Research Methods

Chapter Two

Defining the Research Problem

2017
Outline
 Defining a Research Problem
Sources of Research Problem
Components of Research Problem
Selection of Research Problem
Techniques of Defining a Research Problem
Research Problem?
- A research problem is a statement about an area
of concern, a condition to be improved, a difficulty to be
eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly
literature, in theory, or in practice that points to the need
for meaningful understanding and deliberate
investigation
- A problem exists when there is a doubt about the
solution
-Difficult to formulate a research problem especially for
inexperienced researchers.

Formulating a research question entails

- asking a previously unanswered questions

- stating clearly the research objectives and
hypothesis
- defining precisely all key terms and concepts

 
 Steps in defining research problems
1. Identify a broad topic
2. Identify a narrow topic within the
broad topic
3. Raise questions
4. Formulate objectives

Example (broad topics)

Sustainable Agriculture
Narrow topic
 Organic food production for sustainable
agriculture
Broad topic:

problems of HU students

Narrow topic:

water and food availability in HU

Questions:

-Is there enough water at HU?

-Are there enough dinning places in HU?
-Is there quality food available in HU?
-Are prices reasonable for the students in HU
dinning places?
Sources of Research Problem
-Conventional vs. research problem (non researchable
vs researchable problems)

Conventional problem- is a set of conditions that

need discussion, a solution or information.
Is democracy a good form of government?
Can crime be prevented?
Gender equality to what extent?
Research problem- implies the possibility of empirical
investigation, i.e. data collection and analysis.
 A good research problem should be one that is socially and
scientifically important to investigate.
Egs.
• what are the determinants of food insecurity in Haraghe?
•What are the marketing challenges faced by Ethiopian
Farmers?
 Cont…

Sources of a research problem

1.Personal Experience of Practical Situation

2.Previous Research and Related Literature
3.Current Social and Political Issues
4.From Discussions with People
5.Personal Motivation
6.Lack of Information
7.Projects (preliminary or
Impact)
1. Personal Experience of Practical Situation
- Daily experience and observation of situations
eg. Unravel a new situation
. Looking for a solution to an existing unresolved issues

2. Previous Research and Related Literature

- Ideas from existing literature
- Researchable thoeries
- Research gaps

3. Current Social and Political Issues

- social, economic, political and cultural changes are
inevitable.
- The impact of such changes an interesting problem
to research.
Eg. Impact of “land grabbing”?
4. From Discussions with People
“Chance favors the connected mind!” Steven Johnson
5. Personal Motivation
-Motivations coming from personal interest to find
answer for certain problems.
6. Lack of Information
- Policy and decision makers, when lacking sufficient
information, trigger research to aid their policy
development and decision making.
Components of Research Problem

There must be some objective(s) to be attained. If one

wants nothing, one cannot have a problem.

There must be alternative means (or courses of action)

for obtaining the objective(s) one wishes to attain.

There must remain some doubt in the mind of a

researcher with regard to the selection of alternatives.

There must be some environment(s) to which the

difficulty pertains
Selection of Research Problem… points to
remember!!
Overdone subjects should not be chosen
Controversial subject should not become the choice of
an average researcher.
Too narrow or too vague problems should be avoided.
The importance of the subject, the qualifications and
the training of a researcher, the costs involved, and the
time factor.

NB. When the field of inquiry is relatively new, the

selection of a problem must be preceded by a
preliminary study.
The research topic to be selected should be
The one in which the researcher has an interest.
The one that the researcher has the background
knowledge to research.
The one on which enough materials could be obtained
to ensure thorough coverage. (educational degree
fulfillment research)
Above all, the one whose selection is justifiable on
social, scientific or policy grounds.
Techniques of Defining a Research Problem

The process of defining a research problem with

adequate specificity is often the most difficult activity in
a research process

General Steps
Statement of the problem in a general way (choice of
research topic)
Understanding the nature of the problem;
Surveying the available literature;
Developing ideas through discussions;
Rephrasing the research problem into a working
proposition
Reshaping research problem

1.Statement of the problem

2.Statement of research purpose
3.Research objective
4.Research questions
5.Formulation of research hypothesis
•Marketing
•Quality
•Technology
•Infrastructure
•Financial
•Human resource
•Environmental
probs
1. Statement of the problem should indicate

 The focus area of the research (the issue raised).

 Indicates researches done by other researchers in
the area including their findings
 Indicate issues that are not yet assessed by other
researcher in the area (the knowledge gap or
unsolved questions which appears to justify another
research.
 Show difference in the findings of various
researchers in the area (if any)
 Indicate the study area and the issues or subjects
of research
 Indicate the purpose of the study
 Indicate what is meant to be shown or done by the
research
A good problem statement should be clearly written and
be able to immediately capture the readers.

A good research problem should be capable of being

stated in one major research question, which reveals the
research gap

Such question(s) may be descriptive, relationship

questions, or difference questions.
2. Statement of research purpose

Should be stated as The purpose of the study is….

Followed by neutral verbs such as

 To investigate
 To examine
 To compare
 To explore
 To inquire
 To find out
 To determine etc…
  

Function and strength Example verbs

NEUTRAL: verbs used to say describe, show, reveal, study,
what the writer describes in demonstate, note, point out, indicate,
factual terms, demonstrates, refers report, observe, assume, take into
to, and discusses, and verbs used consideration, examine, go on to say
to explain his/her methodology. that, state, believe (unless this is a
strong belief), mention, etc.
TENTATIVE: verbs used to say suggest, speculate, intimate,
what the writer suggests or hypothesise, moot, imply, propose,
speculates on (without being recommend, posit the view that,
absolutely certain). question the view that, postulate, etc.
STRONG: verbs used to say what argue, claim, emphasise, contend,
the writer makes strong arguments maintain, assert, theorize, support the
and claims for. view that, deny, negate, refute, reject,
challenge, strongly believe that,
counter the view/argument that, etc.

Source: (Sharpling,2014)
3. Research objective

• specify the issues or area of knowledge that the

researcher wants to examine or explore.

• Research objectives enable in-depth investigation of

research purpose

• Usually one general and many specific objectives

• Number of specific objectives??? …. Should be

manageable!!!
4. Research questions

• Further describing ideas in the research objectives

• What?? Why?? How??

• What….Description
• Why…. More explanation and understanding
• How … Interventions (projects)
Example
Title
An Analysis of the Impact of Training on the Workers’
Efficiency at Work’: the case of Dire Dawa food complex”.

Objective
To determine if training affect workers’ speed at work
To examine if training affects workers respect for their work

Research questions
What is the effect of training on workers’ speed at work?
Is training affecting workers respect for their job?
5.Formulation of research hypothesis

• is a tentative proposition or prediction of the expected

relationships between two or more variables

• are subject to verification upon the undertaking of the

research work

 two types/parts

• Research and Null hypothesis

Aspeed0=Aspeed1 …. Null h

Aspeed0<Aspeed1
Research hypothesis
•A proposition about the nature of the world that makes
predictions about the results of an experiment.
Null hypothesis
•Hypothesis of no relationship
•The reverse of research hypothesis
•Do not exist in reality but used to test research
hypothesis. (control)
Exercise:

-- write your idea on what you would like to research

assuming that you have no resource constraint.