Research Methodology
Chapter 5
Research Process - Part I
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List of Contents
Research Process: Overview
Step 1: Problem Identification
• Definition
• Non-Research Problem
• Research Problem
• Steps for Problem Selection
• Issues of Problem Identification
• 7 Basic Steps in Formulating a Research Problem
Research Process: Overview
There are a variety of approaches to research in any field of investigation,
irrespective of whether it is applied research or basic research.
Each particular research study will be unique in some ways because of the
particular time, setting, environment, and place in which it is being
undertaken.
Nevertheless, all research endeavors share a common goal of furthering our
understanding of the problem and thus all traverse through certain basic
stages, forming a process called the research process.
The 8 stages in the research process are
1.Identifying the problem.
2.Reviewing literature.
3.Setting research questions, objectives, and hypotheses.
4.Choosing the study design.
5.Deciding on the sample design.
6.Collecting data.
7.Processing and analyzing data.
8.Writing the report.
Step – 1: Identifying the Problem
The first and foremost task in the entire process of scientific research
is to identify a research problem.
A well-identified problem will lead the researcher to accomplish all-
important phases of the research process, starting from setting
objectives to the selection of the research methodology.
But the core question is: whether all problems require research.
We have countless problems around us, but all that we encounter do
not qualify as research problems, and thus, these do not need to be
researched.
Step – 1: Identifying the Problem…
Keeping this point in view, we must draw a line between a research
problem and a non-research problem.
Intuitively, researchable problems are those who have a possibility of
thorough verification investigation, which can be effected through the
analysis and collection of data, while the non-research problems do not
need to go through these processes.
Researcher need to identify both;
1. Non-research Problem, and
2. Research Problem.
Non-Research Problem
A non-research problem is one that does not require any research to arrive
at a solution.
Intuitively, a non-researchable problem consists of vague details and
cannot be resolved through research.
It is a managerial or built-in problem that may be solved at the
administrative or management level.
The answer to any question raised in a non- research setting is almost
always obvious.
Non-Research Problem…
The outbreak of cholera, for example, following a severe flood,
is a common phenomenon in many communities.
The reason for this is known.
It is thus not a research problem.
Similarly, reasons for the sudden rise in prices of many essential
commodities following the announcement of the budget by the
Finance Minister need no investigation.
Hence it is not a problem that needs research.
Example of Non-Research Problem
In the tea marketing system, buying and selling tea starts from bidders.
Blenders purchase open tea from the bidders. It is observed over the
years that marketing cost is the highest for bidders, while it is the lowest
for the blenders. What makes this difference?
The fact is that the bidders pay exorbitantly higher transport costs,
which constitutes about 30% of their total cost.
Blenders have significantly fewer marketing functions involving
transportation, and hence their marketing cost remains at a minimum.
Examples of Non-Research Problem…
Hence no research is needed to identify the factors that make this difference.
Here are some of the problems we frequently encounter, which may well be
considered as non-research problems:
Rises in the price of warm clothes during winter;
Preferring admission in public universities over private universities;
Crisis of accommodations in sea resorts during summer
Traffic jam in the city street after office hours;
High sales in department stores after an offer of a discount.
Research Problem
In contrast to a non-research problem, a research problem is of primary
concern to a researcher.
A research problem is a perceived difficulty, a feeling of discomfort, or a
discrepancy between the common belief and reality.
A problem will qualify as a potential research problem when the following
three conditions exist:
1. There should be a perceived discrepancy between “what it is” and “what it
should have been.” This implies that there should be a difference between
“what exists” and the “ideal or planned situation”;
Research Problem…
2. A question about “why” the discrepancy exists. This implies that the
reason(s) for this discrepancy is unclear to the researcher (so that it
makes sense to develop a research question); and
3. There should be at least two possible answers or solutions to the
questions or problems.
The third point is important. If there is only one possible and plausible
answer to the question about the discrepancy, then a research situation
does not exist.
It is a non-research problem that can be tackled at the managerial or
administrative level.
Example of Research Problem
While visiting a rural area, the UNICEF team observed that some villages
have female school attendance rates as high as 75%, while some have as low
as 10%, although all villages should have a nearly equal rate of attendance.
What factors are associated with this discrepancy?
We may enumerate several reasons for this:
1.Villages differ in their socio-economic background.
2.Schools are far away from some villages. The distance thus may make this
difference.
Because there is more than one answer to the problem, it is considered a
research problem, and a study can be undertaken to find a solution.
Steps for Problem Selection
Once we have chosen a research problem, a few more related
steps are required to be followed before a decision is taken to
undertake a research study.
These include, among others, the following:
Statement of the problem.
Justifying the problem.
Analyzing the problem.
Statement of the Problem
A clear and well-defined statement of the problem is considered as the
foundation for the development of the research proposal.
It enables the researcher to systematically point out why the proposed
research on the problem should be undertaken and what he hopes to
achieve with the findings of the study.
A well-defined statement of the problem will lead the researcher to
formulate the research objectives, to understand the background of the
study, and to choose a proper research methodology.
Justifying the Problem
Once the problem situation has been identified and clearly stated, it is
important to justify the importance of the problem.
In justifying the problems, we ask such questions as to
Why the problem of the study is important.
How large and widespread is the problem
Analyzing the Problem
As a first step of analyzing the problem, critical attention should be
given to accommodate the viewpoints of the managers, users, and
the researchers to the problem through threadbare discussions.
