SIA 2101

RESEARCH METHODS

Lecture 3: Preliminary Information Gathering and Problem Definition

Dr. Phil Nyoni

 Session Objectives

• Understand the first step in research process, i.e.

the broad problem area
• Identify the broad problem area through several
ways
• Understand how preliminary information
gathering aids in deciding whether the problem is
worth investigating and describe the problem
clearly
• Define a research problem clearly in the form of a
problem statement
 Research Plan

• Research plan is a written document which

outlines the type of problem, objectives, data
needed, and the usefulness of the results.
• Defining your destination before beginning a
journey.
• It determines,
– what you will do,
– will it withstand scientific scrutiny,
– how you will do it, and
– what you may achieve!
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Research Funnel
General

Topic

Research
Problem

Research
Statement

Research
Questions
Specific
 Steps in research plan
1. Identify a broad topic/problem area
2. Identify a narrow topic within the broad
topic
3. Raise questions
4. Formulate objectives

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 Broad Topic
• Broad problem area refers to the entire situation
where one sees a possible need for research and
problem solving.
• First step in the research process is the
identification of a broad topic.
• Such issues might pertain to:
– Problems currently existing in an organizational setting
that need to be solved
– Areas that a manager believes need to be improved in
the organization
– Some research questions that a basic researcher wants
to answer empirically
Problem identification and explanation

• Description of the problem being addressed by

the research and the rationale for the proposed
objectives
• Often, a two step procedure:
1. Develop a general perspective of the broad
problem area
2. Focus on the part of the problem area to be studied,
within resource constraints of the project
• This is the reason (justification) for the
research.
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 Broad Problem Area

• Broad problem area refers to the general or

entire situation where research and problem–
solving might be needed
 Broad Problem Area
Broad problem area can be identified in ways
such as:
•Recognition of existing problems
•Desire to improve the status quo
•Planning for the future
•Researchers interest in a topic
•National or agency priorities
•Urgency of an issue
•Availability of research funds
•Availability of supervision
 Examples of broad problem areas

• Training programs are not as effective as

anticipated.
• The sales volume of a product is not picking
up.
• Minority group members are not advancing
in their careers.
• The newly installed information system is not
being used by the managers for whom it was
primarily designed.
• The introduction of flexible work hours has
created more problems than it has solved in
many companies.

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 Defining the Problem
• Problem: many situations where a gap exists
between the actual and the desired ideal states.

• Defined as a clear and concise statement that

describes the symptoms of the specific issues
that a researcher wishes to investigate.

• The problem statement introduces the key

problem that is addressed in the research
project.
 Elements of Problem Statement

• Conventionally, problem statements have three

elements.
– clear statement with sufficient contextual detail to justify
its importance
– the method of solving the problem, often stated as a
claim or a working thesis
– the purpose, statement of objective and scope of the
document the researcher is preparing
 Guidelines in Creating a Good
Problem Statement
• A well-written and good problem statement.
• Quantify the extent or size of the problem.
• Emphasize the consequences if the problem
identified is not overcome, why it is considered
as a problem.
The three key criteria for problem statement

There are three key criteria to assess the

quality of the problem statement:
1. It should be relevant
2. It should be feasible
3. It should be interesting

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 From an academic perspective,
research is relevant if:
1. Nothing is known about the topic.
2. Much is known about the topic, but the
knowledge is scattered.
3. Much research on the topic is available, but the
results are contradictory.
4. Established relationships do not hold in certain
situations.

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 A problem statement is feasible
• If you are able to answer the problem statement within
the restrictions of the research project.
• These restrictions are possibly related to time and
money and the expertise of the researcher (a problem
statement may be too difficult to answer).

• Thus, it is important that you develop a narrowly

defined question that can be investigated with a
reasonably amount of time and efforts.

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The problem statement is interesting
• Because research is a time-consuming
process and you will go through many ups and
downs before you present a final version of your
research report. It is therefore vital that you are
interested in the problem statement that you
are trying to answer, so you can stay
motivated throughout the entire process.

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 Planning your research:
Key questions

• What do you want to know?

• How do you find out what you want to
know?
• Where can you get the information?
• Who do you need to ask?
• When does your research need to be
done?
• Why? (Getting the answer)
 Planning your research:
Key questions
• What do I want to know?
• When developing your research question,
keep in mind:
Who your research is for;
What decisions your research will inform;
What kind of information is needed to
inform those decisions.
• Conduct a local information scan
• Take another look at your research question
 Planning your research:
Key questions
• How do I find out what I want to know?
• Where can I get the information I
need?
• Who do I need to ask?
• Choose your methodology
• quantitative or numbers
information
• qualitative in-depth explanatory
information
 Planning your research:
Key questions

• When do all the different parts of the

research need to be done?
• List all your research work areas
• Map them against a timeline
• Develop a work plan
 Objectives
Objectives specify precisely what the proposed
research will discover or accomplish – identifying
the goals of the research, not the means.
•Universally required in research plans
•Usually best stated as a one-sentence general
objective (or goal) and a list of specific objectives
•Objectives are justified by the problem statement
and provide direction to the methods and
procedures
•These objectives guide the entire process.
•Exploratory, descriptive, and causal research each
fulfill different objectives.
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 Objectives
• Use action-oriented words - To demonstrate; To
evaluate; To measure…

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Objectives
 Case Study - New Coke
New Coke product failure

• New Coke was a new formula for the soft drink Coca-Cola,
introduced by the Coca-Cola Company in 1985.
• Blind taste tests suggested that consumers preferred the
sweeter taste of the competing product Pepsi, and so the
Coca-Cola recipe was reformulated.
 Case Study - New Coke
New Coke product Due largely to research
failure failure
• Poor sales • Tested on taste only – not
• Over 1,500 phone calls intangibles
a day from angry • Decisions based on 60%
customers ratings
• Old coke returns in only • All for $4 million!
3 months
 Preliminary Information Gathering
• Gathering phase is an early stage of soliciting
information regarding the problem of interest to
enable a researcher to gain a wider
understanding and perspective of the problem.
• Includes:
– Secondary data: Information collected for another
purpose which already exists
– Primary data: Information collected for the specific
purpose at hand
 Developing the Research Plan:
Data Sources

both must be:

Data that were Relevant
collected for another Data gathered for
purpose, and already a specific purpose
Accurate or for a specific
exist somewhere
research project
(+)Obtained more quikcly Current
/ at lower cost
Impartial
(-)Might not be
usable data.

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 Secondary Data
• Secondary data sources:
– Government information
– Internal, commercial, and online databases
– Publications
• Advantages:
– Obtained quickly
– Less expensive than primary data
• Disadvantages:
– Information may not exist or may not be usable

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 Planning your research:
Getting the answer

• Collect your data

• Keep returning to your research question
• Organise your research results to answer
the question
• Keep in mind who you are doing the
research for
• Focus on what research results do tell you
• Be creative, methodical and meticulous
THANK YOU