Defining the Problem

 Crucial and very difficult part of a research process.

 It is crucial b/s, it provide us with the topic and the objective of the research.

 It is difficult b/s it requires a clear outline of cause and effect relationships.

 The researcher should be certain that the problem identified is a cause but not an effect.

 “The problem clearly stated is a problem half solved”.

 This signifies the importance of properly defining the problem.

 A proper definition of research problem will enable the researcher to find answers to question:

 What kind of data and information are relevant and needed to be studied?
 What relationship is to be explored among variables?
 What technique has to be used to collect and analyze data?
Therefore, defining a research problem properly is a prerequisite for any study and a very
important step. Even it is more essential than its solution..

Techniques involved in defining a problem

 It should be defined in a systematic manner & follows a number of steps:

i. Statement of problem in a general way:

ii. Understanding the nature of the problem:
iii. Survey the available literature

iv. Developing ideas through discussion

v. Rephrasing the research problem (reformulation of the problem):

i. Statement of problem in a general way:

vi. State the problem in a broad general way keeping with some practical, scientific and
intellectual interest.
vii. The researcher must immerse him completely in the subject matter
viii. Advisable to do some field observation and / or preliminary survey (pilot survey).
ii. Understanding the nature of the problem:
 Understand clearly the nature and the origin of the problem.
 The best way of understanding the problem is:
 To discuss with those who first raised the problem

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  To discuss it with those who have a good knowledge of the problem
iii. Survey the available literature.
 literatures concerning the problem must be studied and examined
 This means the researcher must be familiar with the relevant theory in the area.
 Rearview research works undertaken on related problem
Role of Theory in research:
 Provides patterns of the interpretation of data
 Links on study with the other
 Provides frameworks within which concepts and variables acquire special significance.
 Allows to interpret the large meaning of our findings for ourselves and others
Generally, survey of literature will enable researcher to know:

 If there are certain gap in the theory

 Whether the existing theory applicable to the problem and consistent with each other.

 Whether the findings of the research do or do not follow a pattern consistent with the
theoretical expectation.
Study on a related problem is also useful for indicating the type of difficulty that may be
encountered in the present study.
iv. Developing ideas through discussion: experience survey
 Discussion on a problem produces useful information.
 Various new ideas can be discovered and developed through it.
 Discuss the problem with colleagues and others who have enough
experience in the same area. Such practice is called ‘experience survey”
Peoples with rich experience are in a position to show the researcher different aspects of
his proposed study and their advice and comments are usually of high values.

v. Rephrasing the research problem (reformulation of the problem):

 Finally, reformulate the problem that has been stated in broad and general way in to
working proposition.
 The researcher should narrow and break down the problem into its components
variables and relationships. That is, problem should be expressed as:
a) a relationship between two or more variable
b) the problem should be stated either in question form or hypothesis form
 Question form is appropriate mostly when the research is descriptive in nature. Examples

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  Does a relationship exist between income level of university students and score on their exams?
 Is there a relationship between employees' age and their productivity?
 Does a relationship exist between the men circumcision and sensitivity to HIV virus?
Points to be considered while redefining the research problem:
 Technical terms and words or phrases, with special meanings should be clearly defined.
 Basic assumptions or postulates (if any) relating to the research problem should be clearly
defined.
 A straightforward statements of the value of the investigation, i.e., the criteria for the selection of
the problem) should be provided
 The suitability of the time and the sources of data available must also be considered by the
 The scope of the investigation or the limits within which the problem is to be studied must be
mentioned explicitly in defining the research problem.
Evaluation of the problem
 Feasibility & social value of the problem has to be

The research problem should be evaluated in terms of the following criteria.

Is the problem researchable?

 The problem has to be effectively solved through the process of research.
Is the problem new?
 The research problem needs to be new.

 Avoids duplication problem

 The researcher has to go through the record of previous studies in a given field.

Is the problem significant?

 Accomplishment
 purpose in undertaking the research
 New knowledge hoped to add to the sum total of what is known
 value of that knowledge likely to have
 The study should fill the gaps in the existing Knowledge
 The findings should become a basis for theory generalization, or principles and should lead
to new problems further research.
Is the problem feasible?
 can examined from the point of view of the researcher’s personal aspects:

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1. Researcher Competence:
 The problem should be in an area in which the researcher qualified and competent.
 The researcher has to be acquainted with the existing theories, concepts and laws related
 Must also possess the necessary Skills and competence
 the necessary knowledge of research design and statistical procedure that may be required
2. Interest and enthusiasm:
 Make sure that the problem really interests him/her
 Must also be truly enthusiastic about the problem.
3. Financial consideration:
 Research is an expensive endeavor, which requires a great deal of money to invest.
 The researcher should ascertain whether he has necessary financial resources
 An estimate of the expenditure should be specified.
 The possible sources of fund must be consulted ahead of time.

4. Time requirement:
 Research should be undertaken within a given scope of time,
 Each activity of a research process requires time.
 It is worthwhile to plan for the time that will be needed
 care should be taken for the researcher’s other engagement or commitments, the
respondents’ accessibility, the expiry data of the required data.
5. Administrative consideration:
 The researcher should consider the kinds of data equipment, specialized personnel.
 The researcher must assure whether the pertinent data are available and accessible
TOPICS TO AVOID
The topics to avoid are those that are:
Too big
Traced to a single source
Too trivial.
Lacking in resource materials
Lacking in sponsorship
Too technical
Intractable
Dependent on the completion of another project

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Unethical.

Too big.
 For example, ‘Human resource management – innovative international Perspectives’.
 Consider the time, experience and resources to complete them.
Winkler and McCuen (1985) also warn that the big topic is also the most difficult to write about: it
is difficult knowing where to begin, and omissions and oversights are more crudely exposed.
Traced to a single source.
 Not a particular problem in pure business research when a single solution is needed
 In academic rch issues should be explored from a variety of different angles.
Too trivial.
 Differentiate b/n projects that are worth doing and those that are not.
Lacking in resource materials
 Look out for warning signs – very few references to the topic in the main textbooks,
Lacking in sponsorship.
 Financial sponsorship & support and commitment of key people
Too technical.
 Some projects are more concerned with solving highly technical problems rather than
organizational research.
 Leave these to the technical guru.
Intractable
 You may be offered a problem that nobody else has been able to solve.
 Be highly suspicious of this kind of gift!
 Ask yourself: ‘Why me?’ It may be an offer you need to refuse.
• Dependent on the completion of another project.
Even if you are ‘guaranteed’ that projects you hope to use as data sources will be completed in time
for your use, you are strongly advised not to make your own project dependent on them. If slippage
occurs, your own research will be held up or even scrapped.
Unethical.
 Avoid taking on projects that can damage other people physically, emotionally or
intellectually.
 Refuse to take on a project that forces you to breach confidentiality or trust.
 When using interviews, observation or surveys, you will need to pay particular attention