EMM5100

Research Methodology

Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Faculty of Engineering
Problem Formulation

"Well begun is half done"

Aristotle, quoting an old proverb
 Where Do Research Topics Come From?

 Experiences of practical problems in the field

 Learn from those experiencing the issues in the field
 Literature in your specific field
 Request for proposals
 Think up the research topics of their own

Q: How about yours?

 S.M.A.R.T.
What is SMART?
Specific: What precisely do you hope to achieve from
undertaking the research?
Measurable: What measures will you use to determine whether you
have achieved your objectives?
Achievable: Are the targets you have set for yourself achievable
given all the possible constraints?
Realistic: Given all other demands upon your time, will you have
the time and energy to complete the research on time?
Timely: Will you have time to accomplish all your objectives?
 What is Problem Formulation?
 A problem formulation is/can be a question
or something you are wondering about.
 The problem should be something you can
solve/give answers to.
 A conclusion in a report is always the answer
to the problem formulation.
 Types of Problem Formulation
What – descriptive
is what you call a descriptive problem
formulation – it describes a problem!

Why – explanatory
is the explanatory problem formulation
– it explains a problem!

How – normative
is the normative problem formulation –
it tries to solve a problem!
 What is a Good Problem Formulation?

Interesting – keeps the researcher involved in it throughout the research

process.
Researchable – can be investigated through the collection and analysis
of data using case study or other techniques.

Understandable and logically build up – well formulated and has logical

structure with main question and following sub-questions.

Manageable – fits the level of researcher’s level of research skills,

needed resources and time restrictions.

Purposeful – establishes cooperation between researcher and business

which should lead to economical and practical development of both sides.
 What is a Good Problem Formulation?
(Contd.)

 Formulating a problem formulation is the first and most important step of a

research process.

 The problem formulation is like an identification of a destination before

undertaking a journey.

 The research problem serves as a foundation of a research study: like a

building and its foundation.

 If it well formulated, you can expect a good study to follow.

 Now you want to formulate
a research problem
(define areas, topics, problems/issues)

How to start ?????

 Before Formulating Problems
How much do you know about the areas/topics?

NOT MUCH 

Review literature to learn more

GOOD 
Can you describe the issues/problems
discussed to date?
 How to Set Up a Problem Formulation?

Step 1 : Choose an area/topic

 Your own interest is your most essential motivational factor.
 Brainstorm techniques.
 Be creative, be open to new ideas.

Step 2 : Narrowing down

 Be critical.
 Determine whether the information already exists.
 Think: what is the problem, why is it a problem, and who is it a
problem for?
 Divide the broad area into sub-areas.
 How to Set Up a Problem Formulation?
(Contd.)

Step 3 : Write the problem formulation

 Raise research questions + sub questions.
 Understanding language.
 Clearly delimited.
 Determine whether questions can be answered.

Step 4 : Double check

 Check everything (main questions, sub-questions).
 Ask yourself the question, if you are satisfied with your problem
formulation.
 Remember in any case to always justify why you choose
exactly the problem formulation you do, rather than other
possible problem formulations.
 Writing a 1st Draft and Creating an Introduction

Try to formulate an introduction in each part that states

a straightforward proposal / report / thesis.

The introduction:
 Establishes the focus of your subject.
 Attracts the attention of your readers.
 States the purpose of your proposal / report / thesis.
Do You Know When You See a Problem?
 Motivation
Writing a clear problem statement to define and guide an inquiry is a
problem.
The issue of how to write a problem statement becomes important.
Defining a research problem is the driving factor in any scientific
process, and is the foundation of any research method and
experimental design, from true experiment to case study.
Research Steps
 Problem Statement
Research
topic

Research
problem

From research topic to research problem

 Problem Statement
(Contd.)

RESEARCH TOPIC and Basic research

PROBLEM Applied research

Explore
Describe
Understand ‘What’ questions
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Predict ‘Why’ questions
and OBJECTIVES
Change ‘How’ questions
Evaluate
Assess impact

RESEARCH Inductive
STRATEGIES Deductive
 Problem Statement
(Contd.)

 Students experience some difficulty in narrowing

down their general interest.
 Often referred to as defining the research
problem and leads on to setting the research
question(s).
 The classic way is to consider the literature and
identify any gaps, as these indicate original area
to research.
 Many academic articles incorporate suggestions
for further research in their conclusions.
 Problem Statement
(Contd.)

A Problem Statement is a description of a difficulty or lack that needs to be

solved or at least researched to see whether a solution can be found.
It can also be described as either a gap between the real and the desired or a
contradiction between principle and practice.

Why the research problem is important:

It establishes the importance of the topic.
It creates reader interest.
It focuses the reader’s attention on how the study will add to the literature.

The ultimate goal of a problem statement is to transform a generalized problem

(something that bothers you; a perceived lack) into a targeted, well-defined
problem one that can be resolved through focused research and careful
decision-making.
 Problem Statement
(Contd.)

