Lecture#03 Formulating and Clarifying The Research Problem

Slide 2.
Chapter 2
Formulating and clarifying the research
topic
Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009
Slide 2.2
A research paper analyzes a perspective or

argues a point
Your finished research paper should

present your own thinking backed up by
others' ideas and information
Slide 2.3
Research Topic may be:
Given to you, meaning already

determined
Or
You are given the freedom to choose

one
Slide 2.4
Formulating and clarifying your

research topic
The important steps
• Identifying the attributes of a good research topic
• Generating ideas that help you select a suitable

topic
• Turning ideas into clear research questions and

objectives
• Writing your research proposal

Slide 2.5
Identifying a research problem

• Practitioners in the field may encounter difficulties
or problems in their daily work that need to be
researched
• Graduate students on campus may have to search to
find a “problem” they can research for their thesis or
class project
• Whatever the situation, the identification and
selection of a research problem is the first step in the
research process.
Slide 2.6
Problem
• A question raised for inquiry, consideration or
solution
• An intricate unsettled question
Slide 2.7
What you do with problems

• Ignore them
• Talk about them
• Try to solve them
Slide 2.8
The research area should serve

some goal
The primary goal of a thesis is

to get a thesis
A proposition stated or put forward for consideration.
Slide 2.9
The importance of your decision

Of all the decisions you'll make as an emerging
scientist, none is more important than identifying
the right research area, and in particular, the right
research topic.
Slide 2.10
The importance of your decision

• The research you do as a graduate student
will set the stage for your later research
• While it is unlikely that your later research

will be a straightforward extension of your
dissertation, it is also unlikely that it will
be completely outside your field.
• The knowledge, expertise, and skills that

you gain early on will form the foundation
for your later investigations.
Slide 2.11
Factors to consider
• Topic should be interesting to
– You
• Otherwise it will be difficult to stay focused,
motivated, and convincing other people that
your research is interesting
• By the time you are done, you may really be
tired of the topic
– Your advisor
– The research community
Slide 2.12
Factors to Consider
• Feasibility of the project
• How much time do you have available
– Do you really want to do a longitudinal study that will
take 3 years to complete for a MS thesis?
– How difficult is it. Are data available?
– How much will it cost?
Slide 2.13
Where to get ideas from?

• You can gather topic ideas from a variety of
sources
• Supervisor’s Suggestions
– Your supervisor may have many suggestions
based on their own research in an area for
your research project
– Can provide detailed insight into the nature of
any problem they suggest
Slide 2.14

• Readings
– Preliminary reading in general encyclopedias,
newspapers, or magazines
– Books & Bibliographies in the back of books on your
topics
– Journals/Conferences – Electronic databases
• Internet
• Use this source with caution
• You must evaluate Internet sources for credibility
Slide 2.15

• What others are doing?
– What areas other research groups are working on?
• Visit their web pages
• Go through the list of MS/PhD theses
– Replicate Research with modifications

• Changing some of the settings of previous research often
leads to new and sometime unexpected results
– Apply an existing technique to a new domain

• This might be using a modified algorithm to manipulate
data in another field in order to achieve a new result
Slide 2.16

• What others are doing?
– Address Contradiction and Ambiguity
• Find results that contradict each other
• Contradictions may be reported by two or more researchers
exploring an existing problem
• Finding ways of explaining the contradictions requires
research
– Challenge Findings
• If you believe some one else’s result may be incorrect, you
may attempt to disprove their results formally as your
research effort.
Slide 2.17
Refine your topic

• Refine Your Topic From Broad to Narrow Concepts
• You can narrow your topic by identifying ideas or concepts

included in a broader topic.
• For example, you would like to write a 2-page paper on the

topic of violence. But violence is such a large concept that it
would be difficult to write an all-encompassing paper. It would
be best to narrow this topic down.
• Narrower topics for the subject violence would be topics such

as: violence in the media, domestic violence, or gun control.
Slide 2.18
Checklist
1. Can it be enthusiastically pursued?
– It is important that you pick a topic you are enthusiastic
about.
2. Can interest be sustained by it?

– The topic should interest you over the long run.
– Experiments won't go right; equipment will fail; data
from other sources won't arrive on time (or at all); others
will do work that competes with your research.
– During these times you'll need courage and fortitude.
Slide 2.19
Checklist
3. Is the problem solvable?
– The problem should be solvable in a reasonable period of time.
4. Is it worth doing?
– The research community should be interested in your results.
5. Will it lead to other research problems?

