Developing Objectives,

research questions and

hypothesis
Statement of Problem
 There are no hard and fast rules for construction and framing of research
problem and for writing its opening paragraph.

 The clear statement is the focal point of your research. It should answer
the what, why and how questions. For instance “Why does this research
need to be conducted?” what you will be studying, whether you will do it
through content analysis, survey, experimental or non-experimental
investigation, and what the purpose of your findings will be.  

 Effective problem statements answer the question   In it, you are looking
for something wrong, something that needs close attention, or something
where existing methods no longer seem to be working.
Statement of Problem
 State the research problem in the light of available literature review.

 Give a short summary of the research problem that you have identified
i.e. provide one concise paragraph while discussing it. Be specific in
describing this problem e.g. you might discuss the problem of use of social
media among teens and the resulting impact on their studies and lifestyle.
(Remember you have prepared the reader with the preamble above this
section - general use of S M in the world and specific use among teens in
Pakistan).
Statement of Problem
 Problem statement itself is just one sentence, it is always accompanied
larger introduction that helps to elaborate and that may include other
elements of the research proposal. 

 You might present persuasive arguments as to why the problem is

important enough to study or include the opinions of others (politicians,
futurists, other professionals).
Problem Statement
 Explain how the problem relates to communication and media trends by
presenting a bit of evidence from your Literature Review that
demonstrates the scope and depth of the problem.

 Try to give dramatic and concrete illustrations of the problem. After

writing the Introduction, however, make sure you can still easily identify
the single sentence that is the problem statement.

 Your proposal needs to be understandable to a general audience, not just

individuals in your field of investigation
Research justification or ‘problem’ statement

Questions to help clarify the research problem:

 Why is this research important?

 What real life or everyday problem, issue, question or
context does the research relate to?
 What is the research ultimately trying to achieve?
 How can I grab the reader’s attention and concern?
 How can I state the problem or context of the research
in terms that most people can relate to?
 What possible negative consequence is there of
not solving this problem?
 What benefit does the research promise? 
Hypothesis 
Hypothesis is a testable statement or assumption.

 People refer to a trial solution to a problem as a

hypothesis, often called an "educated guess" because it
provides a suggested solution based on the evidence.
Experimenters may test and reject several hypotheses
before solving the problem.

 A hypothesis requires more work by the researcher in

order to either confirm or disprove it. 
 Hypotheses

 Hypotheses may not always be explicitly stated

 Wording must include:

 The variables
 The population being studied
 The predicted outcome of the hypothesis

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Research Question
 Research studies do not always contain hypotheses

 Exploratory and descriptive studies may pose research

questions instead
Criteria for Developing a Good Research
Question: FINER
 Feasibility
 Interesting
 Novel
 Ethical
 Relevant

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 FINER
 Feasible  Ethical
 Subjects  Social or scientific value
 Resources  Safe
 Manageable  Relevant

Data available?  Advance scientific
 Interesting knowledge?
 Novel  Influence media
 In relation to previous practices?
findings  Impact media policy?
 Confirm or refute?  Guide future research?
 New setting, new
population
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Research Question Must Identify

1. The variables under study

2. The population being studied

3. The testability of the question

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What is a Researchable Question?

 Helps solve a problem, add to theory, or improve

media practices

 Needs to be usable, current, and clear

 Provides answers that will explain, describe, identify,

predict or qualify

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Characteristics to Consider

 Research questions
 Cannot be answered by yes/no

 Should ask:
 What happens when?
 What’s going on here?
 How does this happen?
 Why does one thing work better than
another?
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 Writing the research question

 Examples:
 What are the beliefs of the media audience?

 What is the relationship between media coverage

and opinion of users?

 Why does excessive usage of media have bad

impact on interpersonal communication?

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Significance and Rationale of the Study
 Discuss what the benefit will be of addressing the research problem might
be to the population of your study, the academic community. For
example, professionals, educators, staff members, and concerned
citizens, etc.
 Books

 Mass Media Research: An Introduction 

Wimmer & Dominick, 
 Social Research, 3rd Edition,
S. Sarantakos, Palgrave
McMillan. 2005.
 Social Research Methods, 3rd Edition
W. Lawrence Neuman, Allyn and
Bacon. 1991.