The next step is to identify the factors that may have contributed to
the perceived problems.
Other Issues of Problem Identification
To identifying, defining, and analyzing a problem, there are several ways of
obtaining insights and getting a clearer idea about these issues.
Exploratory research is one of the ways of accomplishing this. The purpose of
the exploratory research process is to progressively narrow the scope of the
topic and to transform the undefined problems into defined ones,
incorporating specific research objectives.
The exploratory study entails a few basic strategies in gaining insights into
the problem. It is accomplished through such efforts as:
Pilot survey
Case studies
Focus group interview and
Experience survey
Pilot Survey
A pilot survey collects proxy data from the ultimate subjects of the
study to serve as a guide for the large study.
A pilot study generates primary data, usually for qualitative analysis.
This characteristic distinguishes a pilot survey from secondary data
analysis, which gathers background information.
Case Studies
Case studies are quite helpful in the diagnosis of a problem and paving
the way to defining the problem.
Case studies intensively investigate one or a few situations identical to
the researcher’s problem situation.
Focus Group Interviews
Focus group interviews, an unstructured free-flowing interview with a
small group of people, may also be conducted to understand and define a
research problem.
Experience Survey
Experience survey is another strategy to deal with the problem of
identifying and defining the research problem.
It is an exploratory research endeavor, in which individuals who are
knowledgeable and experienced about a particular research problem are
intimately consulted in an attempt to understand the problem.
Objectives of the Research Problem
Objectives define specific goals we set out to achieve in our research study.
The objective directs us to what we want to reach through our study.
Therefore, it is inevitable to describe objectives as clearly and specifically as
possible.
Objectives should write down under two headings.
(1) main objectives, (2) sub-objectives.
Objectives of the Research Problem…
The main objective is the total statement of the main goal
of the study.
It also provides us with the main associations and
relationships that we intend to explore and establish.
On the other hand, sub-objectives are the specific contexts
of the research topic that researchers desire to investigate
within the basic framework of the study.
Key Factors to Consider
When you formulate a research problem, you should take into
account some key factors which will help you to ensure that your
research study would be measurable and that you will remain
motivated.
These considerations are
(a) Interest, (b) Magnitude, (c) Measurement of concepts, (d) Depth
of expertise, (e) Relevancy of the study, (f) Data source, (g) Ethical
issues.
7 Basic Steps in Formulating a Research Problem
What is the most essential part of your research project?
It is obviously the formulating of a research problem or selecting
your research topic.
This is because the quality & relevancy of your research work
completely depends on it.
The process of formulating a research problem requires a series of
steps.
Look at 7 basic steps in formulating or identifying a research
problem
1. Identify the Broad Study Area
This is a great idea to thinking about the subject area of your
interest.
You should identify the field in which you would like to work a long
time after your academic study or graduation.
It will help you tremendously to get an interesting research topic.
For example- if you do graduation in sociology, you must decide
your research study area in sociology.
You might choose social problems like unemployment, road
accident, community health, HIV/AIDS, etc.
2. Dissect the Broad Study Area into Subareas
In this stage, you need to dissect and specify your research broad
study area into some subareas.
You would consult with your supervisor in this regard. Write down
subareas.
For example- if you select unemployment as your broad study area,
then dissect it into unemployment & social stability, unemployment
& crime, unemployment & individual frustration, etc.
In this case, your research title may be how unemployment
produces criminal activities. OR how it creates frustration in mind
among unemployed people.
3. Mark-up your Interest
It is almost impossible to study all subareas.
That’s why you must identify your area of interest.
You should select issues about which you are passionate.
Your interest must be the most important determinant of your
research study.
Once you selected your research study of interest, you should delete
other subareas in which you do not feel interested.
Keep in mind that if you lose interest in your research study it won’t
bring any results eventually.
4. Study Research Questions
In this step in formulating a research problem, you would point out
your research questions under the area of interest as you decided in
the previous stage.
If you select unemployment as your study area, your questions might
be “how unemployment impacts individual social status?” “How it
affects social stability?”
“How it creates frustration on individuals?” Define what research
problem or question you are going to study?
The more you study the research problem it will be just as relevant and
fruitful to solve the problem indeed.
5. Set Out Objectives
Set out conspicuously your research root objectives and sub-objectives.
Research objectives essentially come from research questions.
If you do study “Impact of unemployment on individual social status” as
your research problem or research question.
Then, set out what would you like to explore to address.
For Example- your main objective might be to examine the unemployment
status in a particular society or state.
And sub-objectives would be their effects on individuals’ social life.
Setting out specific main and sub-objectives are so crucial.
6. Assess your Objectives
Now, you should evaluate your objectives to make sure of the possibility
of attaining them through your research study.
Assess your objectives in terms of time, budget, resources, and technical
expertise at your hand.
You should also assess your research questions in light of reality.
Determine what outcome will bring your study.
If you can assess accurately the purpose of the research study, it will bring
significant results in the long run.
In fact, research objectives determine the value of the study you are
going to work out.
7. Check Back
Before you go on research work you should review all steps in
formulating a research problem and all the things that you have done
till now for the purpose of your research study.
Then, ask yourself about your enthusiasm.
Do you have enough resources to step up?
If you are quite satisfied, then you forward to undertake your research
work.
You can change any of your plans in the light of reality if requires.
