Selection of Research

Problem
Research Methodology (RCH 601)

Nepal Engineering College

Center for Postgraduate Studies (nec-
CPS)

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(The lectures are adapted from the Dr. M.K. Dhamala, nec-CPS)
 Consumers of
Research
In this scientific age, all of us are in many
ways consumers of research results
(academician/scientists/students)
Research courses generally focus on how to
do research rather than how to evaluate it.
Rather than learning to plan, execute,
analyze, and write up a research study,
students need to learn how to read research
and evaluate it systematically.
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We can’t assume that learning to conduct individual
research will simultaneously teach to be good consumers
of other people’s research. If we prioritize our ability to
read journal articles, we may not understand everything
we read in a journal article, but we can get used to
coping with a piece of writing that we do not fully
understand. It takes skill to identify what we know and
what we need to understand better.

• Instead of just conducting the research, we need to

have/build a capacity to critically analyze/understand
what the author want to deliver
• To be a good consumer of research we need to
have/build a capacity to evaluate the research work of
others
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 Benefits:

• Make us able to judge the adequacy of the

methods which have been used or based
on which results are obtained.
• helps to evaluate and enables to take
rational decisions.
• analytical information and consequential
inference(s) may well be communicated
• Easier to conduct the research

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 Research Topic
• Brain storming current social opinion, political controversy, area
of interest, personal/professional problem, research gap in
literature (problem to Idea)
• Literature review
• Focus on your topic (scope/limitation)-neither too broad nor too
narrow
• Make a list of keywords
• Be flexible (possibility of change in topic and objectives)
• Define Your topic as a focused research question (begin with a
word, develop a more focused interest in an aspect of something
relating to that word) (Hydro power-delay-cost overrun)
• More specific literature review on idea
• Formulate a thesis statement
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• Initially, it is useful to define no more than a problem
area, rather than a specific research problem, within
the general body of knowledge that interests you
• Your aim should be to subsequently narrow down the
scope of the idea or problem until it becomes a highly
specific research problem
• This narrowing process will require a lot of background
reading in order to discover what has been written
about the subject already, what research has been
carried out, where further work needs to be done and
where controversial issues still remain

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• You should keep in mind three questions when
engaged in the preliminary exploratory work

what is your motivation for doing the research?

• A major motivation should be a curiosity about

the research results
• Another will undoubtedly be the fulfillment of the
requirements of a research degree
• Learning about the process of research –
practical knowledge that can be used in the future
– is also likely to be a motivation

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what relevant interest, experience or expertise do
you bring to bear on the subject?

• Obviously, interest in a subject is essential if you

are to concentrate happily on it for a year or
more
• Although experience or expertise in a subject is
not a prerequisite to doing research in that field, it
does have an effect on the preliminary and
information-gathering stage of the work, as you
will be familiar with the literature and the potential
problem areas
• However, a ‘new light’ may be cast on a subject
by someone looking at it with ‘fresh eyes’

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what are you going to produce?

• As a researcher, your priority will be to

produce a defendable thesis or useful
research report within your time limit

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 Components of a Research Problem

• A research problem refers to some difficulty

either of a theoretical or practical character
which an individual or organization is
experiencing and wants to obtain a solution for
the same
• There are number of components (elements)
which a problem must have before it becomes a
research problem ready for study: 5-Wh i.e.
Why, What, When, Where, Who

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1. Objective or aim of the problem which is to be
investigated
– This answers the question ‘why?’
– Why is there a need for investigation, inquiry or
study?

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2. Topic or theme which need to be investigated
– This answers question ‘what?’
– What is to be researched or studied?
– Right question needs to be addressed if
research is to help decision makers
– Decision makers can’t acquire all the information,
but it is often feasible to identify the factors that
are critical to the existing problem
– These factors are then included in the problem
definition

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3. Time dimension of a decision problem is
always the future
– The period or time of the study when the
data are to be gathered
– This answers the question ‘when?’
– When is the research to be conducted?
– It is essential that the decision maker as
well as the researcher determine the right
time reference for the decision

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4. Area or location in which the study is to be
conducted
– This answers the question ‘where?’
– Where we need to conduct the study?
– Political divisions or subdivisions,
geographical divisions, biophysical divisions
– The universe of the interest should be defined
either conceptually or by enumeration

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5. Population or universe from whom the data
needs to be gathered
– This answers the question ‘who?’ or ‘from whom?’
– Who are respondents?
– From who are the data to be collected?
– They may include persons, groups of
persons, business establishments