– The topic should not lead you to a dead end. There should be some
interesting future work.
6. Is it manageable in size?
– Your supervisor will help you determine how to make your
dissertation original and publishable, yet also manageable
Slide 2.20
Check list
7. What is the potential for making an original contribution to the
literature in the field?
– Potential Publications
8. If the problem is solved, will the results be reviewed well by

scholars in your field?
– Not only you should think that you topic is a good idea.
9. Are you, or will you become, competent to solve it?

– To solve the problem you'll also need to develop basic knowledge and
technical understanding, relevant skills and experimental expertise
10. Will the necessary research prepare you in an area of demand or

promise for the future?
– Not only look on your current goal, look a step further
Slide 2.21
Stating the problem – Famous

first words
• The current study investigates the relationship between . . .
• The focus of this study will be on . . .
• The main purpose of this study is . . .
• The objective of this research is to determine . . .
• The present study is designed to examine . . .
• The primary goal of this study is . . .
• The primary concern of this research is . . .
• The principal objective of this study is . . .
• The purpose of this study is to address the problem of . . .
• The purpose of the present study is . . .
• The purpose of this study is to advance understanding of . .
• The purpose of this study is to evaluate . . .
• The purpose of this study is to explore the . . .
Slide 2.22
Stating the problem – Famous

first words
• The purpose of this study is to examine and better understand
the effects of . . .
• The purpose of this study is twofold. First, this study will
assess the . . .
• This research concentrates on . . .
• The research problem for this study is to describe the . . .
• The specific objectives of the present study are . . .
• This study examines the relationships among . . .
• There are several reasons for inquiring into . . .
• This thesis explores the idea . . .
Slide 2.23
Evaluating the problem statement

• Research statement is written clearly
• Problem stated in grammatically complete sentences
• Problem has clearly stated limitations.
• Statement has potential for leading to important
results
• The statement will lead to the analysis of data.
• Problem has been reviewed by someone else who
provided feedback.
Slide 2.24
Writing a
research
proposal
Slide 2.25
Think of a research problem and

write your problem statement in a
few lines
Slide 2.26
Writing research questions

Write research questions that are
• Consistent with expected standards
• Able to produce clear conclusions
• At the right level ( not too difficult )

• Not too descriptive
• Use the ‘Goldilocks Test’ Not too big, too small or too hot
• Just right questions are those that are right for
investigation at this time, by this researcher in this setting
Clough and Nutbrown (2002)
Slide 2.27

Which of these questions cannot be easily or fully researched
A. Do the economies that result from a trash burning plant outweigh or
not outweigh its environmental impact
It is researchable. You'd have to sift through a lot of information, both
pro and con, valid and invalid, in order to choose the best
information to answer the research question and support your own
point of view, but the point is that there is at least enough
information to sift through.
Does McDonald's or Burger King make a better burger?
It is not researchable as it is worded, since it has no concrete meaning.
What does "better" mean? Better in terms of nutrition? Better
tasting? Better value? Fewer calories? Better for making your kids
happy? This question could become researchable only if you define
its terms.
Slide 2.28

Select what you think is the best research question
A. What marketing strategies does the Coca-Cola company
currently apply?
B. What is the Coca-Cola company's future marketing plan?
C. What marketing strategies has the Coca-Cola company used in
the past?
******
A. What impact has deregulation had on the airline industry?
B. What percentage of commercial airline crashes were traced to
negligent maintenance during the 10 years immediately
preceding and following deregulation?
C. What impact has deregulation had on commercial airline safety
Slide 2.29

A. Question "a" is the best research question. Your research
to answer this question may include observation of print,
television, and radio advertisements as well as research
into various current marketing theories and strategies.
Both types of research are "do-able," and the question is
focused enough to yield a fully-developed research paper.
B. Question "b" is very broad as well as being
unresearchable--it's unlikely that Coca-Cola personnel
will reveal their marketing plan.
C. Question "c" may be too broad as well, since "the past"
covers a lot of time, especially since the Coca-Cola
company was incorporated in 1919
Slide 2.30

