Session 5- Research Problem

Dr. Shyamali Satpathy

Dr. Vidhisha Vyas

Term 3 PGDM
 Defining the research problem
A research problem can be defined as a gap or uncertainty in the decision makers’
existing body of knowledge which inhibits efficient decision making. The gap could be
academic & theoretical (basic) or real time and action oriented (applied).

Term 3 PGDM
 Research problem
• A research problem is a question that researcher wants to answer or a
problem that a researcher wants to solve.
• Identification & formulation of a research problem is the first step of the
research process.
• Selection of research problem depends on several factors such as
researcher’s knowledge, skills, interest, expertise, motivation & creativity
with respect to the subject of inquiry.
• It is like the identification of a destination before under taking a journey.
• Without a problem , research cannot proceed because there is
nothing to proceed to ward.

Term 3 PGDM
 Research problem
• “If one wants to solve a problem , one must generally know what the problem is .
It can be said that a large part of the problem lies in knowing what one is trying
to do.
• Research problem may take a number of forms , from the very simple to the
very complex
Research Topic:
The broad general area expected to investigate. It is a broad idea or concept
from which many problems may be delineated.
Research Problem:
A situation or circumstance that requires a solution to be described,
explained, or predicted. It is an unsatisfactory

Term 3 PGDM
 Research problem
• According to Kerlinger, ‘A problem is an interrogative sentence or
statement that asks what relation exists between two or more variable.
The answer to question will provide what is having sought in the
research.
• R.S. Woodworth defines problem as ‘a situation for which we have no
ready & successful response by instinct or by previous acquired habit. We
must find out what to do’, i.e. the solution can be found out only after an
investigation.
• In other words, ‘a research problem is an area of concern where there is
a gap in the knowledge base needed for professional practices.

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 Types of Research problem

There are two types of Research Problem:

Problems which relates to states of nature Eg – Status of working children in any
Metropolitan city in 2012.
Problems which relates to relationship between variables Eg – Lack of chemical fertilizer in
the main cause of low production of grain food.

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 Condition of a Research problem
Any research problem does exist if the following condition are in existence:-
1. There must be an individual or a group or an organization having different types of
environment.
2. There must be at least two course of action is defined by one or more values of the
controlled variable.
3. There must be at least two possible outcomes. Out of these two a researcher wants an
objective.
4. . The courses of action available must provide some chance of obtaining the objective
but they cannot provide the same chance as they have unequal efficiencies for the
desired result.
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 Elements of a Research problem
 Unit of analysis

 Independent variable

 Dependent variable

 Extraneous independent variable

 Intervening variables

 Moderating variables
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 A research problem
may come from
several sources
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 Points to be considered in selecting Research problem
The following points should be kept in mind by a researcher in selecting a research
problem:
1.The subject on which research work has been overdue should not be chosen, because it
will be a difficult task to throw any new light.
2. The problem should neither be too narrow nor too vague.
3.The topic of the research should be familiar and feasible so that the researcher can
easily have access to related research materials or source of research.
4.Controversial subject should be avoided while selecting a research problem.
5.While selecting a research problem the researcher should also take into account the
various factors such as the importance of subject, the qualifications , the training of
researcher , the investment elements in the research in terms of time, cost and energy.
6. The selection of any research problem must be preceded by a preliminary study in case of a
new problem.
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 Problem identification process
Management Decision Problem

Discussions Review of Organization Qualitative

with subject existing Analysis analysis
experts literature

Management Research Problem / Question

Research framework / Analytical model

Statement of Research Objectives

Formulation of Research Hypothesis

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 Decision problems
DECISION PROBLEM
1. What should be done
customer base of organic
domestic market?
Research problems
RESEARCH PROBLEM*
to increase the 1. What is the awareness and purchase
products in the intention of health conscious consumers for
organic products?

2. What is the impact of shift duties on work

2. How to reduce turnover rates in the BPO exhaustion and turnover intentions of the BPO
sector? employees?

3. How does Widex/ industry leader manage its

3. How to improve the delivery process of
Widex hearing aids in India?
4. Should the company continue with its
existing security services vendor or look at an
alternative?
5. Can the Housing and real estate growth be
accelerated?
supply chain in India/Asia?
4. What is the satisfaction level of the company
with the existing vendor? Are there any gaps?
Can they be effectively handled by the vendor?
5. What is the current investment in Real Estate
and Housing? Can the demand in the sector be
forecasted for the next six months?

