THE RESEARCH PROCESS

THE BROAD PROBLEM AREA

AND
DEFINING THE PROBLEM
STATEMENT
CHAPTER # 3
DR. RAAZIA GUL
 BROAD PROBLEM AREA

• Identify problem areas that are likely to be studied in Organization

• Discuss how problem areas can be identified.
• State research problems clearly and precisely.
• Explain how primary and secondary data help the researcher to develop a problem statement.
• Develop relevant and comprehensive bibliographies for any research topic.
• Write a literature review on any given topic.
• Develop a research proposal.
 BROAD PROBLEM AREA

The broad problem area refers to the entire situation where one sees a possible need for
research and problem solving. Such issues might pertain to:
• Problems currently existing in an organizational 
• Areas that a manager believes needs to be improved in the organization.
• The basic researcher to understand certain phenomena.
 EXAMPLES OF BROAD PROBLEM AREAS
THAT COULD BE OBSERVED AT THE WORK
PLACE
1. Training programs are perhaps not as effective as
anticipated.
2. The sales volume of a product is not picking up.
3. Inventory control is not effective
4. Some members in organization are not advancing in their
careers.
5. The introduction of flexible work hours has created more
problems than it has solved in many companies.
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION GATHERING
OR DATA COLLECTION

The nature of data to be gathered could be classified under three

headings:
1. Background information of the organization.
2. Prevailing knowledge on the topic
3. Preliminary Data Collection
 PRELIMINARY DATA COLLECTION

Nature of information to be gathered

• Primary data
• Secondary data
 PRELIMINARY DATA COLLECTION
Background Information on the Organization
• The origin and history of the company
• Size in terms of employees, assets or both
• Location
• Resources
• Interdependent relationships with other institutions and the external
environment
• Financial positions (5 to 10 years)
• Information on structural factors
• Information on the management philosophy
 PRELIMINARY DATA COLLECTION

Prevailing knowledge on the topic

• Literature review
• Builds on foundation of existing knowledge
• No important variables are ignored
 REASONS FOR THE LITERATURE REVIEW

• All important variables are included in the study

• Develop the theoretical framework (the importance of the research, why and
how) and hypotheses testing
• The problem statement can be made with precision and clarity
• Enhance testability and replicability of the research
• Does not “reinvent the wheel”.
• The problem investigated is perceived by the scientific community as relevant
and significant
 DEFINING THE
PROBLEM STATEMENT
DEFINING THE PROBLEM STATEMENT

What makes a good problem statement?

• The problem statement introduces the key problem that is addressed in the
research project.
• Problem statement is a clear, precise, and short statement of the specific
issue that a researcher wishes to investigate.
 3 KEY CRITERIA FOR PROBLEM
STATEMENT

There are three key criteria to assess the quality of the problem

statement:
• It should be relevant
• It should be feasible
• It should be interesting
 STATING THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

•State the problem in the opening paragraph (i.e., something that needs a
solution)
• Identify an issue
- Research-based research problems
- Practical problems
• Reference the problem using the literature
 HOW THE PROBLEM STATEMENT DIFFER
FROM
OTHER PARTS OF RESEARCH?
• A research problem is an educational issue or problem in the
study.
• A research topic is the broad subject matter being addressed in a
study.
• A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study.
• Research questions are those that the researcher would like
answered or addressed in the study.
 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Example 1
According to business marketing theory, businesses are more likely to succeed if
they utilize marketing management approaches or techniques. For example, the
marketing concept, a cornerstone of business marketing thought, stresses the
importance of determining the needs and wants of consumers and delivering
the desired satisfaction more effectively and efficiently than competitors (Kotler,
1986). Philosophies from marketing management have recently been applied to
almost every industry from insurance to travel and hospital services, but not
often to farming. Concerns have been raised about the distinction which
appears to exist between agricultural and business marketing theory (Bartels,
1983; Bateman, 1976; Muelenberg, 1986).
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Example 2
• Live online sessions may be delivered in virtual classrooms from Adobe Connect, Elluminate,
GoToMeeting, Wimba, or other software programs Many authors such as Offir, Lev, and
Bezalel(2008) found the interaction level in a synchronous class, also known as web
conferencing, to be a significant factor in the effectiveness of online class. Other researchers
describe “the power of a synchronous online system to empower students in conversation
and expression (McBrien, Jones, & Cheng, 2009). However, online learning classes are only
effective if students attend these classes. Many studies have been conducted on online
classes (Kenning, 2010; Lavolette, Venable, Gose, & Huang, 2010 ) but few specifically studied
why students do or do not attend. According to Skylar(2009), “research concerning the use of
newer multimedia technologies, such as interactive synchronous web conferencing tools, is in
its infancy and needs further and continued study” (p. 82). McBrien, Jones, and Cheng (2009)
stated that “more studies are needed to explore students’ perceptions of the synchronous
learning experience.” Thus the central question this research intend to study is, “What are
students’ attitudes regarding non mandatory synchronous sessions in a southern university?”
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Example 3
• Live online sessions may be delivered in virtual classrooms from
Adobe Connect, Elluminate, GoToMeeting, Wimba, or other
software programs. Regardless of the software used, student
attendance at live online sessions, especially optional ones, can be
unpredictable at best. It is a common complaint among the online
faculty at a university in the south that many, oftentimes most, of
their students do not attend the live online sessions. This study will
address the problem of low student attendance at non mandatory
virtual classroom meetings in online college courses.
THE RESEARCH
PROPOSAL
THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
• 1. The purpose of the study
• 2. The specific problem to be investigated
• 3. The scope of the study
• 4. The relevance of the study
• 5. The research design offering details on:
• - The sampling design
• - Data collection methods
• - Data analysis
• 6. Time frame
• 7. The budget
• 8. Selected bibliography
 ASSIGNMENT 2 (SUBMISSION DATE: 12-03-
2023)

Do the assignment as assigned below, following the step-by-step process

outlined:
1. Write a 1-2 page proposal
2. Write an Introduction Chapter (follow guidelines of project brief)
IMPORTANT LINKS

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTC-5P1VFFU
• Follow the following articles for structure and writing style:
• https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311975.2023.2178290
• https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4342941
• For Qualitative Studies:
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10479-021-04338-z
TEMPLATE FOR INTRODUCTION

• The word document is attached.

• For further understanding https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/research-paper-introduction/