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 Characteristics of a Good
Research Topic
1. Research topic must be very clear & easy to
understand, it should not distract people
2. Research topic should be will defined, topic
should not create doubt & double impression
3. Easy language is a key to success, use
technical words if necessary otherwise use
simple words
4. Topic should not be obsolete & should have
importance in the current day
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 Research Resources
• During the selection of research problem, a
researcher will see to the resources available
• If these resources like money, time, laboratory
facilities, equipments and tools, data availability,
accommodation, transport etc. are available to
the selection place, then the selection of the
problem easy
• Knowledge and experience in construction
sector is it self as resources for problem
formulation
:Like manpower/material management/ safety/
method of construction/ design/ risk
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 Conditions for Problem Formulation
The conditions vary with the study area, problem theme,
targeted conditions and so on
Some of the important conditions for problem formulation are:
 Knowledge about the selected area
 Knowledge about the research problem
• New
• Non controversial
• not be too broad or too narrow
• familiar and feasible
 Availability of the resources

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 Research equipments and tools
 Analysis experience
 Findings and report writing
 Systematic Immersion in the Subject Matter through First-Hand
Observation
The first and foremost essential condition for the formulation of a
research problem is the systematic immersion in the subject matter
through first-hand observation. Critical mind of the researcher-
(analysis of fact to make judgment)
 Study of Relevant Literature on the Subject
This requires that the researcher should be familiar with the relevant
theories in the field, reports and records, etc. This would help to
certain gaps in the theories or whether the prevailing theories
applicable to the problem are inconsistent with each other. 

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 Field Observation
He may make a preliminary study or an exploration. He
must be well acquainted with the relevant theories and
empirical generalization in the area of research. The
researcher should be familiar with the result of the
findings in the similar area. He can find out the gaps in
the theory or inadequacy or loophole etc.
 Discussion with Learned Minds
The researcher may undertake an experience survey
and discuss the matter with the learned people
(Administrators, social workers, community leaders, etc.).
Their advice, comments, information and judgments are
usually invaluable to the researcher.
 Research Topic Manageable
While formulating the research problem the researcher
should see that the topic itself must be of manageable
magnitude.
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Individual Research
 Research carried on a personal venture with
independent funds and free to pursue his own interest
 Use clerical/mechanical aids if required
 accept, modify, or reject the findings of others & relate
his work to others
 Test & re-test his theories with his previous
observations or the observation of others
 Have maximum flexibility and minimum embedment in
institutional obligations, tension, influence
 Associated with his own idea to satisfy his curiosity,
extend knowledge of society, conception of scientists
personal integrity.

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Organizational research
 Research carried on in an organizational
function/responsibility
 More ambitious
 Effort to modify sociological theory
 Group effort will bring the most rapid
solution
 Trained personnel with different
skill/knowledge/background brought
together to solve the problem efficiently

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 Writing a Research Proposal
 The essential first step to conduct and execute a
research
 An intellectual scholastic contract between
a student and advisory committee that
describes:
– What you will do?
– Why it should be done?
– How you will do?
– What you expect from it?

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 Suggested Format (nec-CPS)
1. Title page
2. Introduction
• Background
• Statement of problem
• Research questions
• Research objectives
• Scope and limitation of the study
3. Literature review
4. Research methodology
5. Research plan
6. Budget
7. References
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 Important aspects to be considered
in each section/sub-section
Title page
 Avoid long title
 Stay brief and reflective of the issue you are covering
 Examples:
• Study of socio-economic of natural resources
management in Nepal: A case study of water
resources management through WUA in Banke
district of Nepal
• Social Benefit Cost Analysis of Involvement of Water
Users’ Association in Banke, Nepal
• Performance Risk Assessment of Salyankot
WaterandSupply Project in Post-earthquake Scenario

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 Important aspects to be considered
in each section/sub-section
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
 In the form of brief literature review of related
literature is necessary to build statement of
problem, research rationale, research
question and research objective as well as
clarify scope and limitation of the study
 Should discuss the problem or situation you
want to investigate

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1. Introduction
1.2 Statement of problem
 Must indicate exactly what the problem is

 Justify why you need to conduct the

research
 Indicate why and how it is a problem, which
must be supported by statistics or evidences.
This should be derived from background
section to illustrate connectivity
 Should be as brief as possible
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1. Introduction
1.3 Research question
 Should be based on statement of the problem
and rationale of the study
 It should clearly indicate what the research
will looking for

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1. Introduction

1.4Research objectives
 General objective (single)
• It should be in line with the title
 Specific objectives
• They should be in line with research questions
and are more or less equal in numbers of
research questions
• Collectively should meet the general objectives
of the study

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1.5 Significance of study
• Explain who be benefited from the results
• How your study will benefit them
• Applicability of the output from the research

