By Begarving Arthur
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1.0 Research problem
1.1 Definition
Research problem is the statement about area of concern, a coordination to be improved, a difficulty to be eliminated and a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature (De-Marrais K. B. et al 2004).
Emory, C. W. (1976) defined research problem defined as questions that researchers wants to answer or any assumption or assertion that we want to challenge or to investigate, this questions can become a research problem or research topic of the study.
The research problem guides researcher throughout the entire research work. It function as the base of the research study, if it’s well formulated, researcher expects better research results to implement in practice that is the ultimate aim of a research (Descombe, Martyn 2007). The following are the areas for a researcher to put attention when formulating research problem.
2.0 Issues to be considered in formulating research problem
Selection of the research problem depends on several factors such as researcher knowledge, skills, interests, expertise, motivation and creativity with respect to the subject chosen. As it’s the initial stage of the research it is the most challenging and difficult phase of the research process. Every researcher face dilemma of identifying, selecting and formulating a good research problem.
2.1 Choosing area of interest
The most important criterion in selecting the research problem because it is time consuming and hardworking. If the level of interest is not there it’s hard to keep up the motivation to continue.
It has to be noted that, in order to overcome the accounting challenges on research way, one should conduct a study in area he/she passionate about a thing which will reduce possibility of being uninterested at the middle of his/her research journey.
2.2 Magnitude;
A magnitude plays an important role in conducting research especially in descriptive study. Selecting the write magnitude and narrowing down the topic makes work more manageable, specific and clear. It also plays an important role in managing within the time limits along with variable resources such as facilities and budget.
The researcher have to make sure he/she is able to manage the study of a chose problem on his or her own in terms of resources such as time and money by narrowing the subject matter.
2.3 Measurement of concept
It is imperative in quantitative studies to clear about concepts’ indicators and their measurement ways. Researchers are reasonably clear about the concepts at every stage. The research has to clear state how variables can be measured. Therefore the researcher needs to brainstorm what will be the concept indicators or measurement techniques going to be employed in a selected research problem. The easier the measurement method, the easily data will be analyzed and interpreted.
2.4 Level of expertise
The need of expertise is really crucial for problem selection; it highlights the area in which effort is utilized. The researchers’ skill level in research application determines how competent the report will be. Therefore the researcher should select the research problem which is familiar with than otherwise.
2.5 Specificity and relevant
What particular place, time and people you will focus on; what aspects will you not be able to tackle; what will be the consequences if the problem not solved; whose will benefit from the resolving the problem e.g management of an organization or future researchers.
For example, been focusing on retaining its existing support base, but lacking understanding to target potential new dinners in best way, therefore the researcher requires research into more effective fundraising strategies so as to be able to continue its work.
2.6 Accessibility of data
If the research problem needs collection of information like journal, reports and proceedings before finalizing the title, you need to make sure you have these materials available and in the relevant format.
2.7 Ethical issues
These are consideration of ethical issues for research problem. When formulating research problem it is crucial to involve ethical issues. How study population can be affected by ethical issues and how ethical problems can be overcome must be examined at the problem formulation stage.
3.0 Conclusion
The research problem is the reason influencing the researchers to conduct the study, if there is no problem needed to be answered then there is no reasons for the research to be done. Hence since the research problem are the most important part of the research then need more attention when formulating the research problem. The research problem give the clear picture of the methodology used in research, that means the research methodology which will be used should be related to the selected research problem.
It has to be noted that research problem determines how one can conduct a research from the initial to final stage, there is no research without a problem. Therefore one must be very attentive when selecting a research problem so as to reach intended objective by considering the above discussed factors
References
Babbie E. R. (2007) the basics of social research, 4th ed. Australia: Thomson/Wadsworth. ISBN
Christopher Hart (1998) Doing a literature review. H62. H2566: ISBN
De-marrais K. B. et al (2004) foundations for research; methods of inquiry in education and the social science. Mahwah, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates. 432pp, ISBN
Descombe, Martyn (2007) the good research guide for small scale social research project: 3rd ed. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press 360pp ISBN
Emory, C. W. (1976). Business Research Methods. Illinois: Richard D. Irwin, Inc. Homewood.
Kothari, C. R. (2006) Research Methodology; methods and techniques. New age International Publisher, India
Patton, (2002), Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods. 3rd edition. Sage Publications, Inc
Strauss, Anselm. (1987). Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Taylor, S.J. & Bogdan, R. (1984).Introduction to qualitative research methods: The search for meanings, New York: John Wiley.
Terry E. Hedrick; Leonard Bickman and Debra J. Rog (1993) Applied research design, ISBN
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