Step – I

Formulating a Research Problem

Dr. Md. Shamimul Islam
Professor
Department of Economics
Comilla University, Cumilla – 3506, Bangladesh
Lesson Plan

• What is a Research Problem?

• Sources of a research problem
• Considerations in selecting a research problem
• Formulation of a research problem - steps
• Formulation of research objectives
• Role of operational definitions in research
What is a Research Problem?

• A research problem is a specific issue, difficulty, contradiction, or gap

in knowledge that you will aim to address in your research.
• You might look for practical problems aimed at contributing to
change, or theoretical problems aimed at expanding knowledge. Bear
in mind that some research will do both of these things, but usually
the research problem focuses on one or the other. The type of
research problem you choose depends on your broad area/topic of
interest and the type of research you want to do.
Why research problem is so important?

• The research problem is the first step towards knowing exactly what
you’ll do and why.
• You need a research problem in order to do research that contributes
new and relevant insights.
Sources of a Research Problem (1/3)

• To know about the sources of research problem is particularly

relevance if you have not yet selected a research topic and do not
know where to start…
• If you have already selected your topic or question, you need not to
think about sources…
• The research problem in social science
Sources of Research Problem (2/3)

People

Problems
Sources of Research Problem
Programmes

Phenomena
Sources of a Research Problem (3/3)
Considerations in selecting a research problem

• Before selecting a research problem/topic the researcher must

consider number of issues to keep in mind which will help to ensure
that the study will be manageable and that the researcher remain
motivated.
 Interest

Magnitude

Measurement
of concepts

Level of
Considerations before selecting a research problem expertise

Relevance

Availability of
data

Ethical issues
Formulation of a research problem

• The formulation of a research problem is the most crucial part of the

research journey as the quality and relevance of your research project
entirely depends upon it.
• The formulation of a research problem is the most important step in
the research process. It is the foundation, in terms of design, on
which you build the whole study. Any defects in it will adversely affect
the validity and reliability of your study.
• The process of formulating a research problem consists of a number
of steps. If you do not know what specific research topic, idea,
questions or issue you want to research, first go through the steps…
Steps in formulating a research problem

• Step 1: Identify a broad field or subject area of interest to you.

• Step 2: Dissect the broad area into subareas.
• Step 3: Select what is of most interest to you.
• Step 4: Raise research questions.
• Step 5: Formulate objectives.
• Step 6: Assess your objectives (Make sure).
• Step 7: Double-check.
Formulation of a research problem
Formulation of Research Objectives

• Objectives are the goals you set out to attain in your study.
• The objectives inform a reader of what you want to achieve through
the study, it is extremely important to word them clearly and
specifically.

Objectives should be listed under two headings:

• Main objectives/General objectives;
• Sub-objectives/Specific objectives.
Formulation of Research Objectives

• Main/General objectives: The main objective is an overall statement

of the thrust of your study. It is also a statement of the main
associations and relationships that you seek to discover or establish.
• Specific objectives/sub-objectives: The sub-objectives are the specific
aspects of the topic that you want to investigate within the main
framework of your study. Sub-objectives should be numerically listed.
They should be worded clearly and unambiguously. Make sure that
each sub-objective contains only one aspect of the study.
• Use action-oriented words or verbs when writing your objectives. The
objectives should start with words such as ‘to determine’, ‘to find
out’, ‘to ascertain’, ‘to measure’ and ‘to explore’.
Operational definitions of concepts

• In a research study it is important to develop, define or establish a set of

rules, indicators or yardsticks in order to establish clearly the meaning of
such words/items.
• It is sometimes also important to define clearly the study population from
which you need to obtain the required information.
• When you define concepts that you plan to use either in your research
problem and/or in identifying the study population in a measurable form,
they are called working definitions or operational definitions.
• You must understand that these working definitions that you develop are
only for the purpose of your study and could be quite different to legal
definitions, or those used by others.
• your working/operational definitions will inform your readers what
exactly you mean by the concepts that you have used in your study.
Operational definitions of concepts
Thank you for your passionate hearing
?