A. Question "a" is too broad, once you get into the research,
since deregulation may have had impact on safety, costs,
passenger fees, ability to comply with government
regulations, and many other areas of the airline industry,
too many to deal with in depth in one research paper
B. Question "b" is too narrow. It can be answered with
simple percentages and cannot be developed into a full
research paper.
C. Question "c" is the best research question. You may use
statistics such as question "b" would uncover as you
answer question "c," which is focused enough to allow
you to research the question in some depth yet broad
enough to allow you to consider the various effects of
deregulation on airline safety.
Slide 2.31
Turning ideas into research projects (1)
Examples of research ideas

and their derived focus questions
Table 2.2 Examples of research ideas and their derived focus research
questions
Slide 2.32
Useful techniques
• Start with a general focus question
• Use the ‘Russian Doll’ principle to reach the essence

of the question
• Discuss areas of interest with your tutor
Slide 2.33
Writing clear research objectives
• Check your examining body’s preferences for

stated objectives
• Use a general focus question to achieve precise

objectives
Saunders et al. (2009)
Slide 2.34
Include SMART Personal objectives
S pecific
M easurable
A chievable
R ealistic
T imely
Slide 2.35
The importance of theory

• Asking for opinions and gathering facts – 'what' questions
(descriptive research)
• Using questions that go beyond description and require

analysis – 'why' questions
Phillips and Pugh (2005)
In order to:
Explain phenomena Analyse relationships
Predict outcomes Compare and generalise
Slide 2.36
Writing your research proposal
Purposes of the research proposal
• To organise your ideas
• To convince your audience
• To contract with your client (your tutor)
• To meet ethical requirements
Slide 2.37
Content of your research proposal (1)
• Title - likely to change during the process
• Background - context within the literature
• Research questions and objectives - what you seek

to achieve
Slide 2.38
Content of your research proposal (2)
• Method - can be in two parts: research design and

data collection
• Timescale and Resources - (finance, data access,

equipment)
• References - include some key literature sources
Slide 2.39
Evaluating research proposals
• How the components of the proposal fit together
• Viability of the proposal
• Absence of preconceived ideas
Slide 2.40
FINER criteria for a good research question and objective

40
Slide 2.41
Assignment No. 1
• Formulate your own research problem according
to the standards discussed in today’s lecture.
• You will submit it in writing in the next class.
• Please keep a soft copy with you as this will
form a part of your complete research proposal,
which you will be asked to submit at the end of
this course and that will be your final
assignment.
41
Slide 2.42
Summary: Chapter 2
The best research topics
• Formulate and clarify the topic
• Meet the requirements of the examining body
• Use a variety of techniques when generating

research ideas
• Are focused on clear questions based on relevant

literature
Slide 2.43
Summary: Chapter 2
The best research topics
• Are theory dependent
• Have a proposal containing organised ideas
Tell the reader:
• What will be done and why
• How it will be achieved

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Slide 2.

A research paper analyzes a perspective or

Your finished research paper should

Research Topic may be:

Given to you, meaning already

You are given the freedom to choose

Formulating and clarifying your

• Identifying the attributes of a good research topic

• Generating ideas that help you select a suitable

• Turning ideas into clear research questions and

• Writing your research proposal

Identifying a research problem

What you do with problems

The research area should serve

The primary goal of a thesis is

The importance of your decision

The importance of your decision

• While it is unlikely that your later research

• The knowledge, expertise, and skills that

Where to get ideas from?

Where to get ideas from?

Where to get ideas from?

– Replicate Research with modifications

– Apply an existing technique to a new domain

Where to get ideas from?

Refine your topic

• You can narrow your topic by identifying ideas or concepts

• For example, you would like to write a 2-page paper on the

• Narrower topics for the subject violence would be topics such

2. Can interest be sustained by it?

5. Will it lead to other research problems?

8. If the problem is solved, will the results be reviewed well by

9. Are you, or will you become, competent to solve it?

10. Will the necessary research prepare you in an area of demand or

Stating the problem – Famous

Stating the problem – Famous

Evaluating the problem statement

Think of a research problem and

Writing research questions

• Consistent with expected standards

• Able to produce clear conclusions

• At the right level ( not too difficult )

Clough and Nutbrown (2002)

Writing research questions

Writing research questions

Writing research questions

Writing research questions

Turning ideas into research projects (1)

Examples of research ideas

Turning ideas into research projects (2)

• Start with a general focus question

• Use the ‘Russian Doll’ principle to reach the essence

• Discuss areas of interest with your tutor

Turning ideas into research projects (3)

Writing clear research objectives

• Check your examining body’s preferences for

• Use a general focus question to achieve precise

Saunders et al. (2009)

Turning ideas into research projects (4)

Include SMART Personal objectives

The importance of theory

• Using questions that go beyond description and require

Explain phenomena Analyse relationships