RESEARCH PROBLEM,

RESEARCH GAP, DEFINING

THE OBJECTIVES
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Second Semester of Academic Year 2020/2021
What is the first step
of research process?
First Step of Research Process

Identifying the
RESEARCH
PROBLEM
Research Gap
Research Gap
• George and Bennett (2005):
A new research “should be embedded in a well-informed assessment that identifies gaps in the
current state of knowledge, acknowledges contradictory theories, and notes inadequacies in
the evidence of existing theories. In brief, the investigator needs to make the case that the
proposed research will make a significant contribution to the field.”

• To legitimate new research projects, it is important to analyze existing

scientific literature and depict new studies in the light of this existing
research.
 Identifying Research Problem
Identify a question which demands an answer.

Identifying a need which requires a resolution.

Identifying a riddle which seeks a solution.

Identifying a gap in knowledge.

 Research Problem

Problem
Question
Trouble
 Research Problem
Well
defined

The
HEART of
the
research
Structured
 Identifying a Research Problem

Can be the most DIFFICULT step in the research process.

Defining NOT ONLY the general problem area.

The specific problem in the study area should be also

discovered and defined.

One for which the least guidance can be given.

 Characteristics of Good Problem
Statement
It should be stated in
It should ask about a
It should be clearly and question form (or,
relationship between two
unambiguously stated. alternatively, in the form
or more variables.
of an implicit question).

It should be testable by
empirical methods → it
It should not represent a
should be possible to
moral or ethical position.
collect data to answer the
question(s) asked.
 Relationship Between Variables
Relationship of two or more variables.

What are the independent variables?

What are the dependent variables?

What are the controlled variables?

 Example of Problem Statement
How many students in the Master
Program of Civil Engineering have
the GPA in excess of 3.00?

Are men more likely than women

to have GPA in excess of 3.00?

How is the influence of media

grain size on the removal
efficiency of suspended solids?
Example of Problem Statement
How many students in the Master
Program of Civil Engineering have
the GPA in excess of 3.00?

Are men more likely than women

to have GPA in excess of 3.00?

How is the influence of media

grain size on the removal
efficiency of suspended solids?
 Stated in Question Form

Can be written in the

form of explicit
questions or implicit
questions.
Example of Explicit Questions

How is the relationship between GPA and

achievement?

How is the relationship between the cost and the

selection of transportation mode?
Example of Implicit Questions
The purpose of the study was to examine the
relationship between the composition of water
and cement to the compressive strength.

The study investigated the influence of each

operating variable on the suspended solids
removal mechanisms.
 Empirical Testability
A research problem should be testable by empirical methods.

It should be possible to construct a potential solution to the problem

that can be verified by the collection of certain evidence or
disconfirmed by the collection of other evidence.

Variables included in a problem statement is a good clue to its

testability.

Example: Does using the online taxi improve a person’s fashion style?
Avoidance of Moral or Ethical Judgments

SHOULD PEOPLE DISGUISE THEIR SHOULD CHILDREN BE SEEN AND SHOULD STUDENTS AVOID CHEATING
FEELINGS? NOT HEARD? UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES?
 Problem Area - Narrowing

Narrow down the scope

READING of idea or problem until
(books, papers, patents, … it becomes a highly
etc.) specific research
problem.
 Problem Area

What is your motivation for doing the research?

What relevant interest, experience or expertise

do you bring to bear on the subject?

What are you going to produce?

 Example – Problem Area

What would the impact

of an earthquake be to
wired and wireless
communication
networks?
 Example – Main Concepts

Communication
Earthquakes
networks
 Example – More Specific

Earthquakes Seismic events Seismic damage

Communication Communication
Telecommunications
networks service
RQ 1 Bgaimana penerapan BIM untuk proyek konstruksi
RQ 2 Bagaimana Batasan pengaplikasian BIM untuk proyek konstruksi
yang sudah berjalan
RQ 2.1 Bagaimana hasil
RQ 3 Apa saja yang perlu dikembangkan……
 Specific Considerations in
Choosing a Problem
• How is the limits of your resource & time?
Workability • How is the methodology? Manageable?

• Has it identified enough potential results?

Critical mass • Will it give enough to write about?

• Does it relate to your background?

Interest • Does it interest you?

• Does the problem fill a gap in the literature?

Theoretical value • Does it improve upon the state of the art?

Practical value • Will your study field be changed by the outcome?

 Tips – Suitable Research Problem
It should be of great interest to you.

The problem should be significant.

It should be delineated.

You should be able to obtain the information required.

You should be able to draw conclusions related to the problem.

You should be able to state the problem clearly and concisely.

Forming a Research Gap
Practical problem: equal to the research puzzle.

Contradiction in literature:

• There are some areas that have been researched numerously

and there are some areas that do lack in research.
• From the literature review (papers, articles) → Is there any
question unanswered? If not, then there is a gap in the
research.
• Recommendation of further study from the previous study.
Research Question and Objective
• Objectives of the research and research questions are strongly related.

• Example:
To identify the effect of operating variables, specifically d10, Cu and high
hydraulic loading rate on the removal efficiency.
• How is the influence of each operating variable on the removal efficiency of suspended solids?
• Is grain size distribution represented by d10 and Cu the dominant factor which influences
• the removal efficiency?
• Does coarse sand produce a low filtrate quality?
• Does high hydraulic loading rate deteriorate the removal efficiency significantly?
 Assignment

Think about your topic of interest. Define your:

Problem Statement
Problem Area
Research Gap
Research Objectives