6a. what has been the Leadership initiatives

6. Whom should ICICI choose as its next and performance record of ABC viz. XYZ?
Managing director- Mr ABC or Mrs. XYZ? 6b. Can a leading aggressive private sector
bank accept a woman as its leader?
 Problem Identification Problem
 Management decision problem: the issue/decision that needs to be resolved through research.
 Discussion with experts: to get the right perspective on the issue, discussion/dialogue is held with
subject/industry expert.
 Review of literature: the most valuable source of framing the research question is to review the past
work done on related topic(s).
 Qualitative surveys: primary exploratory loosely structured surveys to attain the environmental context.
• Management research problem: the four steps might lead to multiple directions/research problems the
researcher can take.
The researcher has to identify THE alternative he/she will undertake

• Theoretical model building (optional)

• Statement of research objectives

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 Selection of a research
areas

Reviewing the literature &

theories

Delimiting the research

topic

Evaluating the research

problem

Formulating final statement

of research problem
 Selection of a Research Area

Formulation of a research problem begins with selection of a broad research topic

from personal experience, literature, previous research, & theories in which
researcher is interested & has significance for library profession.

For example, a researcher gets an idea to conduct a study on the Impact of library
internship on MLIS Student.

Therefore, he or she initially begins with such broad theme

 Reviewing Literature & Theories
• After getting a broad idea for research, he or she needs to review the LISc.
literature & theories.
• Literature is reviewed to know what has already been done in these
selected areas of research.
• Review of library theories provides an opportunity for LISc researcher to
plan a research problem to contribute towards either testing or
development of a theory/conceptual model.
 Delimiting the Research Topic
• In this step, researcher proceeds from a general area of interest to more
specific topic of research to conduct a study.
• For example, initially a researcher decides to conduct a study on Impact
of library internship on MLIS Student; later in this stage researcher limits it
to specific research topic ‘a study on perception of MLIS Students
about impact on internship in pondicherry university ’.
• In this stage, a researcher clearly identifies variables, agents and scope of
research
 Evaluating the Research Problem
• Once researcher is clear about the specific research problem, next the
research problem must be carefully evaluated for its significance,
researchability, & feasibility.
• Feasibility of the research problem should be evaluated for time, cost,
availability of subjects & resources, administrative & peer support,
ethical consideration, & researcher’s competence & interest.
 Formulating Final Research Problem Statement

 After establishing the significance, researchability, &

feasibility, then researcher finally formulates a final
statement of a research problem.
A statement of research problem could be in
declarative or interrogative format
1.Declarative format: In this format, a research problem is
stated in declarative statement.
e.g.- impact of library internship on MLIS student of
Pondicherry University.
2.Interrogative format: In interrogative format, a research
problem is stated in question form.
e.g- “What is the Impact of library internship on MLIS Student
of Pondicherry University ?”
 The choice of either of these two types of format formulation of a research
problem depends on the researcher’s preference & institutional policies.

Declarative format much popular among researchers.

For the formulation of a research problem it is preferable it it fulfils the following

features:
 Research problem is clearly, precisely articulated.
 It clearly states the variables, population, & research setting
under study.
 Variable are expressed in measurable terms.
 The type of study also may be included in the statement of
research problem.
 Situation of a specific research problem

Mr. Tony Fernandez a fresh MBA graduate from IIM Bangalore, has been hired by the
company GoKart to manage their corporate workforce as an HR manager. Mr. Fernandez
reports to Mr. Prakash Sharma, who is the HR director of the company since its inception
in 2008. One day Mr. Sharma called the newly recruited Mr. Fernandez and expressed his
concerns over the increasing attrition rates at the company headquarters. The HR
director was mainly concerned with the attrition rates being significantly higher than the
industry average and it is affecting the productivity and team cohesion. In addition to
this, he was asked to present his plan to reduce attrition in the review meeting with the
CEO, which is to be held after two days of this meeting.

Question: Assume yourself as Tony Fernandez and discuss how will you go with the
research problem. (Students have to explain the process here)
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 Situation-2

You are a consulting firm hired by the new chief executive officer at Memorial Hospital.
Memorial is a non profit hospital with 300 beds and is located in a busy metropolitan
area directly adjacent to a large university. It is the only hospital within the 20 mile
radius, but construction on a new, competing hospital has started within five miles.
Describe the research problem and how will you design the research to come up with
some advice to the CEO.

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 Exercise

Every student has to identify a specific area of his/her interest and formulate the
research problem.

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