Defining a Research Problem
In research process, the first and
foremost step happens to be that of selecting and properly defining a research
problem. A researcher must find the problem and formulate it so that it becomes
susceptible to research. Like a medical doctor, a researcher must examine all
the symptoms (presented to him or observed by him) concerning a problem before
he can diagnose correctly. To define a problem correctly, a researcher must Know:
What A Problem Is?
What Is
A Research Problem?
A research problem, in general,
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. Usually we say that a research problem does exist if the following
conditions are met with:
There
must be an individual (or a group or an organisation), let us call it ‘ I,’ to whom the problem can be attributed.
The individual or the organisation, as the case may be, occupies an
environment, say ‘ N’, which is
defined by values of the uncontrolled variables, Y
There
must be at least two courses of action, say C1
and C2, to be pursued. A
course of action is defined by one or more values of the controlled variables.
For example, the number of items purchased at a specified time is said to be
one course of action.
There
must be at least two possible outcomes, say O1
and O2, of the course of
action, of which one should be preferable to the other. In other words, this
means that there must be at least one outcome that the researcher wants, i.e.,
an objective.
The
courses of action available must provides some chance of obtaining the
objective, but they cannot provide the same chance, otherwise the choice would
not matter.
The
components1 of a research problem as under:
There must be an individual or a
group which has some difficulty or the problem.
There must be some objective(s) to
be attained at. If one wants nothing, one cannot have a problem.
There
must be alternative means (or the courses of action) for obtaining the
objective(s) one wishes to attain. This means that there must be at least two means available to a
researcher for if he has no choice of means, he cannot have a problem.
There
must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher with regard to the selection
of alternatives. This means that research must answer the question concerning
the relative efficiency of the possible alternatives.
There must be some environment(s) to
which the difficulty pertains.
Selecting
the Problem
The research problem undertaken for
study must be carefully selected. The task is a difficult one, although it may
not appear to be so. Help may be taken from a research guide in this
connection. Nevertheless, every researcher must find out his own salvation for
research problems cannot be borrowed. A problem must spring from the
researcher’s mind like a plant springing from its own seed.
Subject which is overdone should not
be normally chosen, for it will be a difficult task to throw any new light in
such a case.
Too
narrow or too vague problems should be avoided.
The
subject selected for research should be familiar and feasible so that the
related research material or sources of research are within one’s reach.
Even
then it is quite difficult to supply definitive ideas concerning how a
researcher should obtain ideas for his research. For this purpose, a researcher
should contact an expert or a professor in the University who is already
engaged in research.
The
importance of the subject, the qualifications and the training of a researcher,
the costs involved, the time factor are few other criteria that must also be
considered in selecting a problem. In other words, before the final selection
of a problem is done, a researcher must ask himself the following questions:
ü Whether he is well equipped in terms of his background to
carry out the research?
ü Whether the study falls within the budget he can afford?
ü Whether the necessary cooperation can be obtained from those
who must participate in research as subjects?
If the answers to all these
questions are in the affirmative, one may become sure so far as the
practicability of the study is concerned. The selection of a problem must be
preceded by a preliminary study. This may not be necessary when the problem
requires the conduct of a research closely similar to one that has already been
done.
Necessity
of Defining the Problem
Quite
often we all hear that a problem clearly stated is a problem half solved. This
statement signifies the need for defining a research problem.
The
problem to be investigated must be defined unambiguously for that will help to
discriminate relevant data from the irrelevant ones.
A
proper definition of research problem will enable the researcher to be on the
track whereas an ill-defined problem may create hurdles.
Questions
like: What data are to be collected? What characteristics of data are relevant
and need to be studied? What relations are to be explored. What techniques are
to be used for the purpose? and similar other questions crop up in the mind of
the researcher who can well plan his strategy and find answers to all such
questions only when the research problem has been well defined.
Thus,
defining a research problem properly is a prerequisite for any study and is a
step of the highest importance. In fact, formulation of a problem is often more
essential than its solution.