1.6 Scope/Limitation
• The extent up to which the study will cover
• Model/software used
• Geographical area
• Methodology

Limitation
• What the study will not cover

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Important aspects to be considered
in each section/sub-section
2. Literature Review (LR)
 Survey of published materials on the topic of
interest, authored by accredited scholars and
researchers
 It is quite important to uncover what is already
known in the body of knowledge prior to
initiating any research
 LR is crucial endeavor for any academic
research

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3. Research methodology
 This section should comprise of:
• Research design (describe the nature and pattern
the research intends to follow)
• Research approaches (qualitative/quantitative)
• Study area
• Study population
• Sample selection
• Methods of data collection
• Data analysis

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 Important aspects to be considered
in each section/sub-section
Research plan
 It is the schedule or time table of activities
covering the period over which the research is
to be implemented
 It can be presented in the tabular form or in the
form of Gantt chart

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Research Plan (Example of Gantt Chart)

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 Important aspects to be considered in
each section/sub-section
Budget Plan
 This is financial plan for implementation of the
proposed research
 Its itemization should be based on the
institutional requirement as well as nature of
the research
 The items included could be: travel, cost
involved in field work, chemicals, equipments,
stationeries, etc.

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 Important aspects to be considered
in each section/sub-section
7. References
 This is a list of all works cited in the proposal
according to the approved format
 Must acknowledge authors of all publications
you have referred while writing proposal
 Don’t copy word by word
 If done (copied word by word), do not forget to
use quotation mark
 Be aware of plagiarism

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 Research Methodology
 Discussion of the way to conduct the proposed
research in order to meet its objectives.
 This should describe selected
section detail and be presented in
methodology
simple term.
in
 Should be by justification
supported selecting for
methodology

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 Research Methodology

This section should comprises of:

– Research design
– Research approaches
– Study area
– Study population
– Sample selection
– Methods of data collection
– Data analysis

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 Research Design
 Also as research method or type of
research
termed
 It describes the nature and pattern, the research
tend to follow
 It could be of following types:
• Historical research
• Case study
• Experimental research
• Field research
• Survey research

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 Research Design

Historical Research
 Analysis of past events in order to explain the
present and predict the future
 Such research is often based on literature
review
 This research method is applicable when the
research problem chosen by the researcher is
historical in nature (e.g. Political instability)

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 Research Design

Case Study
 A fairly intensive examination of a single unit
 Helps to explore problems, issues
relationships in a particular situations, and
does not allow to generalize the research thus
 Possible to select a number of case studies
which will represent certain aspect of the
subject matter from which generalizations could
be made

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 Research Design
Experimental Research
 Such research describes what will happen if
certain variable(s) are carefully controlled or
manipulated
 Researchers are expected to control or vary
all the variables involved in the study

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 Research Design
Field Research
 Based on careful observation of behavior in a
natural environment (field)
 Researcher need to immerse in the day-
today life of the entire social unit without
altering their social environment
 Careful observation, taking notes
on observations
 Researcher must be very observant

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 Research Design
Survey Research
 A of investigation by collecting
technique through interviews
information
 Usually understood as a sample survey
 Often beginsby identifying number of
individuals considered to be
representatives of the group to be studied

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 Research Approaches

Quantitative
• It is an inquiry into a identified problem based on
testing a theory, measured with numbers and
analyzing with statistical techniques
• e.g. Experimental research, survey research

Qualitative
• Understanding a social problem from
multiple perspectives
• Field research, historical research

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 Study
 A
Area
description of the geographical area
where population of the study exists
 This section should discuss the justification for
selecting the study area

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 Study Population
 Population: the entire set of items or individuals
of interest in a study from which a sample is
chosen
 Also universe, group or aggregation
(Young,
called 1998)

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 Sample Selection
 Numbers involved in population is potentially large, hence
may not be feasible to survey the entire population
 Some form of selective survey by means of
sample is necessary
 It may be possible to survey the entire population
(e.g.
Nepal’s population in every ten years, the electoral
registers…)
 For simple analysis, a sample size of at least
30 is desirable
 In case of multivariate analysis, sample size should be at
least 5 times the numbers of variables that will
be analyzed simultaneously
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 Methods of Data Collection
Primary Data Collection Tools
– Observations
– Personal Interviews
– Questionnaire Survey
– Key Informant Interviews
– Focal Group Discussions

Secondary Collection Tools

– Library Method

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 Data
 Analysis
Have to choose the correct statistical method
for analyzing a set of data
 Selection should be based on the objective of
the study
 The focus of analysis can take three
basic forms:
– Data description
– Estimation
– Hypothesis testing

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