Talent Scouting

Email: bpps@ristekdikti.go.id | blndikti@ristekdikti.go.id URL: http://beasiswa.ristekdikti.go.id
 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Problem Formulation
“ The mere formulation of a problem is far more essential than its solution,
which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill. To raise
new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle
requires creative imagination and marks real advances in science.”

- Albert Einstein -
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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Stages in Research Process

Research Design
Formulation

Problem Formulation Data Gathering

Report Writing Data Processing

Data Analysis
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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Problem Formulation vs Research Problem

Problem Formulation:
• Is the formulation of an existing issue which needs to be
addressed;
• It provides the context for conducting the research.

Research Problem:
• Is an investigation on the discrepancy between what is
and what ought to be;
• Is an investigation on the gap in knowledge that needs to
be filled.
Adapted from: Henry M. Bwisa (2008)
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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Where To Find a Problem

Source of Problems can be found from 4P:
§ People à individuals, organizations, groups, or communities
§ Problems à issues, situations, needs, associations, profiles
§ Phenomena à cause and effect, relationships, phenomenon
§ Programs à content, structure, outcomes, attributes,
satisfaction, consumers

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

What is a GOOD Problem Formulation?

§ It should be interesting.
§ It is researchable and manageable.
§ It must be well formulated and precise.
§ It should state the problem requirements and objectives.
§ It should be ethical.
§ It can be completed within the allotted time frame.

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

The Setting TOPIC Issue

1 2 3 Problems

Research
1 2 3 4
Questions

1 2 3
Conceptual
Model

Mathematical Model

Adapted from: Dreamteam Computational Model

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Example: Qualitative Problem Formulation

§ The higher education quality in Indonesia is inferior to that in
Malaysia (GENERAL PROBLEM).
§ The low quality of higher education in Indonesia is due to the
quality of its lecturers, where about 41 thousand out of 220
thousand only have Bachelor Degree (S1) (SPECIFIC PROBLEM
WITH NUMBERS and supported with citation).
§ This qualitative case study (DESCRIPTION OF TYPE OF STUDY)
will explore perceptions of Indonesian lecturers (POPULATION
BEING STUDIED) about strategies of RISTEKDIKTI implemented
to improve quality of Indonesian lecturers.

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Step 1: Choosing the topic

§ Your own interest
§ Brainstorming
§ Be creative, open minded to new ideas
§ Quantity

Adapted from: Dreamteam

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Step 2: Narrowing Down

§ Be critical
§ Information does exist and accessible
§ Choose a subject
§ Think 4W & 1H of the problem
§ Dissect area into sub areas

Adapted from: Dreamteam

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

The 4W & 1H
§ What à Descriptive
§ Why à Explanatory
§ Where à Spatial
§ When à Temporal
§ How à Normative

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Example-1
§ Too general:
§ What is the effect of global warming on the environment?

§ Narrowing down:
§ How does glacial melting affect polar bears in the Arctic?
§ Cause specific: glacial melting
§ Place specific: the Arctic
§ Group specific: polar bears

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Example-2
§ Not clear:
§ Why are social-networking sites harmful?

§ Clearer:
§ How do online users addressing/experiencing privacy issues
on social networking sites, such as Tweeter, Facebook, or
Instagram?
§ Which social-networking site: Tweeter, Facebook, or Instagram
§ Type of harm: privacy issues
§ Who gets harm: online users

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Step 3: Write the Problem Formulation

§ Formulate the issue currently exists which needs to be addressed
§ What is the research questions & its sub-questions
§ Write in an understandable language
§ Clear and succinct
§ Can the question(s) be answered ??

Adapted from: Dreamteam

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Step 4: Double Check & Re-check

§ Check every thing (main question, sub-questions)
§ Ask oneself: are you satisfied with your problem formulation??
§ Justify why you choose exactly to problem formulation, and not the
other formulation??
§ Usually, you need to revise your problem formulation several times
to make it more precise and describe the problem more correctly
(until you are satisfied)

Adapted from: Dreamteam

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Bagian yang Tersulit

The most challenging part of the problem formulation is
to IDENTIFY and to SPECIFY the entire real problem

(Osman Balci)

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

3 KEMUNGKINAN Dalam Identifikasi & Spesifikasi

Problem Formulation
Real Real Real
Problem
Problem Problem Problem
Formulated

Problem
Formulated
Problem
Formulated

SKENARIO 1: SKENARIO 2: SKENARIO 3:

Tidak bertumpuk Bertumpuk Sebagian Bertumpuk 100%
Paling Jelek Lumayan Ideal
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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

Mengapa SKENARIO 1 dan 2 Bisa Terjadi?

1. Masalah yang diteliti (real problem) tidak teridentifikasi secara komprehensip;
2. Pemangku kepentingan (stake holders) tidak teridentifikasi dengan baik: Pemangku
kepentingan yang aktif (pengguna, administrator, dll) maupun yang pasif (penentu
kebijakan, pengembang, dll);
3. Keterbatasan (constraints) yang tidak disertakan, tidak tepat, tidak relevan, atau yang
menyebabkan formulasi masalah (problem formulation) tidak dapat dipecahkan;
4. Tujuan dari formulasi masalah yang saling bertentangan, tidak konsisten, tidak
realistik, tidak tepat;
5. Data dan informasi yang meragukan keabsahannya, kadaluwarsa, atau tidak akurat;
6. Asumsi yang digunakan tidak tepat, tidak logis, atau tidak diformulasikan dengan baik.

23/08/2019 Sumber: Osman Balci

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 Direktorat Kualifikasi SDM, Direktorat Jenderal Sumberdaya Iptek dan Dikti

References
§ Balci, O., 2013. Problem Formulation. Introduction to Modelling and Simulation. Virginia Tech. USA.
§ Bwisa, H.M., 2008. How to write a statement problem. Jomo Kenyatta Uni of Agric & Tech.
www.professorbwisa.com
§ Cruz, G.A., 2016(?). Research Problem Formulation. College of Social Sciences, U.P. Baguio
§ Dreamteam, 2010. Problem formulation – Slide Share.
http://www.slideshare.net/natashabonu/problem-formulation-5191437
§ Ingemansen, J., 2007. Problem Formulation. What is a problem formulation in a report. Køge
Business College. https://www.slideshare.net/nomanson/problem-formulation
§ Kheng, L.W., (?) Problem Formulation. CS6240 Multimedia Analysis. NUS Computing.
www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~cs6240/lecture/problem.pdf
§ Kumar, V.S., 2015. Sources of Problems & Criteria of Selections.

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 Thank you

Let’s
formulate
your
problem!
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