Define Research Problem

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Introduction

            Identification of a problem is the first step in research. In fact it is central to the entire research process. It is like knowing the destination of your journey before one undertakes the journey. Scholars say a research problem is like the foundation of a building. As the foundation provides the basis for the building so is the problem for the research. According to Kerlinger, 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.

            The term problem means the question or the issue one wants to study or investigate. Research begins when one raises a research question. There are number of questions for which one keeps searching for answers. There are issues that need to be understood at a deeper level. There are social problems that need to be solved immediately. All these become researchable problems. Research problem is nothing but an issue or a question that one wants to examine in a systematic way. 

• The term ‘problem’ means a question or issue to be examined
• A research problem refers to some difficulty which a researcher experiences in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants to obtain a solution for the same. 

Research Problem should not be …

• Not overdone
• No controversial subject
• Not too narrow or too vague
• Not too familiar and feasible
• Within the budget
• Possibility of necessary cooperation?!  

What Constitutes a Research Problem?

• Unanswered question
• Unsolved question
• Concern
• Query
• Statement of inquiry

CRITERIA OF A GOOD RESEARCH PROBLEM

• Clear and Unambiguous
• Empirical
• Verifiable
• Interesting
• Novel and Original
• Availability of Guidance

HOW DO WE KNOW WE HAVE A RESEARCH PROBLEM?

• Customer complaints
• Conversation with company employees
• Observation of inappropriate behaviour or conditions  in the firm
• Deviation from the business plan
• Success of the firm’s competitor’s
• Relevant reading of published material (trends,  regulations)
• Company records and reports.

Sources of Research Problem

• Reading
• Academic Experience
• Daily Experience
• Exposure to field situations
• Consultation
• Brain Storming
• Research
• Intuition
• Appeal to common sense
• Appeal to authority
• Traditions/customs/culture

Process of Identification

            Human beings are faced with number of social problems. Every problem is both a challenge and an opportunity. Amidst the varied problems one has to choose the right one for one’s study. Thus identification of a problem calls for a method. On is advised to follow a method in identifying the exact problem for the study. Scholars propose the following method for the identification.

Selection of the discipline: First of all one has to choose the discipline or the subject in which one intends to do the research. It may be History or Economics or even an interdisciplinary subject. Mostly one chooses the subject in which one has a post graduate degree.

Demarcating the broad area:  The second most important step is selecting a particular aspect of the selected subject. For example, if the selected subject is Rural Development, then one may choose crop management, rural housing or even rural illiteracy as specific area of study. One should identify the broad area of interest in a particular subject.

Identifying two or more specific topics: Once the broad area of a study in a particular subject is chosen, the next important step is identifying the specific topic for the study. One has to narrow down the topic for detailed study. It is here the review of literature helps the student to focus the topic. Thus one has to identify two or more topics which can be further focussed.

Criteria of a Problem:

  Criteria are guiding principles or standards that enable one to select the right kind of a research problem. These are essential for the researcher. Accordingly there can be two kinds of criteria for the selection. The first one is internal criteria and the second one is external criteria. We shall have a brief discussion of both the criteria.

Internal criteria:

1.      Researchers interest: The researcher must be interested in the problem. It is interest that arouses ones curiosity and enables one to get involved in the research. Lack of interest may not provide the required energy to continue the research. Interest may vary according to ones educational background, experience and outlook.

2.      Researcher’s competence:  To identify a research problem one needs certain competence. Without this one can never make a beginning. Competence enables one to work out a plan for solving the problem. Competence in terms of familiarity with regard to the subject matter, certain analytical skill and knowledge of research are essential for a good research.

3.      Researcher’s own resources: There are two kinds of resources required to undertake a research. One is time and the other is money. Both are essential and one is supposed to be assured of it adequately. One should have realistic picture of these two resources. For example if one does not have adequate financial resources one can seek external help or take up a research that can suit ones budget. In the same way one should have sufficient time to complete a research. Research is a time consuming process and one should have the required time for it.

EXTERNAL CRITERIA:

1.      Researchability:   The problem must be researchable. It should be possible for the researcher to investigate into the problem. In other words one should be able to make an observation and collect data in a real world situation. Thus the problem should not be too general or otherworldly.

2.      Importance and urgency: Although human beings are bombarded with numerous problems when it comes to research one has to prioritise. As resources are limited one has to go by relative importance and significance. Naturally urgent problems gain greater importance over other ones.

3.      Facilities: Any research requires certain facilities like library, guidance, facilities for data analysis etc. Thus one should have the required facilities for the research.

4.      Social relevance: Researches should have a social relevance. Especially in fields like rural development one needs to pay greater attention to this aspect.

5.      Research personnel: Research requires certain expertise. Not all can undertake research. Different researches need different levels of knowledge, experience and talents. One has to see the availability of research personnel before undertaking research.

Steps in defining research problem

• Statement of the problem in a general way
• Understanding the nature of the problem
• Surveying the available literature
• Developing the ideas through discussions (Experience survey)
• Rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition

CONCLUSION   

A simple approach to this is selecting a research problem which is researchable. It must be interesting to you. One should have the required time and competence for the same.