In developing a problem statement, consider the followings:

 Do I know the field and its literature well?

 What are the important research questions in my field?
 What areas need further exploration?
 Could my study fill a gap? Lead to greater understanding?
 Has a great deal of research already been conducted in this topic area?
 Has this study been done before? If so, is there room for improvement?
 Is the timing right for this question to be answered? Is it a hot topic, or is
it becoming obsolete?
 Will my study have a significant impact on the field?
 Problem Statement
(Contd.)

A persuasive (convincing) problem statement consists of three parts:

(1) the ideal
(2) the reality
(3) the consequences

Part A – the ideal: Describes a desired goal or ideal situation; explains

how things should be.
Part B – the reality: Describes a condition that prevents the goal,
state, or value in Part A from being achieved or realized at this time;
explains how the current situation falls short of the goal or ideal.
Part C – the consequences: Identifies the way you propose to
improve the current situation and move it closer to the goal or ideal.
 Problem Statement
(Contd.)

Part A – the ideal: Describes a desired goal or ideal situation; explains

how things should be.

According to the X university mission statement, the university

seeks to provide students with a safe, healthy learning
environment. Dormitories are one important aspect of that learning
environment, since 55% of X students live in campus dorms and
most of these students spend a significant amount of time working
in their dorm rooms.
 Problem Statement
(Contd.)

Part B – the reality: Describes a condition that prevents the goal,

state, or value in Part A from being achieved or realized at this time;
explains how the current situation falls short of the goal or ideal.

Students living in dorms A B C, and D currently do not have air

conditioning units, and during the hot seasons, it is common for
room temperatures to exceed 30 degrees Celsius. Many students
report that they are unable to do homework in their dorm rooms.
Others report problems sleeping because of the humidity and
temperature. The rooms are not only unhealthy, but they inhibit
student productivity and academic achievement.
 Problem Statement
(Contd.)

Part C – the consequences: Identifies the way you propose to

improve the current situation and move it closer to the goal or ideal.

In response to this problem, the study proposes to investigate

several options for making the dorms more hospitable. The study
plans to carry out an all inclusive participatory investigation into
options for purchasing air conditioners (university-funded; student-
subsidized) and different types of air conditioning systems. The
research will also consider less expensive ways to mitigate some
or all of the problems noted above (such as creating climate-
controlled dorm lounges and equipping them with better study
areas and computing space).
 Research Questions

A research problem is an educational issue or problem in the

study.
A research problem statement is a short (a paragraph or two) description of a specific research
area or issue that you intend to address, with an explanation of why that area/issue needs to be
addressed, why addressing this area/issue is of importance, and what overall benefit (i.e, to
society as a whole or to other researchers) addressing the issue may provide.

Research questions are those that the researcher would like

answered or addressed in the study.
Narrow down the research problem to one or more specific questions that are concrete and can
be answered by experiment/review of data/literature review, etc.
 Research Questions
(Contd.)

Reasons why research questions are crucial:

 Guide your literature search

 Guide your decisions about the kind of research design to employ
 Guide your decisions about what data to collect and from whom
 Guide analysis of your data
 Guide writing-up of your data
 Stop you from going off in unnecessary directions
 Research Questions and Hypotheses

A process of asking a question, or a series of related questions, and

then initiating a systematic procedure to obtain valid answers to that
question.

Hypotheses are more specific predictions about the nature and direction
of the relationship between two variables.
Hypotheses:
- Gives insight into a research question
- Are testable and measurable by the proposed experiments
- Offer a tentative explanation based on theories or previous research
- Concise
Each hypothesis is matched with a specific aim and has rationale.
 Research Objectives
The research objectives pursued in order to answer the research
questions.
In general, research objectives describe what we expect to achieve by a
project.
 Research Objectives
(Contd.)

A statement of research objectives can serve to guide the activities of research.

Consider the following examples.
Objective (1): To describe what factors farmers take into account in making such
decisions as whether to adopt a new technology or what crops to grow.
Objective (2): To develop a budget for reducing pollution by a particular enterprise.
Objective (3): To describe the habitat of the giant panda in China.
In the above examples the intent of the research is largely descriptive.

In the case of the first example, the research will end the study by being able to specify
factors which emerged in household decisions.
In the second, the result will be the specification of a pollution reduction budget.
In the third, creating a picture of the habitat of the giant panda in China.
 Expected Outcome of Research

Research Significance:

State clearly why this research is important, what the benefits will be and
how your work will contribute to knowledge in your field. This may
include commercial benefits, changes in current practice, a new
perspective on an old issue or other benefits to the community.
You need to indicate why it is significant and how it advances
understanding of the issues under discussion.
 Summary

 Preliminary steps in the research process include forming a research

problem, questions and hypotheses
 A hypothesis attempts to answer the question posed by the research
question
 Research questions illustrate a relationship between variables,
identify independent and dependent variables, include a population,
and imply that a problem is testable