It
is only on careful detailing the research problem that we can work out the
research design and can smoothly carry on all the consequential steps involved
while doing research.
Technique
Involved In Defining a Problem
Defining a research problem properly
and clearly is a crucial part of a research study and must in no case be
accomplished hurriedly. However, in practice this frequently overlooked which
causes a lot of problems later on. Hence, the research problem should be
defined in a systematic manner, giving due weightage to all relating points.
The technique for the purpose involves the undertaking of the following steps
generally one after the other:
(i) Statement of the
problem in a general way;
(ii) Understanding the
nature of the problem;
(iii) Surveying the
available literature
(iv) Developing the
ideas through discussions; and
(v) Rephrasing the
research problem into a working proposition.
Statement of the
problem in a general way:
First of all the problem should be stated in a broad general way, keeping in view either some practical concern
or some scientific or intellectual interest.
For this purpose, the researcher must immerse himself thoroughly
in the subject matter concerning which he wishes to pose a problem.
In case of social research, it is considered advisable to do some
field observation and as such the researcher may undertake some sort of
preliminary survey or what is often called pilot
survey.
Then the researcher can himself state the problem or he can seek
the guidance of the guide or the subject expert in accomplishing this task.
Often, the guide puts forth the problem in general terms, and it
is then up to the researcher to narrow it down and phrase the problem in
operational terms. In case there is some directive from an organisational
authority, the problem then can be stated accordingly.
Understanding the
nature of the problem:
The next step in defining the problem is to understand its origin and nature clearly.
The best way of
understanding the problem is to discuss it with those who first raised it in
order to find out how the problem originally came about and with what
objectives in view.
If the researcher has stated the problem himself, he should
consider once again all those points that induced him to make a general
statement concerning the problem. For a better understanding of the nature of the problem involved, he can
enter into discussion with those who have a good knowledge of the problem
concerned or similar other problems.
The
researcher should also keep in view the environment within which the problem is
to be studied and understood.
Surveying the
available literature:
All available literature concerning the problem at hand must necessarily be surveyed and examined before a definition of
the research problem is given. This means that the researcher must be
well-conversant with relevant theories in the field, reports and records as
also all other relevant literature.
He must devote sufficient time in reviewing of research already
undertaken on related problems. This is done to find out what data and other
materials, if any, are available for operational purposes. “Knowing what data
are available often serves to narrow the problem itself
as well as the technique that might be used.” .
This
would also help a researcher to know if there are certain gaps in the theories,
or whether the existing theories applicable to the problem under study are
inconsistent with each other, or whether the findings of the different studies
do not follow a pattern consistent with the theoretical expectations and so on.
Developing the ideas
through discussions:
Discussion concerning a problem often produces useful information. Various new ideas can be developed through
such an exercise.
Hence, a researcher must discuss his problem with his colleagues
and others who have enough experience in the same area or in working on similar
problems.
This is quite often known as an experience survey. People with rich experience are in a position to
enlighten the researcher on different aspects of his proposed study and their
advice and comments are usually invaluable to the researcher.
They help him sharpen his focus of attention on specific aspects
within the field. Discussions with such persons should not only be confined to
the formulation of the specific problem at hand, but should also be concerned
with the general approach to the given problem, techniques that might be used,
possible solutions, etc.
Rephrasing the
research problem:
Finally, the researcher must sit to rephrase the research problem into a working proposition.
Once the nature of the problem has been clearly understood, the
environment (within which the problem has got to be studied) has been defined,
discussions over the problem have taken place and the available literature has
been surveyed and examined, rephrasing the problem into analytical or
operational terms is not a difficult task.
Through rephrasing, the researcher puts the research problem in as
specific terms as possible so that it may become operationally viable and may
help in the development of working hypotheses.
Conclusion
We may conclude by saying that the
task of defining a research problem, very often, follows a sequential
pattern—the problem is stated in a general way, the ambiguities are resolved,
thinking and rethinking process results in a more specific formulation of the
problem so that it may be a realistic
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